Interview with thrash metal band from Germany - TEUTONIC SLAUGHTER.
Answered Philip (vocals, guitars), thank you!
Recenze/review - TEUTONIC SLAUGHTER - Cheap Food (2026):
Ave TEUTONIC SLAUGHTER! Greetings to Germany, I hope you are doing well! I am, because I just got back from work, where I listened to your new album "Cheap Food" all day long. I work on a computer and had my headphones on the whole time. I am literally fascinated by the energy I feel from the album. You probably won't reveal the recipe for where you get it from, but I'm sure you'll be happy to describe how the new album came about? Has the way TEUTONIC SLAUGHTER composes changed in any way compared to previous albums?
Cheers Jakub and warm greetings to the Czech Republic. Thanks for your request! We’re really happy that you like “CHEAP FOOD” so much.
If there were a secret recipe, we’d love to know it ourselves. With this album we stayed true to our line while also changing things a little. We’ve gotten older and more mature. Nowadays we look at the production of an album differently, and since 2023 we’ve had two new members in the lineup, Ivan and Nico, who brought fresh energy into the band.
What hasn’t changed is that you have to feel the music. If you already feel like headbanging and going wild in the rehearsal room, the song can’t be that bad. And if the spirit then jumps to the audience when we play it live, then it has to be recorded. We’ve been doing it that way since 2012.
On “Cheap Food” you can simply hear that we’ve all become better at our instruments. With Nico and Ivan we’ve gained two outstanding musicians (and people), so during the songwriting process there were more ideas floating around. On previous recordings the songs were finished faster. If someone brought in an idea, we would only work on it slightly and then finalize it.
Today we combine several ideas with each other. What’s important is that it always feels like Teutonic Slaughter. The framework in which we move has expanded since working on “Cheap Food”, and we’re ready to make use of that. At the same time you can always expect old-school thrash straight in your face from us. And hopefully that makes you grin broadly whether you’re in the rehearsal room, in front of or on the stage, or in the office or car listening to “Cheap Food.” For us it works every time… hahaha!
Personally, I like one thing most about "Cheap Food," and that's the melodies. Clear, distinct, you rely on interesting riffs, the songs gradually build up, they have drive and power. In my opinion, these are the things that make good music great. I'd be interested to know how you know when a song is finished? Who has the final say? And how do you perceive their live performance? Does there have to be chemistry between you and then between you and the fans? Do you have ideas that you then discard?
The melodies we were able to include on “Cheap Food” are part of the development described above. Because the songs are only finished through our collective work, we all enrich the basic structure and create a living song that you can intuitively feel.
In fact, since working on “Cheap Food” we haven’t discarded a single song anymore. Some ideas were postponed a bit, but later picked up again when the feeling was right. A song is only finished when all of us can stand behind it. All or nothing.
And as mentioned earlier, the songs also have to convince live. You can simply feel whether the audience likes a song or not. You feel what kind of energy is being transmitted. And so far our instincts have never deceived us.
I know a lot of bands who only have lyrics for their songs so that they have something to sing. What I've always loved about TEUTONIC SLAUGHTER is that they have an idea, a meaning, an opinion. How do they come about? When does inspiration strike, and how do you fit them to the music? Personally, I think writing lyrics is an incredibly difficult discipline, and they are great, especially on the new album "Cheap Food." I often say to myself, yes, that's exactly it, that's how I feel too.
I’m really happy to hear that you sometimes found yourself reflected in the lyrics. I (Philip) write all the lyrics for the songs. That’s both the privilege and the burden of the singer.
It’s important to me to critically engage with what’s happening in the world and to see things in context in our globalized world. Rarely is there a lyric idea before the first riff of a new song exists. Usually the text grows together with the music. It’s an intuitive feeling about what fits the mood of the song.
