VADER Mainman Talks About 25th Anniversary, Future Plans

VADER's official web site has been updated with a new interview with the group's mainman, guitarist/vocalist Piotr "Peter" Wiwczarek. Read on:

Q: For VADER, year 2007 abounded in many interesting events. Tours, festivals, "The Witcher"... Any comments?

Peter: Sure. You're right, 2007 was a pretty busy year for VADER... as usual. The whole time we spent being mostly promoting our fresh album "Impressions in Blood". Taking part on big and important festivals in summer was also vital for the band. We could show our potential to many thousands of fans being sharing the stage with big names. Besides, we did successful tours In Japan, Scandinavia or Russia. In the last months of 2007, we played also second part of "Blitzkrieg 4" in Poland and awesome "Death by Decibels" tour in USA. Important events was for VADER recording of "Sword of the Witcher" (which was a special song composed for PC RPG game "The Witcher" — that already gained big success in the world) and DVD "...And Blood Was Shed in Warsaw.." (recording of the live performance in capital of Poland). In 2007 we also started recording of "XXV" — VADER's 25th-aniversary album.

Q: You are at the end of the recording process of band's anniversary album. Could you give us some more details?

Peter: We were recording the album in a few parts, using free time in between the tours. One more time the producers were Wieslawski Bros. at Hertz Studios. "XXV" is a double album including 25 VADER hits from early days recorded from the scratch. 90% of the whole material are songs from first three albums and mini CDs realized in between also never released songs from very beginning of the band. We plan to prepare a special edition of "XXV" with additional three bonus songs (yes!!!...it gives 28 pieces total!!!) and DVD including never-released live clips copied from rare and old VHS tapes. There will be guest appearing as well... Now we are about to finalize mastering and graphics so the album should be out in May 2008.

Q: New year, new challenges. First and foremost, band's 25th anniversary!!!! You will appear on anniversary tours in Europe/ USA. There will be also a special, extraordinary gig in Poland...

Peter: Yeah, 2008 is a very special date for the band, because it means that VADER creates metal for 25 bloody years already! In 1983 me and Zbiggy "Vika" Wroblewski decided to play extreme metal and... we started VADER!!! So besides the anniversary album we prepare special set for the upcoming European tour in April/May/June, when "XXV" will be available. In the last days of August, we're gonna play an extraordinary show in Poland (Warsaw) where our fans can take a part in two hours concert and follow the story of VADER's music. There will be also some famous guests (and VADER's friends since years) appearing that night. Several surprises may occur... In 2008 we also tour with Summer Slaughter fest. In USA in June/July and in Scandinavia in fall. Important for VADER is also taking a part in the biggest metal fest in Poland (in March) called Metalmania, where we played back in 1986 on the first edition of that festival...

Q: You are about to release your new, anniversary DVD? Why?

Peter: Yes, we will unleash this special show in Warsaw in August on the DVD. Why? First, because this is the 25th aniversary show, which may happen only once and we prepare special long set for this evening. The other reason is that we want to record it in non-standard way giving our fans a chance to watch not only the set itself BUT also how the band's members prepare themselves and ...the job of the whole team, that being usually unnoticed works pretty hard as well. A stage… but also backstage, soundchecks, guitar changes etc.

Q: Any plans for the next full-length studio album?

Peter: Yesss! In 2008 we start recording of our very new album — named temporarily "The Book of the Dead". Like the title says ...this is gonna be very "in-VADER-tradition-like" record and… but this is secret yet. The album should be in stores in May 2009.

VADER released its latest DVD, "And Blood Was Shed In Warsaw", in Europe on October 15, 2007 via Metal Mind Productions. The group's third DVD, which was made available in North America via MVD, features footage from the band's February 12, 2007 concert at Stodola Club in Warsaw, documenting the final stop of the group's tour in support of their latest album, "Impressions in Blood". The show was filmed with seven cameras and includes a guest appearance by Orion, a member of two other great Polish metal acts: VESANIA and BEHEMOTH. The DVD also includes: a fully animated menu, band bio, discography, interview with frontman Peter, the brand new video clip "Sword of the Witcher" (taken from the forthcoming RPG game "The Witcher"),desktop images, photo gallery, weblinks, and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. "…And Blood Was Shed In Warsaw" DVD is also available in a special DVD+CD limited swing case edition! The artwork and layout of the DVD was created by the Brazilian artist Marcelo HVC, who has previously worked with GORGOROTH, LORD BELIAL and NECROPHAGIA.

A preview of the "And Blood Was Shed In Warsaw" DVD in the form of the track "Helleluyah!!! (God Is Dead)" is available below.