Antirope are a Munich four-piece who write the songs that are in their heads, drawing from grunge, alternative metal and atmospheric rock to land on something cohesive and dark. With second album Bring Me To Zero out on May 1st and a Crowbar support show on the horizon, we caught up with vocalist Slaven and guitarist Patrick to get them on our radar.
Who are you and where are you from?
Slaven: I’m Slaven and I’m from Munich, Germany.
Patrick: I’m Patrick, also from Munich, Germany.
How did the band form?
Slaven: I met Patrick back in 2008 when his previous band was looking for a new singer. After a few years of playing together and going through several lineup changes, we reached a point where we wanted to do things differently, to take a new approach to making music that we genuinely enjoy. Later on, Patrick’s sister Julie joined us on bass, and Jürgen Wiehler came in on drums.
How would you describe your sound to someone who’s never heard you?
Slaven: I’d describe our sound as dark, atmospheric rock with elements of alternative metal. It’s built on heavy, driving riffs.
Patrick: I would call it atmospheric, honest rock/metal. We never try to sound like something specific or follow a certain formula. We just write and perform the songs that are in our heads.
What bands have shaped what you do?
Slaven: That’s a tough one. There are a lot of bands and artists that have stayed with me over the years. For me, it’s David Bowie, Soundgarden, Morphine and Nine Inch Nails, just to name a few.
Patrick: When I was seven years old, I saw KISS on TV, and that really changed my life. From that moment on, I wanted to have a guitar and play in a band. Later, bands like Slayer and Neurosis had a huge influence on me. But the interesting thing is that we don’t all listen to the same records. Julie (bass) is more into 70s and disco music, Slaven comes more from grunge and alternative rock, and I’m definitely the metalhead in the band. I think that mix is part of what makes our sound interesting.
What’s the one song of yours people should hear first?
Slaven: ‘Is This The End’.
Patrick: ‘Beautiful Liar’.
Tell us a story about your band.
Slaven: We played the release show for our first album, and in the middle of the last song of the set, Patrick’s in-ear monitoring suddenly stopped working. I didn’t notice anything at all, but for him it was pure horror. Somehow, he made it through the song anyway. After the show, when we were backstage, he told us what had happened and I couldn’t stop laughing. I still don’t know how he managed to get through it completely “blind”. So yeah, well done, Patrick.
Patrick: If the in-ear system had simply stopped working, it would have been okay. But the battery suddenly died, even though it had been fully charged, and instead I got what felt like 100 dB of distortion directly into my in-ear headphones. It happened right in the middle of the song. I couldn’t hear anything anymore, so I had to watch our drummer closely just to figure out if we were still playing the same part. When I watched the video after the show, everything looked and sounded as if nothing had happened. That was definitely a relief.
What’s been your best gig so far?
Patrick: My best gig so far was with my former band in 2008, playing in front of around 40,000 people. The feeling when thousands of people sing your song back to you is incredible. But every gig has something special. Right now, I’m really looking forward to supporting Crowbar in Munich on August 4th. Maybe that one will become the new “best gig”.
What’s the music scene like where you’re based?
Patrick: Munich has always had a great music scene. Bands like the Freaky Fuckin Weirdoz, No No Yes No, The Notwist, and later Emil Bulls, as well as several great gothic bands, came from here or were strongly connected to the city. Munich may not always be the first city people think of when it comes to heavy music, but there has always been a lot going on here. Munich rocks!
Tell us the story behind one of your band’s tracks.
Slaven: I wrote a song for our first album Amnesia called ‘Black Or Two’. I remember bringing it to rehearsal, and when we started playing it, the guys were like, “Wait, why is there no snare in the chorus? How can you have a chorus without a snare?” It turned into one of those moments where you realise there’s no right or wrong way of doing things when it comes to music, as long as it feels right and serves the song.
Patrick: When I wrote ‘Afterglow’, Jürgen said, “Oh, one more slow song.” So I thought, “Okay, then I’ll write a faster one with an odd time signature, where the guitars and drums are playing against each other, just to tease him.” That song became ‘Intervention’. The funny thing is, Jürgen was the one who could play it straight away, while the rest of us needed some time to figure out how to play it properly.
Tell us about your new album?
Slaven: Our new album Bring Me To Zero is coming out on May 1st. It’s our second record, and it’s quite different from Amnesia, both in terms of sound and the overall concept. Amnesia was more like a collection of songs from different phases of the band, while Bring Me To Zero feels much more focused and cohesive. It’s heavier and darker. For me, it’s not an album you just play in the background, it’s something you need to take your time with and really dive into. It’s probably the most honest version of us so far.
What’s next for you?
Slaven: Right now, we’re focusing on rehearsing the new songs and really getting them to the point where they feel right. At the same time, we’re already working on new material, so ideas for the third album are definitely taking shape. We like to take our time with things and let them evolve naturally. It’s all about making sure everything we put out feels honest and true to us.
Patrick: And we’re also preparing for our support show with Crowbar in Munich, which we’re really looking forward to.
Where can people find you?
Slaven: You can find us on all major streaming platforms as well as on social media. Just search for Antirope and you’ll find us.
Patrick: And at the merch stand after the show. Come say hi.
Anything else you want people to know?
Slaven: Just that we’re grateful for everyone who takes the time to listen. We put a lot of ourselves into this music, and it means a lot when it reaches people. We’re still evolving, still figuring things out, but that’s part of the process. If you connect with it, welcome aboard.
