Interview
THE MYSTERY
(Questionnaire by STEFAN)

 talk with
ALEX 'THUNDER' MARTIN (Guitars)

METAL TO INFINITY

As a result of The Mystery's new album ''Soulcatcher'', I want to know a smattering more concerning their early days of existence, present and future plans. The one able to answer my answers is leader of the pack, Alex 'Thunder' Martin - also the axe wielder of the band...

Q: Hi there Alex, hopefully I do not disturb brother - how are you?

A: Everything's well, a bit stressed actually, because of promotion work, but this burden is easy to carry if you got so much fantastic feedbacks, as we got the last few weeks, you know?


 

Q: First of all, I'd like to congratulate each one in the band with the release of ''Soulcatcher'' but before we discuss the album I want to go back in time - back into the days where it all began. Who came up with the idea to set up a band like The Mystery?

A: In March 1996 The Mystery was founded by our former drummer and me. We wanted to do some songs, we self would like to hear and we both wanted to realise it with a female voice. Three months later we had our first gig as a project and after the show we knew that this project would become a real band.


 

Q: Regular question: what were the ambitions or goals to achieve?

A: We knew that we wouldn't do some kind of modern music. We love the 80's Metal and so we do our style. Our goal is always to take the next step forward - that we played together with AXXIS in May this year for example was a thing, we just couldn't imagine a time ago.


 

Q: First album came out in 2002, correct. It was a self financed work I suppose - I never heard the album to be honest so please tell us some more details about it.

A: We recorded ''...where the wind blows freedom'' by ourselves and it wasn't a quite good sound, but it was our first step - our first record and we were very proud of it. The original CD was limited to 200 pieces. Because there were many requests for it, in 2006 we re-released it with 3 Bonus-Live-Tracks from a gig in 2004.

Q: The line up looked totally different than it looks today - who were the guys in charge back then Alex and why some of them left after a while?

A: We have had a few members in the band, that's right - two drummers before Daniel Kahn joined the band in 2004. Andreas Mollenkamp played the bass before Christian J. Ruther replaced him in 2001. Before Denise left the band in 2006, we have had already two other singers. Sometimes imaginations come apart, sometimes the music expands into directions the one or the other doesn't want to support anymore.

 CHRISTIAN JESKE RUTHER
 

Q: Guys stepped out of The Mystery ranks while new members stepped in, right?

A: It sounds a bit too simple. In some situations we searched a long time for new members - but the important thing is, that in this moment we are a real stable and strong line-up.


 

Q: Do you have something to tell about the next couple of albums The Mystery brought out?

A: Well, Facing the storm was released in 2003 and we record it by ourselves with help from a local sound engineer. It has a better sound than the first record, but still not a real professional one, but we still like to play the title track on live-shows and the crowd likes it. After that we signed a deal with TTS Media Music / ALIVE! in 2003 and recorded ''Scars'', but the CD was not released till October 2005, because of 'internal things' of the label. ''Scars'' became our official debut.


 

Q: First negotiations concerning a first record deal - who came show with a proposal to collaborate?

A: Well the first one with TTS was an experience. It wasn't a good one - no It was a real bad deal, but we released our first real CD on the market and that was a good feeling and brought us a step forward. Now the deal with Limited Access Records is the first one we are pleased with. I guess the proposal came from Limited Access - but this is a question that should go to our management ;-)


 

Q: Every band wants to be recognizable, that speaks for itself. What about that point in the camp of The Mystery?

A: Our songs should always have a melody that catches your ear and I think there are not so many bands in competition to us, because we got a female voice, which rocks and do no opera stuff.


 

Q: As years passed by, you shared many stages with bands like: Majesty, Powerwolf, Chinchilla, Tankard, Die Happy, Jaded Heart and many others... first live experiences - who was the first band you ever played with and what about a man's nerves a while before climbing up a stage in front a 'Metal' crowd?

