Dishumanized (Austria)
Dishumanized started in 2017 as a solo project of Tyrolean musician Harald Berger, who has made a name for himself in the Austrian metal scene in the past through his work as a lyricist and songwriter for bands such as "Diabolic Voices", "Zerofour" and "Deathplagued". After a few singles, the first full-length album "The Maze of Solitude" was released in 2023, which met with an extremely positive response from fans and critics alike. Since it was Harry's wish from the beginning to bring the project to the stage, he decided to hire some musician friends for future live gigs shortly after the release of the album. Fortunately, all of his preferred candidates were immediately available and highly motivated.
Harald Berger (Lead Guitar & Vocals)
After his first steps as a Drumer in the Bands "Ascension" and "Slender", Harry switched to guitar and joined the Death Metal Band "Diabolic Voices", witch later became "Zerofour". From 2008 to 2011 he was also part of the Death Metal Band "Deathplagued". Since 2017 his main focus is "Dishumanized".
Patrick Kösslbacher (Bass)
Patrick "Pati" Kösslbacher from Lienz, started his musical journey with "Legacy of Sorrow", and played in some great bands like "Relinquished", "Deathplagued" and "In Somnia"! He is also part of the beloved Deutschrock band "Schedelweiss".
Wolfgang Hauser (Rhythm Guitar)
Wolfgang "Wonga" Hauser, who - like Harry - comes from Virgen made a name for himself in the Austrian underground in the past with his participation in the Brutal Death Metal Band "Carnal Mutilation".
Michael Oberwalder (Drums)
Michael ‘Michi’ Oberwalder, originally from St.Jakob in Defereggen now linving in Heinfels began his career as a drummer with “Hellstorm” and “Scapegoat”, and later founded “Carnal Mutilation” together with “Wonga”.
Dishumanized (Austria)
T: Why does the name Dishumanized have any special meaning?
H: The name is very important it’s a synonym for the entire concept. Humanity has become completely disconnected from nature and unbelievably cruel to animals. We’re destroying our own living space, and that’s the dumbest thing any species could possibly do. No animal would ever be that stupid! Every great idea whether it’s rooted in technology, religion, or anything else somehow ends up being misused by mankind: to control, to manipulate, to destroy. That’s a dishumanized society. But there are people out there who still feel that something is deeply wrong. And I hope my lyrics might reach a few more of them.
T: How did you decide to create the band and why?
H: I’ve loved music especially metal for as long as I can remember. It was always my dream to write my own songs and lyrics. Since the mid-90s, I played in various bands, but after a few really frustrating experiences with band breakups and internal conflicts, I actually wanted to quit. Still, I couldn’t live without music especially the creative process of songwriting, which I missed as an outlet and emotional release. So in 2017, I founded Dishumanized as a solo project.
T: What influences did the band have from the beginning?
H: Musically, the main influences were always thrash and death metal mostly the American stuff. Slayer, Exodus, Testament, and all those early Florida death metal heroes. But i don’t believe in boundaries. The closing track on our debut album, for example, was kind of a mixture of Rammstein, Pink Floyd, and blackened death metal at least in my mind.
T: How much time do you dedicate to music in your life?
H: As much as I can with a wife, two kids, two dogs, and a full-time job, boredom definitely isn’t the problem, haha. But like I said, music is a huge part of my life. I’m totally obsessed with it! I’m constantly writing riffs and lyrics in my head it never really stops.
T: What are your musical influences? What is the music you listen to the most?
H: "My first musical influences were bands like AC/DC, Iron Maiden, and Queen. But it didn’t take long before I discovered Metallica and Slayer and from there, I went straight into the really heavy stuff like Suffocation and Cannibal Corpse. But I also love Elvis, Pink Floyd, Limp Bizkit, Dubstep and Movie Scores. Most of the time though, I’m listening to thrash and death metal. I love the raw energy and often meaningful lyrics of thrash and the sheer technicality and intensity of well-crafted death metal."
T: How has the process of recording your CD The Maze of Solitude been?
H: Oh, that was a wild ride. I started with a single in 2017, then another in 2018. Since I did everything myself including programming the drums it took forever. I actually planned to release the album in 2020, but then COVID hit... you know the rest. In the end, it was late 2023 when I finally released it. I recorded everything at the studio of my great friend Andreas Maierhofer from the band My Dark Fate but it's a three-hour drive for me, so it wasn’t exactly easy.
