Metal hails brother! How is your weekend going? Please tell the readers a little about your self.
Hi Patrick, first of all let me thank you for the opportunity for this interview! You're a really good friend and long time supporter of the band and we cannot thank you enough for all the efforts you put into this! Thanks so much brother!!!
My name is Sasha, i'm 29 years old, from a smaller town near Munich, Germany. I'm the guitarist for the band. Have played guitar in some bands before Cyclotron, but i'm really happy with this project so we gotta keep it going.
At what age did you become interested in playing guitar? Are you self taught or take lessons?
At the age of 11 or 12. i started listening to Iron Maiden, Running Wild, WASP and some others. I saw a live video with this guys with their cool guitars. So i had to get one. I took lessons more than a year - maybe two. my teacher played jazz and blues stuff. he was a really great player.
Who are some of your influences/favorite guitarist? Do you play any other instruments? If yes which ones?
Michael Romeo, Jason Becker, Jasun Tipton, Yngwie Malmsteen, Ron Jarzombek, Suicmez, great guitarists in general. There are a lot of people i look up to. I can handle the bass guitar and i play the drums but just a little. That would be it.
When did you form Cyclotron? What is the current line-up? For the readers who have never heard the band how would you describe the sound?The idea for this band was born about two maybe three years ago. The current members are just me on guitars and Vince as the voice. I would describe the sound as Death Metal with a lot of technical elements. Fast, heavy, dark, maybe hyperactive (haha). I like to call it "unclassifiable death metal".
Cyclotron released their second demo "Into a Subconscious Subreality" earlier this year. How long did it take you both to write/record the songs for this demo? Are you happy with how the songs turned out?
The writing of the songs and the recordings took us more than one year. Mostly because we could only work on the weekends and holidays. I'm really happy about "Into a subconscious surreality" of course I would love to have a great production. But we recorded everything by ourselves and we're learning still. Overall we're pretty happy with it, and I really love those songs!
How would you say the music has changed on this demo compared to the bands debut demo? If at all.
The first demo was much more experimental. We had some crazy effects and whispers in the vocals to create a surreal soundscape. A few ambients parts as well, that was fitting good to the lyrics. The sound overall had some industrial elements. The new demo is much more "real" death metal. The voice is more old school. Its more technical. Bigger, stronger, faster (haha). And the sound is better.
If I am not mistaken you are letting metal fans "download" both Cyclotron demos for free from your myspace page. Are both still availble? Will this be a limited time offer or will you keep them up/availble for awhile?
Right, both of our demos are available for FREE download on our myspace page. All you have to do is to check the links in our blogs. There's no limitation or running out for this offer and like said before its completely for free. Everyones invited to check it out - what do you have to loose?
When the band begins working on a new song. How long does it usually take to complete? Do both members of Cyclotron work on the music?
we've already begun to work on new songs for our next demo. Usually I write all of the music. Its really different how long I take to complete a song. Really cant answer this. It happened sometimes I had a song finished and decided to change it a while after, because it sounded better. Approximately I would say sometimes days - sometimes months.
Who usually handles the lyrics for the songs? What are some topics/subjects you write about?
I wrote all of the lyrics for the first and the second demo. I write about stuff that goes though my mind. About life and fears, hopes and dreams. Injustice and the consequences of our behaviour. Just in a surreal and methaphorical way.
Have you guys had time to start working on songs for the next demo or release? Any idea how many songs will be on it? Have you all set a release date for it?
I already started to work on new material. A release date is not set yet. We planned it for late 2010. The will be approx. 5 or 6 maybe 7 songs on it and i'm pretty sure we will do a cover song again.
I mentioned earlier that Cyclotron is a two-man band. Has it always been a two-piece? Are you all currently looking for new members or do you plan to keep the band a two-piece?
We had a bassist and drummer a time ago but it really didnt work out so we decided to work together like we do now. We're currently not searching for new members but I really would love to make a full band out of it again one day.
If you had the chance to work any musicians past or present who are some musicians you would like to write/record with?
Thats a tough question. I think I would like to work with anyone I could learn something from and with some of the members of my fave bands and their guitarists. And Chuck Schuldiner.
In your opinion what is the best and worst thing about the underground scene today? And what does the term "underground metal" mean to you?
Being independent is the best about the underground. That's also what it means to me! We dont want to get rich and famous with our music. Getting rich is enough, haha! Its really cool to see how many guys are out there and making music that they love without taking care of what's trendy and famous right now.
You are a part of the mighty German metal scene so I was interested in your thoughts on the metal scene in Germany?There are some really good bands and musicians out there. Some of them are so professional you wonder why they are not signed or why they get so less attention. Though there are still people here who love real metal, you never see so much people at a show. And though there are good bands here and people who listen to them, I dont think that Germany is a big metal paradise.
Who are some of your all-time favorite German metal bands? Who are some of your current favorite bands?
There's a lot of really cool German metal bands: Necrophagist, Running Wild, Sieges Even, Mekong Delta, Obscura, Gamma Ray - just to mention a few.
Some of my fave bands are: Zero Hour, Necrophagist, Running Wild, Threshold, Fates Warning, Meshuggah, Origin, Spiral Architect, Cynic, Death, Spastik Ink - again just a few. I love almost everything that is METAL!!!!
Well brother we have reached the end of the interview. Thank you for taking the time to fill out this interview. Do you have any final comments for the readers?
Thanks so much Patrick for giving us the opportunity!! Its really an honor!! Thanks for being a real friend, thanks for your kick-ass support!!! Thanks for everything brother!!
Also thanks to the readers and everyone who took the time to read this!! And also everyone who supported us through the years, we dont take your support as granted and we will never ever forget what you all have done for us!! YOU ALL RULE!!!
Stay tuned for more Death Metal that will come soon!!! And yeah - METAL!!!!!!!!
To contact sasha and the band or to download the band's two demos check their official page www.myspace.com/cyclotrongermany
Interviewed by Patrick
December 2009