Formed in 1997 German band Deadlock mix up pummelling muscular melodies and songs with a social conscious, which has seen them building up a loyal fan-base over 7 excellent albums. Unfortunately it’s not always been an easy path especially in the run up to latest album Hybris, one borne out of no shortage of adversity. With 3 new members in the line-up we spoke to original guitarist Sebastian Reichl and new vocalist Margie Gerlitz about this difficult journey.
AN: First and if it is something you are able to talk about it must have been terrible having to deal with the tragic loss of founding member / drummer Tobias “Tobi” Graf to cancer at the far too young age of 35. At the time of reviewing ‘The Re-Arrival’ I’m sure I was not alone in thinking it was just a case of him leaving the band. Were you all aware of just how ill he was at the time and how did you all cope with it? Was he instrumental in wanting the band to carry on and continue and did he work at all with new drummer Werner Reidl?
Basti: Tobi was not only the drummer in DL he was my best friend and neighbour, he ran the biggest online vegan reseller company in Germany/Europe and gave work to my wife, Sabine and our singer John. We were aware of his state of health and the night before he died I was sitting on his deathbed and he wished me all the best with the future Deadlock. He wanted that we continue this project against all odds and he hoped that I will get the success he thought I deserved. I often thought about that moment when I was sitting late night at the studio and tried to compromise this tragedy and the past years of DL in words and music.
Tobi knew Werner long before and was happy that he joined the Band. As a Producer by myself I worked with Werner several times before and so we were friends long before.
AN: Tell us a bit about Werner and your new bassist Christian Simmerl. Did they audition with others or were they already known to you? How do you think they have fitted in with the band?
Margie: Christian Simmerl and Werner Riedl are friends for a long time. Because Chris’ takes photos and films as a side job, Werner suggested him when we needed someone to shoot the parental leave video with Sabine and me. It was also known, that Chris played bass in a metal band called „Akrea“. Later Chris visited us at a gig and John liked him so much, he wanted him do play the bass in our band.
AN: Another major change was the departure of singer Sabine Scherer. I have to admit being a big fan of her voice and style and although it was obvious she was going to take time out with a new baby fully expected her to return for the new album. Was it a surprise to you when she decided to focus on her family and not come back or was it something that you were fully prepared for?
Margie: It was no total surprise for the boys, because family took more and more space in Sabine’s life. Everyone who has children can understand how it is to be separated from them. I think for a mother it’s even harder. So it was clear, that this decision will come. They only didn’t know when.
Basti: You have to know that Sabine is the twin of my wife and I meet her 3 times a week. So I had that feeling long before she told us that she will leave the band. For me as a father by myself I can fully understand her decision. I am also a big fan of Sabine and I am very thankful for everything she did for the band. I always tried to preserve a stable line up but times are changing and you have to go on. With Margie we found someone with 100% passion and commitment for this project. She is super professional in everything she is doing and I am very glad that we found her. She delivers live and off stage and she is just too smart and lovely that you simply can’t like her.
AN: Tell us a bit about the new vocalist Margi Gerlitz, where did you discover her? I can’t see any information on places like Metal Archives about her involvement with other bands in the past, she surely must have a musical background and can’t be entirely new to this?
Basti: Margie is a professional singer and vocal coach. She got her musical education at the same school Sabine got hers. In the last years she worked as a background singer, as well as lead singer in various bands. She’s very open-minded for many styles of music incl. Jazz, Rock, Metal etc…I can remember that when I first called her I felt that she could step up for the future lead singer in DL.
AN: Obviously you considered that it was common sense easing her into recording work as she had already been filling in for the band live. Was she the immediate choice or did you consider others?
Basti: Margie did a great job replacing Sabine on stage when she was pregnant and we harmonized also behind the stage. So it was clear to ask her, if she wants to join us in the future. She is also a vegan and convinced me personally with her excellent baking skills. But most important we felt that she wants to do it with passion.
AN: I found quite a few similarities stylistically between Margi and Sabine, would you agree with this, is there anything you would consider different that she brings to the dynamic of the band?
Basti: These things are for the critics and fans. We as a band only wanted to write an album where we can express our feelings on every second of the record. For us it was clear that Margie should not be a copy of Sabine or should sound like her. Margie has her own strong personality and that’s what she brings in. We knew that maybe some people don’t like the album with all the changes and always will live in the past but as I said we are looking ahead and can’t turn back time or change well thought decisions.
AN: The question that is no doubt going to be on everyone’s lips is if this is a permanent arrangement or if the door is open and even if it is likely that Sabine may return at some point?
Basti: I’m sorry to say that, but there is no chance, to bring Sabine back in the game. She closed the door! It was her decision and we accept that.
AN: Tell us a bit about the recording of the new album, how did it feel putting it all together with no less than three new members in the band? Did you work in a similar fashion to normal and were you all involved in the creative process?
Basti: For me as the long time songwriter it felt really good. We had this feeling of leaving the past behind, to transform our anger and wrath in hope and some kind of teasing out the essence of DL. Everyone was involved in the creative process and with our two producers Eike Freese (Darkage) and Ali Dietz (Heaven Shall Burn) we had two excellent music-berserkers who brought all together.
AN: Hybris – What does the word mean to you in the context of the new album and was it a title that immediately sprang to mind?
Basti: Hybris (engl. Hubris) is for me the state of the system we are born and raised into. We have to change a lot if we as humans want to live truly free and in peace in the future. It also has very personal connections with the death of Tobi and the past years of the Band.
It is also the opposite of Humility. We need a lot of it to fix this world.
AN: Can you tell us a bit about any overall concept within the album. I know some songs such as ‘Ein Deutsches Requiem’ a gorgeous tribute to Graf speak for themselves but is there any deep meaning behind anything else?
Margie: Of course, all of the songs have a special meaning to us. The songs are about misunderstood friendship, our view at the world and coping with the past, only to name a few topics.
AN: Speaking of ‘Ein Deutsches Requiem’ I was slightly confused about those soprano vocals. It sounded like a professional chorister but then as the song developed I wondered if it was actually Margi? If it was that might explain previous background but….
Margie: When Basti wrote „Ein Deutsches Requiem“ he had the idea of that soprano voice at the beginning of the song. Later we talked about who could sing that part and I said: „I think I can do this.“ Then we tried and decided that it sounds perfect to us.
Basti: Yes, it’s Margie singing the soprano vocals, although she has no classical trained voice.
AN: Backstory Wound must have a backstory of its own perhaps it ties in thematically with themes of Wrath and Salvation from the previous number. Basically the video for those who have not seen it focuses on the attempts of a trio of ladies attempting to escape from the clutches of a cannibalistic serial killer (or that’s my assumption). Tell us a bit about the very dark place this obviously came from?
Margie: As you probably know, Deadlock is a vegan band and did always write songs about animal rights and stuff like these. I know it’s an extreme point of view, but we wanted to show the parallels to the animal industry.
AN: In the past you have focused very seriously on themes such as animal rights and ecology. Is this still important to the band, has it become less so with new members joining?
Margie: Yes, these themes are still on our mind especially in days like these. The reason that we didn’t write as much about these kinds of things than before, is that we dealt with many problems in the last few years. We first had to process these things emotional. And that’s what happened with „Hybris“. It was a kind of cleaning and rebirth.
AN: I expect some of the questions I have asked are answered in the 90 minute DVD documentary ‘The Longest Road’ that accompanies the album. Can you tell us a bit about what it includes, it sounds like a major undertaking putting this together as well as the music?
Margie: „The Longest Road“ is, as you can possibly imagine, a view behind the scenery. We wanted to let our fans see, how we work and let them feel a little bit of the origin of „Hybris“. It’s also a very close look on every band member. And of course it was a lot of work for the crew and especially our base player Chris who did the complete cutting etc…
AN: Looking at your Facebook you have just played a 1st release show for the album at Rockharz Festival. The sea of hands in applause in the photo looks like it was triumphant and you have Summer Breeze and a few others coming soon. It looks like mainly festival dates at the moment. Any plans to take things further afield tour wise? I guess England is probably not the highest on the list to play?
Margie: With the new album we wanted to play as many festivals as possible. So we would be able to reach as many people as possible. But there are also plans for some shows in Southern Europe. And at the beginning of next year we also wanna do a Tour.
But as long as there are no concrete plans, I don’t wanna raise hopes. Unfortunately England is not yet on our list, but it would be fun to travel there.
AN: Thanks for your time again, any parting words you have for our readers ?
Margie: We hope that you like our new album and if we couldn’t convince you before, please give us another try. You won’t be disappointed, I swear.
(Pete Woods)
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