T: How much time do you dedicate to the composition and structure of an album like The Maze of Solitude?
H: I really took my time with it over three years, actually. I probably spent just as much time on the lyrics, concept, and artwork as on the music. Maybe even more. The meaning behind the project is really important to me. Let’s be honest every riff, every melody, every drumbeat in thrash or death metal has already been written. The only way to create something truly personal is through your voice and your lyrics. The Maze of Solitude deals with smartphone addiction, COVID, digital slavery... all of which are fresh and highly relevant topics today.
T: Your band sound is very special with extreme sounds and old-school elements of thrash and death metal or how would you define it?
H: Oh, thank you that’s exactly how I hope it sounds! The new stuff will be even heavier. Musically, variety is what matters most to me. A lot of newer bands just repeat the same song structures over and over that’s really boring.
T: What difference do you find between the style and sound your band had at the beginning and now? Any difference?
H: Definitely. Now that we’re a full band, things are changing. After the album was released, I started looking for a live lineup to play the songs and luckily, I found great people. We’re already working on a new album now together. Our drummer and our guitarist both come from an extreme death metal background, so things are getting a lot heavier. If The Maze of Solitude was mostly thrash with death metal influences, the new one might be the other way around.l
T: What significance does the cover of The Maze of Solitude represent, and who is in charge of the art?
H: The cover as I mentioned before is extremely important for me. The visual art, the lyrics, and the concept are deeply connected. The cover should provoke thought and invite personal interpretation. At its core, the monolith in the center represents the smartphone a dark, towering, all-consuming presence. The figures around it represent society’s blind dependence on technology. And the man in the front, who can’t take it anymore, stands for all those who still feel, who still resist, but are on the edge of going insane! The artwork was drawn by Silvio Hauser (Instagram: @moleguts_tattoo), a professional tattoo artist and the brother of our guitarist.
T: What do you think about the current underground metal scene in your country Lienz, Tyrol?
H: I think the metal scene in East Tyrol, where I live, is picking up again. There was a rough period when it wasn’t in high demand and then COVID shut everything down. But since 2023, things have been looking good again. There are some great local bands like Hard Excess, In Somnia, Inner Enemy, Putrid, and Circuit of Agony. And there are also many great musicians playing in cover bands across all genres. There’s a lot of talent and potential in the region.
T: What honest metal underground bands and zines from South America do you know?
H: Sorry I don’t think I know any.
T: Would you like to come and play in South America, or have you already been offered to do so? And in which countries would you like to play?
H: Oh no that’s not possible. We all have full-time jobs and families. It’s a hobby. A really great hobby! But still, it’s just a hobby. If we get to play a few shows in Austria, that’s amazing. Maybe Germany or Italy but I wouldn’t want to drive 10 hours to a gig, and I hate flying haha. So that’s about it and honestly, that’s totally fine.
T: Was it an independent production, the making of your CD."The Maze of Solitude"?
H: Oh yes completely independent. And to be honest, that’s how I like it, and how it’s going to stay. I wouldn’t be happy with a label telling me what to do. This is about creative freedom and a meaningful message, you know? I have friends who’ve had really bad experiences with labels some don’t even own their own albums anymore. They’ve been told to write a melodic hit song or other crap like that. I’m a very stubborn guy none of that would work with me.
T: What is the band preparing for its immediate future?
H: We’re working on our second album hopefully ready by winter 2025/26 And we hope to play some small, cool shows with great friends and fans. That’s all we want. The most important thing is fun and freedom. I currently play in three bands (I’ve also been a member of Switchback sincp 2012 and Pentagon since 2016), and there’s no negativity in any of them. I’ve had such bad experiences in the past thgat I would leave or shut down any project immediately if that kind of shit ever started again!
T: Thank you very much for your time in answering the interview for our more than 219,000 visitors of "The Legion Of TchorT 'Zine". Any last words for our readers? Where can our readers get merchandise from your band?
H: We collaborate with a great little shop in our city. It’s called Monotonous, and it’s run by our friend Moreno and his lovely partner Caro. There you’ll find our merch along with lots of other great stuff from bands in our region. Just go to www.dishumanized.at there you’ll find the shop and all links to our digital releases. Thank you so much, my friend, for doing all this out of love for music just like me! And many thanks and greetings to all readers and music lovers who took the time to read this. Very much appreciated!
