Was it based on personal experience or simply passive observation?

What happened in the recording studio or on stage to make one song sound different from the rest?

These are just some of the question bands and musicians attempt to answer in Line 'em Up - the newest page of The Power Of Metal.Dk.

This is where your favourite bands comment on their albums, track by track, because as someone once said, “Ideas are the building blocks of ideas”.

Enjoy!

Here’s a chance for you to tell our readers about your new album “Systematrix”. But could you please start off by introducing the readers to the band and give a short version of the biography?

Ivanhoe were founded in  1986 by Markus Britsch (Keyboards), Giovanni Soulas (Bass) and drummer Lars Hörnig, the first album Visions and Reality (1992) was recorded with the line-up Andy B. Franck (Vocals), Chuck Schuler (Gitarre), Giovanni Soulas, Lars Hönig and Markus Britsch. the current line-up reads Mischa Mang (Vocals), Matthias Biehl (Drums), Schuler, Soulas, Richard „Richy“ Seibel (keys).

And now onto “Systematrix”… track-by-track, what inspired you, what topics are you dealing with, what do you want to express with this song etc?

Yes, that’s right – it wasn’t supposed to become a conceptual album – it just developed into that. Musically and especially lyrically. Here is a short explanation of our lyrics.

Human Letargo

Mister X is sitting at the seaside and views all the thrash in the water. All of a scudded he has got the feeling the earth wants to tell him about the human letargo so he understands things better and can do something about it.

Wall Dancer 

Mister X shows under the cover and the tracked relationships. He uncovers that his life is a walk on the thin line between madness and methodics.

Tin Cans Liberty

One of the enjoyable things on this side of the wall. Mister X escapes into alcoholics and the alleged freedom that you can find on the bottom of the can.

Mad House

Mister X is caught between two worlds. On the one side the safe system, on the other sheer madness. It is just a matter of time until everything breaks down. After his escape through beer and LSD he now experiences the „Mad House“.

Learning Path

Mister X has become calm although his thoughts remain. He is in a dialog with the universe about his hopes and things that go wrong. He takes a view on mankind and the question how the way of learning can be taken faster.

Brokers Lingua Nera

The currency dealers make profit with the harm of others. The use a technical language which Mister X calls the brokers lingua nera.

Systematrix

Mister X uncovers a system behind all the lies and pre-justice of the other word – but only him and he finds out that this world is invincible. He was caught when all of his family in the matrix  explored the „Systematrix“.

War of the Centuries

Mister X realizes that the war who brings so much disaster on mankind is a war for money. This is the biggest of all wars, a war of centuries.

The Symbiotic Predator

Mister X writes about his journey to the inner of the Systematrix, as the  “symbiotic predator”.

I. Seduction

The seduction of mankind.

II. Resolution

The resolution of mankind.

III. Late Recognition

The later recognition.

I have to admit that the artwork is really creepy; almost like it is from a horror film. Who created this cover art, and what exactly is the inspiration?

The idea cam from Gio Soulas and it was created by Minz Meyer.

It shows how capitalism brings us down.

You guys have been around for a long time. What’s the biggest difference between your previous albums and this release? 

The biggest difference is the departure of Achim Welsch (guitarist and producer), so we others had to take over his part.

Are there any songs on the album that gives you any special feelings?

For me it’s „Madhouse“ the arrangement of the song is really special for me.

Who and what has inspired you musically on this album? 

Most of the songs were written by Gio I did some work on the arrangements then.

What are some bands/albums that you have been digging lately? 

My latest dig is Mastodon, they are not really new, but I just explored them.

Do you have any plans for gigs or shows this year, or what’s the plans for the band this summer, maybe say hello to little Denmark?

We will play some gigs in Germany and one in Austria, let’s see what comes else, it would be great to play in Denmark – we never been there yet. .

Thank you very much for answering my questions. Any last words you want to round this interview off with?

Many thanks to all our fans for their support – without you Ivanhoe would not be possible

Cheers Chuck

Jason Spencer, September 2013