Hailing from Germany, Ancient Prophecy is a progressive/power metal band with a strong keyboard section. We caught up with Lynn Neiner, the drummer for the band, and got the band to introduce itself to people who might not be familiar with the band or its music. Lynn was very kind in corresponding with us and we wish the band well as it works on new material.

#CM: Tell us a little about the band members and how Ancient Prophecy came to be a band. What is the significance of the bands name?

AP: Hi, Im Daniel the keyboarder. Im 20 years old and I will be forever. I hope that you enjoy my intro "the birth" on our demo-cd Days of Doom. Its a little bit exceptional to offer an demo album with such a long track. I play the keys for 10 years but just 4 in the band a.p.!I proper prefer to play Beethoven as Mozart but I like our cover "Alla Turcani" as well.My hobbies are jogging, electrical engineering and other funny things.Im very corious about the reactions of our new stuff, if our second CD will be continued

The female singing is coming from me, Andrea (27). In the beginning of 1998 I started to sing in the Band Ancient Prophecy". Since one year I even try to play the bassguitar. Hopefully I will have the ability to play it soon but that means hard work for me... J  Why do I sing and play with a christian metal band named Ancient Prophecy? Thats a good question. I even know all of the guys and they asked me for singing withem . A christian band, that s cool. I grew up with the belief in Jesus Christ and I try to practice it. Thats not easy. Its like every personal relationship but I work on it. Beside singing with A.P. I love to play the trumpet and the frenchhorn. Thats my life! Back to singing: I begun to sing in a childrens choir from our church, than with youthchoir but now I still sing with A.P. God bless.

Im Floh (22) the guitar player. My first instrument I ever played was a carillon which is a very popular  especially for beginners. After a few years I learned to play flute but only for four years. At the age of seven I was interested in playing classical guitar. After a few time I d rather play e-guitar than classical guitar. Now Im playing e-guitar for a short time and I was teached in playing guitar for a half year. I like the role by Ancient Prophecy, because of my maximes (christian religion) and our lyrics. At this point I want to thank God for everything weve reached with his help and I hope that he will guide us. I wish well have more concerts in our future because its the best way to explain our relationship to God!

My name is Lynn (24) and I play the drums. Making music is the greatest thing in my live. Sitting behind my drum-set, feeling the groove and playing the beats, that's cool. Its incredible that I can play, although Ive never got some lessons how to play the drums. Jesus Christ helps me to find other new beats and the success to go on. At first I learn the flute and some months the guitar but the greatest thing Ive ever played are my drums! Im very happy about the fact that God takes care and gave us special gifts, we only have to cover them up. For the future I wish that well get the chance to play some more gigs and publish our message to the people. I would be glad if christian metal bands would be accepted in the same way as secular.

We started in 1996. Floh and Daniel K. met in school. We just wanted to make music. Later Lynn joined the project as the drummer. The vocals of Andrea, the Keys of Daniel J. and the 2^nd guitar of Tobias filled the gap in our band. At the moment our line-up has changed. Now Marcel Worzichek plays the 2^nd guitar, Tobias and Daniel K. has left the band.

In the past we searched for special name for our project. In a matter of fact, of our christian religion, the name Ancient Prophecy would fit. So listen to the prophecies in the songs like "Hands on the Wall" or "Days of Doom".

#CM: What style of music does the band play? How would  you describe Ancient Prophecy's sound to someone who has not heard you before?

AP: Prophecy-Metal !!!

We try to mixe some styles like gothic, death and power-metal with classical influence.Some people say that theres something to hear like my dying bride, saviour-machine, paramecium, cranberries, .. but we dont want to compare with eachother bands.

Of course, its interessting what people think about our styles.

#CM: What bands do you list as having an influence in the music of Ancient Prophecy?

AP: Our favourite bands are: helloween, gammaray, stratovarious, running-wild, blind-guardian, inflames, crematory, death (paramecium and saviour-machine)

#CM: How many releases does the band have? Are any still in print? What has the response been to your cd "Days of Doom"?

AP: Just one, our demo cd.

At the moment we are still working on new material for the next one. The response was great, but the band is much more famous abroad.

#CM: What has been your experience so far in creating the music and writing lyrics? What is the most challenging part of creating music?

AP: Chaos !!!

Every band member has its own visions and wishes about song writing.  So we spend a lot of time by discussing! Normaly we find a way to make it.  The most challengining part is to find the right tuning between keys and  guitars and although to write a song where lyrics arent writen yet.

#CM: Does the band get a chance to play live/tour?What bands have you played with and if given the chancewhat bands would you like to play live with?

AP: Do you want to invide us ? (*g*) In the past weve played with narnia, turniquet, snubnoise and lightmare. All in all just underground bands.

#CM: How do you feel about being labeled aChristianband? Do you prefer to be known as a Christianband or would you rather be known as simply a metal band?

AP: Of course, we prefer to be known as a christian band, but we want to be accepted like a normal metal-band.

#CM: Does the band have a mission for AncientProphecy?What would you like to accomplish through the bands music?

AP: Yes, that's a great and serious question! We dont wanted to make it like stryper with throwing Bibles into the crowed or singing halleluja all the time. Our desire is just to think about our lyrics the important message from our Holy God Jesus Christ and make the people dance.

#CM: Is the band looking for a label? What doestheband look for in a label? Has there been anyinterestin distributing your material in the U.S.?

AP: Yes it is. Some years ago, we had the chance to get a christian label. But they didnt accept our style. So we searched for the next one, but nuclearblast wasnt interested in our music. So we are still looking for a label wich is interested in our "Prophecy-Metal"

#CM: Could you give us some insight on the musicalscene in Germany? Are there a lot of Christianmetalbands or is the scene in the beginning stages?What would you like to see happen in the scene? Give usalist of some German Christian metal bands to look out for.

AP: There are lots of bands which have christian lyrics, but they arent really christian bands. We would greet it, if christian bands will be accepted as much as secular metal bands! You can look out for a really quite good christian metal band called "Lightmare" (Frankfurt)

#CM: What do you think of the Christian metal scene world wide?

AP: We are impressed, that so many christians are telling the importent Bibles message with different kinds of metal. Thats wonderful and great! God we thank you.

#CM: If you were to pick the most influentialChristian metal album of all-time what would itbe?Why did you pick this album?

AP: In our opinion we would pick up bands like stryper and narnia (also bloodgood and leviticus), because they proclaim the Bibles word in the right way. So they dont hide the message behind a wall of words.

#CM: Where can people get a copy of 'Days of Doom'?

AP: Thats easy.

Please send me an e-mail to: [email protected] or [email protected]

If you want the demo CD as fast as well, please send 10$ for one CD and 2.50$ for sending by ship or 5$ for sending by air to:

Lynn Andr Neissner
Schumannstrasse 27
35415 Pohlheim
Germany