Added by Electronic Brain | 18 December 2013

SIGNUM REGIS - an interview with RONNIE KONIG

Signum Regis is a Melodic Metal band from Slovakia that was formed in 2007 by bass player Ronnie Konig. They released a self titled debut in 2008 and this was followed by ‘They Eyes Of Power’ in 2010. The band now returns with their third release called ‘Exodus’ which is a concept album that features several vocalists. Dave Scott spoke to Ronnie to find out more detail about the new release and the guests chosen to be a part of it.

How would you describe the sound of Signum Regis to someone who hasn’t had the opportunity to listen to any of your albums?

I usually say it is Melodic Metal with riffing guitars. We are not afraid to use various scales and play different tempos. Even the very fast and slow ones. I think it is positive that we were never labelled as a copy of some other band.

What are the influences behind the Signum Regis style?

I think my main influences are bands like Helloween, Judas Priest, Metallica, Megadeth, Impellitteri, Rainbow, Dio, Gamma Ray and Yngwie Malmsteen.  When I read reviews, they often mention bands that I don't consider being influential to me or I sometimes don't even know, but hey! All of the metal heads of my generation used to listen to ‘The Black Album’ and stuff like that.

‘Exodus’ is built upon a historical concept, can you give our readers an insight into the story and theme and why you choose to focus on that particular subject?

Exodus is the second book of the Bible's Old Testament. In our lyrics, we focused on the chapters about how Israelites were enslaved by the King Of Egypt-Pharaoh and set free by the mighty hand of God. When you listen to the record from beginning to end the lyrics tell the whole story. It all starts with the birth of Moses, who was later found by the Pharaoh's daughter in a basket ‘On the Nile’. The second song describes the terrible oppression of the Israelites, ‘Enslaved’. The third song called ‘The Promised Land’ is about the message of hope to get out of Egypt one day and live free. ‘Let Us Go!’ tells the part when Moses ask Pharaoh to let his people go, but he won't listen. It makes him just furious  ‘Wrath Of Pharaoh’. When the talking doesn't work, the Lord sends major signs like darkening the whole land or sending billions of locust in ‘The Ten Plagues’. After all the plagues the Pharaoh let the Israelites go. They have few days to pack all what belongs to them and leave the ‘Last Days In Egypt’. On their way, as they are approaching the Red Sea, the Pharaoh changed his mind and sends his army to get them. As the situation looks desperate, the Lord helps once again and opens the sea for Israelites, so they can escape in ‘Exodus’. All ends good for the Israelites and they express their joy in the ‘Song Of Deliverance’. There is also a bonus track called ‘Mountain Of God’, which is about the Revelation of the Lord to Moses on Mount Sinai. I did my best to keep it historically and biblically correct and not to make stuff up, just to make it fit. I even discussed it all with a priest, Samuel Metalpfarrer Hug from Switzerland.

Rather than a favourite song, are there any tracks that standout more than others for you be it due to the musical performance, special lyrics...?

I think ῾Wrath Of Pharaoh’ has the most extreme vocals on the record. It's like Rob Halford meets King Diamond or something. Samuen Nyman did a great job...very cool indeed. Also the guitar solo is really outstanding.

You have a large selection of guests the new album, could you introduce some of the artists that appear and how they contributed?

I think people like Göran Edman, Mike Vescera and Lance King are quite well-known when it comes to Melodic Metal. They have been around for a long time and played in many bands. We have also Thomas Winkler from Switzerland, who’s the vocalist for Gloryhammer, Mayo Petranin from Slovakia, who is in a bunch of projects like Castaway and One Second Hotel, Eli Prinsen, from Sacred Warrior and Matt Smith, from Theocracy, who are both from the USA, Samuel Nyman from Sweden, whose known for Manimal and Daisa Munhoz of Brazil. She is also in few bands but I guess the most famous one is Vandroya. Those were other vocalists but we also have guest appearances from guitarist Libor Křivák and keyboardist Ivo Hoffman both from a band called Symphonity. This also happens to be the other band that I play in. If Signum Regis sounds interesting to you, you should also check out Symphonity.

How did you decide on who you wanted to appear as a guest and go about getting them involved?

We were doing it song by song. Emil of Ulterium Records gave me a bunch of contacts and when a new song was recorded we had to think who would fit the song the best. I listened to the music that the guys recorded in the past and I was trying to imagine their voice on that particular song. I think it worked very well...eventually. Not only I believe it did...the overall feedback seems to be very positive, so please check out our music and thank you for supporting Melodic Metal! Hope to see you on tour one day!