Pic courtesy of: Sleep Terror "It’s weird how many big names are familiar with this project already and are into the music. I can't spill out any names of potential players yet, but its getting there"

CR: Why don’t we start by clarifying to everybody, who’s Sleep Terror, who started the band and under what initiative?
Luke Jaeger: I started it roughly 5 years ago, just kinda happened and was a result of many stylistic approaches and inspirations I had falling into one entity.

CR: I was checking your myspace page and it seems that you are looking for a drummer a bassist and a 2nd guitar, how is that going? Do you have anybody already or at least in mind that would fit on Sleep Terror?
Luke Jaeger: It's going well, it’s weird how many big names are familiar with this project already and are into the music. I can't spill out any names of potential players yet, but its getting there.

CR: Sleep Terror has a date on May 2008 already, on the Maryland death fest, but what about what’s left of the year any plans?
Luke Jaeger: I'm really hoping to have the next album recorded and shipped to press. And possibly, just possibly... some fucking shows lined up and happening for once.

CR: When it comes to live gigs how do you setup the entire thing, I mean is it just you playing guitar, and the rest is just programmed? If so how does it feel to just put yourself in the middle of everybody at the show without people that can maybe take the attention of the crowd away from you for a minute or two?
Luke Jaeger: I've always played live with a human drummer, nothing's programmed in that scenario. I just have a few beers, set up my shit and hammer away at the songs when its time for the set. The problem with musicians is they're unreliable and that's a big reason why I've always had to resort to synthetic drums in the past in terms of recording. Hopefully it doesn't come down to that in a live show, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

CR: Probing Tranquility came out last year, your first full length (at least for Sleep Terror), did it fulfill your expectations? What’s the best thing about that release and what did it lack in your opinion?
Luke Jaeger: Not at all. There was really no budget whatsoever, I was given a few hundred dollars to buy a digital recorder and I mixed and recorded everything at home on a cheap PC with a strat and V-amp. It came out scratchy, quiet in mix and in the end a rushed effort of producing songs that deserved better production, equipment and engineering. This band/project is still in the beginning stage!

CR: Who did the cover for Probing Tranquility; it is a pretty cool art work?
Luke Jaeger: Paul Romano.

CR: The album is quite short, well not very short but at 30 minutes it does leave you wanting more, how do you determine how long should an album be? Do you have any specific length in mind or is just determined by the amount of songs you have at the time of recording?
Luke Jaeger: I never plan stuff like that. 30-35 minutes is pretty long for a technical death metal album. Compare to others in the similar genre, you'd be surprised. Hehe.

CR: No vocals, this draws the listener to pay attention only to the riffs and the “technicality” displayed in every song, do you think the “No vocals” factor is something that helps Sleep Terror stand out from any other band?
Luke Jaeger: A lot of people think so. I've always wanted a good vocalist to fill the void there, though the fans seem to object. A lot of people say ''now you sound like every other band'' when we were trying out vocalists and almost held onto one that was somewhat promising. That doesn't make sense to me, because wouldn't that imply that if ''every other band'' took out their vocals they'd sound like us or more unique? Silly. In the long run though, I'm so fond of the music that I could totally live without vocals keeping it together. It breathes find without them.

CR: The title of the songs are quite “unique” why going for names like that, I ask because since there are no lyrics I would like to know what’s begin those interesting titles?
Luke Jaeger: Generally I'll conjure a feeling the song gives me and storm up a representation what the riffs and flow of the song conveys and develop a title that fits the scenario, if that makes sense. Many of the titles are based on personal experiences, fascinations, or sleep-related/psychological disorders.

CR: How long did it take you to write and record “Probing Tranquility”?
Luke Jaeger: A lot of those songs were written years before. The recording itself I think took a month or two, maybe another month with all the drum programming beforehand. The drum programming/mixing is always a pain in the ass and the most exhausting, time-consuming process. I've never enjoyed it.

CR: There is a song with just a little segment of The Knack “My Sharona” were you into that band or was that song just something fun for you to use in the album?
Luke Jaeger: I used it in the older version in 2002 on one of the demos as well, purely just for fun and a random kick. Cool song though. Good thing I ain't as big as Run DMC, probably would've gotten sued by now.

CR: Reading an old interview (http://gorexridden.tripod.com/interview/interview_luke.html) the interviewer asked you for how many bands did you tried out for… you gave him some names, what I found interesting was your response you said that you wouldn’t want you in their bands, why is that? (by the way the bands that you mentioned were Disgorge, Severed Savior, Dying Fetus and Misery Index)
Luke Jaeger: I'm not a standard death metalhead who sticks his arms out in photos with a mean face, and is bro bro and embraces the scene in its entirety. I'd have never lasted with any of those bands, much too conventional for my tastes and I wasn't wanted for that same reason anyway I'd imagine.

CR: There was a time when you played with Vile, what did you learn from those guys? What do you think they learned from you? And why didn’t you stay with them?

	Pic courtesy of: Sleep Terror "I don't try to look any certain way. I'm clean because I like the feeling of having short hair, smelling good, being showered, well-groomed, teeth brushed, and feeling good because of that"

Luke Jaeger: It was just a tour I was hired on as lead guitarist. Colin's a good guy, I really am a fan of the first album above all the others though. It was a very enjoyable tour and a great experience.

CR: You don’t look like the regular “death metaller” but yet you have the ability to create great riffs, why do you conserve your “clean” look, something that has probably not played in your favor in a couple of situations, knowing how SOME metalheads are more into the image of metal rather than the music. Would you consider maybe changing into a “dirtier” look just to maybe “fit” better at the local metal bar?
Luke Jaeger: Fuck that. It's all about music to me. I don't try to look any certain way. I'm clean because I like the feeling of having short hair, smelling good, being showered, well-groomed, teeth brushed, and feeling good because of that. Nothing against the long-hair/tats/piercings/sweaty metal thing. I just couldn't imagine feeling happy and invigorated by that. Just a personal thing. I don't really have an image so to say, for better or worse. I understand how it can help, though.

CR: When did you decided that you wanted to play guitar and when metal, did those things happened at the same time? Can anyone become a great musician just by focusing on one genre of music?
Luke Jaeger: I've always had an interest it all styles of music from an early age. One day it'd be Billy Joel and Elton John, the next Guns N' Roses and Faith No More, then maybe the next Primus and Mr. Bungle, then Morbid Angel and Nile. Then from there spawned into all kinds of stuff. Variation and inspiration is key! I never was able to stay conformed to one genre of music as a guitarist. I tried.

CR: What would you say has been your biggest achievement as a musician? And what as an individual?
Luke Jaeger: I'd say booking my own tour, recording my own album, and selling my own merch and doing everything that came with it (booking hotels, dealing with promoters, routing directions, etc). All in a period of only a few months. It's a lot of hard work and a great learning experience. You learn a lot about your potential on an individual level, and your accomplishments and abilities as a musician and a businessman.

CR: When can we expect a new Sleep Terror album?
Luke Jaeger: If not later this year, definitely early next.

CR: Just a question I’ve been asking everybody… your reaction to this word Iraq
Luke Jaeger: A lost cause from the beginning.

CR: Well thank you very much for your time man, if you will like to add anything else please feel free to do so….
Luke Jaeger: Thanks to all the devoted fans who've stuck out the highs and lows of this project in the last few years. Without you this is nothing! Looking forward to seeing you all soon. Cheers.