As already mentioned, only Christian and Oliver had played in a band before. So, for a start we decided to play coverversions in order to improve playing together. Besides, there wasn't any self-written stuff in the beginning; furthermore, you had higher chances to get some gigs when playing coversongs what was also a reason for this "strategy". Gradually, we learned following songs:

METALLICA: For Whom The Bell Tolls, Enter Sandman, Seek & Destroy; PARADISE LOST: As I Die, Pity The Sadness; TIAMAT: In A Dream, Visionnaire; SLAYER: South Of Heaven, Mandatory Suicide; EDGE OF SANITY: Black Tears; UNLEASHED: To Asgaard We Fly; AMORPHIS: Drowned Maid; DIE TOTEN HOSEN: Testbild; DEPRESSIVE AGE: Garbage Canyon; SEPULTURA: Desperate Cry;  DISMEMBER: Dismembered.

Approximately in april/may 95 we also treid to write own songs, besides playing coverversions. At the first gig we could already present our first self-composed song "Paralyzed With Fear". After the release of our demotape "The Cryptogram", we stopped to do coversongs in order to concentrate on our own stuff.

Well, what bands influenced us? That's a quite difficult question to answer, as we listen to many, many different bands - and somehow you are influenced by every kind of music you listen to. Within ENCRYPTION, the range of favoured bands goes from more "commercial" acts like Die Toten Hosen or Bad Religion to extreme Death/Black Metal-Acts like The Crown, God Dethroned, Defleshed or Satyricon. It's just impossibile to mention all bands on this site that we prefer, but you see: as good as all metal-"areas" are covered. Some also listen to classical music (e.g. Edvard Grieg) or acts like Dead Can Dance (R.I.P.)and Elend. Maybe we could mention the following as main influences: Blind Guardian, Iced Earth, Dark Tranquillity, In Flames, At The Gates. Nevertheless, it is possible that other bands come to your mind when listening to our music - influences that are present without doubt, too. But some comparisons are really curious...

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