EILERA's Interview: Singer Aurélie PotinSuau answers

First of all, thank You very much for your time and kindness.

Thank You for showing interest and support. :)

1) Actually, Eilera's music is presented to us as a mix between many styles and sounds. How could You describe it, for those who read this interview and have not heard You yet?

I was told once that Eilera sounds like Anneke Van Giersbergen and Tori Amos jamming in an Irish pub.. That's pretty good to describe it :)

Some of my albums sound heavier than others, sound more Celtic Folk than others.. I would describe my latest album Waves as modern Folk.

2) What mostly caught our attention in your music, and in fact we made You known it, through comments on YouTube, is your vocal style, with that singular and unique accent. Do you think it is a distinctive factor?

Thank you for your comments in Youtube.. And yes, I think so. I have been told so many times..  I have a narrative vocal style. I like my vocals to sound spontaneous and to tell my stories with details in emotions. I am not interested in over-technical sounding vocals, like sounding the "most powerful" for instance. I use power, when I need to use power, no more.

3) You have started from a very, very young age in the world of music. Please tell us something about your beginnings.

I've always loved singing, but I did not have the kind of parents who took me to a music conservatory at five years old. I sang anyway in my bedroom and I organised representations for my family as a game. This of course was all very naïve.. My first representation ever outside my family happened in summer camp, when our teacher took me to the boys' dormitory and asked me to sing to them, in order to calm them down before sleeping time.. But it wasn't until I was twelve years old that I began to study music and the classical guitar in a music school. My secret objective was to switch as soon as I could to the electric guitar and play solos by Mark Knopfler. By the time I got an electric guitar though, I was seventeen and my interest had turned to more extreme players, such as Dave Murray and Chuck Schuldiner. The first tabs I studied with a teacher were from Ride the Lightning, by Metallica. He was a private teacher - electric music in France at that time could not really be studied in music schools. It was, and still remains, marginal in France. 
It took me many years, until 2002, to realise that I was denying my real nature as a musician if I kept on focusing on the guitar, while neglecting my voice. I am not a natural guitarist, but I am a natural singer. I had been muted by several heavy factors, in my education, in my schools but my true nature finally came back to the surface. This is when Eilera was born and I got to combine my composing and my singing skills together. Eilera came after several years of playing the guitar and composing in my band of melodic Death-Metal Chrysalis. I ended Chrysalis once it had become clear to me that Eilera was my future. Ironically enough, it was when I had made this decision to sing and compose more pop-rock songs with Eilera that the Metal label Spinefarm Records (Finland) got interested in working with us. They thus took me back into the Metal business world. Their condition was that I "Do like Facettes (*Eilera's first demo album), but heavier" and this is what I have been doing this far, at the exception of Waves. 

4) Some time ago, You were linked to Metal music. What remains of Metal today, in Eilera?

A flame inside, that just won't fit into a box.. I may have travelled far, beyond the authorised metallic borders and I have expanded my skills, but I am not gone.

5) You are the songwriter in the band. Tell us what things inspire You, and to write what kind of songs?

Pure emotions inspire me. When I cannot contain them anymore, I turn them into songs. I take them from my experiences in my life. For example, Into the Sea comes from living solitude. The Angel You Love, the Angel You Hate comes from feeling a broken heart. Precious Moment comes from a pure moment of shared ecstasy, Soulmates comes from beautiful words I was once told.. There are as many of those moments that your life will allow you to live. You cannot make those up. You should be aware of them and be ready to embrace them when they show up. This is the reason why I don't mass-produce songs. This is my choice to go artistic rather than generic..

6) You have a great musician in Eilera, successful, like Max Lilja. What does someone with his experience contribute to the band?

