First off would like to congratulate you on your new album “Masked”. I am pretty
sure most of our readers do not know your background, so could you start by
telling us a bit about you and your musical background?
Machinemade God
– We started in 2003 and wrote our first songs. Shows followed. In 2004
we recorded a demo and about a year later we got signed by Metal Blade Records.
We released our debut CD in 2005 and played tons of shows and did some tours.
About a year later we released “Masked” and here we are, ready to enter the
world.
How has the response been on ‘Masked’ and what kind of expectations do you have
for it?
Machinemade God
– We were really excited this time, since Masked is different and might be
pretty unexpected for those who knew our debut. But the response has been
amazingly good, from the media as well as from our fans! We are really
satisfied.
If you should choose one song, which represents the essence of Machinemade God
on the album, which one would that be and why…
Machinemade God
-
That’s a hard one, cause the record is pretty diverse. I guess Forgiven is a
pretty good song that has actually everything what you can find on the record.
It’s fast, it’s epic, it features the orchestra and the clean vocals, and it has
the guitar solo and is all in all a beautifully brutal song.
If you should describe music to an absolute ignorant, what would you tell
him/her?
Machinemade God
– Heavy stuff that makes you wanna kill mixed with melodies that makes you
wanna make love. I guess the middle is ruff sex than.
Let’s get into the album – where did you record it and who produced it and so
on…
Machinemade God
–
We recorded in different studios. The Instruments were all tracked at the
“smart´n´hard-Studios” in Denmark. Jacob Brehdal did the engineering for us
there. The vocals were all tracked at the “tonstudio –BE!” in cologne. Sky, our
guitarist did the whole production for “Masked”. The mix was done by Daniel
Klein at the Maarwegstudio1 in cologne.
Was the
album completely written before entering the studio?
Machinemade God
– Yes, we did a pre-production for each single song, to be hundred percent
ready when we entered the studio, to make sure that we can work effective and
constantly while being in the recording process. We actually had two more songs
that didn’t make it on the record.
How
important is the lyrically side of Machinemade God – and what has inspired you
on the album?
Machinemade God
– I wanted the lyrics to be more diverse than on the debut. “The Infinity
Complex” was really personal according to the lyrics and almost one-sided.
“Masked” has different topics, some personal stuff as well, but this time I went
a bit further. A lot of songs deal with the problems in the society and politics
or the way we treat the earth.
Tell us a bit about the album art work…
Machinemade God
-
The artwork was done by Magdalena Nowak. We wanted something darker and mystic
looking. The Mask seemed perfect, cause you never know what’s behind a mask. You
have to take it off and discover what’s behind it. Its way more than what you
see in the first place. Same goes for our second album. If you have the first
one, you might expect the same sound, but get proven wrong. There are so many
details to discover.
Machinemade God, what’s the story behind it and is there some special anecdote
behind?
Machinemade
God – The Band name was already set when our ex-guitar player Holger started
the band and kept looking for other members. It comes from the Latin “deus ex
machina”, the god from the machine. That’s basically it.
What do you consider to be the biggest accomplishment for you and Machinemade
God?
Machinemade
God – Well, we already accomplished a lot within a really short time. We got
a record deal with Metal Blade Records, released our second full-length, and
played many good shows and really awesome festivals, like Summer Breeze for
example. We were flown out to Turkey for the RockStation Festival, which was
amazing and there’s so much more coming at us! We are really excited!
What are the strengths and where can Machinemade God improve?
Machinemade
God – We already improved a lot with this record compared to our debut. But
you can always improve in certain things. I guess we will know that later, after
the record is out for a while.
What immediately tasks lay ahead of you, any touring plans?
Machinemade God
-
We play a lot of shows until the end of the year and played some amazing
festivals like Summer Breeze Festival for example. We are already working on our
tour plans for next year, cause I doubt that we get a decent tour for this year.
All confirmed shows can be found on our website and our Myspace page.
Let’s speculate – you have been granted a free slot on a tour of your own choice
– who would be your ideal touring partners?
Machinemade God
– I guess bands like As I Lay Dying, Killswitch Engage, and Devil Driver
would be a really good tour for us.
Name an album, person or event that has had a huge influence on your life … and
why?
Machinemade God
– Day of Suffering – The eternal jihad actually made me turn vegan. A really
important record is Jane Doe from Converge. I was really stoked when I heard
that record for the time, the energy in the songs is intense! But I guess the
most influence on me had the misfits.
Give me your
shot at some albums you’d rip for your iPod if you were to be sent to the MIR
space station tonight.
Machinemade God
– Well my IPod has 80GB and it’s full, so I was ready to hit the MIR right
on the spot. Smiths and Morrissey, Maiden, Misfits and some Ambient Stuff
definitely have to be on it.
Which
album(s) have put a big smile on your face and has made you bang your head in
the past year?
Machinemade God
– Parkway Drive’s “Killing with a Smile” was amazing. Eve though it’s really
nothing new it made me move like crazy! Ignite’s latest album was just killer!
And the lost tracks of Danzig are absolutely rad!
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?
Machinemade God
– Thanks for the interview and thanks for reading this! We hope to see you
around pretty soon at a show! Enjoy "Masked" and always support your scene!
Interviewed by Kenn Jensen. | 
