The Heavy Metal Rise of Generation Steel

The Heavy Metal Rise of Generation Steel

Generation Steel presents Teutonic Heavy Metal in the grand and triumphant tradition of Accept and Grave Digger.  With the unleashing of The Eagle Will Rise via Pure Steel Records, Generation Steel is destined to leave a lasting impression on metal fanatics all over the world!  Featuring former members of bands such as Obscura and Squealer, Generation Steel is ready to rampage throughout the metal agesfull speed ahead.  Highwire Daze recently interviewed Generation Steel mastermind and rhythm guitarist Jack the Riffer to find out more about this up and coming heavy metal brigade and their The Eagle Will Rise manifesto (produced by the one and only Uwe Lulis of Accept!)  Read on…

Introduce yourself, tell me what you do in Generation Steel, and how long the band has been together.
GENERATION STEEL stands for heavy metal with an anthemic character, true to the tradition of Teutonic steel metal. I started GENERATION STEEL in 2019. After various line-up changes, I managed to gather four excellent musicians who have both – musical experience and the true Heavy Metal spirit. The bands structure initially forms the guitar fraction. As lead guitarist, Pascal Lorenz (e.g. Ex-OSCURA, Ex-CORBIAN) is the perfect addition and writes the songs for the first album together with me. Michael Kaspar, who has had success with SQUEALER (including tour support with JUDAS PRIEST), occupies the post on bass and Martin Winter (Ex-SQUEALER, Ex-SCENE X DREAM) can be won as drummer.

The search for a suitable singer led to success in early 2020. With the engagement of Rio Ullrich, we were able to win a first-class metal singer who gave GENERATION STEEL the necessary metal attitude and vocal quality.

Where is the band based out of and what is the local metal scene like there?
Our Homebase is in Wetzlar, in the middle of Germany. The local scene is characterized by a multitude of different musical styles but less traditional metal. Overall, there is an increasing impression that there are most only death-, thrash- and hardcore-bands. We want to preserve the culture and style of the traditional Teutonic metal.

How did you wind up on Pure Steel Records?
I met Andreas Lorenz (CEO of Pure Steel Records) at a Metal-Festival in Spring 2020 and told him about GENERATION STEEL, our concept and style. Andreas was spontaneously enthusiastic and saw a great fit between his label and our band. The core of our cooperation can be described very well with the words “STEEL MEETS STEEL!”

Select two songs from The Eagle Will Rise and what inspired the lyrics.
Rio`s way approaching lyrics is by letting the composition work for him. When he is listening to music it always creates scenes and pictures in his head.

For example “Heaven’s Calling“: So as Rio was listening to this Song, with it´s depressive military atmosphere, there came a story his grandfather once told him in mind. He was participating in World War II with his childhood friend. One day there was a battle where their superiors chained them to a static machine gun, so they could not flee from battle. On this fateful day, he lost his best friend during the battle. So this song is telling a story that describes the cruelty of war. But that story is only a way to transport the bigger meaning of losing someone very important to you and the struggle to let go and cope with that. After the recording was done, Jack who composed the song told Rio that he made the track at the time he lost his father. So as you can see, you can hear and feel the topic on a song just by it´s atmosphere.

I think that this is a very special thing that is hidden in every single track on the album. To uncover the other stories and meanings you have to look for yourself.

What was it like working with Uwe Lulis of Accept as the producer and how did he become involved with the project?
Uwe and I have been good friends for many years and it quickly became clear that Uwe is the ideal man to implement our sound ideas. He’s one of the last Teutonic Metal heroes. And on top of that, a great guy without starry airs – but with a real production competence. Everything was just right there!

How did Michael Kasper from Squealer become involved with Generation Steel?
I have known Michael for several years and appreciate his musical and character competence. When I spoke to him he didn’t have a band and was immediately enthusiastic about our concept. I am very happy that we could win him over.

What has it been like to record and release new music in the middle of a pandemic and so much social unrest in the world?
The situation helped us in terms of songwriting and album production in that we could concentrate fully on it, as everything around was shut down. Our idea was to use the pandemic sensibly and be ready when it is over.

If Generation Steel could open for any band either now or from the past, who would it be and why?
In the best case for bands to which we fit well in terms of style. For example Grave Digger, Accept, U.D.O. or Dream Evil. That’s where we meet the right target group.

Are you involved with any other bands or projects outside of Generation Steel?
No. We all focus fully on GENERATION STEEL.

What do you hope 2021 brings for Generation Steel?
Of course an end of the pandemic and live-presence. And we`ve started songwriting for the second album.

Any final words of wisdom?
Thanks lot for this interview and your support. To all readers and metal maniacs: Stay healthy – stay metal – stay steel!

(Interview by Ken Morton)

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