|
 With the launch of their latest album 'Revolutions', German progressive rockers Liquid Horizon have put together a quasi concept album, featuring ten songs themed around the quest for Freedom. While not linked by a storyline, the album does feature a three song trilogy documenting the French Revolution.
The band have certainly made waves in progressive circles of late, they've supported Vanden Plas, who they note as one of the bands major influences, and briefly appeared alongside former Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler's Adlers Appetite project.
To find out more about the ideas behind 'Revolutions', and where the band is heading, Komodo Rock's Mike Elliott caught up with vocalist Oliver Kilthau to find out more.
ME: You released your latest album 'Revolutions' back in October. How has the album been received so far?
Oliver Kilthau: The feedback has been pretty good so far! Of course you
cannot please everyone, especially when you’re playing progressive
music. But I’m really happy with the way things are going right now.
Last night I read a review saying that half of the songs sound just
like the stuff on Dream Theater’s Images and Words. Well, if this is
the reviewers problem I can live with it, haha….
ME: The album focuses on the struggle for Freedom through out history. What was the inspiration behind the idea?
OK: To be honest - the other guys talked me into it. Being the person
who’s writing the lyrics I was not really excited about this because
there are so many concept albums around with a lame story full of
clichés. But then I was listening to Iced Earth’s Glorious Burden and I
instantly realised that this would be the right way for us to do it – a
concept piece without a real story but a common theme throughout all
the songs. Although I didn’t want to do it in the beginning as soon as
we started I was pretty excited about writing these songs. So, here we
are.
ME: Can you take us through the tracks on the album and give us some insight into the ideas behind them?
OK: Let’s pick out some of the tracks that are special to me. There’s
‘Sacrifice’, a song about the man who tried to kill Hitler with a bomb.
The track is focusing on the thoughts and motives of the man, an
approach that is more interesting to me than the mere description. And
then there’s the mutiny of German Sailors in 1918, refusing to engage
the Royal Navy. I like these kinds of stories when people offer
resistance in a world full of madness.
ME: The French Revolution Trilogy obviously form the backbone of the
album. As you began writing the album, was this your intention, or more
something that just came about during the process?
 OK:
Funny thing, we knew from the beginning that we wanted to do something
like a trilogy. We felt that the French Revolution was demanding more
than just a single song… there are so many stories to be told. In the
end we came up with one song where the king tells his side of the
story, being convinced that he was chosen by god. Then there’s a song
about the revolution breaking loose and the revolution’s ideals that
were a milestone on our way to democracy. And finally there’s the
terror of Robespierre and the death of thousands under the guillotine…
ME: Do you have any plans to record any videos for the songs on the album?
OK: Well, a few weeks ago we had some talks about doing a video for the
song ‘Freedom’. But it’s not easy, we don’t have a huge record company
in our back and doing a video is an expensive thing. So I’m not really
sure if we’ll do it.
ME: You note Dokken, Vanden Plas, Dream Theater and Savatage as some of
your main influences. In what way have these bands influenced you?
OK: I realize that most people won’t really hear the Dokken influence
in us but it’s there, I’m sure. All these bands have influenced us in
some way and had some part in the way we play our music. Personally I
would like to add Queen, I have always been a big fan of this band.
Freddie Mercury had a unique way of singing, it’s practically
impossible to cover this band in my humble opinion. Perhaps Dream
Theater’s influence is the most obvious one, they showed me that music
can be much more interesting when songs have a non traditional
structure.
ME: You've only scheduled a handful of shows since the albums launch.
Are you planning a full scale tour in the near future, and if so, are
we likely to see you land in the UK?
OK: Of course we would love to come to the UK, but this would only make
sense as the support for some well known act or playing on a festival.
Let’s see what happens, we would love to do this… The whole situation
is a bit strange, we are kind of overwhelmed by the amount of
international reaction. One year ago our plans were to do this record
and play a few shows in Germany but now this thing seems to be growing.
ME: Talking of touring, last January you supported Vanden Plas. What's
it like to support a band that influenced you in the way that they
have?
OK: It’s really hard to describe… When we were asked to play with
Vanden Plas I couldn’t believe it. I have all their records at home and
if somebody had told me a few years ago that one day I would be opening
a show for them I would not have believed him. And then it was great to
see that they are real nice guys, no airs and graces. It was awesome. I
guess you realize, I’m a fan, haha…
ME: You've also played with Adlers Appetite, who features former Guns
N' Roses drummer Steven Adler. How did that come about, and how was it?
OK: Errrhhhh, that’s not so easy to say…. Steven was really nice but
his drug problem is well known. The plan was to play two shows on the
tour opening for Steven Adler, but after the first night he fired his
complete band and the show was cancelled. It’s really sad, he is such a
kind person but under the influence he’s somebody else.
ME: Do you have any plans as yet for a followup to 'Revolutions'?
OK: Well, we’ve written three new songs so far. It’s not easy to say
how the next record will sound like, not all of the songs have a vocal
line yet. I guess we’ll start recording in fall 2008.
ME: Bands are increasingly turning to the internet to promote their material. Do you find it to be useful for yourselves?
 OK: Sure, you can download our music on our company’s website www.artistworxx.de
and some other places in the internet. The internet is making
distribution things much easier these days, on the other hand so much
stuff is downloaded illegally. So if I may, a few words to the people
out there: It may not be a problem for Robbie Williams but it’s a
problem for bands like us when people download and don’t pay. Many
bands like us need the money to be able to pay for the next record,
believe me.
ME: We spoke earlier about what has influenced you as a band, but who
has been the most inspirational to you a musician over the years?
OK: I can only speak for myself – As a singer it’s guys like David
Coverdale, Ronnie James Dio, Bruce Dickinson and Freddie Mercury. And
I’m playing the guitar for more than 15 years now. My personal
favourites are Eddie Van Halen, George Lynch and John Sykes.
ME: 2007 saw several very successful releases by progressive metal
bands. Do you feel that progressive metal has seen surge in popularity
lately?
OK: I think so. But of course it will never be as successful as any
mainstream music. But then again that’s the idea behind it, it’s not
supposed to be mainstream and this limits the audience in some way.
Anyway, I’m happy that the progressive scene is growing and that some
of the releases have been pretty successful.
ME: Apart from yourselves, who do you rate as the best upcoming band out there right now?
OK: Puuhh, difficult question. I was listening to Pagan’s Mind a lot
the last few weeks. Great band. And 2 years ago I was blown away by
Evergrey’s Inner Circle, fantastic record. Unfortunately their latest
release was not as great as this one.
ME: Can you give our readers any relevant band links please?
OK: The most important that you must never forget is this one: www.liquid-horizon.com !
And here’s some bands from the neighbourhood that I really like:
http://www.crystal-crow.com/
http://www.vandenplas.de/
http://www.myspace.com/scenesmusic
http://www.electrobaby.de/
http://www.sunpath.de/
ME: Again, a big thank you for taking the time to answer our questions.
OK: Thank you, it was a pleasure for me!
You can check out Komodo Rock's review of the bands latest album 'Revolutions' here.
 |
Subscribe to this comment's feed
