EDGUY's TOBIAS SAMMET: 'We're Beyond Any Style, Beyond Any Label'

RockRevolt magazine recently conducted an interview with singer Tobias Sammet of German melodic metallers EDGUY. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

RockRevolt: While your band is typically classified as heavy/power metal, where and how do you define it? How do you work to break the molds that sometimes exist in the music world?

Tobias: It's really hard to define it ourselves. I mean, when I grew up, it was not so much about the term, it was about the spirit. There were festivals like Monsters Of Rock, METALLICA were playing there, BON JOVI, HELLOWEEN, ANTHRAX, David Lee Roth, MAGNUM, IRON MAIDEN, MÖTLEY CRÜE. It was all about energetic, anthemic, guitar-driven music. I know that it would be easier for the record label if we'd be a band you can easily pigeonhole, but I never wanted to make this our top priority. We started out playing rock songs, then we were called power metal because we had those typical European metal album productions, but I guess we always broke all the rules. If you call us power metal, I am all fine with it, if you call us old-fashioned hard rock, I am all fine with it. If you come to a show and call us a stand-up comedy act, I am all fine. We're beyond any style, I think, beyond any label. We're EDGUY! We not only got away with not being able to be labelled, we even got away with a shit band name, travelled the world with it, and found a decent amount of followers who don't give a shit about how to call it. How much more can you prove that you're totally convinced of your material, your skills, and the spirit of heavy metal?

RockRevolt: How does the metal scene in Germany differ from that in the U.S. or other countries for that matter? Are there any cultural overtones that transcend one's physical location, or do metal fans universally seem to speak the same language?

Tobias: That's hard to say, but I think in the USA, people appreciate blues elements a lot more than in Germany or continental Europe. I love blues, it's the roots of our music, but the fact that bands like AEROSMITH or VAN HALEN received — if at all — only few gold awards in Germany pretty much describes it best. Blues is not in everyone's blood over here, but at least I have never denied my bluesy roots. What I can say, whenever we play the States, our fans are amazing and they're absolutely crazy, because I think they don't get too many European bands touring over there, at least it's like in Europe, where you can see a so-called European metal band every week. It's difficult for us to tour the States as we have to strip down and adjust to playing clubs as opposed to what we do in other parts of the world. But the secret is, no matter how small the club, perform the hell out of it and turn it into an arena show. What I also think is that America is great for true performers, people who really actually entertain and not just play. I still wonder how something like grunge could actually been given birth to in the United States Of Euphoria.

RockRevolt: Your lyrics often allude to the dangers of modern times. How do you feel about our civilization as a whole? Do you have any concerns, worries, or fears? Where do you see civilization headed in the next decade or so?

Tobias: I am not afraid. You know, as much as I speak about things I am concerned about, I just wanna stress this: I never try to approach things as an admonisher. I wanna entertain and focus on positivity. I have no concerns or worries and mostly my lyrics are rather about personal stuff, spiritual stuff, or just entertaining. No matter how hard I criticize — for example, music criticism or philistinism, for example in "Space Police" — I always try to tell those little stories with a smile from coast to coast and my tongue firmly planted in my cheek.

RockRevolt: Since you have been a part of the musical scene since the '90s, how has the scene itself changed, and if it has, do you think the changes have been for the better? For the worse?

Tobias: I have seen it go up and down and up and down. It's really funny, you get confused yourself. In '99, you are the flavor of the week. In 2005, you're old-fashioned. In 2013, you're flavor of the week. It's insane; you wouldn't think it happens in the metal world, too. But it does. The funny thing is it's only the press; sales have been constant. Businesswise, I can say bands tour and tour more and more, ‘cause no one makes money from album sales anymore. It's a shame, 'cause how can you come up with a great production if no one sees the necessity to support the band and make sure it will go on producing and affording great albums? I have to say I am happy to have been born in '77 so I can be who I am in this day and age. More than ever, bands run their own businesses, we pull our own strings, we have our own management. I think 20 years ago, that was not very common. A lot of parasites were draining the money that the band was meant to receive.

Read the entire interview at RockRevolt.

"Sabre & Torch" lyric video:

Limited-edition artwork:

Standard-edition artwork: