Interview by Jason



With their new album Necropolis Transparent – their first since 2001 – released on 1st July 2011, Lock Up’s guitarist, Anton Reisenegger, took time out to speak to Midlands Rocks about their decision to make another record, the writing process, collaboration and live shows.

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Hi.Thanks for taking time out to talk to us at www.midlandsrocks.co.uk. It’s been just over nine years since ‘Hate Breeds Suffering’ was released. After so long, what made you decide to do another album?

Well, Jesse's passing was I think the main reason why the band was inactive for so long. I think the guys probably didn't even consider carrying on without him for a while, but at some point, when the grieving process was completed, I guess they just wanted to play this type of stuff again and, in a way, pay homage to Jess.

How long did it take to put it all together? When did writing begin?

The writing process for this album began in October 2008. That was the first time I flew over to the UK to jam with Nick at his rehearsal studio in Chesterfield. I presented some of my ideas to him and he liked them right away. Most of them ended up on the album. In 2009 I officially joined the band and we started playing live, so every time we got together to rehearse for the shows we would take some time out to work on new songs. So the whole process took about two years until we went into the studio.

With all the members having other band commitments, how do you make time to get together and write and record? How do you find the time to fit it all in?

There's always time if you really want to do it. No band is on the road non-stop. I mean, Shane has got like another two or three more bands he's involved with. I actually don't know how he does it, but he's proof that where there's a will there's always a way.

With each member involved in other bands, what is it that keeps Lock Up alive for the members? What do you all get out of it that you don’t from your other bands?

I guess it's the freedom to do whatever the hell we want. Every band has got a certain concept, certain unwritten laws and certain limits, and LOCK UP transcends all that. We can just drink beer, play fast and go ARGH ARGH!

Were there any goals you set for yourselves in making ‘Necropolis Transparent’?

Me personally, I wanted to contribute stuff that would fit in with the original LOCK UP style, but that still had my personal handwriting, if you know what I mean. As a band, I think the same as always, just make the fastest, heaviest, most aggressive and evil sounding record we could.

When it comes to writing, how do you each decide what is for Lock Up and what is for your other bands?

For me it's quite easy because my other bands (Criminal and Pentagram Chile) differ quite a bit from LOCK UP. I imagine it's probably different for Shane, but he's probably got his own way of telling what is for which band.

Peter Tägtgren, the original mouthpiece of Lock Up, makes an appearance on the new album. How did you get him involved? And what did he bring to the recording of the title track and ‘Through the Eyes of My Shadow Self’?

Well, Pete sang on the first album obviously, and his parting with the band was on good terms, he's always remained a friend of the band, so I guess it was just a cool idea to have both Tomas AND Pete trade off vocals on a couple tracks. It also added a different colour to the vocals, because both Tomas and Pete have killer vocal tones but they are quite different from each other.

Jeff Walker also makes a number of contributions. How did you get him involved? And what did he bring to the recordings?

Well, him and Shane have known each other for aeons, so when the question popped up who we could have contribute a few backing vocals it was a very obvious choice. He brought an added touch of ferocity and old-school charm to the album.

Lock Up’s shows have been sporadic, mainly festival appearances. Will you be touring in support of the album? In the UK? Will you be coming to the Midlands?

Because of everybody's commitments, I don't think we'll be doing any major tours, just festivals, weekend shows and maybe a few short tours, but the UK is definitely on our list and the connections to the Midlands are obvious so it would be a sin not to play there!

In the era of downloading and piracy, what are your feelings about the internet and its effect on bands – old and new – and audiences? And on the metal scene?

It has changed everything. It has changed people's relationship with music. Being a young music fan now has got nothing to do with the way we experienced the music scene. Keep in mind we all grew up in the tape trading scene, which now seems like the Stone Age for music. I think it's an on-going process anyway, and I hope at some point someone will find a way to compensate the artists for their work. Right now I think the bands that are hurt the most are the bands in our order of magnitude. For a small, up-and-coming band the internet is a great way to promote themselves. Big bands, on the other hand, may sell less but still sell loads, plus they have other ways to generate an income. We are just fucked.

Again, thanks for taking time out to talk to us at www.midlandsrocks.co.uk. Is there anything you’d like to say to our readers?

Buy our new album and come to the show when we hit your area!

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Click here for Midlands Rocks 9 out of 10 review of the album