MM: You and the band just got back from Europe to play a pair of festivals. You played in Germany with Overlorde some year back, so this will not be new to you, but surely you must have been excited about it all the same.
BL: As you said I played Keep it True in '05 with Overlorde. But I was very excited this time around because I was playing in Würzburg, and that is where I was born. My dad was stationed in the army there and my mom went over to be with him because she missed him so much. She was six months pregnant with me when she flew over and gave birth to me in Würzburg at the army base.
It felt very special to be visiting the town I was born in. I never would have thought I'd get to see where I was born. Würzburg is beautiful. Germany is beautiful, period. And the people are very warm and friendly—metal fans are awesome over in Europe. This was also the first time I was in Spain. They had the most incredible metal bar there called Tyrant that you would have to see to believe. Both the German and Spanish promoters took very good care of us. We were treated like rock stars! We met some awesome people over in Europe.
MM: With “Giants of Canaan” just coming out on February 2nd, I know it’s difficult to think about the future right now, but what is next for the band? I know the top priority when the band returned from hiatus was to get a new album under their belts before working the live circuit again, so I assume the next several months will be dedicated to some work on the road? Is Attacker all the way back as a touring and recording outlet on a consistent basis, or are there no particular plans for the immediate future? I guess what I’m mainly asking is this: are there more albums to come?
BL: Absolutely. We are already looking forward to writing the new record. It's always best to strike while the iron is hot, and there is no shortage of inspiration in this band. We do have more shows booked as we speak; as a matter of fact, we will be doing shows with a few of my favorite metal bands: Helstar, Heretic, and Finnish metal legends Oz ! Just check out our Facebook page for dates and clubs. We plan on doing at least one show per month. I believe we have three dates with Oz—which is going to kill!
MM: Lastly, you have worked on a number of projects outside of Attacker over the years, not all of which are buried and forgotten. Are you more or less ready to go should Overlorde go into the studio to record a new album? Have you abandoned the idea of resurrecting Morbid Sin?
BL: I certainly will sing on another Overlorde album as soon as it's all set. As far as Morbid Sin goes, at the moment I am leaving that band on the backburner. I wouldn't resurrect Sin again unless I had at least two more original members with me. You can say I pretty much gave up on the idea of that ever happening. I do have material of my own that I wrote, which may appear on a solo album of mine some day. I write pretty doomy, Sabbathy stuff. But there are also elements of thrash and traditional in there too. If I do a solo album one day, I'll also play rhythm guitar on it as well as sing.
I met Joe Hasselvander, drummer of two of my absolute favorite bands, Raven and Pentagram. We actually talked a little about the possibility of us working together on a song or 2 one day. Who knows? That would be intense! I'm like a kid in a candy store right now—this is turning out to be a great experience for me. The Attacker guys are all very down to earth and great people. We have a blast together. Five clowns. But we’re five like-minded clowns...when it comes to business and the music, we are 110%, and that's very important. I'm back where I belong, and I want to make the most of it. A lot of people don't get a second chance. I had almost given up music altogether at one point. I'm glad I didn't.
MM: Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions. As a show of gratitude, the last words are yours.
BL: Thank you for the interest Matt. This is one of the better interviews I've done—your questions were intelligent and I can tell you’re passionate about what you do. That makes for a better interview all around. In closing I'd like to thank the fans first and foremost—you are the reason we do what we do. The guys in Attacker for giving me the opportunity, and Mark Edwards for helping it become a reality, Jowita and Simone of Metal on Metal Records, and also to Lou Ciarlo, the sixth member of Attacker, and Pat “Taps” Guden for helping us create the masterpiece that is “Giants of Canaan”. And a big thanks to my girlfriend Betty Nitkoski for her love and support through it all, and putting up with a crazy boyfriend! I'm on Facebook if anyone wants to say hello. Thanks again—and METAL ON!
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