A: We made our first live experiences with other underground bands and it was a long time until we got the chance to be on the same stage with named bands as you mentioned. The minute before the show is always a very special moment which sets free a lot of adrenaline.


 

Q: Biggest live act so far? Why this one?

A:  My favourite live act is Iron Maiden, because they are the biggest band in the whole world. But if you mean, who was the biggest one we played with, I guess it was AXXIS two months ago.


 

Q: Back to the current situation Alex, I received your new album via Limited Access Records lately - I have listened to it, reviewed, most important of all is that I fully enjoyed myself during the 55 minutes of playing time. Introduce the new album of The Mystery yourself and tell out visitors why they should by this effort.

A: It catches souls, you know? Seriously I think it's a kind of metal that most metal fans like, because they all know the 80's and have favourite bands of this time.



Q: What took the band to ad her to the ranks. Her irradiation, her vocal qualities or what?

A: Korry is real, a real metal queen - she was the missing part of the puzzle.

 KORRY SCHADWELL
 

Q: Korry fits very well in the band to me - not a world class singer by now, a few points she have to take some more control over it. Agree or not? 

A: Sorry, but do you believe I would say something negative about Korry? There's no reason for it. She's our voice, we wanted her for join in the band and we are proud to have her on board.

Q: In my review I compared her with greats like Doro and Lita Ford. I know for sure, some people disagree with that but I don't care at all. How would you like to compare Alex?

A: I don't want to compare myself, the band or Korry with anybody. The Mystery stands for itself.


 

Q: 15 songs featuring this new effort and that's a pretty long song list, I will not complain at all but simply wanna ask how much time it took writing and composing all these tracks? Are you still in charge as song writer Alex?

A: I wrote the songs for ''Soulcatcher'' as I did it before for the other albums. It took surely a few months, but I don't know exactly anymore.

Q: It must be nearly a full time job to get it done, right?

A: Unfortunately it cannot be a full time job, because - you know - we cannot live from the music. A 48 hours day could help...

Q: Never thought about adding a second guitar player? Who are your favourite 'axemen' actually?

A: The guitar is my part and I guess this will stay. I don't have favourite guitar-players.

Q: Can you tell us more concerning the contents of the tracks and what I your personal fave? Why?

A: We have so many different contents in our songs on the album and most of them show off different ways to understand the lyrics, so it's yours to find out. My favourite is 'Take me to the light'. It's the perfect opener.

Q: By the way, how the co-operation with Limited Access came alive? What are the conditions for the future?

A: It came alive by our management and Limited Access. We knew each other already a while and it was some kind of fate to come together. We'll see what the future brings.


 

Q: How would you like to promote this album? I guess the band hit the road as much as possible - plans to play in Belgium too?

A: Sure we want to do a lot of gigs. At the moment a few festival-shows are confirmed. We would really like to play in Belgium too, but unfortunately it's not in our hands.

Q: Production is awesome, cover art looks fantastic -  all delivered by...

A: ...Different people. We produced ''Soulcatcher'' with Tarek 'MS' Maghary, Singer and Head from MAJESTY, in his own Steelpride Studios. Cover artwork based on an idea of us and was worked out by Gerhard Simader, an artist from Vienna.

Q: In my review I described German as the 'Mecca for Metal maniacs' - can you deal with that? Since the very early 80s, I followed the Metal scene and uncountable bands were rooted in Germany, that's why I described it that way Alex.

A: I know what you mean, but Scandinavia plays a big role too I think. But the German scene is stable since so many years, that's right.

Q: Can you give us an overview of the current German Hard Rock and Metal movement?

A: Everyone knows the top-acts like Doro, U.D.O., Primal Fear, Rage, Helloween, Gamma Ray, Blind Guardian and so on. But there are a few bands, which should come up from the underground, but it's not mine to name them.

Q: Because of the German scene of so big, it makes it not easy to break through for many bands, right?