UNSIGNED BAND NEWS: ROCKET Interviews Vermes Of FAR BEYOND INNOCENCE

The act has opened for many great bands such as Meshuggah, Biohazard, Sodom, Downset, Böhse Onkelz, Metal Church, Emil Bulls and many others. As all these bands are very different, and one can see that Far Beyond Innocence can play with almost every metal band. FBI’s outfit and live appearance are unique and impressive. They are ready to take over heavy music with their debut full-length record entitled “Torture Circus”, which is self-released and clearly one of the finest gems you will discover in the metal underground of today.

The Metal Den’s Randy “Rocket” Cody recently conducted an interview with Vermes of FAR BEYOND INNOCENCE for his loyal army of Den Headz worldwide.

Rocket: Where were you born and raised?

Vermes: I was born in Vöcklabruck. This is a small town in Upper Austria, but inside I’m an international, open-minded world-citizen. My father comes from the Netherlands. He’s also a musician. He’s a drummer. I spent a lot of my childhood in the Netherlands.

Rocket: Do you come from a big family?

Vermes: No! I only had one younger brother. He died 3 years ago. We didn’t spend much time together, because he lived in Vienna and I live in Wels (Upper Austria). Two different life’s in two different cities. Markus was just 30 years old when he died. It was a very hard time for me and for my family.

Rocket: What bands first drew you to heavy metal music?

Vermes: It was not heavy music that drew me to metal – it was The Beatles !! The Beatles were a very great band for me because they made experiences with sounds and instruments. You can hear it on their later albums. Deep Purple and Black Sabbath were also an important step to start singing. In the early 80’s and in the early 90’s were AC/DC and Pantera my all-time favorites. I like there albums “Back in Black” and “Vulgar display of Power”.

Rocket: When exactly did you first start singing in bands?

Vermes: Godfather and I founded the thrash-band “Armourgeddon”in the early 90’s. We had a good time, because we had the opportunity to play with very hot bands in this time at that time- like Biohazard, Downset, Metal Church and many more. I hope such a time will be coming with Far Beyond Innocence. Maybe next time we will play with Ozzy, Testament, Nine Inch Nails, Meshuggah, Devil Driver… ha ha ha.

Rocket: Your band just released a new album called ‘Torture Circus’. Your vocals are amazing! Did you ever take any vocal lessons?

Vermes: No. I never had any vocal lessons. I only practiced “learning by doing”. In my younger years, when my parents were not at home, I turned up the record player and started singing with The Beatles. Because of the good acoustic, I also performed “Helter Skelter” in our village church. One day the priest caught me in the act when I was singing “Helter Skelter”. I think he didn’t like The Beatles, because as a punishment I had to clean up the church.

Rocket: Who are some of your biggest vocal influences of past and present?

Vermes: In the past Phil Anselmo from Pantera. He can as well scream and also sing. When I listen to his voice it makes my skin crawl. Right now there is Jonathan Davis from Korn. He has also similar attributes like Phil. His vocals are fascinating to me since Korn’s first album.

Rocket: Briefly, how did you join up with Far Beyond Innocence?

Vermes: After the band-breakup of Armourgeddon, Godfather and I tried to start something new. Just connecting old traditional thrash music with modern brutal metal sound. For this new crushin metal we need some new musicians. With Ray-Nar 5 (drums), Phlogos (bass) and Firefucker (2 vocal) we found the perfect lineup! Far beyond Innocence was born! It’s new crushin metal! I’m a part in a creative Cube!!!! There is a lot of energy in this group!! In our shows you can feel it! The belief in music and our success bind us together!! That’s rockn roll! Your band just released a new album called ‘Torture Circus’. Your vocals are amazing! Was it a challenge to record for you? First, thanks for your compliment. Of course it was a challenge and we had a great time in our own record studio. It’s called the F.B.I Headquarters!!!! I was very motivated and had almost only first Takes!!!! Another motivation was also the cover from our album Torture Circus! That’s me!! Hellyeaaaaaahhhh!!!!!!! The Cover was created by Helmut Berger. He is a very good friend of mine and the band! I did it also for him! The most important thing for me is, I put all my energy into the songs! You can hear it on our album “Torture Circus”. All lyrics were written by myself (except Green Fuckmachine, and also As one by Gernot “Head of the Herd” Sladek and The day I tried to die, Devil in your Fairyland, Ministry of Fear by myself and Gernot “Head of the Herd” Sladek). Head of the Herd is a very good friend of the band for years now. He spent a lot of time with us! He’s a very creative guy, who likes writing lyrics (mainly in german language).

