*INTERVIEW WITH FAITHFUL DEFENDERS VOCALIST DEEP FREEZE*
(Las Vegas, NV) Metal music magazine Old Dude Rock caught up with Faithful Defenders vocalist Mike 'Deep Freeze' Berentsen and sat him down to discuss the forthcoming album, Forged Steel. Following are excerpts from that interview:

ODR: So, where are you guys on the new album?
DF: It's is coming along wonderfully. The vocal tracks are all but done. We need a few 'fillers' and some backing vocals but they are pretty much finished. The guitars are also just about completed. We have more than half the drum tracks done, too.

ODR:  Is that pretty typical? I mean, do you guys usually do it that way?
DF: Oh yes. It is a bit of an arduous undertaking but it all comes together in the end. It is a lot more than just turning on a microphone and hitting 'record'! (chuckles)
ODR:  Any idea when it will be released?
DF:  We are still hoping for a end of January/first of February '09. That may be a bit ambitious given the holidays but we are hopeful!
ODR: From what we have heard so far, it sounds really good! How about you? Are you happy with it?
DF: I am more than happy. This album represents a bit of a maturation for us. The first album was just what one would expect, raw. That is why we called it Raw Steel. The songs were pretty straight forward, hard driving and simple. This time, we decided to step it up a bit, you know? Do something a bit more intricate. We are using Phil's (Metal Meltdown) considerable talents on production. We have taken some risks and done some layering as well as more production numbers and whatnot. Overall, it is a far superior recording and certainly better than anything we have done.
ODR: So that adds to the time it takes to complete then?
DF:  Certainly! It has a lot more to it this time. Like I said, the songs on the first album were pretty straight forward.
ODR: You have a favorite song on the album?
DF: HAHAHA!! Well, I cannot really pick just one. Besides, I don't want to give away any surprises! I guess Eat me Alive is pretty cool. That one was done as a favor to a special fan! Once the album is released, I will try to pick my favorite!
ODR: There does not seem to be as much "hype" for this album as there was before. JP.com seems relatively quiet concerning it. Does that make a difference? Are you worried?
DF:  Worried? No no! Not really. I mean, I was a bit disappointed but I have relaized that the membership has changed considerably over the past couple years. Besides, this is not a novelty anymore. I mean, we already showed what we are capable of doing on Raw Steel so  don't believe there is as much interest from that standpoint. People seem to enjoy the songs and there is some interest. I don't think it is fair to expect what we saw the first time around.
ODR: Some have said that you guys should hang it up...that there is really no need to keep doing this. How do you respond?
DF: I have no response to that!  Well, yes I do. We love what we do. We really enjoy making the music. I think we would do it regardless but I do not see it as though we are a bunch of old farts making noise. The music really speaks for itself. You can't please everyone. We try to do what the membership wants us to do. there will always be someone that does not care for it.
ODR: So you are saying you don't listen to the critics?
DF: HA!!! Oh yeah, I listen! I know that we cannot possibly appeal to everyone so we do not try, that's all. We have our fan base and they enjoy the music. That  is really all we can ask.
ODR:  Does that mean there is any thought to a THIRD album?
DF: WHOA there!! Hang on!! I never said that !! HA!!!!! Actually, we have not even considered such a thing! Let's get this second one out there and we will see!! HA!!!!
**MORE OF THIS INTERVIEW WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON**