MAY 3rd 2022
BÖLLVERK EXCLUSIVE

MetalTitans very own, Metal Mom had the opportunity to chat with Raphi (guitar) from heavy metallers, BÖLLVERK. Recent heavy metal band forming out of Germany, with 2 releases under their belt, including their most recent, full length record, "Heading for the Crown". These guys are very new to the scene, so let our exclusive interview below, help guide you to this new upcoming band.

MT: So the band started in 2018, tell us what made Raphi, Zahn and Markus decide to put the band together, what was the inspiration behind it?

That was a very uncomplicated thing. I've always wanted to play in a heavy metal band. That's why I started playing the guitar. At some point I asked Zahn if he would like to start a band together. Well he said yes. Then we were talking about some ideas and a little later Markus joined us. We moved into our first rehearsal room.

MT: How did you come up with Bollverk for the name of the band?

The name comes from Norse mythology. Odin used to call himself “Böllverk” to stay unrecognized. It means troublemaker. Troublemaker is of course a great name for a metal band.

MT: Tell us how each of the members came to be in Bollverk.

Zahn, Markus and I started. A short time later, Sense joined us. We were friends before and asked him if he would like to join us. History repeats. Markus and Sense got out, Angelo and Tim joined us. We've been friends with both of them for a long time. They both wanted to surrender ourselves to the Heavy Metal.
Svenja came to us coincidentally. Angelo met her at the beer truck. So he brought her to the rehearsal. That worked great. She fits us perfectly as a person.

MT: Had you been in a band before this?

In the current line-up, everyone except me is playing in other bands. I used to play in a cover band before that. But Böllverk is my first band with own songs.

MT: What made you choose to do Heavy Metal, there are so many to choose from?

Nothing else matters to me at all. I have heavy metal in my blood. When I hold the guitar in my hands, Heavy Metal comes out.

MT: When you were young, growing up, what kind of bands inspired you?

It started for me with “Die Toten Hosen”, a German band. Before that I wasn´t interested in music that much. But that quickly changed. A short time later my big brother made a mixed CD for me with Grave Digger, Blind Guardian, Iron Maiden, etc. on it. Grave Digger became my favorite band. Their former guitarist, Manni Schmidt, also inspired me to start playing the guitar.

MT: You have a new album about to be released called "Heading For The Crown", tell us how you came to name it that?

The title has two meanings. You can take the title literally. We want to attack! That means regular album releases und playing live as often as possible. The lyrics are about going to our local pub, called "Crown“  :)

MT: Who writes the lyrics for the songs, and where does the inspiration come from?

Everyone in the band takes notes on the lyrics. Inspiration comes from anywhere. From nights in pubs, motorcycling, tattoos or fantasy stories, everything is possible.

MT: You have 9 songs on the album, do you personally have a favourite, I know when I listen to an album I always have a favourite song.

01. Ask The Angel, Listen To The Devil
02. Let's Ride Till Dawn
03. Good Morning Rock'n'Roll
04. Heading For The Crown
05. The 7th No (IS A KO)
06. Master Of Thunder
07. Live Fast
08. Next Level Of Service
09. Someday We Will Die

My favorite track is "Heading for the Crown“.  Each band member has their own favorite track. Also in the first reviews different titles were mentioned as their favorites. I think that´s a good sign.

MT: Was it an easy process to record?

We were very well prepared. There were no difficulties. Of course we were a little nervous, because it was our first album. But the mood while doing the records was good all the time, so we were relaxed. So the nervousness quickly disappeared. Recording the vocals was very interesting, because it was Svenja´s first time in a professional studio. But after the first takes it was clear that it wouldn´t be a problem, she did a great job.

MT: Must have been hard while this covid thing was going on, did you have any issues ?

Like everyone else, I think. Of course it wasn´t a very nice time, but it went pretty smoothly for us. I think we made the best of it. We rehearsed and wrote songs.

MT: Will you be touring to support the album?

Yeah, definately! Playing live shows is very important to us and we can´t wait to be on stage! Heavy Metal means live music!

MT: Where is one place you would really like to tour?

We wish we could play everywhere. But of course there are some "legendary“ places we´d prefer to play at. The Hammersmith or the Long Beach Arena for example.

MT: Tell us something we might not know about Bollverk?

A special thing about Böllverk is that we are not casting band, we are five friends making music together.

MT: What is the best thing so far about being in the band?

Our first highlight was releasing our album "Heading for the Crown“. We hope that we are going to record some more albums. But the best thing about it is playing our favorite music with friends.

MT: Is there anything you would like to add to this interview that I might have missed?

Everything important has been said :) Thank you so much for the interview und thanks to the readers who are still there. I hope you enjoy listening to "Heading for the Crown“!
Thank you (Danke) for taking the time to do this with MetalTitans.


Views and opinions expressed in answers are those of the authors and do not reflect necessarily the official position, attitude or position of 𝗠𝗘𝗧𝗔𝗟 𝗠𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗔𝗚𝗘 ᴳᴸᴼᴮᴬ