I have been blessed with the chance of playing with many great musicians in my musical journey and Max is one of them. 
Max has recorded on Precious Moment EP, Fusion Lp and Darker Chapter... and stars Lp. On the first two, he played the part of a studio musician, with scores that had been written for him, based on his style, as he had developed it with Apocalyptica. On the latest, when we knew each other better, it was easy to give him more freedom. From working with him, I learned how far we could push a cello into extreme playing, while preserving its beautiful nature.. It was both of a learning-process and an elevating experience hopefully for both of us and I look back on it fondly.

7) You have, after four years, a new album; and some new videos too. Tell us everything You want about this new work. Is it conceptual?

The idea behind Waves was to catch the Ocean waves and to turn them into emotional and sound waves. It is made to be an album that soothes you at times and that energies you at others, like the Ocean does to you. It is an antidote to the dehumanising forces of the city.. I made the album after I had experienced a burn out in my city-life and I decided that as a musician and an artist, what I could and should do, was to fight this coldness back with music as organic, deep and stimulating as the most energising waves of the ocean. I did it with a modern form of Folk music, as to unite an ancient way of making songs together with a modern sound approach.

When I started working on Waves from my parents' house, in southern France, all I had with me was a terribly bad Folk guitar and my computer. This was the improvised home-studio from where I would create the first demos.
As I started to imagine who would be the best players for such an album, I decided that the times were perfect for uniting my past in France with my present in Finland, via the Waves team. This team would comprise of eleven persons. From France:  Pereg Ar Bagol (Skiltron) on the Boha, which is a particular bagpipes from the Gascony region in France. Loïc Tézénas, my original partner in Eilera, on the guitar. Dominique Dijoux, who was the keyboard player in Chrysalis. From Finland: Roni Seppänen on the guitar and Toni Paananen on drums, who both played on the previous record. Sami Hinkka (Ensiferum) recorded the bass and Juho Martikainen the contrabass. Tero Kinnunen (Nightwish) recorded and coproduced the album with me. Mikko Karmila (Nightwish, Children of Bodom...) mixed it and Mika Jussila (Amorphis, Nightwish..) mastered it in Finnvox Studios. I also got a guest appearance from Jaco Dada from Chile on the acoustic guitar, on the song la Quest. It was an international teamwork, most of which circulated via the internet. It felt rich of talent and of friendship. I would send demos of acoustic guitars and I would receive recordings back, over which I would bounce and get new ideas from. It was a very interesting and dynamic composing process.. 

As for the videos, the first one that came out was for Soulmates. This video is a compilation of the recording moments that make the album. It was important for me that everybody could see the team that made this adventure possible, including the names of the fans who had financed it via crowdfunding. I wanted to express my gratitude to everyone.
Two videos have followed after that, for Aquarius and for Sea Widow. Funnily enough, they were made in Finland with a French man, called Luc Chavarro. It was the first time I worked with him and it was good fun. Sea Widow was shot outdoor, in pretty cold weather. The final part where I dance/confront the sea was shot in Jätkäsaari, an area of Helsinki. We filmed there just in time before constructions were made, so it is precious to think that this area will only exist as such in this video now.. 
The video for Aquarius was shot indoor. It relied a lot on my interpretation. This experience of drama takes for you to dig deep inside of your guts, in order to give enough intensity. It is the story of an impossible love, from two Aquarius souls that swim close to each other but can never really be together. It is a love that both brings light and hurt.. The experience of that video reminded me how close singing and acting can be. 

8) You also have a new label, Inverse Records. How has the experience of working with them been, if we consider that some of your previous albums had been released independently?

The album was already done and the Soulmates video was already out when Inverse entered the picture. Their input has been to release the album and to spread the word about it, so their mission is not complete yet. I hope they give the support this album deserves.

9) Aurélie, what we see in You as an artist is a lot of light, a positive image, full of energy and charisma. What do You want to transmit to whoever listens to Eilera?

I am honoured, thank you. 
I hope I contribute to offering a higher space to the listeners, from where they can contemplate a day that has been hard on them, maybe stressful, maybe boring and remember that there is always hope, that the next day will be different and better, that they are not alone and that after the crest of the wave comes its top. I want them to remember what it feels like to have the curiosity and the enthusiasm of a child for life and to experience it with an open heart that takes life in 100%.