There are topics I’ve always wanted to write about, and once a connection appears, the machinery starts running. I don’t approach it in an overly literary way. It should feel authentic and come from genuine emotion. And if I feel something when music and lyrics come together, I hope the listener will feel it too.
The opening intro is a terrifying story that took place in your city. Could you please tell us more about it? I tried to find out more details, but I didn't read much because I don't speak German.
In 1989 there was an armed bank robbery in our hometown Gladbeck. The two robbers took hostages and fled from the police. What followed was a police chase that was practically unprecedented.
During their escape the robbers even gave interviews to the press. They blackmailed the police and were successful several times. The media sensationalized everything as if the two were superheroes. But they were criminals terrible criminals.
While the police stood by helplessly, journalists surrounded them and they were even able to drive through downtown Cologne. No intervention… nothing.
When the police were finally forced to act, one of the hostages died during the shootout. Before that, a young man had already been killed during the hostage situation. Two young people lost their lives because the police were not prepared for such a situation and the journalists were hungry for sensation.
It was a tragedy. But fortunately it changed a lot. Police and media practices in Germany were massively reformed because of this event. Laws were tightened and procedures improved. It’s important to remember what can happen when too many people behave wrongly when too many people look away and only pursue their own success.
I always tell everyone that it's clear that rock and heavy metal came first, and only then did thrash metal follow. Without foundations, there can be no development. Staying in the past for a moment, which musicians actually got you into music? Is there anyone you still admire today, someone you'd like to meet and thank for their inspiration?
For me personally it was KISS. My father had a big stereo system in the living room back then, which I already loved as a small kid. And what else does a little boy like? Dinosaurs!
Then one day the cover of “Destroyer” by KISS was lying on top of the stereo system. And there was Gene Simmons wearing his dinosaur/dragon boots. From that moment on we had to listen to KISS every day. That hasn’t really changed to this day.
Later of course Ruhr area heroes like Kreator, Sodom, Darkness, and Violent Force were added for me. But KISS will always be something special. And damn yes I’d love to meet Gene Simmons in person someday!
I always take each band as a whole. Not just their music, but also their performance, how they treat their fans. To be honest, a band can play like gods, but then I come to a concert and they're arrogant and deserve a few slaps, so that's the end of it for me. What I've always liked about TEUTONIC SLAUGHTER is that you're down to earth, easygoing, passionate guys who go for it head first. How do you perceive your fans? It seems to me that you enjoy every performance immensely. Am I right?
Absolutely! We are fans ourselves and we make music for thrash metal maniacs. What could be better than a bunch of metal lunatics having an awesome evening together?
As mentioned earlier, we’re a very intuitive band. We want to feel the music. Music should bring joy. It’s not about feeding your ego but about having a great time. And you can feel that at our concerts. It’s not an artificial feeling it’s pure conviction.
How do you perceive contemporary metal? Do you have any favorite bands? I don't know about you, but lately it seems to me that everyone is playing faster and faster, crazier and crazier, more and more incomprehensibly. You stand under the stage, nod your head for a while, thinking what great musicians they are, and then you don't remember anything. Then you go home and prefer to listen to good old Saxon.
I think it’s difficult when you can’t feel metal anymore. When it becomes almost academic only about making everything faster and more technical. Don’t get me wrong, it’s incredibly impressive. But not much sticks with you if it’s only technically brilliant but lacks passion and conviction.
There are bands where you can hear that they are a concept product from the beginning. A group assembled to achieve success with a certain formula. Sometimes even cast together or assembled over the internet to produce whatever music is trendy at the moment. As a fan you can feel that. At least I think so. And something important gets lost there especially personality.
Metal has entered the mainstream and concept bands with masked members who hide their identities are at a peak right now. Because the people in those concepts become interchangeable, the music becomes somewhat arbitrary.
And yes then I’d rather listen to “Malevolent Assault of Tomorrow” by Violent Force for the hundred-thousandth time!
