interview with Markus
Markus has been working on songs for Scythed for over 3 years, and here we have an album called Resistance that we are going to introduce. Markus (Scythed) comes from Meppen, which is in Lower Saxony (Germany)
Alan – Hi, Markus. Introduce yourself a little.
Markus - Hey Alan, nice to meet you! My name is Markus and I was born in 1987. I moved to Meppen in 2010, where I work at a media agency. Rock and metal music have always been a big part of my life since my childhood! After moving, I had to leave my old band, but I of course continued making music. At that time, I played bass, until I later picked up the guitar and began working on my own compositions - which I'm happy to talk about with you!
Alan – So are we currently considering Scythed more of a project than a band?
Markus - It definitely is a project for now. When I started playing the guitar in 2020 I was just tracking my progress and recording some rough ideas, until I got curious about how it could sound with a good vocalist! That's when I did some research and came across Mauro, which kicked off the wish to do more full songs. Later on I hired Jacques to rewrite some drum parts that didn't click with me. However as they're located in Argentina and France, making Scythed an actual band wasn't on my mind.
Alan – In the future, do you want to make the project a regular touring band?
Markus - I'd actually love to perform live and play some festivals and shows! However, I'd need to find some musicians with the same energy and focus here in Germany to make that happen. I'm not currently planning on making it a regular band, but never say never!
Alan – This year, you released your debut album called Resistance. How long did you work on the album? Is it just your job, or did someone help you? Both musically and lyrically?
>> The full album will be released for streaming on January 16, 2026! This year I'm releasing the singles one by one:
Gladius 04.07.2025
Mona 01.08.2025
Iceni 29.08.2025
Allies 26.09.2025
Boudica 24.10.2025
Defiance 21.11.2025
Resistance 19.12.2025
Injustice + Injustice Piano (full album) 16.01.2026
Markus - It was January 2022 when I sent the rough idea of the song "Boudica" to Mauro. I didn't have any other completed tracks at that time and worked throughout 2023 and 2024 on writing and refining those. I also remade nearly all melodic and solo parts of each track and added harmonies later on.
Mauro played a big role for the lyrics, as he always had great ideas how to slightly change some parts to make it sound more fluid to his vocal style. I'm truly grateful for all he did!
Before starting with Jacques I licensed and adjusted drum-tracks to work with, but sometimes wasn't really satisfied with the energy and style. In my opinion Jacques did a fantastic job and absolutely nailed it!
Alan – Where did you record the album? Where did you master it? Who released the album?
Markus - Thanks to the pandemic I recorded everything at home through a good old Scarlett Solo Interface. I made my own rough mixes, but I know my boundaries - So I tried several sound engineers to find the perfect style and sound. The final mix and master was made by Widek Studio from our common neighbor Poland! Widek was an amazing experience working with!
Alan – You have a hired player. Who did you invite to record it with you on the album? And did you do it remotely? Or did you come to Germany?
Markus - Everything was done remotely by sending the tracks back and forth. I imagine we'd have had a great time locking ourselves up in a studio, but at least for Mauro from Argentina that would've been quite the distance to Europe! However they ever decide to pay me a visit, I'll have some cold beer ready!
Alan – The album, the music are out. There’s quite a lot of it. Isn’t it a shame that it’s a chamber recording? That you won’t be giving concerts, and instead of a project, you won’t turn into a regular band?
>> Depending on when this will be published, not everything will be out. However the physical CDs will be available from October and people can preorder at www.scythed.de
Markus - It kinda is, as connecting with people at live shows is one of the best experiences there is! However, I don't regret doing this mostly solo. I had a lot of fun writing these songs and came across many awesome people who sent me messages, which is a great thing! And I won't stop making music after this release, that's for sure! If there are shows with regular band members in 2026, I'll let you know!
Alan – A little about you again. This isn’t the only thing you’ve created. You were also in two bands. Can you name them for us? And what kind of musical genres are they?
Markus - Of course! My musical career started back in school, when friends of mine started to form a Punkrock-band called 'Gunslinger' and were looking for a bassist. Thanks to my dad, I had said bass available, started learning it and joined! Musically the style quickly went over to 80ies/90ies heavy metal and we played quite a lot of shows from 2003 to 2010. When I moved to Meppen they continued with a new bassist for a few years until they re-formed under a different name.
I was also part of an industrial metal band called 'Treibwerk'. We wrote a couple of great songs for a few years, but unfortunately nothing ever got released, as we weren't able to find a fitting vocalist at that time and split up after our guitarist had to move.
Alan – Where do you classify Scythed? In power metal with a touch of it?
