Interview Accu§er, FullMetal Osthessen 2018
Interview made with Frank Thoms, guitarist & singer of the German thrash metal band Accu§er. Interview made at the Full Metal Osthessen (Germany) in march 2018.
First of all, can you tell me how everything has
started for Accuser in the 80’s?
Before Accuser existed, I played in a band called Expect No Mercy in my
hometown Siegen. We released the album Steelbreed that time. In that city there
was another band, Breaker, who released the album Dead Rider. Besides others,
Volker Borchert and Eberhard Weyel played in that band. After their release,
they started working on new songs and recorded a demo. They asked me, if I were
interested in contributing some guitar solos to the new material. I agreed and
so came the idea to continue working together. We considered to form a new band
with a new name under that lineup. I wanted something fast and aggressive,
because Breaker already played that metal style and therefore the new band
should go into a new direction. First it was called Speed Metal which mutated
to Thrash Metal. In search for a new band name, we started with the letter A
and didn’t get very far in the alphabet, ha ha. Accuser was born!
You have released The Conviction (1987) - Who
Dominates Who (1989) & Double Talk (1991). But do you think Repent (1992)
have been the album who have been the main one who gave us some recognizing
around the world?
It was a new start for us because Eberhard Weyel had left the band and I
had a try on the vocals. For my different kind of singing, there were also a
lot of musical changes. There was also fondness to other genres like Death Metal
or bands like Sepultura. We changed the logo lettering in short to make a mark
of change. The album Repent went down well but it also got some critics because
not everyone is able to cope with changes.
After
the sixth album who is Taken by Throat (1995), the band have stopped any
activities. Why?
After 10 years of activity we had a lack of new ideas and motivation. We
didn’t disband officially, but everyone of us was searching for other things to
deal with. In the mid 90s it was quite difficult in the metal scene because new
stylistics let traditional bands sink into oblivion. We all recovered from this
finding phase and there’s something for everyone’s taste in the scene. Numerous
various bands who all have their fans. It actually couldn‘t be any better. For
quite a long time now we are again situated in a very vibrant Thrash Metal
scene as well.
The band have restarted in 2010 with the album
Agitation, what have made that you restarted to play and records new albums?
We had a band named Scartribe before releasing the album, but it mutated
from song to song more and more into Accuser. Therefor we decided to use the
written material to release another album as Accuser. Agitation, so to say was the kickoff.
After
the release of Agitation (2010), the band have release at least an album each 2
year, so the band is really inspired?
During our music-free phase a lot of ideas backed up without having
written specific material. Anyways, it was quite easy for us to write a lot of
new material in a short time without reducing the quality. “Latent ideas” is the right word for it 😊
What is exactly the inspiration when we talked about
lyrics when you start composing songs?
It’s mostly news, personal experiences or just topics we were thinking
about for quite a long time already. It all flows in and creates a text. Sometimes
it also happens, that the meaning gets twisted and therefore the topic changes
completely. It’s often interesting because you face the issue from a completely
different point of view and you can earn something for yourself. Social
criticism is still paramount but we also analyzed the sources of a happening
recently and leaked into human psyche.
When I listen the Forlorn Divide (2016), I’ve ear a
more aggressive song who are near or a mix of thrash and death metal, it was a
choice of the band, or everything have come naturally?
It’s the passion for Death Metal which leads us to produce new ideas. Many
technics and harmonies of this genre are unbeatable regarding the expression
and suit us well without losing our own parameters.
When
have started to work on the album Mastery (2018)?
Shortly after the release of The Forlorn Divide we started with the
songwriting. We usually start with fragments of ideas, which can be recorded
with a mobile phone quite quick for not forgetting the riff. Then we start
working on it and get into kind of a flow until there’s enough material for a
whole album.
Mastery (2018) is more thrash with great riffs, if we
compare it to Divine Forlorn (2016) so why this change between both album?
We’re always eager to let a forthcoming album not sound like a previous
one. The Forlorn Divide shall, just like The Mastery, stand for itself and not
be a copy of the predecessor. There are already new ideas about what we could
change on a new album without criticizing the previous written. It’s solely the challenge of creating
something new.
Is there some plans for touring to promote Mastery, or
summer festival?
Until summer we will play some single shows and there are also upcoming
festivals in planning. In fall we would like to go on tour but we’re still
waiting for a proper package.
Can
we expect to se you soon in North America?
We’re hoping for it. But the same here, we have to plan a suitable and worthwhile
package.
If you was having to say to your fans all around the
world about Mastery (2018) or Accuser, what it will be?
We’re very happy about the positive feedback we received for The Mastery
by our fans and the press media. These reactions are always really exciting for
a band because we can only deal with our own material in a subjective way. We
express our appreciation to all who follow us and hope for the same interest
and support in the future. Countless thanks!!!
Alain Labonte (Quebec-Metal & Frank Thoms (Accu§er)
Accu§er: https://accuser.de/
Catacombs Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjCJ3Y17g-0
Quebec-Metal Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QuebecMetal/
Quebec-Metal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quebecmetalarchives/
Interview by Alain Labonte
Photo by Karoline Hanna
Translation by Karoline Hanna
©Québec-Métal
