METAL MAIDEN OF THE MONTH 

 NOVEMBER

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Metal Pit:     You have a new DVD/CD coming out in November. Is this something you want to do after each new cd and tour?

ANGELA GOSSOW:     Bloody hell – NO! This is a lot of work. After a tour you really just want to chill, haha.. We only shoot a DVD when we feel we def. need to capture a special tour or show and make it available to all our fans.

Metal Pit:     What are you personal thoughts on the new DVD/CD TYRANTS OF THE RISING SUN?

Angela:        It shows Arch Enemy’s Japanese side.. We have always had a very loyal fan base there and it is so different than the rest of the world. Going to Japan feels like going to Wonderland somehow. I think we managed to capture the emotional quality of playing a show there.. And we try to explain our special relationship with the Land Of The Rising Sun. It is a homage to a place that feels like home to us!

 

Angela:         We want to re-introduce Black Earth, Stigmata and Burning Bridges. A lot of our younger fans have never heard them. We will pick our favourites from each album, re-recording them and get Andy Sneap to make em sound like monsters ;-) We hope more people will start getting into the original recordings then and we can play them live!

Metal Pit:     You do cover songs for EP's or extra songs on cds. Would you ever make a full cd of cover songs like some bands do?

Angela:    No. It’s a lot more exciting to write your own new songs! And we still got so many ideas pouring out of us.. We will do the cover stuff when we are old and playing in bars, haha.



Metal Pit:     And speaking of cover songs when are you gonna let Sharlee pick out a Mercyful Fate song for you to do your best King Diamond?

Angela:          Any time he wants! I am def. always up to pay tribute to the King!

Metal Pit:    You are by far the QUEEN of METAL!! But cause of you there is more and more females in Metal bands and even singing in extreme metal bands like yourself. How does that make you feel when you see that?

Angela:         Excited! I look at my little niece Winnie and I know she will be fighting a fair battle one day – She will be judged by her knowledge and qualities and not by her gender. Seeing women rushing into metal is clearly an indication for equality being on the rise. There will be a day where they will be musicians first and females 2nd. I am not the queen of metal. I am Angela Gossow, singer in Arch Enemy! And Arch Enemy kicks ass!

Metal Pit:   Is there ever any one around the band that suggests you do a full on clean vocal song or ballad and if so what is your response to that suggestion?

Angela:         They rather suggest to NEVER EVER try this, haha. And I do agree. I think ‘pretty’ doesn’t belong into my metal. I like my metal very angry.

Metal Pit:    When you tour do ever get much time to do touristy things? And if yes what are some of the best things you have been able to see or do?

Angela:        Well. I walk around a lot. I am not a touristy kind of person. I rather stand between people listening to the way they talk. Looking at little shops and cafes, the plants, architecture, the way a city is build. I like to discover the essence of the place and it usually doesn’t lie within a famous building. When we pass by, I look at them, but I think most of the time the inhabitants of the town look at them the same way I do.. They don’t belong to their daily life.

Metal Pit:    After your career as a metal singer ends which is many years away I am sure but have you thought about what you might like to do? Maybe staying in metal with maybe producing or even a vocal teacher?

Angela:        Hm. I kinda live in the moment. I might be doing more vocal coaching at some point. Def. not producing! I feel like a trapped animal in a studio!

Metal Pit:   Is there any Metal bands you haven't toured with that you would love to do a tour with?

Angela:         We would never say no to Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Slayer, Testament, Exodus and any other band we like personally.. May it be as headliner or as support. These days we prefer to headline though.. We chose bands that bring something exciting to the line-up then.

Metal Pit:    You and Arch Enemy are one of, if not the most accessible metal band out there even after gaining success. How important do you think it is to always keep that up? 

Angela:           I think it is very important not to become a stranger. I have just met a bunch of metal kids traveling with their class to visit Germany. They were on the same cheapo flight I was using (RyanAir). They a) couldn’t believe I was taking on the ordeal of this trip and not traveling business class with a proper airline (which i actually cant afford - so much for being a 'star') and b) they thought it is ‘very cool that we can talk to you like a normal person’. I find that interesting as I have never tried to come across like some celebrity. But I ask for respect and common sense – My reaction is always a friendly one when people approach me nicely.

Metal Pit:   Your Arch Enemy Ebay store is a great way for fans to have a chance to win memorabilia and autographed items from the band. Has it been a successful venture and maybe more then what you thought it might be?

