INTERVIEW: Amethyst

Swiss Heavy Metal rockers AMETHYST blew the underground apart with their majestic debut EP earlier this year. Between this and their signing to No Remorse Records in anticipation of their debut LP, I decided to have a chat with them… Let’s rock!

1. Greetings AMETHYST, please introduce yourself and your band to the maniacs salivating for Heavy Metal!
   
   Amethyst is a band from Switzerland formed by Hard-Rockers who played and still play in different Swiss bands. If you’re a sucker for late 70s, early 80s Hard Rock /Heavy Metal from Britain, Sweden and the US and if you dig pounding, playful drumming á la Clive Burr, singing guitars like the gods of Maiden, the incomparable sound of a Rickenbacker bass and a unique singing voice, this band is the right thing for your pleasures.
   
   My name is Frëddy, and I’m the singer and frontman of the band. I am one of two Germans in the band, and I moved to Switzerland in 2019, but I work there since 2011. I’m a lover of oldschool Heavy Metal and Hard Rock, I spend all my money in collecting LPs and 7”s, beer, food and leather.
   
   
2. Forming in 2020, what brought you all together and made you start this entity? 
   
   We’ve known each other for a long time before forming Amethyst, some of us even played in a band together before (Midas Touch) so, when Miguel, Yves and Ramon decided to form a Hard Rock band, they asked me to get in as well for they were looking for a drummer. I have never sung in a band as a frontman before, I was always behind the battery. We played two or three songs and when I asked them, who should be the voice of the band, they declared they haven’t found someone, yet. I grabbed the mic, wrote down some lyrics on my phone and sung along the songs. I think, it worked out pretty well and we decided that I will take over the microphone. This led us to the problem, that there wasn’t a drummer, again. Miguel switched back to the drums, now, the bass position was vacant… We found a bass player in Nico, switched to another rehearsing room, and played in this formation for a short period. Nico then decided to leave the band and we found Eldo as a perfect member for playing the drums. The line-up was complete. Amethyst was ready to lift off.
   
   We all share the same passion for Hard Rock, we all have the same ideas of how the band should sound like and pretty much rock the same style in denim and leather. It just works out damn fine! 
   
   
3. There was around 2 years between formation and materialisation of the debut EP (which we will get onto next), what happened in this quiet period of craftsmanship?
   
   Well, we were not “quiet” at this time, but Covid kicked the planet and slowed down the movement of the band. After the pandemic and the restrictions, we had more time to rehearse again. Most of the band members have full-time jobs and we all have private lives, so we usually met on Sundays (and still do) to rehearse. For our songs can sometimes be tricky and because we don’t do a “half assed job”, the writing of the songs took some time. But we are very satisfied with how it turned out and we are still overwhelmed by the reaction of the scene and our fans. You guys’ fuckin rule!    
   
   
4. So, now we have the past, the present; your latest EP “Rock Knights” obviously took the underground by storm. What went into writing, recording and releasing these four pieces? You guys have a very analogue sound, is this real or digital studio trickery?
   
   “Rock Knights” seemed to have a big impact in the scene, indeed. We we’re totally stunned, when we released the first song “Chasing Shadows” via NWOTHM Youtube channel (HAILZ!). I remember sitting in our rehearsal room reading the comments. People seemed to have been waiting for a band like us and we still can’t comprehend… We just did, what we wanted to do. I remember Eldo saying: “Chasing Shadows is such a lame song (…)” when he first heard and played it. But after a few times, the song grew on us and we started to understand, that this will be something and we need to get on stage as soon as possible.
   
   Regarding the sound of the EP:  All credits go to Eldo! He’s the man with the magic fingers when it comes to turning knobs and finding the right sound. We didn’t record on analogue equipment. It’s very expensive to get all the needs like a reel-to-reel machine and you need a shitload of knowledge and expertise to record a band the analogue, oldschool way. This is why we used some “magic”, Eldo played around with the EQ and mixed the whole thing while constantly listening to Maiden to recreate the best sounding result. Starting with the drums, for they had to boom like being recorded in the early 80s and the guitars, as well, Eldo made sure, you can hear the pounding of the bass. For me, this is a very important part of the recording and for the instruments being so well arranged on the mix and mastering, the final result presents you this “analogue” feeling. 
   
   
5. Although your shows have been limited, they have been at special events. I recently caught you opening Keep It True Rising III in Germany, truly a magnificent set. What makes an AMETHYST show for those who have not been lucky enough to attend one, and where can we expect you to play / tour next?
   
   Our first gig took place in Lucerne at the Starlett Stock Festival, organized by the bois of Sin Starlett (CHECK ‘EM OUT!!!). We were kind of confident but also a little nervous at this time. The gig went well and the audience went totally crazy. The second gig brought us up north to Sweden, Muskelrock, when we played in the tent of the wizard at 1:30 in the night. People went absolutely nuts! It was such a magical moment to be there and seeing the crowd moving like waves onto the cage bars, singing along and constantly screaming and yelling for more. Until this day, I can hardly comprehend what was going on that night in the tent… Some people came to us after the show, telling us this was the best thing they’ve heard in a long time and that we were the best band at the festival. I was very thankful for these kind words but in my mind I was like “I had so many crooked notes in my voice….did they really hear the same thing like I did, haha?” Unbelievable experience.
   
