Can you tell us about the origin of the band name, a history of the band and a little bit about the various members?
Well, we all are long time Friends, Olli (Bass) and Christian (Guitar and Vocals) are Brothers.
They played with Alex(Drums) in another Band called Firestorm (Powermetal), but after a while it got put on hold and Alex and Christian wanted to do something different.
So they started a little Project, just for them to jam. Out of those jams a more darker sound came about and they started to jam more darker stuff and for the lyrics, Christian wanted to do something different and took inspiration from Diablo 2 (Blizzards RPG), instead from Tolkien or Lovecraft.
At the time I was playing Bass (and after that Guitar) in my Band Mortals’ Path.
One evening I was at Alex’s House and he put on a Song and challenged me to guess, who this was and when he told me I immediately wanted to join.
On that Night Alex was talking about the Sword of Tyrael (Eldruin), for the Name, and the German name sounded so much like Old Ruins (translated into German: Alte Ruinen), I was asking, why he was talking about Old Ruins, then it clicked and thats where the name comes from.
So we jammed some more as a Group and wrote Songs, just for us and decided to put out an EP.
The resonance was so good that we did an Album out of it.
Are you all from the same area? How did you get together as a band?
Yes, we are all from Gelsenkirchen Germany, and actually we also live at a 5 Minute walking distance from each other.
And like I said, we are long time Friends and ended up joining together.
Who are your favourite artists/bands and how have they influenced your own sound?
Immortal, I(Solo Project of Abbath) and Demonaz(Soloproject of Demonaz) are the primary inspirations we have for this Band, but we have many many more influences we try to put together organically and out comes Old Ruins.
My personal favourite band is Death(Florida) and im a huge Nerd for that Band (saw Left to Die live and got to hug Rick and Terry and got my Backpatch signed ^^).
Did you always have the ambition to be a musician and in a band or did you originally have other plans?
It is everybodys dream to play in a Band and make music, If you are passionate about it enough, I think.
Also, music and metal is our passion, we do this besides our actual jobs, because we love to do it. It is and never will be for a Paycheck with us.
If and when, we could live off of this or lessen our Work to do this more, than it is a big Bonus, but thats not the goal for us.
We just love to Play music.
What songs or albums are on your current playlist?
Dissection – Storm of the Lightsbane
She Past Away – Belidi Gece (turkish Dark Wave)
Gatecreeper – An Unexpected Reality
Wilt – Into Nothingness
Death – Symbolic
Do you sing in the shower?
Nope, I dont like to sing in the shower, not that anything is wrong with that, I just dont.
Do you have any plans for the band for this year and into next year?
This Year we are trying to get some shows together, to keep up the momentum of our Albumrelease.
And next year it is much the same, but trying to write new Songs also.
Do you currently have any new songs/albums ready to be released?
We are working on Riffs and Songs constantly and try to fit them together, but currently we dont have anything ready for a release sadly.
If you could play at any venue in the world where would you choose?
For us all, it would be a Dream to play the Rockhard Festival here in Germany, in our Home Town.
Because we grew up with that Festival and try to attend every Year, because its local and many Bands, that influenced us, also played it.
For me personally also the PartySan Festival, because it is the best Extreme Metal festival we have in Germany and everytime it is like a family gathering.
Do you have a favourite album? If so, what is it?
Is it okay if I just say Death ? I have a favourite, which is Symbolic, but I love all the Albums 😀
Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?
I wouldnt say guilty pleasure, but as a Metal musician, maybe no one would guess, that I love Old School Hip Hop.
As a turkish Migrants kid, it was what I grew up with (and turkish 70’s Rock) and still listen to heavily.
If you were putting together the greatest show on earth, who would be playing?
I’m guessing I can do Dead or Alive doesn’t matter ?
Of course Death as a Headliner, but for this show maybe with their first three Albums.
Entombed with its old Line up.
Bathory, Dissection and Bolt Thrower with Karl Willets on Vocals.
Not in that order, but that would be my Dream show.
Of course I have more Bands i would like to see, but then it would be a seven Day Festival at the minimum.
Can you remember the first album you bought with your own money? What was it and do you still have it?
Amon Amarth – Fate of Norns
I still have it and Christian is actually responsible for me getting into Metal more as I was and it was with Amon Amarth that he got me (hahahaha).
As your fans will be reading this, is there any message you would like to send out to them?
Stay safe, stay healthy and stay a while and listen ;).
Finally, let us know all your social media sites so your fans, old and new, can find and follow/like you!
We are on Facebook, instagram and newly on twitter.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OldRuinsGE
instagram: @oldruins.official
Twitter: @therealOldRuins
We, at The Metal Asylum, would like to thank you for your time. Is there is anything further that you would like to add?
Thank you for the awesome Questions and the interview and interest in us.
We appreciate it very much.
As Chuck Schuldiner said: “Let the Metal Flow !”
This interview is the property of The Metal Asylum