Their addictive and great debut album “Freedom of Speech” was released by “Pride and Joy” at the end of this past August.
First of all, thank you very much for the interview and congratulations on this great debut album!
1) Mentalist was born in Germany in 2018 by the two guitarists (Peter and Kai). How was the process of creating the band and the search for the other members?
Peter: Hello Rafa. The idea to make a band called Mentalist existed several years earlier. So I founded Mentalist at the beginning of 2018 with my long-time friend and exceptional guitarist Kai Stringer. I met Thomen Stauch at a party in 2016. After we asked Thomen, he said yes. Bassist Florian Hertel, who is known from our network, completed the instrumental line-up at the end of 2018. The most difficult task now was a very good singer. We've got a few favorites in mind. Then my singing teacher Rubina (from the band Systopia) came and recommended Rob Lundgren to me. When we contacted Rob in spring 2019, we were able to get him excited about the band and so I'm glad we found our final line-up.
Rob: Hi! I can also add, that after the band members were chosen, we have met during song writing and recording to bond and see how the chemistry between us feels. The open-minded yet strong vision in the band is amazing! Things feel very natural within the band. A good blend of dynamic and healthy tension to generate growth. I’m very excited as well to journey together with these great friends and musicians.
2) I know that the name chosen "Mentalist" is due to the mascot of the group that appears on the cover. Who is this mysterious character?
Peter: The mentalist was suddenly there and enchanted the band. Since then we have been under his spell and have to do what he wants. We don't know whether the mentalist is good or bad. He promised us that he would come to our live concerts every now and then. So maybe we can find out more together with the fans.
Rob: I often wake up with memories of mystical chants and dark melodies lurking within my memories. Not sure where it comes from, then I recall a figure whispering… “I sing thru you…” hmm what is going on?
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3) In fact the cover (which is one of the many successes of this debut) has been made by none other than Andreas Marschall, a legend in the world of Heavy Metal illustrations and covers (Blind Guardian, Grave Digger, Kreator, Obituary etc). How did you come up with the idea of having him?
Peter: I originally designed the cover as a line drawing. Contrary to my wish to use my ugly drawing as the final cover, the band recommended to hire Andreas Marschall as the cover artist. The contact came through Thomen and we are very happy that he accepted the order. And I have to admit: his drawing has got a little better ...
Rob: I just thought of something. We have a demo version of the album… Peter, let’s use your original drawing as cover when we release that rare find.
4) Both on the cover with “the mentalist” and the protesters with different places, characteristics of the US, Russia and Turkey (with you included among them, great detail!); as in the video clip for "Freedom of Press", there is an important criticism of the role played by the media in the new world order, the abuse of power, the "fake news" and the need to think collectively and critically . What message do you intend to send Mentalist with this first album and as a Metal band in general?
Peter: We have several songs with serious topics but also a few songs that are about completely different content. As a band we're a little worried about the democracies of the world. The text for Freedom Of The Press was written in 2017. I was concerned about the rapid rise of populists and dictators in different countries and wrote the text. It simply describes "How do I become a dictator for dummies?" The people in the democracies may have gotten a little tired. Disinformation is shared very quickly on social media. It is important that certain standards are met that we live with in an enlightened, free world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThsdvMzif0E
5) Are you aware that talking about social-protest issues seems to be a space reserved solely and exclusively for Punk and Thrash Metal?
In other words: what do you think of the corset imposed by the press and the public that in the Power Metal you should only talk about dragons, literature, legends, wizards and potions?
Rob: Wizards
ey… The Mentalist maybe have something he want to say on the 2nd
album regarding his magic spells and potions. I’ll deliver the message.
Peter: Every artist can and should write about topics whatever they want. Personally, I find it difficult to write about swords and dragons. Perhaps I still lack some experience in dragon hunting. Maybe a knight will take me on an excursion and I'll get the "golden spoon" in fighting dragons? As an artist you can also use your responsibility. The fact that we have sometimes serious texts generates positive and negative reactions.
6) Let's move on to the sound of the band… I and many people defend that the style they practice is “melodic Power Metal”. Do you feel comfortable with this “label?