Markus - In general I'd say it is classic power metal, yes. It's hard for me to describe, which bands and styles had influenced me, as I love to listen to a huge variety of genres from classic rock to death metal. I love Grave Digger and I'm sure they influenced my musical style at least a bit. Lyrically I'm a big fan of Sabaton's storytelling. Those guys definitely made me pick a historical theme. At the time I was reworking the melodic parts I was listening to a lot of the older In Flames - so I guess a couple of harmonies might've been influenced by those!
Alan – Your album Resistance is conceptually (situated) in the Roman conquest of Britain. Can you say a little more about it? I personally like this not only musically, but also lyrically. I’m not a big fan of Rome conquering (where they just killed and herded).
Markus - I am absolutely with you and I want to make clear that my music in no way promotes war, oppression or slaughtering. Quite the opposite actually. Resistance is an album about standing up for your rights! The Roman invasion of Britain was a dramatic chapter of their history and altough Boudica's rebellion was crushed, she remains a powerful a symbol of strength and hope.
The uprising exposed the cruelty and flaws of the oppressors, which led the authorities to become more cautious in how they treated the local tribes. The rebellion preserved British identity and inspired generations to value independence and justice.
Alan – If you could briefly describe the songs. Both lyrically and musically. Can you?
Gladius
Gladius opens the album with the Roman legions advancing into Britain under Suetonius Paulinus. With driving riffs and martial energy, the song captures the confidence and brutality of Rome as it confronts the druids in Wales.
Mona
Mona recounts the infamous assault on the island of Anglesey, where Roman forces clashed with Druidic tribes in a brutal and unsettling battle. The song captures both the eerie atmosphere of ritualistic resistance and the overwhelming discipline of Rome's military response.
Iceni
Iceni shifts the perspective from the Roman invaders to the native resistance. Centered on the proud Iceni tribe and their legendary queen Boudica, the track pays tribute to their courage, unity, and refusal to be broken under Roman rule.
Allies
Allies marks the turning point in the album's narrative – the moment Rome's betrayal of its former allies sparks open rebellion. Following the death of Prasutagus, the Iceni suffer humiliation, abuse, and violence, leading Queen Boudica to rise in defiance and rally her people.
Boudica
Boudica tells the story of a queen turned avenger. After suffering grave personal losses and witnessing brutal Roman oppression, she rises to lead a massive rebellion. The song captures her fury, the destruction of Roman cities, and the defiant spirit that made her a legend.
Defiance
Defiance captures the emotional core of the rebellion – a rising storm fueled by unity, hope, and the will to resist. Set against a backdrop of ancient landscapes and looming conflict, the song is both a battle hymn and a tribute to unbroken spirit.
Resistance
Resistance portrays the final stand of Boudica and her forces – a desperate but determined push to reclaim their land. Fueled by hope and the presence of their families, the Celts launch a bold assault against Rome, only to face a brutal and tragic defeat.
Injustice
Injustice serves as the emotional epilogue of the album – a reflection on the cost of rebellion. Told from Boudica’s perspective in her final moments, the song wrestles with guilt, loss, and the unanswered question of whether the fight for freedom was worth the price.
Injustice (piano version)
The tragic close of Boudica’s story called for a calmer, more mournful interpretation of Injustice. A reimagined piano arrangement with a new vocal line offers a more intimate and fragile perspective, capturing the emotions on an entirely different level.
Alan – Are you thinking of making some clips for this album? Or will you just release Resistance itself?
Markus - I made quite a lot of shorter clips to promote the release of each single on social media channels. Additionally I recorded a full playthrough (Bass and Guitars) for a couple of songs and will possibly do it for more tracks, depending on feedback and demand. I am also thinking about making an actual music video for one of the songs, but I haven't settled on the visual style and who to work with, yet.
Alan – I like this question. Funny experiences from the recording. Do you have any funny experiences from recording the album and collaborating with other people? For example, with Mauro-Elias?
Markus - Unfortunately, recording at home is quite less eventful than getting together with people. So aside from recording for about an hour before realizing I hadn't actually pressed the 'record'-button, nothing really special happened. The collaborations with Mauro and Jacques went flawlessly, but we always had a great time when exchanging tracks and ideas!
Alan – Our zine is mainly read by people from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Do you know any bands from these two countries? For example Dvořák? Just kidding.
Markus - Oh I actually do! I know Gutalax – love the lyrics ;)
Unfortunately aside from those guys, I can't name any band from the Czech Republic or Slovakia. But I now know what I will listen to this evening! I'm sure there are some gems I did not come across yet!
Alan – I keep my fingers crossed for your next work, and maybe in time you will put together a regular band, when you will also perform in the Czech Republic or Slovakia at a festival. Thanks for the interview.
Markus - Thank you very much, Alan! It'd be a pleasure to perform in one of your beautiful cities someday! I'll keep you updated on what's coming in the future!
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