Interview by Ken Morton
America’s Guitar Virtuoso Toby Knapp returns with his unique brand of Shredding Black Thrash Metal with Waxen’s long awaited 6th album entitled Die Macht Von Hassen!
Signing with world-renowned guitar god label Shrapnel Records in 1992 at the unheard of age of 19, Toby Knapp continues to have a productive & prolific career in rock and heavy metal. Recording albums with 20+ of his own bands including Onward, Toby Knapp, Waxen, Where Evil Follows, Necrytis, Affliktor & Darken, Mr. Knapp is also a full time guitar teacher. A session studio and live musician for many world class national artists including Attila Csihar (Mayhem), Godless Rising, Fetid Zombie, Abhor and more!
Highwire Daze recently interviewed Toby Knapp to discuss the just unleashed Waxen Die Macht Von Hassen manifesto, his many other intriguing music projects, looking back on his time with Shrapnel Records, his currently collaboration with the almighty Moribund Records, and more!
Introduce yourself, tell me what you do in Waxen, and how long the band has been together.
I’m Toby Knapp and I’m the creator of Waxen, I write, record and produce everything myself. The newest album had a few guest drum tracks from M Ahrin - great Italian drummer who’s done lots of work in underground Black Metal. Waxen started in 2004 after Onward split up. I wanted different music and total control.
What do you think has made your collaboration with Moribund Records work so well over the years?
We just get along great and share so many of the same views and musical tastes. Moribund is like family at this point. They got my back and I got theirs. I’m on my 11th album for them and they give me total artistic freedom.
Is there any overall story or concept behind the Die Macht Von Hassen album title?
The title translates to “The Power of Hate” but I’m not hateful or pushing a radical agenda. I’m emphasizing the feeling of hatred that flows from many early and great Extreme Metal artists. Hateful vocals and music. I don’t agree with bands like Dawn’s Ray’d who are calling themselves Black Metal and preaching this weird communist shit and hippie mentality. I liked the albums that hated my guts like Kreator’s Terrible Certainly and Algaion’s Oimai Algaiou. The concept is simply aggressive and destructive music. That’s what Black Metal is supposed to be.
Select two songs from Die Macht Von Hassen and what inspired the lyrics.
God of All Endings looks at the world from the Creator’s perspective. Everything is wrong, twisted, filthy and immoral. He had given the people a perfect utopia and they started destroying it and sodomizing each other. He destroys mankind with malice and scorn. Not just by a simple flood...he wants everyone to pay and feel the pain, it’s personal. He has it out for everyone that crossed him and has constructed horrific endings that even Satan is mortified about.
Holocaust Lights introduces “the rise of a dark force, the eternal desecration and the conjuring of destruction”. Those lyrics are just me describing Waxen’s music. Waxen is musically pretty twisted at times because I purposely go against music theory and do things that sound sickening and combine that with brute force and intelligence.
Who did the cover art for Die Macht Von Hassen and how much input did you have on it?
That’s Moribund President Odin Thompson on the cover doing some rituals. He had the pic in his archives and I thought it would be a good album cover. It looks right for the music somehow. A Metal conflagration.
What has it been like working with M. Ahrim from Graveland on this album?
He had provided me real drum tracks about four years ago for a solo album I had planned with all guest drummers. I asked each drummer to record and compose their parts first and then I would put guitar riffs and solos to what they did- reverse composing. M Ahrin was the only one who delivered and the project got shelved for awhile. I finally found a place for his drum tracks; this Waxen album. He wasn’t happy with the outcome. I shouldn’t have blended his drums in with the drum machine. I should have individually numbered his tracks. I created a collage with them. I understand his frustration. His drums are usually intros or outros to the songs to break up the drum machine monotony. So, for the record, this is not what he wanted with his drum tracks.
Would you like to do any live performances with Waxen?
I don’t know. I could put a good touring band together if it was worth the effort. I’m not losing one cent just to play live. Pay to play, pay to tour - I just won’t do it. Pay me motherfucker!
What has it been like to return with Onward and what made you decide to restart the band after a lengthy hiatus?
It felt like “now or never” with Onward. I could have called a few of my projects “Onward” but chose not to. I decided it’s mine to use in a Traditional Heavy Metal context and it will bring some listeners back. It did do that. I would say 80% of original Onward fans are on board with the new music but I definitely lost Michael Grant purists - but new vocalist, Robert Van War, is his own man and we’re enjoying what we’re doing. I wanted a different sound but still rooted in 80’s metal tradition. I don’t want to try to get a Michael Grant clone and try to recreate 20 year old music. It wouldn’t be natural. This is Onward and this is where we are today.
What was it like playing legendary festivals with Onward such as the Milwaukee Metalfest and November To Dismember?
The early days of Onward were lots of fun. I just loved being able to see and meet so many bands I admired. The audience was all smiles at the Milwaukee Metal Fest. It was a great experience.
When you look back on your Guitar Distortion album from 1993 on Shrapnel Records, what do you think of it now in retrospect and the fact that it’s now been 30 years since the release date?
I think it’s a great album and man am I old! I look back at the 20 year old me who worked hard and accomplished his life’s dream very early. I’m 51 which I think is still “young” in metal years. I want to continue building off that album and path for at least another decade. In a weird way I’m glad I was never a “hit” or gained big league success. I’m still climbing the mountain. You can’t miss what you never had (fame and fortune) and I still love music and the guitar so much. I like retaining this feeling. It’s a bit late to be in this for anything other than the love of music. Some of my peers who actually “made it” are so jaded and bitter, dead or burnt out. I’m still the 16 year old kid going nuts over Racer X albums and dreaming about Fender Stratocasters. I love that feeling.
You covered Dance Your Life Away by UFO on a Michael Schenker/UFO tribute album called Spaced Out. What made you choose that song and did Michael Schenker or anyone in UFO comment on the song?
No, that song was recorded for a tribute album over 20 years ago and the record company picked the song. I personally wouldn’t have picked that one but it was fun and I love Schenker. No commentary from anyone regarding that album.
When you look back on the first Waxen album Fumaroth released in 2006, what do you think of it now in retrospect?
I’ve always liked that album and boy was I in a fucked up frame of mind at the time. WW3 Records called me immediately wanting to sign Waxen...then they just kinda disappeared. The album sat for 2 years until an acquaintance of mine started a record label based out of my hometown. He actually did a really good job with it. We had good distribution from labels like Moribund, Full Moon Productions and Red Stream.
What’s up next for Waxen (and any of your other projects)?
Solo album Transmission to Purgatory on Moribund Records later this year and then onto the next Onward album. Waxen have signed to Moribund for another album but there’s no real strict timetable for delivery. A few years maybe or when I’m feeling it again.
Any final words of wisdom?
I’m still working on the wisdom thing. Lots of trial and error. Life is such a minuscule and fast little blip. Don’t waste it.
Friday August 11 2023 7:30PM