Metal Bulletin Zine: NEWS: Ninja

Sunday, February 14, 2016

NEWS: Ninja

NEWS:

Ninja

Into the Fire

label: Pure Steel Records

release: 18th March 2016

Traditional heavy metal band Ninja (Germany) started out in the 80s and the background actually reaches back into the early 80s. The band also saw activity in the 90s. After some stops and starts, in 2014 Ninja finally returned for good to bring the classic-style metal that they did back in the day. You may not have heard of the band, but if traditional heavy metal is in your veins, then you will use this injection from Ninja! Check out what Taste of Khaos says about Ninja: "A soul resides in this music that is grand and powerful, loving these vocals that expand over the tracks giving it all life. Those riffs just hammer away and mean to destroy! It's as if a completely different band just stepped behind the mic, they go from pure and passionate, to a distorted power that can NOT be questioned. Uncanny versatility and talent in this lineup."

OFFICIAL INFORMATION:

Since 1997 nobody has heard from NINJA. In 2014 the band had a comeback with a new studio album, but this album was only available on a self-made CD-Rom. The same procedure the band had chosen for their second and third albums. This is probably the reason why they stayed in the underground. Apart from the new album, NINJA's other three albums will be released in a high-quality CD edition by Pure Steel/Karthago Records. NINJA represent traditional German Heavy Metal with good songwriting. Their sound sometimes reminds you of WASP with a pinch of ACCEPT and AC/DC, all done very cleverly. Those bands would certainly like to have songs of a quality like "Thunder", "Vagabond Heart" oder "Blood of my blood" in their program. NINJA are definitely the German rediscovery of 2016!

HISTORY:

Wuppertal / Solingen are famous for the sharp Knives all over the world, but they are also the Cradle and the Center of German Metal, where famous international acts like ACCEPT started their career. They are also the hometowns of the Musicians of NINJA. NINJA had been founded in 1986 by Holger vom Scheidt (vocals), Ulrich Siefen (guitar), Martin Reinert (guitar), Jörg Lennartz (bass) and Christoph Segreff (drums).

Each of these musicians had already a creative backhistory. Ulrich Siefen (git) had a band with the Ex-members of ACCEPT Jörg Fischer (git) and Frank Friedrich (drums) called BLACK JACK back in 1982. Holger vom Scheidt had been the Shouter of DANTON and MORDOR in the early 80´s. They played a lot of gigs all over Germany and established also the first Record Deal with DS Recording.

In 1988 the first Album INVINCIBLE was released. This Creation received positive CRITICS by METALHAMMER and positive reactions from the Fanbase. Götz Kühnemund called Ninja the melodic ACCEPT(1989). Intensive Live Touring followed but at end of 1989 Christoph Segreff and Ulrich Siefen had been called to, leave the band, because of personal differences. Christoph Segreff was not a lucky man at all, after an car accident and after a long time choma he finally was relieved in 2009. RIP Christoph,one day we will meet again!

1992 the remaining members released a self produced album called LIBERTY but this was also not a constant line up. In 1993 after NINJA was dissembled Holger vom Scheidt was the shouter of Ulrich Siefens new Line up US FORCE. They start touring. In 1997 Holger vom Scheidt and Ulrich Siefen bring NINJA back to life again and recorded Valley of Wolves, an album with good Song Material but 1997 was not the time anymore for classic Metal and the Album was not released. Again NINJA was in Hibernation. In 2004 Holger vom Scheidt and Ulrich Siefen recorded a new HARD ROCK Album under the new Name LIVING WRECK but also this formation ends in 2005. In May 2014 Holger vom Scheidt and Ulrich Siefen reunite again under the name NINJA with new songs and a new Album and live Line UP to be released End of 2014.