Angela:        For me it’s a convenient way to get rid of some Arch Enemy memorabilia! Our rehearsal room is full of stuff and its too cool to throw it away! Fans kept asking me if we ever gonna sell some, so one day we simply started it. We always start at a low price, a lot goes for very cheap and some items go for a little more. It pays for the time and costs we spend to run it and that’s all we want. We are not trying to build a 2nd business there – we don’t have the time for that! We kinda scatter pieces of Arch Enemy all over the world.. I really like that idea.                             ARCH ENEMY EBAY STORE

Metal Pit:    I have read before that you don't like time off but obviously with the Carcass tour you had time off. What did you do to help keep yourself busy?

Angela:         I run Arch Enemy in the background as well. I used my ‘time off’ to get into upcoming tour booking and the festival season 2009. I am doing the DVD promotion, lots of interviews. I update all the websites and run the United Enemies fan club. (www. fansiteproductions. com/archenemy). I look at numerous frightening bills.. I get actively involved in social and environmental projects. I actually go and spend time with my family in Germany. I have a very strong and deep connection with my mother and my 3 siblings and I miss them somewhat constantly when I am not there.




Metal Pit:    Any idea on a time frame for a new, new material release from Arch Enemy?

Angela:         We got ‘start recording it end of 2009’ in our heads.. We have written bits and pieces for it. It really depends on the upcoming Arch Enemy and Carcass touring schedule and how burned out Michael and Daniel will be by the end of next year. I try to back them up wherever I can and take stuff off their shoulders.. But I think they def. have started to feel the pain of working double shifts!




Metal Pit:    How much fun is it for you to guest on other bands albums like Annihilator and Doro Pesch?

Angela:        Its an interesting change from Arch Enemy. I have to get my head around a different kind of sound. It is good fun!

Metal Pit:   What is the difference for you as a performer in performing in front of a smaller crowd at a smaller venue then playing at a big festival/arena? And which do you prefer?

Angela:         I prefer the more intimate club shows. I like to watch people’s reaction and feed off the direct energy from the crowd. It is a lot more intense. Hot, sweaty, loud and right in your face.




Metal Pit:    Are you ever out at a restaurant or anywhere really where say they screw up your order or annoy you in anyway and you bring out your death metal voice and growl your disapproval?? Just to like scare them?? ;-)

Angela:         I very much voice my disapproval (I HATE bad food.. you are what you eat!) – last time I walked into the kitchen, slammed that plate of boiled, plain white rice with mushy pees on the board there and told them that this is pig food (Their veggie option was boiled to death and completely tasteless. Not even salt in there..). Anyway, I don’t really need to raise my voice that much to sound scary. I just need to bring out a sharp German accent, haha.




Metal Pit:    So what does it mean to be THE METAL PIT's METAL MAIDEN OF THE MONTH??

Angela:           Good question! I guess it means you and a bunch of other people like me? Being a ‘metal maiden’ sounds a lot better than ‘a hottest chick in metal’ – So I will take my month - but really, I think I should get the whole year, haha. How much more metal can you get than me? Just kidding. Lots of cool ladies there in the metal maiden section – I will enjoy their company!

Angela:       Keep your heads high, your egos low, be strong, tolerant and stay pure fucking metal!

Thank you so much for supporting us and keeping Arch Enemy live!

If you can - Come out to catch Arch Enemy, Leaves Eyes, Mercenary and Sister Sin in December 2008!

ARCH ENEMY – “December Tyranny” Tour 2008:
Presented by Metal. de, Metal Hammer, Rockinvasion / I Music
12.12.08 NL, Uden @ De Pul / Tickets: www. ticketmaster. nl http://www. depul-uden. nl/livepul/
15.12.08 CH, Pratteln @ Z 7 / Tickets: +41.61.821 48 00 www. z-7. ch
17.12.08 D, Ludwigsburg @ Rockfabrik / Tickets: 07141-47 42-0 www. rockfabrik-ludwigsburg. de
18.12.08 D, Aschaffenburg @ Colos-Saal / Tickets: www. metaltix. com www. colos-saal. de
19.12.08 D, Bad Arolsen @ Outback / Tickets: www. metaltix. com www. outback-badarolsen. de

ARCH ENEMY @ Doro’s “25 Years in Rock” Anniversary Festival:
13.12.08 D, Düsseldorf ISS-DOME tickets: at www. metaltix. com more info: www. doro. de

And make sure to pick up our new DVD ‘Tyrants Of The Rising Sun – Live In Japan’ in stores from the 24th of November on! You can pre-order it online already in all major online CD stores! Check the pre-order links on www. myspace. com/archenemy!

Cheers
Angela

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