10) What has been the greatest satisfaction so far that Eilera allowed You to live?

I believe it was my first professional studio experience for Precious Moment EP, back in 2005. We had a good budget that allowed us to record everything in studio, which has become a rare thing nowadays. These were the days when producer Hiili Hiilesmaa opened my mind to the idea of producing my own songs. It happened on the day that the strings players were there. He suddenly stood off his chair and invited me to sit in it and said to me: "Now, it's your turn." I experienced a moment of worried excitement, as I had never done this before, but there was no other way than to jump in with my both feet and very soon, I found the experience to be a revelation for me. I needed that push. 

11) Outside of music, how is your day to day in this 2020 so terrible that we have to go through? Tell us your reflection about all this...

My dayjob has been to teach French language and culture in an adult school of Helsinki and I gave my last courses online two weeks ago. Since then I have been spending most of my time home, like everyone else. When it gets too hard, I go for a walk in my neighbourhood or I jog. I begin my every morning with aerobics and yoga sessions. It feels so good and the feeling stays with me for the rest of the day. Every weekend, we have Skype Qi Cong and yoga sessions together with my family from France. :) 
My plan, before the Corona virus arrived, was to prepare a live band and play shows, then move to the next album. Those plans have been postponed and I don't know for how long. So I allow myself to spend much time meditating, researching myself, researching topics that interest me and progressively find the direction of the next album.. I am sorry for those who have lost, or will loose, a close one. This might happen to me in the near future, I don't know. I might myself loose my health to the virus. Yet I cannot help but see something optimistic in the current events. Until the virus, the madness of our economic system, with its endless greed and multiple abuses, seemed to have no limit. The multiple warnings from the scientific community over global warming were not taken seriously. The extinction of animal species, the populations rising against anti-democratic and greedy governments, the global growing of pain everywhere, were not heard by the corporate nor the political world. Personal interest has been ruling the world for too long and the illusion, that money matters above all else. Nothing smaller than this pandemic could have finally interrupted this madness.. But the pandemic will end and the fight for a better world is far from over. So, I am inviting everyone to think about the world we want next and to imagine what they can do individually to contribute to it. I will do everything I can think of myself and of course, this includes new songs.

12) Finally, let us tell You that we greatly enjoy your art, and that we hope to see Eilera one day on this side of the world...! Please, tell us everything that You want to say, and that we haven't asked You.

Thank you very much. I would love to visit you in Argentina and sing with you. I have never been to south America before, even though I have friends there, in Chile, in Brazil, maybe soon in Argentina? I am really looking forward to.. Hopefully it happens. The internet can connect us in the meantime. My songs can be heard in Tidal, in Apple Music, in Spotify, in Youtube... You are welcome to connect with me via the social media. I love to hear about your stories and read your feedbacks. Enjoy working out, singing, listening to music, making love; all the good things that you can take during lock down and take care of yourselves. Our time on this earth is precious.  - Eilera

Thanks a million!!

Thank You!!

Eilera's discography:

"Facettes" (2003)
"Precious Moment" (e.p. 2005)
"Fusion" (2007)
"Dark Chapter... and Stars" (2011)
"Face Your Demons" (2016)
"Waves" (2020)

Eilera's official websites:

