Without Word's Hannes Prause Talks About Their Fate

Metalcore act Without Words have released their brand new album "Fate" and have got a whole lot more in-store for the upcoming future! Drummer Hannes Prause discusses the album and plans for us.


1. Can I get a backstory on the band/ band biography?

Hannes: Without Words was born in the summer of 2003 in Königsee, a little town in the middle of Germany. Our current line-up exists since 2009. During the last years we released 3 Studio Albums and played a lot of shows with bands like Heaven Shall Burn, Pro Pain, Biohazard, Unearth, Arch Enemy, War Of Ages, The Sorrow, Neaera, Emil Bulls, Deadlock and many more! We also played a UK/Europe- Tour in spring 2011 and we had the chance to be part of the Summer Breeze Open Air in Germany last year. It's one of the most important festivals for metal and hardcore music in Europe.

2. How did you guys come up with your band name?

Hannes: At the beginning Without Words was an acoustic- music comedy duo without a name. Somebody said about it: " without words", so the band name was found. Later and with different members the style turned more and more into metal music.

3. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

Hannes: We are based in the Free State of Thuringia in the middle of Germany. We definitely can say that the music scene here especially in the relation to everything that is called Metal is very active and lively. For sure you know Heaven Shall Burn, one of the most famous Metalcore bands in the world and of all time. Originally the band started their career in a neighboring town and we know them for years. Also important to name is the Party.San Open Air, Germanys biggest festival for all kinds of extreme metal.

4. What lyrical theme do you guys use in your music? What message do you want to send?

Hannes: If there is a specific message in our lyrics you want to find then it would be: Go by yourself and think of your own! The only thing we do with our lyrics is to name and to identify themes and situations which regards to everyone of us. That could be for example personal struggles like life crises, desperation and the handling with death, social themes like physical abuse and terrorism or the question what everyone of us wants to achieve in his life. We want our listeners to think about our point of view in conjunction with these things and we want them to build their own opinion because everyone of us should have to know where he stands in life.

5. What bands have influenced your band and its sound?

Hannes: That's not easy to say because every member of Without Words has his own very unique musical background and taste. So there are way too many influences for every part of our songwriting trials to name important bands. Just a few listing: Killswitch Engage, Trivium, Heaven Shall Burn, Caliban.

6. Is there any story or concept behind the Fate title?

Hannes: The title Fate just represents an abstract of all what our lyrical themes and (in our opinion) what live is all about. There is no story behind this but an impulse to think about.

7. Who produced Fate and what was it like working with them?

Hannes: The records and the producing was done by our good friend Andre Hofmann of Fortefortissimo Studios in Coburg, Germany. We also worked with him on our previous two records and like always it was really big fun and a great experience to work with him. You can check our studio diaries on our YouTube Channel.

8. Who did the cover art for Fate and how much input did you have on it?

Hannes: The artwork was designed by Patrick Wittstock from Azrael Design who also designs the covers, shirts and artworks for bands like Six Feet Under,  Heaven Shall Burn, The Sorrow and many more. We're working with him for many years and he always gives us the chance to bring in a lot of ideas and beliefs. The final cover represents exactly what we were looking for.

9. Do you guys have any new music in the works as far as a follow-up release?

Hannes: At the moment the answer has to name no but we definitely want to work on new tracks for our next album in the near future. Just give us some more time. ;-)

10. Will you be shooting a video for any of the songs off Fate?

Hannes: Yes we shot a video for our Song "Endeavour" with Mirko Witzki from Miwigraphics. It was great to work with him and we are very happy about the result! Watch it on Youtube! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1otGPD6kKS4

11. What are your upcoming touring/show plans?

Hannes: We are planning to play some support shows for our friends of Deadlock on their tour in October/ November this year. This will be a very big thing for us and we are very engaged to get this working well.

12. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

Hannes: Just visit our new Webside: http://www.without-words.de/ and our Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/WithoutWords.official

There is a Shop and a Download Area on our Facebook- page to get the new Album!

13. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?

Hannes: Honesty and veracity. We think for our listeners it's always important to know that we are musicians which stand behind of what they do and what their songs declare and this is our greatest intention on every of our tracks.

14. What can the fans expect to see from you in the future?



Hannes: What they always can expect from us: pure fucking metal with a big sense of humor on every show.

15. Any final words of wisdom?

Hannes: Never give up - hold on and work for your dreams!