We ventured deep into the Black Forest Meta to speak with Vas and Kaizer Von Loopy from Hanzel Und Gretyl.
Hi Vas. Hi Kaizer. How are you guys getting on?
Vas: I’m getting on quite well, thank you. Just returned from an awe inspiring trip to Greece. So I’m feeling quite rejuvenated.
Kaizer Von Loopy: SEHR GUT!
Can you gives us an abridged history of HuG?
Vas: 25 years and go!
Ok we were born in 1995 as Ausgeflippt Babies, grew up as teenagers in outer space with Transmissions form Uranus. Got thrown out into the Black Forest to fend for ourselves, grew angrier and warlike until Metropolis adopted us in 2003 and released Uber Alles. After this we went straight to hell with Scheissmessiah. Created a massive end of the world Beer Party Oktotenfest with 2012-Zwanzig Zwolf, then we joined a Biker Gang and got serious with Born to Be Heiled. We then drove our hogs deep into the Black Forest where we made some dark ritual magic and got back to our roots with Black Forest Metal which then spawned our darkest fears of Satanik Germanik.
In between this we managed to tour with Marilyn Manson, Rammstein, Ministry, Cradle of Filth and headline tours worldwide along the Burning Path.
“Twenty thousand people at 1pm. That was huuuuuge.”
Kaizer Von Loopy: We came, we drank, we conquered.
Tell us a about your latest album Satanik Germanik.
Vas: Satanik Germanik is the second installation of the Grimm Shiza Trilogy. We are delving deep into the Grimmness of the fairy tale. Lets say it’s as if the lost children are expressing their darkest feelings while existing deep in the woods.
Kaizer Von Loopy: Satanik Germanik is the second installment of our Black Metal Trilogy. With these 3 offerings we are exploring all areas of the occult, satanism, and all other dark ritual-type madness as it might pertain to the original Brother’s Grimm Fairy Tale Hansel and Gretel. In the context of our reimagined tale over a period of 25 years, we are galactic time travelers that are now possessed by satan! Satanik Germanik leans heavily on spooky backwards church chants, ominous gonging church bells, slow grinding guitars and Vas’ witch-like vocal growls and shrieks. Although it is called Satanik Germanik the chants are in Greek. It would be a great soundtrack for the next tripped out Exorcist sequel.
I went into a charity shop (I think the US equivalent is a good will store) wearing a HuG T that I got when I saw you guys in Glasgow a few years back and it drew me some unwanted attention from a member of staff. Has there been any public outcry over the imagery that you use especially with the mainstream press pushing a resurgence in national socialist propaganda?
Vas: Which shirt was it? I don’t think our shirts are offensive. I see them as aesthetically pleasing and individualistic. [much like myself – Ed]
The only public outcry we got with shirt designs was when we played a corporate sponsored event like the Mer’a Luna Festival. They banned our double skull shirt and eagle shirt. [That’s the one – Ed] Kind of pathetic since the majority of all metal shirts are offensive cause if its not a tad offensive it’s just boring. But since then we’ve had no problems.
“We’ve never had a problem letting our imaginations run wild.”
Kaizer Von Loopy: I have heard of people being accosted wearing our swag. On the surface I suppose some of it can look offensive. Few people in passing will take the time to further examine it and discover the many layers of irony! If they did, they would probably appear to be schizophrenic. Unless you are prepared to do a lot of impromptu explaining or you just like to cause uneasiness on line at Starbucks I recommend not wearing our swag in public! [But do buy it because truth be told it looks awesome wherever and whenever, and especially in Starbucks – Ed]
You guys have got an extensive discography. How do you keep inspired between writing and touring?
Vas: Well, first off, when we tour we don’t write and when we’re writing we have a long time free of not touring. In other words the two don’t go together. Inspiration for writing comes out of the blue. One cannot force ideas. They come as gifts. And as for touring, it’s the most fun.
We’re getting ready to write the next CD so we are in the Let’s Get Inspired mode. For me it’s writing daily, walking daily, feeling a lot, bringing the magic.
Kaizer von Loopy: We’ve never had a problem letting our imaginations run wild. It’s a good thing that we created a very specific Hansel and Gretel inspired framework within which to work creatively or we would would be so all over the place it would be positively incoherent. We go through a process whereby we have to create a concept up front just to limit our spectrum of ideas creatively. it’s a process I like to call one million arguments! *laughs*
What have been some of the best shows/places you been to and performed?
Vas: That would have to be touring with all the big bands [I] mentioned before. Always epic to be a new band and play in front of a massive crowd in the USA and Europe. But on our own we have epic shows in Russia and Germany as well. Mer’a Luna was a high point for us. Twenty thousand people at 1pm. That was huuuuuge. [sic]
“[…] we are for sure going to be non stop!”
Kaizer Von Loopy: Obviously we love the larger crowds we might experience throughout Germany and Russia but there are places dotted around the globe that are always crazy like Fallout in Virginia, Bannermans in Edinburgh, Volxhaus in Klagenfurt Austria, and the Viper Room in Vienna where we know we are going to have an awesome time. Certain places just have that indescribable energy and it’s great!
With Kaizer doing his own stuff is HuG still going strong in future?
Vas: Yes, HuG is very much going strong even though we are on a touring hiatus at the moment.
Kaizer Von Loopy: KYZRWÖLF is an elektro-based metal project I do when HuG is taking a break. Hanzel und Gretyl will undoubtedly exist as long as we are still breathing and drinking litres of bier!
Are there any tour plans for 2018/’19?
Kaizer Von Loopy: We are taking some time in 2018 to deal with business. Such as acquiring our early CD’s so that all of our albums exist at Metropolis Records. Having recorded and toured as much as we have over recent years it’s been hard to organize and deal with the details our voluminous catalog. We are taking the time now as well as preparing our live show for another level of madness that will likely showcase our rich and diverse history!
Thanks for your time and I hope to see you guys on the road soon!
Vas: Once we begin touring again we are for sure going to be non stop!
Kaizer von Loopy: DANKE UND PROST! \m/ \m/
