Comparing
the abilities of such group by far these beings have immense talent
when it comes to being tried and true. When reviewing the MANDRAKE’s
material I was so upswept into the sound that they created, the
music gave clarity of something that what one can describe as
solely distinctive unto their own. It was an honor to get the
change to ask Lutz from MANDRAKE in his own words
what makes them a timeless piece of musical configuration. Gearing
up for this interview I pondered some questions that were focused
on the bands history as well as to where the band is going. Starting
off with the basics here we go ...
Jessie:
How long has band been together?
Lutz: The band MANDRAKE existed in this
form since summer 2002. The birth of MANDRAKE
was in the early 1997. Of this time I am the only member.
Jessie:
Since the release of Calm The Seas, has there been a
good response to the material?
Lutz: Yes. We are very pleased that the material got
such good response. Although there is some bad response too, but
that’s okay for us. It is not the kind of music for everybody
or even for the mainstream.
Jessie:
Not much is known with the band expect the music that is well
prepared, is there anything that makes MANDRAKE stand out from
the rest?
Lutz: I really can’t say. MANDRAKE
plays a style of Gothic-Metal style for which we like. I think
the guitars are different from the rest of the Gothic stuff.
Jessie:
How long did it take to record the album?
Lutz: It took more than a half year because we recorded
the album in three different sessions. Between the sessions we
wrote new songs for the album. So it was a process of writing
and recording.
Jessie:
Were there certain creative energies that went into play with
Calm The Seas?
Lutz: Yes. When you create your own songs it is always
a creative energy that goes into the songs. I always try to express
melancholic feelings in the guitar lines. Probably the listener
didn’t hear that, because the other instruments dominate
some parts in the songs.
Jessie:
Seeing that band has a melodic doom feel to it as well as gothic
elements, was this a vision that came together for the band?
Lutz: Hmm. We didn’t try to put some styles together.
All the songs were composed without thinking about styles or something
like that.
Jessie:
Songs are done elegantly well, especially hearing, Drowning
Maud Land that gives the band a softer side being exposed
from compared to Blue Hours Decade that is more of aggressive
point of interest, does the band strive to have combinations of
different aspects musically?
Lutz: No. Drowning Maud Land is a song only
with clean guitars. I liked that song very much. It was a good
decision to put this song in front of Blue Hours Decade.
That shows the contrast between being soft and aggressive. But
is not that we focus different musically aspects.
Jessie:
Who writes the lyrics?
Lutz: All lyrics and songs are written by me.
Jessie:
Can you give me a brief history on MANDRAKE?
Lutz: MANDRAKE was created in early
1997. We choose the name after seeing the movie Flesh And Blood.
In this movie a young princess eats a plant which is called Mandrake.
The plant will give her eternal youth and beauty. So it is a nice
myth and so we decided to take this name for our band which was
created after playing in a Bolt Thrower-like Death Metal band
called Sarcastic. The first line–up were the guys from Sarcastic.
After the release of a demo tape called Mandragora
Offizialis in 1997 and the debut album called Forever
in 1999 and after playing some gigs the band stopped being active
in early 2001. After some sessions with the band in early 2002
I decided to leave the band. In the past I have registered “Mandrake”
as a trademark so only I was allowed to use the band’s name.
Just one month later I had a new line-up which still exists. In
autumn 2002 we released a promo maxi called Entwine
with the new line–up. Only two months later we got the deal
with Greyfall, which is a sub label of Prophecy Productions. In
autumn 2003 we released our second album Calm The
Seas.
Jessie:
Whom has MANDRAKE toured with?
Lutz: Until now are not on tour. Hopefully in the future
we will be.
Jessie:
Asides from being with the band, are there any side projects that
the group is also involved with?
Lutz: Yes. Our drummer Jörg plays also in Rumble
Militia. Our bassist Garvin plays also in a New Metal band called
Nayled. I have a project with the singer of Mephistopheles called
Von Branden. Our second guitarist Julius plays in a Seattle combo
called Noiseome Paste.
Jessie:
Where do you see MANDRAKE within the next 5 years?
Lutz: I hope that the band grows to a more popular band
with touring and everything that is including with more popularity.
Jessie: What can one expect from MANDRAKE?
Lutz: A Gothic Metal band with a big melancholic touch.
No mainstream!
Jessie:
From a lyrical stand point the songs really grasp emotions of
inner pain and self reflection is there anything that the band
has wanted to convey with words that would be different from the
norm?
Lutz: No. The lyrics are based on my own personal rise
and fall with some people which once stood close to me.
Jessie:
Planning any shows in the near future? If so where?
Lutz: The next show we will play is on Wave Gotik Treffen
in Leipzig – Germany.
Jessie:
What groups would MANDRAKE like to share a bill with?
Lutz: Fasten your seatbelts: Lake Of tears, Katatonia,
My Dying Bride, Skepticism, Hypocrisy, Bathory, Dead Can Dance,
Mourning Beloveth, Decoryah, Let Me Dream, On Thorns I Lay, Rotting
Christ, The Cure, Sisters Of Mercy, Die Form, Tiamat, Alas, The
Vision Bleak, Sopor Aeturnus, Diary Of Dreams, The Gathering,
Deinonychus (hail Marco \m/) and many more.
Jessie:
Other than music what does the band do as a past time?
Lutz: Our drummer is the owner of the studio where we
recorded Calm The Seas www.soundlodge.de.
The rest of the band members are students in the North of Germany.
Jessie:
Any plans to play outside of Europe?
Lutz: Unfortunately no.
Jessie:
Thank you for taking the time out for this interview. I wish you
and MANDRAKE the very best in all your undertakings.
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