Rock In Review

Equilibrium
Helge Stang - Vocals

1. How long have you been a vocalist?

8 years by now. First I just did it because nobody else wanted to do this. But on Equilibrium I joined as a singer. For the first time, hehe.

2. Who are some of your main influences for your vocal style?

We started with cover songs of bands like Dimmu Borgir and Hyprocisy. At this time I tried to match their style, but then I developed my own way of singing. Okay, I did not invent the wheel again, but it works fine for me. Meanwhile, I take big inspiration of Taake or Novembre for example.

3. How does it feel to have your debut album coming out on Nuclear Blast Records?

Hehe, that is cool! The album even made it on the German album chart! That really feels better than the last time with last album on our old label that they still have not paid us for… grrrr.

4. What are your feelings on the final product of Sagas?

This time I am satisfied with the final product, unlike our first album Turis Fratyr. We all were involved in the production so we could avoid bad surprises.

5. What feelings/attitude went into writing the material for the album?

Puhhhh … many! I used lots of personal experiences I made during the last years. My journey to Norway for example, or my personal revenge on a guy I don’t like. From my side, this album is very personal.

6. Getting a bit more personal, I understand your favorite show is The Simpsons. Who is your favorite character? Why?

That must be Homer! I really can identify myself with this beer-drinking character.

7. Would you rather see Homer and the guys from The Simpsons in a commercial for Brennevin or would you rather be a character on the show drinking Duff?

What a question!!! I see commercials every day and keep ‘em in my mind for 15 up to 45 seconds, but being a character in “The Simpsons” … woo hooooo!! This reminds me of artists like Metallica or the Rolling Stones who appeared there once … so this would mean: Immortality!! And I always wanted to know how Duff tastes.

8. Getting back to the band, is there any talk of music videos for any of the songs from Sagas?

Yeah! Before doing this interview, I was working on the NTSC version of the bonus DVD, coming with the “Sagas” digi-pak. Next I’ll be downstairs to continue working on the “Blut im Auge” video clip.

9. If there is, do you think your experience in the visual effects industry will give you a bit of an edge over other bands’ videos?

Well, if you want “big cinema,” you always have to have a lot of money. Or time. We have neither nor. So I do the best I can besides my daily job and work on our video at night. But of course, because of my job, I look at video clips from a special point of view. But if you ask me as a singer of a band, I wouldn’t dare to judge other band videos. Call me tomorrow morning when I am at work, then things will look different, haha!

10. Lastly, what does the future hold for Equilibrium?

Tell me!! Who knows!? I don’t. But we got some wishes: touring across the world, doing great albums, and last but not least: to have at the minimum as much fun as we just had!!!

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