All Interviews
Pyramaze
Pyramaze
Posted on Apr 5, 2006
by Anders
The Danish based Pyramaze is now ready with their second album, the concept album "Legend Of The Bone Carver" a well -written and -performed story. I got in touch with the band's songwriter and guitarist Michael Kammeyer. Though the 2 leading powers in the band may be the 2 Americans vocalist Lance King and keyboarder Jonah Weingarten, even though all the in the band are delivering a hell of a performance.
Hi there, will you please start off by introducing yourself?
My name is Michael Kammeyer, and I am the guitarist and songwriter of Pyramaze.
A small introduction of the rest of the band will be great as well, together with a bit about what they contribute to the band with!
Lance King (vocalist) he's the "experienced" guy in the band. He's been in the metal scene for a long time, and is a fantastic vocalist. Morten Gade Sørensen (drums) he's our "technical wizard" - meaning he's got an education as computer data-mechanic, and therefore he's really into all the technical stuff surrounding computers and modern technologies. Niels Kvist (bass) he's our musical "genius", 'cause he studies at the royal Danish academy of music. So he's really fantastic when it comes to putting music down to 'words' and understanding the theoretic parts of music. Jonah Weingarten (keyboards) he's an incredible talent on the keys and piano. He's only 22 years old but he's been playing since he was 6 or something. Then there's Toke Skjønnemand (guitars) he's the "chick magnet" ;-) I don't know what it is, but girls seem to like his 'rock star' approach to life he-he!
You are soon ready with your new release, how do you feel about it?
I'm very happy about it. It's a big production, and we wanted to make everything a bit more epic and slightly more orchestral this time, but without loosing our heaviness, and I think we have done a great job. First reviews and fan reactions have already rolled in, and it's looking good so far.
What do you expect from it?
I expect this record to take us one more step up the "metal-latter". Our goal is to establish Pyramaze as a metal band known for great songs and quality, and I think this new album will prove and confirm the quality we already showed with the previous record "Melancholy Beast".
When you started out to write/compose new material, what did you then want to accomplish with it?
Hmmm, what every band wants I guess. I wanted to make as good a product as possible, and therefore open doors to better concerts and more airplay and stuff like that. Also since this is a concept album, I really wanted to prove that Pyramaze is about some strong lyrics and stories too.
Do you feel that you have accomplished that?
Yes - definitely.
Where do you find inspiration when you write music?
Everywhere really. I reflect on everything that happens around me, and then I find whatever I need deep inside and put it down to notes and lyrics.
Is there anything specific that has influenced the writing process to the new album?
Hmmm, no not really. I just wanted to write a good epic fantasy story. To write this story I had to use bits and pieces of everything that I have learned at a human so far, and try to put that into words and music. I don't have a precise prescription to how I do it, it just comes to me once I start the working process. But being a fan of epic fantasy stories and that sort definitely was the driving force behind the writing of this album.
Can you mention 3 bands and 3 songs that have meant the world to your way of writing music/singing?
Well, bands I would say: Blind Guardian, Iced Earth and Nightwish. I can't mention any specific songs - there are just too many I love.
What do you want to bring the world with your music and how do you want people to receive your music?
I want to entertain and make people think and enjoy. Hopefully our music will be well received, and also make people leave the 'real world' for a while and think in different directions.
Will you initiate us in the lyrical universe of the band, which themes do you touch etc…?
Oh, that's very different of course. But with this new album it's a fantasy story taking place in a medieval kind of world. Therefore the lyrics are limited to this story. But other than that it can be a wide span anywhere from love to hate and from personal stories to just fantasy, horror or anything really.
Where is the inspiration for the lyrics usually found?
Well, as I mentioned before I reflect on everything that happens, so there's no certain source. Everything goes into this big "grinder" inside of me, and when I need to come up with a story I dive deep down inside and try to find what I want to express.
Will you pick out your 3 favourite tracks from the new release and guide us through the music and lyrics, and tell us how you got the idea for the music and lyrics, etc…?
I don't have any favourite tracks, since I really like them all. But I can give a brief preview of this concept album: The story is about a young innocent creature being born into the world. There's no mother and no father so it's kind of a divine birth. The story is about his growing up, and finding out that he has some special powers. We follow him through his life, and witness magic things and the horror of evil and war. It's essentially about his fate and about how he discovers that he's not from this world and eventually we will find out if he's the one who has to bring back the balance.
How important is the lyrics compared to the music?
Very important- since it's a concept album the listener will appreciate it much more if they dive down into the lyrical side of the album.
Do you have any touring planned in support of your new release?
We have some gigs lined up for this summer. We are playing in Denmark, Germany, UK and the USA so far. For more info please visit www.pyramaze.com
How do you look upon the future of the band?
Bright I would say. There's definitely a buzz about Pyramaze in the metal scene, and I think if we keep producing strong songs with lots of melody we will survive.
Will you share your 5 all time favourite albums with our readers?
Oh - that's a hard one. I guess it comes down to the following albums:
The Lord Of The Rings Soundtrack
Blind Guardian - Imaginations From The Other Side
Iced Earth - Something Wicked This Way Comes
Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet
Nightwish - Wishmaster
Thanks a ton for answering my questions, if you have anything to add, feel free to add it now!
