1. Can you tell us a little bit about the project for those that have never heard of you before?
Galaktik Cancer Squad starts as experimental black metal project that doesn't give a damn about rules,
trends or other kinds of guidelines in music. I tried to push the musical freedom of black metal as far
as possible to create extreme atmospheres and catchy soundscapes.
trends or other kinds of guidelines in music. I tried to push the musical freedom of black metal as far
as possible to create extreme atmospheres and catchy soundscapes.
2. How would you describe your musical sound?
The musical sound of GCS is hard to describe. Each album has its own combination of influences and
elements, but I guess it is always somewhere between progressive metal and black metal with specialized
skills in songwriting and the use of instrumentens, based on anger and rawness with a huge amount of
bittersweet melancholy.
elements, but I guess it is always somewhere between progressive metal and black metal with specialized
skills in songwriting and the use of instrumentens, based on anger and rawness with a huge amount of
bittersweet melancholy.
3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?
GCS is about philosophy and imagination, psychology and dreaming, life and death, it's almost like a musical
form of Yin and Yang. There are stories about cosmos, space and time on the one hand, on the other hand we
have the abyss of the human mind, depressions and absuse of dubious substances. All these things affect
each other and fuse to something that I would call "mindfuck".
form of Yin and Yang. There are stories about cosmos, space and time on the one hand, on the other hand we
have the abyss of the human mind, depressions and absuse of dubious substances. All these things affect
each other and fuse to something that I would call "mindfuck".
4. The band has done both instrumental and vocal albums how would you compare the two?
The first releases where instrumental because the music itself told the story, that means the focus was on
the technical side of riffing and way more experimental than the later stuff. The vocals came up as a new
element just to give GCS some kind of real voice and tribute the paths of traditional metal. I think
changes are pretty important to keep the music fresh and alive and prevent from repeating oneself.
the technical side of riffing and way more experimental than the later stuff. The vocals came up as a new
element just to give GCS some kind of real voice and tribute the paths of traditional metal. I think
changes are pretty important to keep the music fresh and alive and prevent from repeating oneself.
5. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?
It seems that especially the English native speaker are confused about the name, I never understand that...
Actually it's very simple to explain what the meaning is. The term "galaktik" stands for the mentioned
cosmic influeneces, replaced the C's with K's to underline extraordinary attitude; "cancer" stands for the
aspects of mankind, a destroying beast with a lot of failures which is heading towards the end; and the
term "squad" points out the limitation of people I can reach with this kind of music. We are a small
family of fucked up and music-loving people.
At first "Galaktik Cancer Squad" was meant to be a songtitle for an old project, but this unique
charactar grew fast and has become an independent band project.
Actually it's very simple to explain what the meaning is. The term "galaktik" stands for the mentioned
cosmic influeneces, replaced the C's with K's to underline extraordinary attitude; "cancer" stands for the
aspects of mankind, a destroying beast with a lot of failures which is heading towards the end; and the
term "squad" points out the limitation of people I can reach with this kind of music. We are a small
family of fucked up and music-loving people.
At first "Galaktik Cancer Squad" was meant to be a songtitle for an old project, but this unique
charactar grew fast and has become an independent band project.
6.Currently the project is solo, are you panning on using a line up in the future or do you choose to remain solo?
The project stays solo. Maybe it will has some guest musicians in the future, but online for studio
recordings. There won't be any concerts and I can't imagine that it would work well as live project,
because the music is too large to transfer it on the stages of the world, it would just lose its details.
recordings. There won't be any concerts and I can't imagine that it would work well as live project,
because the music is too large to transfer it on the stages of the world, it would just lose its details.
7. Currently you are signed to Hypnotic Dirge Records, how did you get in contact with this label and how would you describe the support they have given you so far?
In March 2012 I sent tons of promition emails to find a label that want to release the
"Strange Spheres of Hyperborea" album. One of them was Hypnotic Dirge Records and because of the
open-minded character of the label we start to work together. Unfortunately they told me to wait until
November 2012 to release S.S.o.H., and when it delayed more and more we've reached the point where we
decide to release a complete new album in summer 2013. Only 4 more weeks to go! To be honest, to wait 6
month is a hard thing, but in the end I waited one whole fucking year - and that sucks. Anyway I
thank Hypnotic Dirge Records for giving me this chance and it almost compensate all the waiting!
"Strange Spheres of Hyperborea" album. One of them was Hypnotic Dirge Records and because of the
open-minded character of the label we start to work together. Unfortunately they told me to wait until
November 2012 to release S.S.o.H., and when it delayed more and more we've reached the point where we
decide to release a complete new album in summer 2013. Only 4 more weeks to go! To be honest, to wait 6
month is a hard thing, but in the end I waited one whole fucking year - and that sucks. Anyway I
thank Hypnotic Dirge Records for giving me this chance and it almost compensate all the waiting!
8. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black metal and experimental?
Overall it was suprisingly good! It's really awesome to see the huge range of listeners from different
genres. Most of them appreciate this weird combination of styles and give great support. I never
expected something like that, but it seems everything works fine so both composer and listener have
a great experience with GCS!
genres. Most of them appreciate this weird combination of styles and give great support. I never
expected something like that, but it seems everything works fine so both composer and listener have
a great experience with GCS!
9. What is going on with the other musical projects these days?
I have a bunch of other projects in progress, some of them will release physical copies soon and maybe
playing some concerts in the future as well. But the main thing will always be the music and songwriting
itself. The big difference between GCS and these other projects is the fact that only GCS is an
one-man-bandproject, the others have complete line ups or frequent help of guest- and session-musicians.
You should definitely keep an eye on Grauzeit and Morphinist.
playing some concerts in the future as well. But the main thing will always be the music and songwriting
itself. The big difference between GCS and these other projects is the fact that only GCS is an
one-man-bandproject, the others have complete line ups or frequent help of guest- and session-musicians.
You should definitely keep an eye on Grauzeit and Morphinist.
10.What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?
Well, what I can say is that there will be instrumental and vocal albums. The upcoming album "Ghost Light"
has a lot of post-rockish stuff for example, so the album after that could have some electronic/8bit
elements again, or jazz. Everything is possible!
has a lot of post-rockish stuff for example, so the album after that could have some electronic/8bit
elements again, or jazz. Everything is possible!
11.What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
In the beginning I correspond with a black metal band called Deafest, because I really enjoyed their raw
and atmospheric sound and I found out that we almost used the same kind of gear. Other bands from the
black metal side are Deathspell Omega and Mgla or Darkspace. You may not hear but bands like ISIS,
HORSE the Band and Pink Floyd were big influences too. A pretty weird mixture! It just a small extract
of music I listen to, and it's impossible to get all these styles in one project and because of that
there a so many sideprojects.
and atmospheric sound and I found out that we almost used the same kind of gear. Other bands from the
black metal side are Deathspell Omega and Mgla or Darkspace. You may not hear but bands like ISIS,
HORSE the Band and Pink Floyd were big influences too. A pretty weird mixture! It just a small extract
of music I listen to, and it's impossible to get all these styles in one project and because of that
there a so many sideprojects.
12.Does Paganism or Occultism play any role in your music?
No, not really. The songwriting progress has some kind of spirituality to me though. For several hours it
becomes almost a trance-like and trippy experience, just through music.
becomes almost a trance-like and trippy experience, just through music.
13.Outside of music what are some of your interests?
Besides music, recording and mixing/mastering I would say it's philosophy, literature, any form of escapism
and alcohol. That's basiclly it.
and alcohol. That's basiclly it.
14.Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?
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