How did a metal band from Te Papaioea | Palmerston North get a well-known producer from Germany to come and work on their album at all-ages venue/studio The Stomach? Imperial Slave (established by Sam Sheppard from former heavyweight Kiwi acts 8 Foot Sativa and Sinate) have just finished working on their third album with Waldemar Sorychta – who has produced dozens of albums, and played guitar in US metal band Grip Inc., alongside ex-Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo. Bing Turkby spent a bit of time in the studio with them.

Germany-based guitarist and music producer Waldemar Sorychta guesses he and Sam Sheppard have known each other for about 15 years.

“He contacted me many years before as a Grip fan, and asked me to produce for his previous band, Sinate. When I realised the band was from NZ I told him of my big love of the All Blacks and of rugby.”

Sam lived in Berlin for about six years, and says that Waldemar was the first guy he knew over there who was also a rugby fan, so they bonded pretty fast over rugby and rock. They would go together to watch the All Blacks play in various European matches. When Sam moved back to Aotearoa they stayed in touch, as Waldemar jokes.

“You know you can use Facebook very nicely? You don’t need to post that you’re on the way to the toilet. You can post things that are interesting. You can keep in touch with so many people around the world.”

Imperial Slave consists of Sam on vocals, signature cowboy hat and chain-link microphone cable, Anthony Hati and Isaac Lundy on guitars, Achilles Manley on bass, and Matt Wright on drums. All have been in other bands before, bringing experience and technical skills to a genre that demands tightness and precision. The self-described ruthless death metal act have shown impressive drive and dedication, tours here and overseas getting them in front of more and more potential fans.

With the band readying to record their third album in early 2026 Sam reached out, promising Waldemar a road trip to hit Aotearoa’s scenic highlights, with the business to be done first at The Stomach. Flights were soon booked.

Waldemar’s list of production and playing credits on Wikipedia is astonishing and impressive. While the credits list the facts, he says that some of the other material on there is less correct.

“A lot of the things in Wikipedia are wrong. I tried to change it once and somehow it didn’t work. But this is fucking me! I’m making my own changes!”

How does The Stomach compare to other studios he’s worked in? In Waldemar’s opinion, if the studio and surrounds are too beautiful it’s difficult to make angry music. He’d rather record in a basement and then holiday somewhere lovely and relaxing afterwards.

“Studio is studio, like kitchen is kitchen. When you have all the parts you need, it doesn’t matter where it is. It could be on the moon.”

Waldemar was impressed with how well the band had their parts organised before recording. Good pre-planning means that there’s less mucking around in the studio, and he could make some suggestions for the songs just to tweak them, such as tempo changes, or suiting the riffs to the drum parts.

“The arrangement is the important thing. You can make the best food, but you always need spices to make it taste better.”

Sam says that all band members contributed songs for the new album. Generally one would bring a song in that was pretty well done, but with space for the other members to contribute their own vibe and personality. The band is known for punishing riffs, and often with lyrics about things that are wrong with the world, Sam saying metal is a positive force, with a great community.

“Hundreds of gigs we’ve been to, and you never see fights.”

With the tracks all down now, Nigel Mauchline from The Stomach will mix the album. Sam prefers to use someone different for the mastering, to bring a fresh set of ears, and they are yet to decide on that someone. Once that’s done, it’ll be time to organise the logistics of a release on vinyl and CD, as well as digital platforms.

Having recently opened for Fear Factory in Auckland, and off the back of a European tour in 2025, through Germany, Slovenia, Czech Republic and Ireland, there’ll surely be many fans waiting to get their hands on some more Imperial Slave.