Austria’s FAR BEYOND INNOCENCE was founded in late 1990 by guitar player Johann “Godfather” Bogl and singer “Vermes”, playing frequently on the stages around their hometown of Wels. Far Beyond Innocence is that rare breed of heavy metal band that truly understands how to deliver brutality in music. Mosh pits, blast beats, catchy hooks and aggressive shouts from “Vermes” and “Firefucker” get their audience going crazy.
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 drummer Raynar5 of FAR BEYOND INNOCENCE for his loyal army of Den Headz worldwide.
Rocket: Where were you born and raised?
Raynar5: I was born and raised in Wels – a small city in Upper Austria.
Rocket: Do you come from a big family?
Raynar5: No, I only have one sister, she’s five years older and actually brought me to rock music.
Rocket: What bands first drew you to heavy metal music?
Raynar5: Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Metallica.
Rocket: When did you first start playing drums?
Raynar5: I started to mess around at age 5 or something, the classical start with pots and dust bins. I also had a nice litte bontempi drumset but I destroyed it in a few weeks. I have got lessons with a very good drum teacher since the age of 9.
Rocket: Who are a few of your biggest drumming influences?
Raynar 5: John Bonham, Ian Paice, Thomas Lang, Jojo Mayer, Jeff Porcaro, Steve Gadd, Dave Weckl, Terry Bozzio, Tony Williams, Jack DeJohnette, Dave Lombardo, Lars Ulrich, all the great Metal drummers of the modern Metal bands like Soilwork’s drummer Dirk Verbeuren, Devil Driver’s John Boecklin, Trivium’s Travis Smith and all drummers who played with Vader.
Rocket: Can you please give us the make/model on your current touring and studio drum kit(s)?
Raynar5: I use the same equipment for studio and touring: Sonor Designer Maple Light Drums, various Cymbals from Zildjian, Sabian and Paiste, Pearl’s new Demon Drive Pedal, Remo drumheads, Agner or Vic Firth 5B Sticks, Roland Kick Triggers with the Roland TD 10 modul and the SPD-S Sampling Pad.
Rocket: I really enjoyed your drumming work on the debut FBI album entitled “Torture Circus”. Did you have fun recording it?
Raynar5: It was great fun but it was also hard work! Some of the drum parts are very complex and really fast, thanks to Godfather. I am very proud of this album and the fact that we didn’t quantize (constrain) the drum tracks, so what you hear is 100 % me playing my drums.
Rocket: How did you come to join FBI band?
Raynar5: I joined FBI in December 2006. Godfather called me but he got my number from our former bass player with whom I played with some years ago.
Rocket: What is your favorite FBI song to play live and why?
Raynar5: Pigmy Headhunters – the ultimate steamroller and our opener. I also enjoy playing Ministry of Fear, Devil in your Fairyland, Enemy and Immortal Man very much!
Rocket: What’s the one quality about Godfather as a musical performer that you think fascinates your many loyal fans the most?
Raynar5: I have to answer, it’s his absolut killer riffs of course – the foundation of every FBI song. These riffs are brutal, aggressive, uncompromising, 100% Metal and they KICK ASS! Godfather always concentrates on heavy riffs and there are always some groove parts. There is no redundant stuff!
Rocket: What is the funniest thing that has happened to you while performing on the stage?
Raynar5: I had to do a substitute job for a friend with a wedding band. We played with FBI the day before and I really was into playing as loud as I can. After a few songs an old granny came on the bandstand, she held my crash cymbals so I couldn’t play them anymore and she was shouting at me STOP IT!…hahaha… maybe she didn’t like my style hahaha.
Rocket: Do you get out to many local Austrian gigs to check out new upcoming bands? If so, could you tell me who has impressed you as of late?
Raynar5: I like to see other bands from our local scene and we do many shows with other Austrian bands. Some talented bands are Mosfet, World Betrayed, Pekari and Dead Dreams.
Rocket: There have been a lot of great heavy metal albums released so far in 2009. Do you have a favorite?
Raynar5: Behemoth – Evangelion – fucking weird stuff!
Devil Driver – Pray for Villains
The Modern Age Slavery – Damned to Blindness
Rocket: Who are some of the record labels that you think would be a good fit for FBI?
Raynar5: Any label that is willing to work with us and believes in FBI!
Rocket: What are some of the upcoming shows for FBI that fans need to watch out for?
Raynar5: There are many things going on at the moment and we will have the chance to play our music in front of many metal heads who don’t know us – we have to win them! One annual event for FBI is Rockin Sixpack in our hometown Wels.
Rocket: What do you think you would have ended up doing for a career had you not chosen music?
Raynar5: I have never been asked that question. Making music and playing the drums is the only possible thing for me!
Rocket: Thanks very much for rocking this out with me. Best of luck with it all moving forward. Go ahead and give special thanks out to any of your friends, family and supporters.
Raynar5: I want to thank my family – Mom, Dad and my sister, my drumteachers, all the great drummers out there for inspiration and motivation and last but not least my friends from FBI and I want to say thank you Rocket and The Metal Den for supporting FBI!
http://www.myspace.com/fbiaustria
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