Hi, first off all I just want to congratulate you with your new album “Structures of Death”. Are you satisfied with it?
Mike Hanus: Yes, the new one kills! I think the production is done very well. The sound is transparent but still very powerful. It was for us the first time that we recorded the basic-tracks not in a Swedish studio but for the mix we went again to Studio Underground in Västeras, Sweden.
Who has produced and mixed the album?
Mike Hanus: We produced the album by ourselves with the help of the engineer Martin Schmitt. His studio is called Toninfusion. It’s in Ulm, very close to my hometown. For the mix and mastering we spent some days in Studio Underground together with Pelle Saether.
How long do you need to practice to feel comfortable with your songs before you record them?
Mike Hanus: When everybody in the band is satisfied with the new material and when we think we have done the best out of the new riffs or the song in the end. After that we are ready to record the number.
Who has done the cover artwork to your album?
Mike Hanus: It was again Uwe Jarling who did also the cover artwork for some of our other albums “Made of Flesh”, “Soulskinner”, “As Blood Rains from the Sky…” & the debut album “Descend into the Absurd”. He did again a really good job. The cover artwork of “Structures of Death” looks pretty cool – perfect for a death metal album!
How did you get your name Fleshcrawl?
Mike Hanus: Uuh, I think it was Markus Amann who played on the first two records the bass. He came up with the idea to call the band FLESHCRAWL. It’s long time ago – I’m not 100% sure if it’s right!? But anyway, the name sounds great.
How would you describe your music to any of our readers who may not have heard of you before?
Mike Hanus: 100% Death fuckin' Metal!
What tasks presently lie ahead for you?
Mike Hanus: We have to promote the new album “Structures of Death” – doing interviews, playing some shows and we hope to get a good tour offer to play a complete tour in the next months. A tour again in support for a bigger Death Metal act that would be great. We will see what happens…
Let's speculate - you have been granted a free slot on a tour of your own choice - who would be your ideal touring partners?
Mike Hanus: Touring again with Bolt Thrower that would be cool or maybe a tour together with Hypocrisy.
What albums or bands do you believe have had the greatest impact on the history of Metal?
Mike Hanus: The old Heavy Metal bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and stuff like that and for sure Slayer. I think Slayer was for every band that plays brutal music an influence in some way.
What are you doing besides Fleshcrawl, job wise as well as hobbies?
Mike Hanus: Beside FLESHCRAWL!? I’m working in a fuckin' call centre. There I help people that have problems with internet software. The most in my leisure time I spend into FLESHCRAWL and drinking beer hahaha…
Looking ahead, where do you want to be five years from now?
Mike Hanus: Uuh, I don’t know!? We still try to make the next step higher with FLESHCRAWL.
I thank you very much for participating in this interview and sharing this information and your thoughts with us - these last lines are entirely for you. Any final words you would like to round off with - a tip, a recommendation or a thought for the future?
Mike Hanus: Thanks for the interview and your support. Check out “Structures of Death” – Death fuckin' Metal!! Cheers!
