" We don’t have a special formula. We write our music how it comes."
In the summer of 2005 Benni (drums) and André (guitar) decided to start a metal band with their friend Tino Hoffmann on vocals. They were soon joined by Steven on guitar, who had seen an ad posted by the band. The band was originally going to be called Metmachines, but this monicker was soon discarded. Soon after, Justin joined the band on bass, thus completing the line-up for the time being.
Since then Anima have picked up quite a fanbase within the metal community and continue to tour all over the world in support of their cause. We had a chance to talk with André about a bunch of things. This is what he had to say.
Altsounds: Your new album is intense to say the least, have you had good reviews so far?
Anima [André Steinmann]: Yes! We have a lot of good reviews but also “some” not so good ones.
For example, our sound is like SUICIDE SILENCE or THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER and so on...
Reviews are not so important for us I think! More important are the people who like our music and buy our CD's and merchandise.
Atsounds: Are you really as angry as you sound on the album?! Is anger a must have aspect when you perform?
Anima [André Steinmann]: More or less. I think an angry face or live show is an important detail for a good gig on stage! We play angry music. When I come with a friendly face on stage and a flowery shirt, that would make things a little difficult.
Altsounds: Off the new album, The Daily Grind, which is the band's favourite song to play live?
Anima [André Steinmann]: Hmmmm. Everybody has different favourites. My favourites are “There is something vicious” and “The daily grind”. Those two songs are good to play and we have a lot of fun on stage playing these songs.
Altsounds: How did you all meet each other? Was it a mutual respect for all things metal that brought the band together?
Anima [André Steinmann]: Benni and I looked for band members. We found Steven and Justin. Our first singer was Tino Hoffman followed by Mario Merkel and our present singer is Robert Horn. The most important thing was, that we all liked the same style of music.
Altsounds: How would you describe the perfect deathcore song? Is there a certain formula you use as a band to get it right?
Anima [André Steinmann]: We don’t have a special formula. We write our music how it comes. The must have essentials are speed, hard rhythm, technical riffs and maybe a hard mosh part!
Altsounds: Where would you say the band played their greatest show and what made it so huge?
Anima [André Steinmann]: I think that was the show in Vienna (Austria). It was a very big show with a great audience (4000 people). The sound was perfect as was our show too! We have also had some other great shows like the summer breeze festival, every gig on darkness over x-mas tour, and the suffer and die tour.
Altsounds: Which comes first when you're writing, the lyrics or the riff?
Anima [André Steinmann]: We start by writing the riffs and then the lyrics. I think when the riffs are finished first then it´s better to write the lyrics in terms of results.
Anima: Do you think you would ever consider releasing anything else other than metal?
Anima [André Steinmann]: Maybe, but I don’t know. I can`t see future. I like other styles of music but at the moment I play and enjoy metal most.
Anima: Who are some other bands you are hooked on at the moment that you could recommend?
Anima [André Steinmann]: There are a lot of good bands I like... Behemoth, Amon Amarth, Cannibal Corpse, Torchbearer, Necrophagist and a lot of more.
We have a lot of newcomers in Germany too, for example Torrential, Dying Humanity, Doomed Men... That`s good music!
Altsounds: What makes you stand out from the crowd as a band?
Anima [André Steinmann]: We are young and flexible. We always give our best and we strive to get even better in the future.
http://www.myspace.com/animamusic666
Since then Anima have picked up quite a fanbase within the metal community and continue to tour all over the world in support of their cause. We had a chance to talk with André about a bunch of things. This is what he had to say.
Altsounds: Your new album is intense to say the least, have you had good reviews so far?
Anima [André Steinmann]: Yes! We have a lot of good reviews but also “some” not so good ones.
For example, our sound is like SUICIDE SILENCE or THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER and so on...
Reviews are not so important for us I think! More important are the people who like our music and buy our CD's and merchandise.
Atsounds: Are you really as angry as you sound on the album?! Is anger a must have aspect when you perform?
Anima [André Steinmann]: More or less. I think an angry face or live show is an important detail for a good gig on stage! We play angry music. When I come with a friendly face on stage and a flowery shirt, that would make things a little difficult.
Altsounds: Off the new album, The Daily Grind, which is the band's favourite song to play live?
Anima [André Steinmann]: Hmmmm. Everybody has different favourites. My favourites are “There is something vicious” and “The daily grind”. Those two songs are good to play and we have a lot of fun on stage playing these songs.
Altsounds: How did you all meet each other? Was it a mutual respect for all things metal that brought the band together?
Anima [André Steinmann]: Benni and I looked for band members. We found Steven and Justin. Our first singer was Tino Hoffman followed by Mario Merkel and our present singer is Robert Horn. The most important thing was, that we all liked the same style of music.
Altsounds: How would you describe the perfect deathcore song? Is there a certain formula you use as a band to get it right?
Anima [André Steinmann]: We don’t have a special formula. We write our music how it comes. The must have essentials are speed, hard rhythm, technical riffs and maybe a hard mosh part!
Altsounds: Where would you say the band played their greatest show and what made it so huge?
Anima [André Steinmann]: I think that was the show in Vienna (Austria). It was a very big show with a great audience (4000 people). The sound was perfect as was our show too! We have also had some other great shows like the summer breeze festival, every gig on darkness over x-mas tour, and the suffer and die tour.
Altsounds: Which comes first when you're writing, the lyrics or the riff?
Anima [André Steinmann]: We start by writing the riffs and then the lyrics. I think when the riffs are finished first then it´s better to write the lyrics in terms of results.
Anima: Do you think you would ever consider releasing anything else other than metal?
Anima [André Steinmann]: Maybe, but I don’t know. I can`t see future. I like other styles of music but at the moment I play and enjoy metal most.
Anima: Who are some other bands you are hooked on at the moment that you could recommend?
Anima [André Steinmann]: There are a lot of good bands I like... Behemoth, Amon Amarth, Cannibal Corpse, Torchbearer, Necrophagist and a lot of more.
We have a lot of newcomers in Germany too, for example Torrential, Dying Humanity, Doomed Men... That`s good music!
Altsounds: What makes you stand out from the crowd as a band?
Anima [André Steinmann]: We are young and flexible. We always give our best and we strive to get even better in the future.
http://www.myspace.com/animamusic666
