Interviews: Traitor

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Thrash Metal band, Traitor from Germany. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you plan it or come out just like that?

Gerd (guitar, backvocals) and Andi (drums, vocals) had decided on this name. That was in 2009 and TRAITOR was just short and concise - not like the names before. There is no deep and mystical background concerning the name. Just short, concise and easy to call with 5 beers in your head!

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

We are all big thrash metal fans or music fans in general! That it is so "Thrash Metal" has simply resulted. Over the years, our style has developed and we are mostly the thrash metal to be assigned, although many other influences are in our music!

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Andi and Gerd have known each other since elementary school. I (Lorenz, bass) joined the band in 2009 and Matze (guitar) joined in 2013. Before that, we didn't know each other, but since then we are like a big family! hahaha!

4. Each band member's favorite band?

Ohh that is difficult to answer. But a safe number would certainly be Slayer, Kreator, Sodom, Metallica, Megadeth, Judas Priest, etc.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs? 

Actually everything! Be it cartoons, movies, historical events, computer games, or private experiences. Pretty much everything gives something to write a song about.

6. Where was your last gig?

Our last gig was the "Burgbrand Festival". This is a smaller but very cool festival in East Germany. You play on an old castle ruin and that was great! There were also great bands and the organization was great! Really a cool festival and recommended to everyone!

7. Where would you like to act?

I would love to play a tour through Asia and South America! That would be killer! If it's just about a festival now, we'd love to play Hellfest in France. Otherwise, we like to play everywhere - but Asia, South America, and Hellfest would be such things!

8. Whom would you like to feature with? 

Hmm, I guess touring with Sodom and or Kreator would be cool! Or a package with Rezet, Dust Bolt, Pripjat, and TRAITOR would be such a thing. Those are all friends of ours and would be a fun story and of course a great package for touring!

9. Whom not?

The package would also have to fit together, so no country artist or something, but generally I can not think of anyone now.

10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tips for beginners on how to beat that?

Now I can only speak for myself. So before a performance you're always a bit excited, does everything work, does everything work with the technic, etc.? Despite everything, there are often just a few fuck-ups, but that's part of it somehow and you become more relaxed. What really helps is to just keep playing, the audience doesn't even notice the mistakes, at most you notice them yourself. If you then also realize that it's not all that bad, then the nervousness goes away. So actually "Shit Happens!", but it's not really wild!

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Difficult question, everything from Slayer, to Jimi Hendrix, to Mozart, and then back to Cannibal Corpse. For me there is not one artist who could be completely responsible for it, it's more a conglomerate of many artists.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

One fan wanted a worn sock from me (he got it, hahaha!) and another person once wrung out my completely sweaty t-shirt over his head and drank my sweat - that was weird!

13. What do you think of your fans?

We would be nothing without our fans! They are the best, very loyal and we are always happy to get in touch with them too!

14. What do you think of our site?

"Breathing The Core" is a great site to find some underground treasures as well. It's great that there are known scene artists and totally unknown artists - you can always find something new and that's great!

15. Something to add?

Thank you for the interview! Check out our site www.traitor-band.de, and listen to our new album "Exiled To The Surface", it's available on any streaming platform, visit us on our social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Bandcamp etc) if you want to get in touch with us and hopefully, we'll see you live and in color at a concert soon! Stay METAL!