   When we played Chaos Descends in East-Germany, we had a bigger audience for the first time. Again, so many people were in front of the stage, all waiting to see us and I remember being very nervous. After a few songs, I got more confident, but I guess I have to get more experience playing in front of bigger crowds. Same went with KIT Rising. We opened the festival and the concert hall was already crowded. At 12:00!!!! I came on stage, and I just saw so many people, that I couldn’t believe it at first. We rocked the set-list and it was awesome to see so many raised fists in the air and people singing along to my lyrics. You can feel the tension and the energy from the crowd, and this is what it means playing in a band.
   
   If you attend an Amethyst gig, you will be confronted with a travel back in time to the glorious days of early Heavy Metal. Just like the older guys in the scene were able to witness. Imagine a crowded cellar, the smell of leather, beer, tobacco and sweat in the air. It’s packed full of long-haired maniacs, wearing leather and boots, tight jeans and Kutten with obscure patches rocking shirts of rare or unknown bands. Moustache Rockers with bangs all shaking their heads and wielding their fists to the ceiling, blowing out the eardrums to the sound of two Marshall Amplifiers and feeling their guts while being pounded by the bass and the drums and overall, I’ll scream in your face. This should sum it up pretty well, haha. 
   
   In 2024, we will return to the stages. There are a lot of upcoming gigs, and you might be able to see us at some different locations in Europe with new songs!!!. 
   
   
6. Recently it was announced you joined the roster of Greek Heavy Metal powerhouse No Remorse Records. Can you tell us a bit about this deal and what you hope it to mean for the band?
   
   I was always a fan of their work and I have a lot of their releases at home. So, when they asked us to join their roster, we decided to take the deal. With such a bigger player in the label world we hope to spread the word of Amethyst to a bigger audience, but we always will stay authentic and connected to the underground. We don’t have the intention to become “mainstream” in the metal world. We want Amethyst to stay a ”hidden” gem for the connoisseurs of real Heavy Metal. And I think No Remorse are the perfect partners for our goals.  
   
   
7. Naturally, I am going to ask when the debut LP is planned and what can we hope to hear from it?
   
   The debut LP should be out around spring, late spring 2024. We’re in the middle of writing new songs and we think, they kick ass! Prepare for a NWOBHM overdose with catchy melodies and powerful rhythm. Some of the new songs have “NWOBHM bands” named working titles. I think, you can imagine where this will take us all. 
   
   
8. There is a huge wave of bands playing the more traditional style of Heavy Metal. Which bands for you are the best in this movement?
   
   From Switzerland: Running Maiden, Sin Starlett and Megaton Sword! There are few “Traditional Heavy Metal” bands in Switzerland but a lot of more extreme bands like Deathcult, Enchant, Antiversum, Nachtmaar and Bölzer. Switzerland has a rich history when it comes to death and black metal and in the 80s you had a lot of Heavy Metal bands, too. It looks like in the more traditional way of Heavy Metal we are little lost, now. But those who keep up the torch are worth listening to!
   
   Also, there are Century, Armory and Tyrann from Sweden! There must be something in the water in this country for they deliver excellent music since the early 70s. Then you have Venator and Düsenjäger from Austria, awesome Heavy Metal! Kerrigan, Acid Blade and Firmament from Germany, Animalize from France, Drifter from the US, and Wytch Hazel from the UK!  There might be more, but for now I go with these guys! 
   
   
9. Speaking of bands you dig, which of the classics are AMETHYST’s main sources of inspiration?
   
   Overall stands the NWOBHM movement from ‘79 to ’83! Then add some late 70s US Hard Rock like Riot, some Thin Lizzy, Gary Moore and Rory Gallagher from Ireland and you might get the sound of Amethyst! In detail, the first two Maiden albums are mandatory for our sound combined with the classics of Thin Lizzy and enhanced with some rarities like Frenzy, Alien, Mendes Prey, Bleak House, Praying Mantis, Alverna Gunn etc. 
   
   
10. Finally I would like to give this opportunity for you to address fans, enemies, readers and whoever else you wish with whatever words feel appropriate…
    
    No need to address to enemies, for it’s not worth spending energy for dipshitz!
    
    We want to say thank you for every single person that supports Amethyst, no matter how. If you buy our merch, our records or just listen to the music, you are the ones to keep the flame alive! You are the reason, why this music keeps on rollin’!
    
    Also many thanks to you, Jørgen, for this opportunity and your interest to write about Amethyst. You’re doing a great job!
    
    Eternal Hailz and Up The irons!
    
    Frëddy
    (Amethyst) November 2023