EMQ’s with MALEFISTUM
Hi everyone! Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with Jens Faber of Pagan/Power/Melodic Death Metal Project Malefistum. Huge thanks to him for taking part.
What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
Hi, my name is Jens. I am founder of Malefistum and play Guitar, Bass and Keyboards on this album. Due to contract rights I am not allowed to reveal the drummer. I founded this project in 2019. Most of the songs are performed by Melissa Bonny (Ad Infinitum, Serenity, Warkings, Rage of Light). One song is performed by Federica Lanna (Sleeping Romance, Volturian), another one by Zagan (Black Messiah) and another one by Eric Dow (Helsott)
How did you come up with your band name?
Sounds simple but this name Malefistum just came to my mind one day.
What Country/Region are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?
I come from Bochum/ Germany where I founded my main band Dawn of Destiny years ago. Main influence has been Equilibrium and Ensiferum and we mix it with some power metal and melodic death ingredients.
What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)
The album “Enemy” is our debut. In February the first single “Towards the Sun” was released, two other singles will be released in the next weeks.
Who have been your greatest influences?
Actually I’m influenced by many different metal styles. In case of this Malefistum album it’s been folk/pagan metal as well as some Dark Tranquillity, Wintersun and Mercenary.
What first got you into music?
Just like many musicians I started early with listening to music but began to play Keyboard when I was 18 and guitar even later. I was listening to classical heavy metal and mostly power metal. It took a time to get used to harsh vocals but now I love it J
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
My all-time faves are Savatage, this would be a dream. I love Therion as well and would like to write songs together with Tuomas Holopainen (Nightwish) or Tobias Sammet (Avantasia, Edguy)
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
I guess everybody would love to play at Wacken, of course on the main stage at 8pm… but who can achieve that? I must confess I’m not familiar with most festivals so I could not really pick up one certain festival.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
Not so many fans, so not many gifts, haha. Honestly there was not really anything weird.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Please keep on buying CD’s, go to concerts, support as good as you can and already did.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
I would choose Steve Lee from Gotthard and Jimi Jamison from Survivor. They had great, great voices.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
I enjoy most writing songs. This is my real passion. Playing gigs with Dawn of Destiny is nearly always fun as well. I hate being there that early in order to put out equipment and then wait for hours for the beginning of the show.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
Of course I would like to sell my music, not donate it because we all put so much money and passion in this. It should be possible to make snippets for YouTube etc. not put the whole song or album on it. Although metal fans are more faithful then many others. It gets so difficult for small projects like mine to produce new albums or even to try to make a living out of it.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
Savatage – “Dead Winter Dead”, Therion – “Gothic Kaballah”, Europe – “Out Of This World” and so many more.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
As a child I loved vinyl but I’m more into CDs and (legal) downloads now.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
With Dawn of Destiny we supported Sabaton some years ago, that was fantastic as well as a small tour with Axxis. Guess I would choose these ones.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
I am a teacher, that’s my main job and I love it! J
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Jon Oliva, John Petrucci, Tuomas Holopainen, Charlotte Wessels and Melissa Bonny J
What’s next for the band?
There is a video coming with Melissa for the third single in April, really looking forward to it.
What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
Unfortunately I’m not very good in using social media but I try to use Facebook and YouTube but too little people follow me so I need the support from my label and other people as well.
https://www.facebook.com/MalefistuM-109917317191323/
https://www.youtube.com/user/evilbobath
http://www.fastball-music.com/
Jaffa Cakes! Are they a cake or a biscuit?
I’d say biscuit and I love it.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Thank you as well. I’m grateful for every kind of support.
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