www.eilera.com

www.facebook.com/EileraOfficial

www.instagram.com/eileraofficial

www.twitter.com/EileraOfficial

Answered: Aurélie PotinSuau, by EILERA.-
Interview: Javier Parente, for OXIDO.-

CORINNE VAN DEN BRAND (ACROSTICHON, RAZEND, THE COVERING) Interview

1. Corinne: It’s a huge pleasure to make this interview with you! First at all, how had your first steps in music been, at the end of the eighties?
   I was into metal since I was 13-14 years old and went to as many concerts that I could. When my brother Jos started playing guitar with a school mate Richard, I wanted to be part of that . At first we just goofed around with silly songs but then we found a drummer we really became a band and started writing real songs.
2. Please, tell us a little about Acrostichon’s first recordings. Why did you register so many demos between 1989 and 1991?
   Many demo`s ? Only 2 called Prologue and Lost Remembrance.  It wasn`t so unusual back then. We don`t count the rehearsal tape as a demo and neither the live tapes. After the second demo we got a record deal and we recorded Engraved in Black. It took about a year before it was finally released. That was really not funny and a bit annoying. In 1995 we released our second cd called Sentenced. It was a bit more thrash metal . I really like that one. Too bad for the sound on that one. Could have been a lot heavier.
3. Tell us the characteristics of both studio álbums.
   Engraved in Black has a lot of demo material on it and is lot more death/doom than Sentenced which is more thrashier. That`s easy to explain because the first album was mostly written by Richard and the second one by Jos and Michel who had replaced Richard .
4. What can you tell us about “Live” VHS? Why didn’t you never release it again, on DVD?
   We never released it officially in the first place. It was a tape from our release party gig and was just for our own collection. We copied it for some friends too of course. How it ever ended up as an official tape in some traders lists I don`t know.
5. Why did the band split up in 1995?
   The band didn`t split up in 1995. Our latest demo tape was recorded in 1996-1997. After that I left the band and the band continued with Tjerk on vocals but they soon changed their name to Outburst.
6. And what did you do during the fourteen years between 1995 and 2009?
   I moved to Belgium and lived my life. I played percussion in a samba band for some years but that was it. Hahaha.
7. How did you combine your both roles, of Woman, and extreme music vocalist?
   It never was a big deal to me. I always was one of the boys. It annoyed me that people would bring it up. I always was a bit of a tomboy .
8. Why did you take the decision of start again in 2009?
   I moved back to Holland in 2008 and got in touch with the other bandmembers again on a party. A friend asked if we would play on his festival as a co-headliner with Holy Moses. We accepted and that gig was truly amazing. We released that gig on an album released on Badger records. Very fond memories of that night. We did a few shows more with Possessed and one with the original The Gathering but that was it.
9. Did you feel that all that old magic was present, again?
   Yeah, on our first reunion gig I couldn`t stop smiling. It wasn`t really metal. Hahaha. It was just so great and I enjoyed every second of it.
10. Please, let’s talk about “Return to Killburg”. Was it released on vynil format only? Why?
    Why not ? Badger records offered us a deal with only vinyl and we loved the idea. The artwork looks very good on this format.  When you hold an album it is something special. It`s almost like a sacred ritual. Much more feeling to it than a cd.
11. Let’s talk about Razend, now. How did it arise in your life?
    Funny story. Acrostichon became Outburst when singer Tjerk joined and in 2013 Tjerk left and I was asked to sing again . So in a way the circle is round . In a band again with my brother Jos. How cool is that !!!
12. Your Razend’s vocals are basically different to Acrostichon’s. Any special reason for that?
    Different band, different vocals. It`s so easy to go back to grunting again but I really didn`t want to do that. It`s thrash metal, not death metal so I can vary a lot more with Razend than I ever could do with Acrostichon. Always improve yourself. I`m not happy with doing the same trick over and over again.
13. There’s a demo, “White Goat”. Please, tell us something about it.
    It`s a 5 track demo. We recorded it for record companies and bookers but we will officially release it very soon as a bonus on our second cd. It`s a thrash metal demo with no grunts at all. On our second cd there will be some grunts.
14. And, of course, we want you to tell us something about The Covering, too…
    The Covering is a 80`s metal coverband. We play songs from Saxon to Morbid Angel. It started out as a one time only gig but it was so succesful and we enjoyed it so much we decided to continue and ever since we had a lot of gigs. Really fun to do and a good learning school for me. I have to sing all different styles and that`s pretty difficult sometimes.
15. Which had been your better and worse moments in your musical career?
    We did play some great shows with great bands. I really am honored that I took part to the rise of death metal. I really appreciate that I got to go to concerts in the 80`s.
16. Which are the dreams that you would love to see realized?
    I would love to play in South America someday . Think that will be an awesome experience. Wellll, I would like to play everywhere around this globe .
17. Please, tell us about your plans for this year. Do you have a new record in mind?
    Well, we are finishing our second recordings for Razend right now. It will be available within a few months. It will be a bit faster then our first recording.  And we are releasing an album with a side project I am doing with two friends . Just for fun . It will be hardcore meets grindcore and I will pick up my bass again fot that one.
18. Corinne: Thanks a million for your time and your answers… We really hope to see you playing live in Argentina someday… Is there anything that you would like to add?
    Thank you very much for your interest. Keep on doing what you love best and cheers to all of you who are reading this :-)
    