Thank you too, it's been fun. Thanks to our fans - and if you're not yet a fan, please check us out ;-) Cheers!
My name is Michael Kammeyer, and I am the guitarist and songwriter of Pyramaze.
A small introduction of the rest of the band will be great as well, together with a bit about what they contribute to the band with!
Lance King (vocalist) he's the "experienced" guy in the band. He's been in the metal scene for a long time, and is a fantastic vocalist. Morten Gade Sørensen (drums) he's our "technical wizard" - meaning he's got an education as computer data-mechanic, and therefore he's really into all the technical stuff surrounding computers and modern technologies. Niels Kvist (bass) he's our musical "genius", 'cause he studies at the royal Danish academy of music. So he's really fantastic when it comes to putting music down to 'words' and understanding the theoretic parts of music. Jonah Weingarten (keyboards) he's an incredible talent on the keys and piano. He's only 22 years old but he's been playing since he was 6 or something. Then there's Toke Skjønnemand (guitars) he's the "chick magnet" ;-) I don't know what it is, but girls seem to like his 'rock star' approach to life he-he!
You are soon ready with your new release, how do you feel about it?
I'm very happy about it. It's a big production, and we wanted to make everything a bit more epic and slightly more orchestral this time, but without loosing our heaviness, and I think we have done a great job. First reviews and fan reactions have already rolled in, and it's looking good so far.
What do you expect from it?
I expect this record to take us one more step up the "metal-latter". Our goal is to establish Pyramaze as a metal band known for great songs and quality, and I think this new album will prove and confirm the quality we already showed with the previous record "Melancholy Beast".
When you started out to write/compose new material, what did you then want to accomplish with it?
Hmmm, what every band wants I guess. I wanted to make as good a product as possible, and therefore open doors to better concerts and more airplay and stuff like that. Also since this is a concept album, I really wanted to prove that Pyramaze is about some strong lyrics and stories too.
Do you feel that you have accomplished that?
Yes - definitely.
Where do you find inspiration when you write music?
Everywhere really. I reflect on everything that happens around me, and then I find whatever I need deep inside and put it down to notes and lyrics.
Is there anything specific that has influenced the writing process to the new album?
Hmmm, no not really. I just wanted to write a good epic fantasy story. To write this story I had to use bits and pieces of everything that I have learned at a human so far, and try to put that into words and music. I don't have a precise prescription to how I do it, it just comes to me once I start the working process. But being a fan of epic fantasy stories and that sort definitely was the driving force behind the writing of this album.
Can you mention 3 bands and 3 songs that have meant the world to your way of writing music/singing?
Well, bands I would say: Blind Guardian, Iced Earth and Nightwish. I can't mention any specific songs - there are just too many I love.
What do you want to bring the world with your music and how do you want people to receive your music?
I want to entertain and make people think and enjoy. Hopefully our music will be well received, and also make people leave the 'real world' for a while and think in different directions.
Will you initiate us in the lyrical universe of the band, which themes do you touch etc…?
Oh, that's very different of course. But with this new album it's a fantasy story taking place in a medieval kind of world. Therefore the lyrics are limited to this story. But other than that it can be a wide span anywhere from love to hate and from personal stories to just fantasy, horror or anything really.
Where is the inspiration for the lyrics usually found?
Well, as I mentioned before I reflect on everything that happens, so there's no certain source. Everything goes into this big "grinder" inside of me, and when I need to come up with a story I dive deep down inside and try to find what I want to express.
Will you pick out your 3 favourite tracks from the new release and guide us through the music and lyrics, and tell us how you got the idea for the music and lyrics, etc…?
I don't have any favourite tracks, since I really like them all. But I can give a brief preview of this concept album: The story is about a young innocent creature being born into the world. There's no mother and no father so it's kind of a divine birth. The story is about his growing up, and finding out that he has some special powers. We follow him through his life, and witness magic things and the horror of evil and war. It's essentially about his fate and about how he discovers that he's not from this world and eventually we will find out if he's the one who has to bring back the balance.
How important is the lyrics compared to the music?
Very important- since it's a concept album the listener will appreciate it much more if they dive down into the lyrical side of the album.
Do you have any touring planned in support of your new release?
We have some gigs lined up for this summer. We are playing in Denmark, Germany, UK and the USA so far. For more info please visit www.pyramaze.com
How do you look upon the future of the band?
Bright I would say. There's definitely a buzz about Pyramaze in the metal scene, and I think if we keep producing strong songs with lots of melody we will survive.
Will you share your 5 all time favourite albums with our readers?
Oh - that's a hard one. I guess it comes down to the following albums:
The Lord Of The Rings Soundtrack
Blind Guardian - Imaginations From The Other Side
Iced Earth - Something Wicked This Way Comes
Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet
Nightwish - Wishmaster
Thanks a ton for answering my questions, if you have anything to add, feel free to add it now!
Thank you too, it's been fun. Thanks to our fans - and if you're not yet a fan, please check us out ;-) Cheers!
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