SOURCE – We are very glad to see Deadlock back in business. If we go back in time, we learn that it has been since 2016 – when Hybris came out – that you were active. What happened next that made you want to take a break or stop activities?
Sebastian Reichl (Guitars, Vocals) – After the release shows for Hybris and the 2016 festival season, things got really quiet around Deadlock—like, suspiciously quiet. Our last live show was actually way back in 2017. Then life sort of… happened. A bunch of us became parents, and our “normal” jobs started demanding more and more of our time.
In 2019, we started making plans to reboot Deadlock with Sabine. We were stoked—but then, surprise! COVID dropped in uninvited and put everything on ice. Fast forward to April 2022, John let us know that he and Ferdi were heading in a different direction with new projects. We all agreed it was kind of the “official end” of Deadlock—at least that chapter of it. Chris, our former bassist, stepped away to focus on his family, and Werner joined Fall of Serenity with John and Ferdi. That left Sabine and me in a weird mix of isolation and frustration. But after a while, we looked at each other and said, “You know what? Let’s bring Deadlock back.” (Thank you, Sandro<3.)
So we reclaimed the social media channels, most of the song rights, the platforms—basically, everything. Then we dove into folders and hard drives like a couple of obsessed digital archaeologists. Long nights, lots of coffee, and way too many spreadsheet tabs later, we got the business and organizational side back on track. We remastered and re-released all the old albums, EPs—you name it. And eventually, we started recording some of the old demos—which turned into the Buried Alive EP.
Bottom line: We just didn’t want Deadlock to fade away into nothing. There were still people out there who connected with our music—and we wanted to give them something new alongside the remastered past. As for what’s next? We’re not entirely sure yet… but we’re excited to find out.
SOURCE – Buried Alive has really been creating a buzz within the metalcore world and receiving great reviews and write-ups. How does that make you feel?
Sebastian Reichl (Guitars, Vocals) – It honestly feels amazing. We’re kind of floating right now—completely blissed out and just overwhelmed (in the best way) by all the kind messages and everything people are saying about the new songs.
For the two of us—total social media novices—dropping songs from our basement setup into the world and seeing this kind of reaction… it’s surreal. In a really cool way. We didn’t have some grand PR machine or a fancy rollout plan. We just made music that felt real to us and hit “upload.” So, to see people actually connect with it? That’s pure magic.
SOURCE – What was the biggest challenge you faced while bringing this EP to life from a production standpoint?
Sebastian Reichl (Guitars, Vocals) – The hardest part? Hands down: getting a mix and master in our little basement “studio” that actually sounded good enough to release. We’ve done quite a bit of recording in the past, sure—but we never really handled the full mixing and mastering process ourselves all the way to the finish line. If it doesn’t sound right—if it doesn’t hit that sweet spot where it feels current, punchy, and alive—it doesn’t matter how good the riffs are. So yeah, there were a lot of frustrating nights and tons of trial and error. But we learned a lot. And hearing the final versions now? It was totally worth it.
SOURCE – Some bands take a nostalgic approach to writing, channeling the sounds of their early years. Did you intentionally incorporate elements of your own past work or influences from your formative years?
Sebastian Reichl (Guitars, Vocals) – Oh, absolutely—yes! There are still a bunch of little Easter eggs hidden in the songs—some more obvious, some pretty subtle—that tie directly back to our past. That was kind of a natural part of the process of continuing this journey on our own. We wanted to pay tribute to where we came from while also processing everything that has happened—musically and emotionally. Some of those references are us making peace with certain chapters. Others are just cheeky nods or inside jokes wrapped in a heavy riff or a lyric line. But nothing is random—everything has its place and carries some kind of meaning for us. It’s like we’re having a conversation with our own history, but instead of talking about it—we’re screaming it into a mic.
SOURCE – Over the years, your sound has evolved in various ways. What would you say are the biggest differences between this album and your earliest work?
