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The speed/power german band is
certainly
one of the most represented act for the genre in the christian metal
scene, but not only. To dedicate the interview to us is the great
singer and guitarist Herbie Langhans.
Above all,
compliments for your music and your amazing work in Christian metal
scene.
At
the beginning, your name was The Preachers, now it's Seventh
Avenue.
What's the reason
about this change? What does your present name mean?
In
the beginning, in 1989,
 we played more rock music and we had a
very bad singer. Then we searched for a new singer and after a time I
started with singing (first I only played the guitars) then we also
changed our style and that was the reason why we also changed our name.
Seventh Avenue means that we will go our way in the music, in the
lyrics and in our style: that’s why the seventh (the number of God) and
the avenue, our avenue for Life and music!
Why have you chosen metal music in order to express your christian
message?
Because we love this music. I hear metal since I was 12 years old. Metal
has been for so many years a part of my life and its also a lifestyle
for me: I believe in Christ and that’s our kind of mission. We do what
we love combined in what we believe.
Your
line-up has changed many times during these years. What's the difference
since new bassist Markus Beck joined the group?
We
had a lot of changes in our history because there where a lot of not
true musicians and also other problems. But we had a long good ground of
the Band its me ('89) and our second drummer Mike ('96) Flo ('99) and
now we have a very good bass player, he loves to play bass and we love
him as a friend: he is perfect for the band.
Listening to
 your
cd's, everyone can realize the huge work about lyrics and music. How
many hours do you usually spend in the recording studios?
I
write songs in maybe one year or longer (I like to do it because then
they didn’t sound all the same) and in studio we need maybe about 5
month (but not everytime whole days because we all must work).
What
about the featuring with Victor Smolski? His guitar solo in Storm III is
wonderful!
He’s
became a good friend. I get in touch with him some years ago and he has
produced the vocals on the last two albums. I asked him if he want to
play a solo because it was the last Storm Part, and he did of course.
It’s
fantastic to work with this great talented man and we also had a lot of
fun with him in studio.
Future Tales is probably my favourite song in "Eternals", maybe it
better represents your style than the others (it's my opinion). Which
are your favourite tracks in the CD?
I
also like Future Tale and of course also Raging Fire and Infinite King,
it’s a good live song. But just wait for the next album, I think you
will love it.
Still
about "Eternals", Voice lyrics are really deep. What can you tell about
that? Are lyrics really important to you?
Lyrics are really important because those are the message and what we
believe. In Voices I sing about the voices in our mind that come from
Satan that says:
 "You
are nothing, you can’t do anything, you are not worthy, you are not good
looking...", but that’s not true, we are all unique and God loves us for
that and he really loves everyone, doesn’t matter what the voices say.
I've
seen you've played many times in Brazil, and we know Christian metal
scene has really spread over there. What about in Germany? Here in Italy
the scene is pretty "sleeping"
The
fans in Brazil are amazing every time; it’s very funny to play over
there. In Germany the Christian metal scene is O.K. we have had a lot of
good shows here, but it’s hard for us to play good shows or support
shows in the non-christian scene because that’s also would be very
important for us.
In
the rest of the world, is Christian Metal still increasing?
Yes I
think so. Metal is everywhere. We got fan-mails from everywhere in the
world.
Are
you satisfied with your success?
It's
O.K. but
 it
could be more of course. But we are going a good way, it comes more and
more with the years. We never go a step back, every time forward and
this is a good way for us. But of course we are dreaming to live from
the music one day.
Do
you usually listen to "extreme music"? What do you think about those
bands who spread christian message with black metal music?
I
don’t like too much that kind of music. Sometimes I hear but not too
much. But I think it’s good to have also good messages in that kind of
music because in that way you can get in touch with the extreme people.
I know a lot of good extreme Christian metal bands (Jesus was also very
extreme for those times where he lived).
Do
you have a particular relationship with other white bands? Which ones?
We
know a lot of good small bands and we are also good friends of
Lightmare, Narnia or Extol... it’s always nice to meet
the other bands because it’s a big family.
Tell
us about your future plans.
At
the moment we are in studio
 to
record our new album, it’s a concept history. We will record the rest of
the year and want to make it really good. We record again in our own
studio so we can try a lot. Then we will search for a new deal and we
hope to release next year in summer. I also hope we’ll have a lot of
good shows next year, but at the moment the album is the most important
thing because it would be of course a masterpiece in our history: this
we’ll be a special album!
Will
we ever see you play your music in Italy?
I
hope so, I hope so ! If you have any ideas how to bring us there just
tell me, we will come!
Just
leave a message for your Italian fans!
Hope
to see you all there some day to ROCK together !!! And just spend some
more years with us on our AVENUE !!!
ROCK ON!!!
Thank you very much! From your song (Goodbye):
"God bless you on all your way that’s my prayer for you. Goodbye my
friend!"
OK great! ROCK
ON!!!
Daniele Fuligno
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