The German heavy/folk metal band Grendel’s Sÿster step into this week’s Meet The Band spotlight. Their full-length debut album is Katabasis Into The Abaton. Vocalist Caro, guitarist Tobi and bassist Simon introduce us to their band.
Chad Bowar: Give us a brief history of Grendel’s Sÿster.
Tobi: I had wanted to pay homage to my childhood heroes (Iron Maiden, Blind Guardian, Manowar etc.) for a long time, but I couldn’t find the right people. Thus, I played folk music (which I also love) instead and patiently waited. And, lo and behold, I met Till (drums) at a New Year’s party 2015/2016 and we had a magical first rehearsal in summer which resulted in a 7″. Then Caro (vocals) joined us in 2017 and we recorded two EPs (in an English and a German language version). Now we are complete with Simon on bass. It’s pure joy for all of us, simply creating music, no ego bullshit or ulterior motives. It might have turned a little more varied (influences of folk, 1970s rock, etc.) than I had expected in the earliest days, but that’s a natural thing and I’m fine with it. Katabasis into the Abaton/Abstieg in die Traumkammer is our first album.
Simon: I was already a huge fan of the work the Sÿsters had done so far, so was thrilled to hear that they wanted to start playing live and needed someone on the bass. Although, I haven’t contributed to the recordings yet, I can’t wait to get into the studio for the next record.
Describe the songwriting process for Katabasis Into The Abaton.
Tobi: An interesting melody appears from some magical realm and I record it on my phone. These melodies usually evoke some words that fit the atmosphere. I also keep a list of phrases that are totally metal but criminally underused. After that, I try to capture the essence of these words in German. Now’s the time to arrange the various melodies in a way that makes for interesting transitions. If things get difficult at some stage, I need a full-moon all-nighter with candlelight and lots of tea. Then I show my ideas to the rest of the band and they add their appreciative attention (hopefully).
Caro: All the ideas for second voices, we do spontaneously in the studio. I start singing something and when Tobi gives me the thumbs up, we know that’s the melody to use. Usually, we both very quickly agree on what works best.
What will be your strongest memory of the recording of the album?
Tobi: Recording drums with Till for “Boar’s Tusk Helmet” and mellotron for “The Golden Key (won’t fit)” with Caro was pure magic.
Caro: Getting to sing about “Ogres sucking marrow from greyish human bones” 100 times over, definitely had a cathartic effect mid pandemic.
What was the biggest challenge in its creation?
Tobi: Probably the idea that you could combine being a regular guy with a job and a family with recording an album whilst trying to stay sane during a global pandemic.
Caro: Having recorded over such a long period of time, tying everything together at the end to get a consistent sound and feeling to the album wasn’t easy, but I think everything fell into place eventually.
How would you characterize its style/sound?
Tobi: Enchanting, timeless and powerful. In my childhood, we used to listened to these fairytale cassette tapes. They also had short musical interludes. I think we created a metal version of these.
Caro: I know exactly the type of tapes you are talking about, I had those too.
Simon: Well, I grew up in England and I love the ethereal, mystical feel of British folk like Fairport Convention and early Mike Oldfield. I also love Maiden, of course but I also like it a bit heavier. For me playing these songs feels like playing a perfect mix of all these types of styles, which is awesome.
What inspired the album title?
Tobi: Katabasis into the Abaton means something like the ‘descent into the subterranean sanctuary of a Greek temple (in order to receive a healing dream there).’ When I read this phrase in C.A. Meier’s “Healing Dream and Ritual” I thought this sounds really metal and this also encapsulates a journey to the realm of the unconscious through the power of music.
Simon: I have to be honest, Tobi did have to explain the title to me a couple of times before I got what he was on about. (laughs)
Caro: I feel like the title reflects really well the inner struggles and spiritual journeys that the lyrics address.
What lyrical topics do you cover?
Tobi: Broadly speaking, stories of transformation from myths, fairytales and legends, viewed through the lens of Jungian psychology (i.e. paying close attention the presence of archetypal and numinous elements).
How did you come to sign with Cruz Del Sur Music?
Tobi: We got contacted by Enrico, which certainly felt surreal considering the awesomeness of Cruz del Sur and its roster.
What are your goals and expectations for the album?
Tobi: I think we have already reached these by following our inspiration as closely as we could. Of course we wouldn’t mind a bit of worldly success, either.
Caro: I agree with Tobi. The feedback we received so far has been so positive that it’s the best motivation to keep making this type of music but also to play live.
What has been your most memorable Grendels Syster live show?
Tobi: There has been only one so far, so I guess it was the time when we supported the mighty Mountain Throne in February this year.
Simon: Playing in front of such an enthusiastic crowd was totally cool. Especially when they started to sing along to some of our older songs.
What are your upcoming show/tour plans?
Tobi: Playing single shows from time to time should be enough. Next one will be at Black Forest Fest in September and opening for Messa and Flame, Dear Flame in October.
How did you get started in music?
Tobi: Playing the recorder when I was a young kid. I also wanted to play the Crumhorn (it sounds like a singing duck), but I didn’t really know how to tell the adults around me.
Caro: I started off playing a harmonium (a weird type of reed organ my parents had lying around), when I could only just reach the keys standing up. I have also been told, that I was always singing from a very young age.
Simon: I started off playing the piano, also when I was quite young. I wasn’t a very accomplished recorder or triangle player in the school orchestra and therefore moved over to the guitar and eventually bass which suited my music tastes much better.
Who were your early influences and inspirations?
Tobi: As a child, I listened to E.A.V. (Erste Allgemeine Verunsicherung; comedic Austropop). Then a classmate gave me a tape with Alice Cooper and Europe on it and I was profoundly impressed. But things really took off when I discovered Iron Maiden, Helloween, Manowar and Blind Guardian. I could hardly believe that such wonders existed (that was way before the advent of the internet).
Caro: I have a classic music background, but was always open to anything that I found musically interesting.
Simon: Anything that was not mainstream. Ranging from experimental electronic music with artists like Aphex Twin to Punk, Grunge and Metal including Pixies, Nirvana, Iron Maiden and Metallica.
What was the first rock/metal concert you attended?
Tobi: Super Rock Festival (1992) headlined by Iron Maiden. I was completely blown away and I think it really changed my life profoundly. The mother of a friend worked in a record store and somehow managed to get backstage passes. We shook hands with Bruce, which got me so excited that I had to throw up later on.
Caro: The Pogues back in 1993 in Würzburg.
Simon: It would have been some skanky local bands at University in the early ’90s. But unfortunately, for reasons I won’t go into, I can’t remember exactly who they were.
What are some of your non-musical interests and hobbies?
Till: soccer (Eintracht Frankfurt), Caro: reading(extensively), Simon: History and Pubs (where possible in that combination e.g. Valhalla in York), Tobi: gardening (perennials).
Anything else you’d like to mention or promote?
Tobi: Support random kindness and senseless acts of beauty.
Simon: Thanks for your interest and questions!
(interview published September 7, 2024)
Listen To Grendel’s Syster – “Boar’s Tusk Helmet”
