INTERVIEW: David Gruber – Ketzer

Germany’s KETZER have taken plenty of twists and turns over their career thus far. Their debut album, Satan’s Boundaries Unchained, was a landmark release for the entire blackened thrash genre, while Endzeit Metropolis was a more poetic offering. In 2016, KETZER released their their Metal Blade Records debut, Starless, to reviews so mixed it was borderline schizophrenic. Now, three years on, the German heretics have unleashed their follow up to Starless – Cloud Collider (read our review here). We caught up with bassist David Gruber to discuss KETZER‘s new album, the German metal scene, and the anniversary of Satan’s Boundaries Unchained. 

Hey guys, thank you for taking the time to talk today. At the time of writing, we’re just a couple of days out from the release of Cloud Collider – how is everyone in the KETZER camp doing?

David: We’re quite fine, eight days into our tour with the danish maniacs from SLAEGT. I am answering this interview from on a bumpy tour bus ride from Milan to Parma in Italy. The past shows have been great, we had many drinks and there is more to come. So far, the Cloud Collider songs have melted many faces all around Europe.

Your 2016 album, Starless, was pretty polarising with fans either loving the new direction or being vocally disappointed. Has the response to Cloud Collider been more consistent? How has the response been to the album from the press so far, and from the fans to the singles released?

David: Yes, responses to Starless have been polarising indeed, which only proves how much we needed to take a step into that direction. Being a part of this band has always been about pushing boundaries, and I guess you could say that we learnt a lot about ourselves and what we want this band to be when writing Starless. So far, the responses to Cloud Collider have been less polarising, which is probably because it includes more of the elements that fans enjoyed on our first two albums, while still adding lots of elements of surprise to the mix. We’ve worked long and hard on this record, so all the positive responses and reviews are more than welcome of course.

Just as the style of music has evolved from album to album, the lyrical influences have progressed as well – what were the key inspirations and what concepts did you want to tackle within the lyrics of Cloud Collider?

David: While our previous album had an overall lyrical concept, the meaning of religion in modern times, the songs on Cloud Collider each stand on their own. While the lyrics have always been of a more personal matter, I usually try to find a way the words can resonate within each and every listener. The album’s last track Light Dies Last, for example, is about how you try to dance through life with different powers pulling you from left and right, while you’re trying to keep the balance. But if you read the lyrics you might have a lot of different associations and images in your head and that is totally fine.

What were the concepts behind the art direction for the cover art, by Adam Burke, and the illustrations accompanying the physical release, by Johannes Stahl?

David: The cover art depicts a cloud building up, waiting to erupt into a thunderous storm. The illustrations combine some of the lyrical themes, forming a visual thread that runs through the whole album. We all are big fans of vinyl so it’s quite important to us to have a proper packaging with a gatefold LP and a booklet.

You’re about to hit the road with SLAEGT in Europe in support of Cloud Collider – what can fans expect from the KETZER live show?

David: A KETZER show will hit you like an AJ first round knockout.

Which tracks from Cloud Collider are you particularly excited to debut live?

David: We would honestly love to play every song of the album, but everyone hates bands who do that for a good reason. One of my personal favourites is Keine Angst to which we just released our very first video clip. We’re bringing the light installation that we used during the recording of that clip also to the stage, which is always a good start for one of our shows.

Do you have any touring plans in place for the rest of 2019/into 2020? Is there anywhere you particularly want to bring the Cloud Collider tour to?

David: We pretty much want to go everywhere planes, trains and cars can take us to. I would love to go back to the states. The last tour we played there was really intense and we met many great people.

The German extreme metal scene is one of the strongest in the world, bursting with talent in thrash, death metal, black metal and everything in between. Are there any bands within the German scene you are particularly impressed by at the moment?

David: A band from our hometown Cologne that we’re also friends with is the death metal band CHAPEL OF DISEASE. They released an album last year that combines old school death metal with classic rock influences. If you never listened to an extreme metal band with DIRE STRAITS style solos, you should check them out. We also played two shows with the death thrashers of DEATHRITE in the past years, who are a really good live band.

Throughout KETZER’s career, you’ve undergone a radical evolution with each album sounding truly unique. Where do you see the evolution of your sound taking you in the future?

David: Actually, it is too early to tell. The creative process of Cloud Collider was very intense and planning for our tour and our first music video of Keine Angst as well. At the end of such a process you kind of want to do it never again. So, after every new record we need some time to reflect ourselves and to forget how exhausting it was. As always, we will go open minded into our next chapter. Let’s see where it will take us.

Looking at your career retrospectively, what are your proudest achievements to date for KETZER? Any regrets?

David: I think, as a musician you always have some regrets. After every record you will be able to find  something, that could have been recorded in a different way – with another sound for example. For me, being in a band teaches me that there is always some degree of imperfectionism, which is good, because the next time you want to make it perfect. This is often an important part of the motivation you need for working on that next record. I think I can speak in the name of all band members, that one of our highest achievements is, that we are in the same lineup since our debut. We share a good friendship and despite all the difficulties you sometimes have in such a family, we are still together and want to fucking rock together. Our strong bound is an important constant for KETZER.

Upon its release and even in present day, Satan’s Boundaries Unchained was heralded as one of the best black/thrash metal albums in the genre. Looking back, what are your feelings on the album?

David: We’re still really proud of that album, as it marks the starting point for many great things that have happened in the past ten years: Some amazing tours, three follow up albums and a lot more to come. Looking back on when we recorded that album it seems surreal, thinking about how our lives have changed since then. Back then, we were just finishing school, now we’re all in the beginning of our 30s or end of our 20s. Even though a lot of time has passed, it seems like yesterday.

Satan’s Boundaries Unchained was released in September 2009 – are there any intentions to do anything to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its release this year?

David: Of course! Since the album has been sold out for years now, it will be re-released by Metal Blade Records this year. Many people throughout the years have been asking about buying Satans Boundaries Unchained on LP and CD, so it’s nice to see, that these demands will finally be fulfilled!

Cloud Collider is out now via Metal Blade Records. 

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