                                       Interview by Javier Parente, para OXIDO.-

Entrevista a Angel, Voz y Guitarra de TIERRA SANTA, antes de su segunda visita a Argentina

Merced a la gentileza de Diego Perri, encargado de prensa de la productora Hellnoise, pudimos entablar diálogo con Angel San Juan, Voz y Guitarra de los españoles TIERRA SANTA, antes de su segundo desembarco por estas tierras, para presentarse el sábado 11 de abril en Uniclub...

OXIDO:  Antes que nada, Ángel, queremos expresarte nuestra gratitud por entregarnos estos minutos de tu tiempo. Dinos: podemos afirmar hoy en día que el rótulo “Heavy Metal” ha quedado definitivamente atrás para TIERRA SANTA?

ANGEL SAN JUAN: Es un placer responder a tus preguntas.

Heavy Metal, la pregunta es, ¿Qué es el Heavy metal, que significa y cuáles son los parámetros de esta denominación? La respuesta es fácil, a cada persona que preguntes te dirá algo completamente distinto.
Yo viví aquella época y esto es lo que se, el rotulo Heavy Metal es un género musical que nació a principios de los setenta en el Reino Unido, nadie sabe realmente cual fue la primera banda del Heavy Metal, para mi Black Sabbath y Deep Purple  fueron determinantes, pero Judas Priest junto con Saxon y Iron Maiden acuñaron realmente lo que se definió como la nueva ola del Heavy Metal Británico a finales de los setenta y principios de los ochenta.
Con todo esto te puedo decir que nuestra música es lo más cercano al Heavy Metal que puedas encontrar, Tierra Santa es una banda de Rock duro, y en nuestras canciones puedes encontrar desde el más clásico Heavy Metal, hasta un vals.
Esta es mi opinión.

O: Cómo han estado yendo las cosas con vuestro nuevo guitarrista, y a qué se debió el alejamiento de un miembro fundador como Arturo Morras?

ASJ: Arturo dejo el grupo por motivos personales, me siento muy orgulloso de haber compartido todo lo que supone estar en esta banda, no solo con Arturo, sino con todas las personas que han hecho posible que hoy estemos aquí.

Ahora está con nosotros Eduardo Zamora, es un gran músico, ha sido ideal escogerlo por varios motivos, lo conocemos desde hace mucho tiempo y siempre ha estado vinculado a esta banda de alguna manera, ha colaborado en muchos de nuestros discos y es sin duda uno de los mejores guitarristas que hay hoy en día, esto es algo que podrán comprobar nuestros seguidores en los conciertos.

 Además es un tío muy divertido y una gran persona, algo esencial para estar en este grupo.

O:  Cuáles son tus sentimientos acerca del cambio de dirección musical de TIERRA SANTA a partir de “Mejor Morir en Pié”, acentuado luego en “Caminos de Fuego”? Fue algo planeado a conciencia, o simplemente fue fluyendo?

ASJ: Mejor morir en pie, fue un disco especial en el cual dedique la temática de las canciones,  en profundizar de alguna manera en mi interior desde el punto de vista más personal.  ¿ Musicalmente ? si, obviamente necesitaba otro tipo de atmósfera para expresar este sentimiento, pero no fue un cambio de dirección musical para mi, y Caminos de fuego mucho menos.