Rocket: Do you have a pre-show ritual before you go on stage?

Vermes: Yes we have!! We have a special box – we open it before we go on stage. Inside there is our make-up, but also … a good old Irish whiskey and five tumbler glasses! Every Band member gets a glass of whiskey, we make a circle, we shout out together our band name, we cheer and after this ritual we enter the stage and kick some ass!

Rocket: How do you keep your voice in good shape throughout the year?

Vermes: Nothing special! In my private life I find many opportunities to train my voice! For example when I go for a walk with my dog Sammy, the dog, sees a rabbit, I start to shout out loud to get him back ( ha ha ha). I like to sing songs from other metal bands in my private time. Sometimes in the evening I enjoy a good Austrian beer – that’s good for the vocal chords.

Rocket: I like to have fun with this next one. What is the funniest (or most embarassing)thing that’s ever happened to you while performing on stage?

Vermes: There were two funny happenings while performing on stage. Both things depending on the band Biohazard. First: Armourgeddon (my first band) had a gig in Bad Ischl (that’s an important historical city in Austria). We played in an old theater. We were the headliner that evening. It was a great show. Before starting the last song, I shouted to the crowd “Our stage is your stage” – like Biohazard used to say! But the reaction was not so funny. Suddenly the stage was full of metal heads!!! They banged their heads and acted like maniacs. The PA started to move to the ground … The band members were not so amused!!! Ha Ha Ha. Second: 1995 we played with Biohazard a show in Vienna. The crowd was diving and banging their heads – it was a very powerful atmosphere and our former bass player Steve (he was a very impulsive person) enjoyed this very much. For a short moment he lost the control of his legs, the cable of his bass guitar wrapped around his legs and he fell down into the moshpit – still playing!! He was really a great performer!! Can you imagine his face while falling in the moshpit??!!

Rocket: It’s been another great year for heavy metal in 2009. What are some of the new album releases this year that have impressed you the most?

Vermes: Lamb of God——Wrath
Daath———The Concealers
Faith No More—–The very best definitive ultimate greatest hits collection 2009
Devin Townsend……..ki
Chris Cornell………Scream
Heaven and hell…..The Devil You know
Dream theater……Black Clouds and Silver Linings

Rocket: Who are some of the other local “unsigned metal” acts on your scene in Austria that you think are worth mentioning right now?

Vermes: Dead Dreams! This is also an Austrian metal band with a great Talent. Just recently they recorded their first 4-Track-CD in our record studio. Godfather is the producer!

Rocket: Where do you see yourself in ten years from now?

Vermes: In ten years, when we will have our next interview, I want to talk to you about the successful time of Far Beyond Innocence. Maybe we will also talk about my new house in Malibu?? 🙂

Rocket: What are some of the upcoming shows for FBI that we need to watch out for?

Vermes: One of the next shows we play in Vienna – 25th July! After this we will play shows in Germany. And maybe we’ll play in The States? Dates coming soon on our websites : www.myspace.com/fbiaustria, www.fbimusic.cc

Rocket: Thanks very much for rocking out this interview. Best of luck with it all. Go ahead and give a shout-out to your biggest supporters.

Vermes: My girlfriend Karin, Godfather, Firefucker,Ryanar5, Phlogos, Gernot „Head oft he Herd“Sladek, Peter Zimmerebner.

http://www.myspace.com/fbiaustria