Sebastian Reichl (Guitars, Vocals) – The biggest difference now is definitely the years of experience we’ve built up as musicians—and all the little skills you pick up along the way. If you listen through our discography on Spotify or wherever, you can really hear that progression. It’s kind of wild, actually. That said, we’re not just here to repeat ourselves. Part of this whole journey is about questioning old beliefs, breaking some of our own rules, and trying out new things. But with the Buried Alive EP, we made a conscious decision to go in a different direction—backwards, in a way. The goal was to tap into that Deadlock 2007 vibe: raw, melodic, heavy, emotional. Not overproduced. Just honest and loud. It was like a DeLorean ride—only this time with better gear and a little more wisdom.
SOURCE – Do you feel that being an independent artist versus being signed to a label impacts how you approach album promotion? If so, how do you navigate the challenges of self-promotion and marketing?
Sebastian Reichl (Guitars, Vocals) – To be totally honest—we had no idea how marketing actually worked. The biggest hurdle at the start was just regaining control of our online presence. We didn’t even have the login info for most of our platforms—except Facebook. So the first mission was pure digital detective work: tracking down access to everything, resetting passwords, and cleaning up old profiles. Once we had everything back in our hands, we started creating some simple content—just enough to breathe a little life back into our socials. We didn’t spend a single cent on marketing campaigns. Zero. Everything you’ve seen or heard came straight from us, through our own platforms, with no big marketing plan or fancy rollout. We did reach out to a couple of bigger magazines to let them know something new was coming—but apart from one polite reply, we basically heard crickets. So yeah, full-on DIY, totally under the radar. Just two stubborn people.
SOURCE – Music videos have become an essential part of album releases. How do you view the role of music videos in promoting this new album?
Sebastian Reichl (Guitars, Vocals) – We definitely see that well-produced music videos still perform really well—people enjoy them, and they can rack up views quickly. Honestly, we had some strong videos in the past that got a lot of attention, so yes—it’s definitely an important part of the overall package. But… with our current budget (basically nonexistent), doing a proper video shoot for the Buried Alive EP just wasn’t feasible. So we went the DIY route again—this time with lyric videos and a visualizer. That way, we could at least create some form of video content to accompany the songs. Given the circumstances, it felt like the right move, and it fits the overall vibe of the release.
SOURCE – With the rise of streaming platforms, how have your digital marketing strategies evolved in the promotion of this album?
Sebastian Reichl (Guitars, Vocals) – Same story with streaming platforms—honestly, we still don’t fully understand how the algorithms work. We just hoped that our still-active community and a bit of organic growth would carry us through. Of course, we realize that marketing and paid campaigns can significantly boost reach and visibility. It’s no secret: the more you invest, the more people you can potentially reach. But for now, we’re rolling with what we have. Maybe at some point, we’ll actually have a budget for that kind of thing—until then, we’re putting our faith in the music and the people who’ve stuck with us.
SOURCE – How have you adapted your promotional strategies for this album compared to previous releases?
Sebastian Reichl (Guitars, Vocals) – Our promo strategy? Yeah… there really wasn’t much of a strategy at all. The only plan we had was to create our own content and push it through our own channels to support the EP. That was it.
To be honest, we didn’t have any other option—this whole thing was a DIY mission from the start. Back in the day, of course, there were full promo plans: labels involved, PR teams, proper timelines, and all that.
But we’ve got to admit—even then, we were always the ones writing and recording the music. So this time, it was more of a “learning by doing” situation. And let’s just say… we’re still learning.
SOURCE – After this album’s release, what are the next steps for the band in terms of live performances and touring?
Sebastian Reichl (Guitars, Vocals) – To be honest, after our very first post announcing that we had new music coming, someone immediately reached out wanting to collaborate. And after we dropped Blackest Black, even more people showed interest. So yes, behind the scenes there’s definitely some movement—things are slowly coming together as we build a new band constellation.
If we decide to go all-in and give Deadlock a kind of “third spring,” with new members and full energy, then of course there will be live shows and more new music. That’s the dream. What shape or scale that takes… well, that’s something time will tell. But the door is definitely open.
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