This is where I belong. It is the ultimate combination of my love for metal music as well as the great one-liners from my action movies. When I did Terminator 2, I was in a Guns N’ Roses video and then when I did Last Action Hero I was with AC/DC. Ever since then I’ve been waiting for someone to write music for me so I can be in my own band.

 

 
How was the idea born to invent Terminator Thrash? What’s the story behind it?

 

Tim Lambesis is a fun guy. He’s always talking about crazy ideas with his friends, but this is one crazy idea that we made happen. It was easy because Tim didn’t have to worry about getting an entire band together. He just did everything himself.


Did your wife help you choosing the band name and the album title? How was all that created?

I love my wife, but this is thrash metal. Girls were not allowed in metal concerts back in the 80’s. Ok... maybe they were, but this name is entirely inspired by my brutality as the death machine in Terminator combined with my huge muscles as a body building star known as the Austrian Oak.


Did you manage to implement the new rules you were thinking about? Have there already opened some first „25 Hours Of Fitness“ studios?

25 Hour Fitness is spreading like a new religion. We don’t need massive buildings because it’s happening in people’s homes where they listen to Austrian Death Machine 25 hours a day.

 
You’ve got a deep connection to AS I LAY DYING even if you don’t like the vocalist’s style of singing – also there are some guest appearances by famous metal icons like Adam D., Jason Suecof... I guess you had no problem convincing them to help you out?

 

All of these girly men [actually an original Schwarzenegger-quote, more about that here – author’s note] came to me asking to be in a band with such a powerful man like myself. I allowed them to play a guitar solo only after they pledged their allegiance. They also admitted that I was in all of their favorite movies. Besides that, those guys are all friends of Tim’s so he said they had fun making the music.

 
As we can see on the cover of „Total Brutal“ you are in great shape again! What do you do to rebuild your body?

This time I didn’t bother worrying about steroids or anything like that. I just replaced my arms with machine like muscles so I will never get flabby. My new muscles can crush anyone.

 
How many bullets did you catch while the photo shootings? We can’t see your back where you got hit several times as well, i think, right? Also – what happened during the photo shootings, from what did you save the world this time?

I allowed myself to get shot only because I wanted to test out my new metal endoskeleton. Otherwise, no one would even be able to touch me. This time I destroyed an entire city with just a microphone as you can see from the cover photo. [click the cover for a detailed view! – author’s note] Also, you can see two girls lying in the debris in the background. Girls are always responsible for trying to destroy the world.


How can you manage to govern California, being the greatest actor in the world and composing brutal songs?

Of course. I haven’t made a new movie for a while so I need to keep the legacy of my great acting days alive through music.


Will „Total Brutal“ remain to be the only release by AUSTRIAN DEATH MACHINE or will you continue doing music?

I already have ideas for the second release. One of my favorite movies is Commando and I didn’t include that in "Total Brutal." There are so many more great moments that must be written about.


Do you plan to play some songs on your next election parties? Or do you think about doing some real metal shows?

Both. Some of the great musicians who did guest guitar solos are preparing to play with me live. Also, Matt from August Burns Red committed to playing drums for live shows.
 

Arnie, it was a real pleasure having you answer these questions. We deeply appreciate this! Thank you so much for your time and this interview! Is there any last thing the governator of California wants to tell the German readers?

I wish that the world would unite so I could be Governor of the world. If this ever happened I would destroy all girly types of music and make metal the world anthem!

 

 

 

 

 

 

For everything relevant to Austrian Death Machine and more details about the new album "Total Brutal" make sure to check out all of our Austrian Death Machine related posts! In the following one of the most important facts: All Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonations on the album - as heard in the many interludes on the disc - were done by Destroy The Runner vocalist Chad Ackermann, who not only is a good friend of Tim but also played guitar in As I Lay Dying for a short while years ago.