Peter: Everyone sees music from their own perception. I can live with any opinion on it. In heavy metal we have the luxury of having many labels. Most of the bands cross different styles. From my point of view you can find elements of classic Heavy Metal, Melodic Metal, Power Metal, but also Rock and a bit of Prog and Thrash metal at Mentalist.
Rob: Here is another label if you get tired of the old ones… “Magic Metal” because our music is “zim-zala-bimbastic-fantastic!!” Call our music whatever you want, I will be here in the meantime playing and singing while you think about what it should be called
7) To be more precise, I get the feeling that your sound "is as if Iron Maiden signed the youtuber and singer from Reveal and made a Power Metal album". I really think that guitar work is another of the great strengths of this work and that you should follow this line of bent-harmonized guitars ...
Peter: Comparisons with bands like Iron Maiden are a great honor. They have certainly influenced us and we still have a very long way to go and try to develop further. I've always been a huge fan of guitar melodies and also thanks to our excellent second guitarist Kai, guitar melodies play a big role in our music. I am happy that we have such a good singer as Rob. The singing is the part that songwriters and guitarists can only influence indirectly. I was very pleased when I heard Rob's first recordings on songs.
Rob: Thanks Peter! And I agree. If people hear Iron Maiden in us then we have a great starting point where to take our music further. This band has many influences and the 2nd album is already starting to shine in different ways. Oh yea, you have not heard that one yet… You just wait… More great guitar work is coming, these guys are awesome!
8) The person in charge of mixing and mastering has been the work of Christian “Moschus” Moos. What has he contributed to the album and how has it helped you to the final result of the album?
Rob: Moschus was the first mixer to influence my gear selection during the vox recording in a long time. So I can say he knows a thing or two about it and I cannot be happier with the results
Peter: Moschus (www.spacelab-mixing.com ) is a great guy. He let us be ourselves and tried to emphasize our respective strengths. The cooperation was very pleasant
9) We are ending ... How has the damn covid-19 pandemic affected your plans?
Peter: Without Covid we would probably be playing a tour now. Instead have already composed the second album. A tour will hopefully take place in the second half of 2021.
Rob: The cool thing in this band is that whatever happens we always manage to work around obstacles and happenings, 2020 has been a great teacher in different ways it really showed itself in this weird year.
10) Do you have ideas for the second album? Can you reveal which line it will follow?
Peter: The songs of the new album are already composed. There are currently nine songs. Composition was a lot of fun and the whole band was involved. There are a few tracks on more serious topics, but also others, including a fun song. From my point of view, we have taken the next step musically and I like the songs very much. The album will be recorded and produced in the next few months.
Rob: Next step indeed. I learned a lot during the first album and it opened up new ideas for what we can do for the follow up. The line will be a creative one during the test stages without boundaries. Let’s throw in whatever we want in the cauldron. I fully trust that we know what works and what doesn’t. Crazy ideas are fun to play around with. Mental-is-t-us!!
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| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fni0IlI1DVY |
11) Friends of
Mentalist: Thank you very much for your attention, kindness and for your
sincere love for music, which fills us so much especially in these difficult
times as those we are going through. It is also great to meet you and feel your
human qualities, it is also great news and joy for the Heavy Metal world that
you have good Rob on vocals and of course, that the great Thomen is riding again
after his two infernal drums in a band that has so much to say. It only remains
to put an end to this pandemic to see you in live.
If
you want to dedicate a few words to the people who follow from Spain and the
world in general… Go ahead, this is your moment!
Peter: Dear Rafa, thank you for the interview. We are happy to be part of the heavy metal community. There are so many people everywhere who support us so fantastically. Heavy metal makes us happy and we try to do our part with music. We would like to thank everyone very much. Thank you!
Rob: Muchas gracias! Best wishes to everyone, stay healthy and move to the music! If you have not heard our tunes yet, check it out as the Mentalist Will Trip You Up!
Thanks again and see you soon! Stay metal!
Rafa Black Phoenix
Visit:
@blackphoenixrisingmetal
@mentalistband
https://mentalist-band.com/
https://www.prideandjoy.de/
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| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLPrMQCK7F4 https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thomenstauch |
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