Interview with Seb and Tommy from the band Premortal Breath




By Mick Michaels





COSMICK VIEW: Hello, fellas! Welcome to The Cosmick View. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to chat with me, it's greatly appreciated.
Seb: It’s our pleasure! Thanks for having us!

CV: Do you feel Heavy Metal music in general is viewed differently by fans in Europe compared to fans elsewhere, especially in America, and if so why?
Tommy: I don´t think it is viewed differently around the globe. It is celebrated differently for sure. We have not played in American yet so we can’t compare Europe and America. But even in Europe there are differences. While in Germany most people rather stand there in a calm mood, in Czech Republic, for example, the crowd goes crazy and is in constant movement. But surely everywhere the view on heavy metal is almost the same. 

CV: What do you feel makes Heavy Metal music so alluring to the fans? What is it about the music that personally resonates so strongly with you?
Tommy: Heavy Metal is way more than just music. It is a way of living, coming along with massive feelings and emotions listening to it. On the one hand, it can make you go crazy and just let your emotions flow…on the other hand, it can calm you down after a very stressful day even by listening to more brutal stuff. Also, I like the depths of the lyrics in metal. There is no other genre covering so many aspects and dealing with even the most horrific topics.

CV: Has Metal splintered into too many sub-genres in your opinion, thus, making it harder for newer bands to actually classify themselves as one style over another?  Is it confusing for fans as well?
Seb: Yes. That is why we don´t put ourselves into any genre but let the listener decide where he wants to put us. When we are asked, we still stick to what we have always said: “We play Heavy Metal!” Period.

CV: How would you describe the current state of the music business considering we are now living in a COVID aware, and maybe even feared world? Have things drastically changed long-term for artists and bands given the recent pandemic? What are your thoughts?
Tommy: In the long run we are pretty sure the world will be the same again someday and return to a pre-pandemic state. Surely it will take some time to get there again and to get familiar with the “old” normal. Actually, isn’t that what we’re all looking forward to… going back to normal and enjoying live shows?

CV: What do you feel makes your band and its particular approach to songwriting work? What keeps the band together and making music?
Tommy: Premortal Breath is a hobby for all of us. We all have regular jobs and most of us have kids. Premortal Breath exists for more than a decade now and we want it to exist for decades to come. The secret is that we are true friends and stick together.If one of us hits a rough patch, we try to support or give him space until things are sorted out. We meet for barbeques, beer tastings or just to chat. So it is not just making music together but rather being a small family.

 

CV: On a more global view, how do you see your band’s music and songwriting separating itself from just being another Heavy Metal act?
Tommy: We don´t take ourselves too seriously even though we evolve further with every song we write. Nevertheless, Premortal Breath has its unique style. Play any new song that has never been released and our fans will immediately know that it is a song by Premortal Breath…even without vocals.

CV: Can an artist truly be unique? Some would argue there is no such thing as being unique; that it’s nothing more than a compounding of influences making an artist who or what they are. Would this then say that artists today are destined to be just copies of those who have already come to pass?
Seb: Well, of course there are only so many possibilities to arrange musical notes to create melodies, for example. However, I think music does consist of so much more: atmosphere, a unique style of playing, lyrics, just to name a few ingredients. Some bands or artists have a sound the own…AC/DC, Motörhead, Metallica, Slayer. If you just want to sound like them, you will end up copying, but you don’t have to – try sounding like you!

CV: Are there life lessons to learn being in a Heavy Metal band that you feel cannot be taught elsewhere? If so, what are they?
Tommy: In Heavy Metal there is absolutely no place for racism, fascism, or any other kind of prejudices. We are one race and all are accepted as they are. Metalheads are quite relaxed and make a great audience. We’ve never experienced that the security on a heavy metal festival had a busy day. 

CV: What do you feel makes someone a “rock star”? Does being a rock star automatically make one iconic or are the two completely different in your opinion?
Seb: In my eyes being iconic has got nothing to do with being a “rock star”. Iconic in music applies to artists who define a genre: Elvis, The Beatles, Queen or Michael Jackson. Iconic metal bands would be Iron Maiden, Metallica or Slayer. The term “rock star” is multifaceted and can also be used in a derisive way to describe a behavior that is startling, maybe even annoying, but not iconic.

CV: What's next for you? What can fans expect to see coming as the world looks to surmount a new normal laced with a load of restrictions?
Tommy: Our brand-new EP “Of Angels and Wolves” will be released on September 10th with a release party at the HAWK FEST 3. This will not be the end of Premortal Breath for sure. We already have new ideas and will work on new songs for our next album. We also hope that we will be able to play gigs again on a more regular basis than in the last 2 years.

CV: Thank you again fellas for spending some time talking and sharing with our readers. It was a pleasure. I wish you all the best and continued success.
Seb: Cheers and thank you so much again for the invite. Take very good care and stay healthy.

Check out Premortal Breath at:
Official: http://www.premortalbreath.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PremortalBreath/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premortal_breath/

 

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My name is Mick Michaels...I'm an artist, music fan, songwriter, producer, show host, dreamer and guitarist for the traditional Heavy Metal band Corners of Sanctuary. Writing has always been a creative outlet for me; what I couldn't say in speech, I was able to do with the written word.  Writing has given me a voice and a way for me to create on a multitude of platforms including music and song, articles, independent screenplays, books and now, artist interviews. The Cosmick View is an opportunity to raise the bar and showcase artists in a positive and inspirational light. For me, it's another out-of-this-world adventure.




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