Interview

How would you describe HYPNOTIC FACE with your own words to someone, who doesn't know the band?

I'd describe it as a really pretty good band, as well:) But if you want to get a seriuos answer, I'd say that we are a real power thrash metal band, which play music with a joy of playing, and we create just the best music we can.

Which bands would you name as influences of the sound of HYPNOTIC FACE and share the different members the same taste in metal music?

I don't want to name anyone as the influence, because we are trying to play just our own music and we don't copy anyone else!! I know, maybe you would like to hear Megadeth, because many people compare us to them, but it's not true. But if you want to know what bands are our favourite, I can say that there are just a few bands that all of us like. Maybe old Metallica, older Pantera, Sacred Reich, Testament. And everybody has his own favourite bands. For me is the best metal act Iron Maiden, then Anthrax, OverKill... I could name many, many bands. But as I told, we don't copy them, just like them. If you want to call it influence, why not. Actually, what's wrong with these bands?? Nothing.

How many of the songs at "The End Of Sanity" are older ("Nameless" and "Sea" were even part of the 1995-demo "The Animalman") and how many were written right before the recordings of the full-length-album?

Exactly, thera are 4 old songs. 3 of them were on the demo "The Animalman" (Nameles, Sea, M.L.A.H.L.) and one I found when I listened some our old gigs on the tapes. It's "End on clouds" . This song caught me with its strong feeling. We actually didn't remember any lyrics of that, just the name, that's why I had to write new one, and it was ready. Then there are songs composed during the period from WBL to TEOS (The Pimp, The Devil Within, The End Of Sanity) and the rest is brand new material, created right before recording.

What were causes that you just have made one demo, one EP and now this debut album within the last 9 years? Did HYPNOTIC FACE constantly have an active status?

Ohh, it's a hard question to answer. Why we are so lazy??:) No, we had 2 breaks during our HF career, but it was just for a few months in both cases. When we changed the line up. But the first change came at really wrong time, when we were almost under the top, when we were very succesful on the scene... Then we had to stand up and start again... The second cause is that we are living in the poor country, where is a total lack of money for everything. And none of us could give such big amount of money to the band which we needed for recording of some demos and stuff. And the third cause is that we are really just a little lazy:)

Are you satisfied with the work of your new label and how long will it maybe take until your second record is ready? Can you tell me something about a new album right now?

About our new label, it's too soon to tell anything, because we've been working together just a few months. Please ask me next year:)
About the second album: Unfortunately we are the contract just for one album with two options. It means, that Shark records need not to release another HF album, but can! It will depend on the sale numbers of TEOS. And if everything is alright, we could be ready to go recording new album within a year. We have some songs already in progress, but now we are just concentrating on live shows and promotion stuff. But if we reach the second album, we would be very satisfied!!

When you get negative reviews, at which point do you feel angry about it or do you always take some suggestions for improvement out of it?

It depends on the review. Generally, we fuck bad reviews and take just positive ones. I remember just 2 really negative reviews of our music so far. And it was about this way: From the Czech Rep. the mecca of grind core and death metal came normal metal act. Why?? Horrible, metal! (3 from 10 points). It's really funny, isn't it? To judge just of we are from!! I think it's a Fascist attitude. But of course we fuck such assholes which write such stupid reviews. On the other hands, if the review well discribes the music and the writer has some personal objects, we can think about it. Why not. For example we had mostly great reviews of EP "Written By Life", but some of the reviewers told that the vocal is sometimes a little bit "thin" for this hard music. That's why we attended more time to the vocals on TEOS. But you cannot expect, that we would change our musical style, when somebody writes that this music is 10 years old. I think, that doesn't mean, it's a wrong music!!

Do you like it to hear when somebody calls HYPNOTIC FACE a very old-school sounding band? Do you personally listen more to old-school or modern metal acts?

I don't like it, but we don't care. You know, becase we don't use keybords, don't play black or nu-metal, we must sound like old metal. It's not my opinion, but somebody says it. I think we have much better sound then old bands. And what concerned to me and what I listen to, it's about half/half, depending on what you mean the modern metal acts. I don't listen to nu-metal, but I listen to new albums of my favourite old bands!:)

What can you tell me about the metal scene in the Czech Republik in general and in contrast to other european countries?

I guess, the Czech scene could be similar as the scene in other European countries. A lot of black bands, death, gring, speed, nu-metal (fuck I don't understand why it's called this way, when it's not a metal indeed)... But maybe the thrash bands are missed here. We are almost alone... But I'm not expert of this scene. Generally I can say that here are many bands, maybe much more then listeners! :(

Did you have some gigs abroad until now and if so, can you please tell me a bit about that?

No, nothing so far. But I hope it will change soon! Within 2 weeks we should have played on the biggest Slovakian festival with Destruction as a headliner, we got there good conditions, but we had to cancel it due to some working obligations. Unfortunately we have no promoter or manager now, that's why everything lie on me now and I am just learning this stuff.

What was your best live experience up to now and why?

Hard to say. Every gig which we play well, is the great experience for me. Independently if the hall is full or not. But when we played as a support for OverKill it was amazing. Also the big experience was shooting live performance for TV program on our national TV station.

Do you thinkt it's more important for you to make quickly a good second album or to play as much live shows as you can? What are concrete future plans?

Just now we are trying to play as much live shows as we can. I think it's our priority now. The situation about the second album I have already described.

Who should buy your album and why?

Every metal fan, of course:) And why? Maybe:
1.Because I think it's a really good album.
2.Because it's not too expensive (if you order it directly from us or a label).
3.Because you can help us to record the second album.

Final words...

Thanx to you for your support, thanx everybody who listens and supports this music. Stay metal and enjoy your lives!!