They're young, hot and up-and-coming. They're Danish (hot, I told ya!), and they play theatrical metal with all the great elements that come with the style. Whoppin' guitar solos, neo-classical shredding and keyboard/guitar duels, as well as impressively dramatic vocals. One cannot simply not love them. Guitarist, composer and band founder Henrik Flyman took the time to answer a few short questions. By the way: He is a mighty cool dude. Now read on.

Alex: Tell me about how the band came into being? Was there a lot of alcohol involved?
Henrik Flyman:
For me it started with a long period of nasty dreams, which in time got more or less scored, kind of like a movie. EVIL MASQUERADE is a realization of that. I found Brockmann in a blues club in Copenhagen. He was up on stage with some local guys. We started talking and yes... drinking. Later on we ended up in my studio. Next morning a couple of tracks were recorded and we were happy with the outcome. The next thing was to find the other musicians. I contacted Dennis and Kasper to hear if they wanted to join. When they heard the pre productions they said yes right away. If there was a lot of alcohol involved. Hmmm... I guess it was, looking at it from a Danish perspective. But being a Swede I think it was the normal thing. No absinthe though.

Alex: How long have you played the guitar, and which persons would you count as influences?
Flyman:
I have played for about 15 years. I’m not influenced by any special guitarist. I have never sat down and tried to learn how others do what ever they do. But one of my favorites are Ritchie Blackmore. The reason being his own unique way of playing and of course his songwriting skills. I’m mostly interested in instrumentalists having a personal style. If it’s possible to know who plays the guitar, drums, bass or whatever... just from hearing a song, it’s pretty impressing.

Alex: How did you hook up with Kasper and Dennis? They're very talented guys, but I've never heard their names before, so what's the story?
Flyman:
I saw Dennis for the first time when he was playing with his former band Sinphonia. I was impressed and thought right away that this guy would be great to play with. That was several years before EVIL MASQUERADE was even in my mind. So when I needed a drummer I knew immediately who to call. Kasper is also known from Wuthering Heights and Manticora. I met him when I needed a bass player to join ZooL live on tour. That never happened, but we have kept in touch after that. He was my first choice when EVIL MASQUERADE was coming to be.

Alex: A question for Henrik Brockmann: You have a kick-ass, clear voice, somehow reminiscent of ... well I don't know. I can't compare your voice to anyone else's, which is a good thing, I guess. But which singers do YOU admire, and count as your influences?
Henrik Brockmann:
Thank you for the nice words about my voice. Actually I try to make my own sound and I don’t compare my voice to anyone else. So therefore I'm happy to hear that you have difficulties to find other singers that sound like me. I try my best to make some variations in my voice to make the story more interesting. On this album we worked a lot with the expression to make it sound more like musical in some parts, just to turn it all around and go back to a more classic metal or hard rock sound.
I have always loved the voice of singers from the older hard rock bands such as: Ian Gillan, David Coverdale, Freddie Mercury and Robert Plant, but at the same time I also like to listen to some of the newer singers from bands like: Dream Theater, Malmsteen, Audioslave and Pretty Maids. The most important for me when I listen to a singer is that he tries to put some feelings into it and not just use techniques and high notes. It’s more interesting fore the ear to listen to in the long run.

Alex: How did you come up with this theatrical / symphonic thing, as far as image goes?
Flyman:
I think it’s a good thing to make the visual image an extension of the music. Therefore it came rather natural for as to dress up for the masquerade.

Alex: I take it you're into classical music wholesale. Do you think Beethoven and Bach would have dug metal, had they been alive today?
Flyman:
I not only think they would have dug it. They would have played it as well! Remember, they also had long hair.

Alex: Are you planning on taking in a full time keyboardist to the band, and are there any names available at this time?
Flyman:
We would very much like to have a permanent keyboard player. But it’s important to have the right guy behind the keys. Therefore we haven’t decided anything yet. We have several interesting names, but I don’t want to say too much right now. One thing certain is that there will not be a problem for us, performing live. Someone will be there, and he will be good.

Alex: If you could choose any period of time to live in, which one would you choose?
Flyman:
How about the present? But I would be absolutely delighted to live in the future as well.

Alex: Touring is a must. Any festivals one could hope to see you at in the near future?
Flyman:
Yes, touring is great fun. I don’t know about when or where at the moment. We have some gig promoters working on that right now, and I haven’t heard anything just yet.

Alex: Hailing from Denmark, you guys surely must drink a lot of beer... Tuborg Gold, Carlsberg... I could go on and on. Do you party a lot after shows?
Flyman:
I never say no to a large beer in good company.

Alex: A BIG FUCKING HAIL FROM SWEDEN, TACKAR TACKAR, HEAVY METAL ON YOU ALL!
Flyman: COPENHAGEN SALUTES YOU TOO! VARSÅJÄVLAGOD!!! 666

 

4/2004 © Alex Nyström • Evil Masquerade