Devil's Gate Music
Related Articles
Hard rock from Vienna, Austria courtesy of Adrenaline Kings. Vocalist/guitarist Matthias Schneider fills in the blanks…
What are the origins of Adrenaline Kings, how long have you been playing together?
We formed the band in 2002 in Vienna, Austria, and celebrated our 20th anniversary last year with a new single called “M.A.S.”
What should people expect when they check the band out? How would you describe Adrenaline Kings?
That’s pretty easy: 80s-style hard rock! If you like the 80s and you like to rock out, that’s what you’ll get with the Adrenaline Kings!
How did you feel performing your first gig as a band, and how was it?!
I remember it like it was yesterday: it was exhilarating. Back then bands played with real amplifiers on stage (we still do). The power coming from the stage was extraordinary!
The new music scene is bursting at the seams at the minute with fresh talent, in what ways do you feel that a band has to stand out to build a name for themselves?
Seems as though it helps if someone in the band can go viral with a social media presence.
What are you working on at the minute that people can check out?
Our latest single is called “The Grand Tour” – it’s a tribute to the video game Gran Turismo
In terms of a similar audience, which band out there at the minute do you feel you would be best suited to open for?
Scandinavia seems to be producing a lot of bands that are right up our alley. I particularly like H.E.A.T. from Sweden.
Excluding yourself, which new band would you like to see break out and become a success?
Well H.E.A.T. isn’t especially new, but they deserve more success. I also love Billy Talent from Canada – also not new, but virtually unknown in the U.S. at least, which is a crime!
What are your first musical memories? And what was the lightbulb moment that made you go “I want to do that”?
I was born in England and spent the first few years of my life there. There was a kid down the street who was a Status Quo fan who had “QUO” written on the back of his jacket in studs. That made quite an impression! Later on, I saw Aerosmith on MTV as a 12-year-old when they had their big sober comeback album. I had no idea who they were because they hadn’t been popular in England when I was growing up and their first comeback album had flopped. I’d never heard anything like it before and was fascinated. That’s when I became infected with rock and roll!
What was the last gig that you attended as a fan?
Sum 41 in Italy earlier this year – outstanding concert with an insane audience. Shame they’re (apparently) breaking up.
What current social issue are you particularly passionate about?
Well, I don’t want to speak for anyone else in the band (I’m the singer) but the Ukraine war seems like a pretty clear-cut example of right and wrong that unfortunately not everyone seems to agree on.
The album that you have in your album collection/Spotify playlist that would surprise most people?
I had “ABBA Gold” in my collection at one time, but my girlfriend left it on the bus. 🙁
There were some amazing new albums released this year, what would be your album of the year? And, what other new music have you been enjoying so far this year?
Don’t listen to much new music, unfortunately. The latest Billy Talent album “Crisis of Faith” is killer, but I think that came out last year.
What does 2024 hold for Adrenaline Kings?
We’ve got a rockin’ cover of a pretty well-known boy band song in the can – that’s next on the docket!
How active are you on social media and where can people connect with you?
Relatively active:
www.youtube.com/@adrenalinekings6249
www.facebook.com/adrenalinekings
www.instagram.com/adrenaline.kings/
Photo credits – Anja Bene Fotografie
