SACRED STEEL - Interview with Oli Grosshans (rhythm guitar), March 2000.
Written by Alina Michelle.

 PHOTOMISTRESS:  Since most metalheads in the US don't know much about you all, please give us a rundown of where you are from, how long you've been together, people you've played with, etc.

OLI: Well, we're all from the area around Stuttgart.  We've played since years in different bands in our hometown scene and known each other there for a long time.  If I would name you bands and people we've made music with, it wouldn't make no sense cuz they are totally unknown in the States.  Sacred Steel was founded in August 1996 from Jörg (guitar) and Gerrit (vocals) after their split with their last band, Tragedy Divine.  Mathias (drums) and me (Oli, guitar) joined the band from the first day on.  It was our main priority to play straight, powerful, old-school heavy metal just the way we always wanted.  I can tell you, for all of us it was like a dream come true!  After our first bassist had vanished from one day to the other, we found in Jens, our actual bass player, a replacement for him.  We rehearsed a lot, and after the signing with Metal Blade, we recorded our first album "Reborn In Steel" in two weeks.  It turned out very well, but in fact not enough time and too less money we weren't that satisfied with the sound of it.  We we giggin' a lot in 96/97 and reached the grade of a very well-known underground metal band.  I think it depends on our True Heavy Metal attitude, and the fact that there was no compatible band around at this time.  With these two things we split people's minds.  On one side we have the folks who appreciate what we're doin' and on the other are these who hate us with all their heart. But we don't care about this last-named bunch of posers.

PM:  How would you describe the differences and similarities of the metal scene in Europe, Japan and the US?

OG:  I couldn't describe what I don't know.  I think the European scene is very similar to the U.S.  Maybe more underground as in Germany.  I think that depends on the farther distances between the single states.  But the U.S. scene has the same strength that is required to keep metal goin'.  I didn't have a clue how things are with the Japanese metal scene, but there must be one, definitely!

 PM:  What are some of your influences, favourite bands, etc?

OG:  We are definitely influenced by some U.S. metal bands from the eighties.  Some of our favourite bands are Nasty Savage, Agent Steel, Helstar, Witchkiller and stuff like that.  My favorite band at the moment is Solstice (UK).  Their album "New Dark Age" is absolutely brilliant, for me the album of the year 1998!  Gerrit is an absolute Bal-Sagoth maniac, Jörg is the biggest Slayer fan I've ever met, Mathias loves Riot and Jens is very much interested in all that progressive stuff.

PM:   In ONE word, describe each band member, including yourself.

OG:  Gerrit: Beer drinkin' bald head, Jens: Quiet fat boy, Mathias: The Muppet animal, Jörg: Manager and guitar hero, Me (Oli): Freak and weedhead.

PM:  What are your views of the way us Americans live (for example - the violence, the gossip, etc.)?

OG:  The violence that you have in the States actually is a very bad thing.  Maybe your politicians have to work out a better social system.  I didn't understannd that you can be killed just because you have some nice shoes?  In Germany we have also big problems with crime, racism and stuff like that, but not that bad as we always hear from the U.S.A.  That gossip thing is definitely not my cup of tea.  For example the Lewinsky-Clinton story is absolutely ridiculous.  In my opinion, everybody can have sex with that person he/she likes to, even when he's a senator or the president.  But let me tell you, we're not very interested in politics neither in our country nor in others.