At the same time there are many young bands who dare to be weird, unique, and individual. They don’t worry about technical finesse but simply feel what they’re playing. Metal is far from dead today you just have to keep your eyes and ears open and you’ll find real diamonds.
You are also a bit of a veteran now. Times have changed a lot since your beginnings. Today you have social networks, new technologies, and many people listen to music by downloading it, listening to it, and then either forgetting about it or deleting it. You strike me as positive people. How do you see the future? Will metal only be for old people, since you play a style that originated a long time ago? And how do you perceive these changes as a musician? Where is TEUTONIC SLAUGHTER headed at the moment?
I feel like the scene is actually getting younger again. At least here in Germany. The new generation seems to handle media more consciously. They grew up with it and often understand the risks better than some veterans… hahaha.
We experience amazing support and we’re very grateful for it. A few years ago the average age at our concerts was much higher. Now the young maniacs are coming back—maybe sent by their parents to listen to “real music”… hahaha.
We’re very happy that our fans stay loyal and still buy vinyl, CDs, and patches from us despite all the digital options. We’re proud of every Teutonic Slaughter shirt we see out there.
New technology is also an opportunity. We see that right now with what’s happening around “Cheap Food.” The reach is enormous and we’re amazed from which corners of the world people suddenly contact us.
And people don’t just want to consume they want to be part of a feeling. We shouldn’t demonize new technologies but learn to use them consciously. Then they can enrich us all. But yes, in times of AI, anyone who wants something authentic has to question their own consumption habits.
We’ll stay true to ourselves and keep a close connection with our fans. We look forward to many great moments together!
As a band, you surely still have some dreams, goals, and targets you want to achieve. Can you tell us what they are? You are thrash veterans, you record great albums, you still sound enthusiastic about music. You play concerts, perform at festivals, you have tours. Is there anything missing from the puzzle?
We’re really grateful for everything we’ve experienced with Teutonic Slaughter so far. If we could wish for something, it would be amazing to bring “Cheap Food” to some bigger festival stages.
Especially outside of Germany we haven’t been represented that much yet. One of my personal dreams would be to destroy the stage at OBSCENE EXTREME in the Czech Republic!
We are coming to the end, so I would like to try a more philosophical question. How would you define the music called thrash metal? What does this music mean to you and why did you choose this particular style?
For us, thrash metal is rebellion a punk attitude dressed in metal… and much more. For Teutonic Slaughter it’s home.
Our name isn’t a coincidence. We grew up in the Ruhr area with bands like Kreator, Sodom, Darkness, Living Death, and Violent Force. When we started we didn’t even have a specific musical style in mind. We just wanted to make music.
And intuitively it became Teutonic thrash metal. I think we simply can’t do anything else—and it feels right.
What does TEUTONIC SLAUGHTER have planned for the coming months? If you have something on your mind and would like to say it to your fans, labels, promoters, here's your chance...
First of all, thank you very much for all the support. It’s crazy what has happened since the release of “Cheap Food.” We’re extremely grateful.
Special thanks go to Thomas “Duck” from Ironshield Records, Markus Lübke from ML-Records (the album’s producer), and Timon Kokott (artwork and design).
We still have a few gig slots open for 2026, and we’re looking forward to destroying a few more stages with you so feel free to contact us!
Planning for 2027 and our 15th anniversary is already underway, and you can be curious about what’s coming next. We’re looking forward to many great moments with you!
Thank you very much for the interview. You have no idea what it means to me. I wish you lots of great ideas, sold records, sold-out concerts, and success in your personal lives. See you at the concert! TEUTONIC SLAUGHTER RULES!
Thank you brother! It was a great pleasure for us. Hopefully we’ll see each other in the pit someday.
“Hail to the Witches Rock N Roll!!!”
Recenze/review - TEUTONIC SLAUGHTER - Cheap Food (2026):
Recenze/review - TEUTONIC SLAUGHTER - Puppeteer of Death (2018):
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