O: Si tuvieras que elegir uno de tus álbumes como el más emblemático, con cuál te quedarías?

ASJ: En ese término, me resulta imposible decidirme por uno, sin tener  en cuenta otro

O: Cuáles fueron las primeras ideas para crear “Esencia”? Cómo surgió esa intención de regrabar viejo material, con nuevo sonido?

ASJ: Bueno, son canciones que significan algo especial en nuestra discografía y grabarlas de nuevo a día de hoy con otro sonido, quizás haciéndoles más justicia aportando algún arreglo y en general con más experiencia, es algo así como rejuvenecer un poco.

O: Quiénes han sido tus músicos españoles favoritos, de todos los tiempos?

ASJ: Barón Rojo, sin duda el mejor grupo español de rock duro de todos los tiempos

O:  Cómo es la situación musical en España hoy? Cuéntanos tus impresiones más positivas y también algunos aspectos negativos…

ASJ: No es este realmente el mejor momento musical que España ha vivido, pero hay que estar a las duras y a las maduras, de eso se trata, de seguir disfrutando de música en directo y de apostar por el futuro.

O: Esta gira incluye varias presentaciones en un territorio hostil no sólo al Heavy Metal / Hard Rock en general, sino especialmente a las propuestas en otros idiomas que no sean el inglés: hablamos de Estados Unidos. Con qué se encuentran cuándo visitan ese país? Cómo es el público norteamericano de TIERRA SANTA?

ASJ: Básicamente, nuestros seguidores en Estados Unidos son latinoamericanos, aunque el idioma nunca ha sido una barrera para este grupo, la música tiene el poder de traspasar fronteras de todo tipo.

Ciertamente las letras es un punto fuerte de la banda, pero te sorprendería la cantidad de seguidores que tenemos por toda Europa que les gusta Tierra Santa, tal y como es, y se interesa por traducir las letras para poder entenderlas.

O: Qué recuerdos tienen de su primera visita a Argentina? Personalmente estuve allí y me llevé en las retinas y oídos un show inolvidable…

ASJ: Fue una sorpresa la acogida y sobre todo la entrega y el cariño que recibimos esa noche, al final del concierto, te aseguro que viví un momento muy emocionante, fue fantástico.

O:  Muchísimas gracias, Angel, por vuestro tiempo y vuestras respuestas. Deseas agregar algo más para tus fans argentinos? 

ASJ: Nos vemos el día 11, os esperamos

Todos somos uno

Entrevista por Javier S. Parente, para OXIDO.

Respondió Angel San Juan, por TIERRA SANTA.

Ukraine's BESTIAL INVASION's Interview! Answers: Unknown Nastya...

1)      When was BESTIAL INVASION formed, and which were the founders interests?

Unknown Nastya: Our band is so young so far, it was founded (can I say like that hahJ) last spring. Under some circumstances our bass player, Metal Priest, moved to my city after leaving his previous band.  And we had this idea about creating a band together, creative tandem kinda. We invited some friends to come around and jam and see where it will go and it turned out very well, so we decided to create BI coz other guys were sick of their bands. These were people, who had an such experience, all except for me hah. We’re all satisfied with what we have now, so everything turned out amazing. Speaking of interests, well, the interest is the only one as always, - play and enjoy the process! And to share our music with other people for sure.

2)      Where are each one of the members from?

UN: We are all from Sumy, except for Metal Priest, he was born in Zutomyr, but hopefuly now he lives here with us.

3)      How do you define your sound, and what are the lyrics about?

UN: Initially the band was conceived as a classic thrash metal band, but soon embarked on a more difficult and technical music. We define our sound as Atheist, Dark Angel, Destruction, Watchtower mix I love our lyrics, I write it with my heart open. The inspiration comes from both my own experience and perception of the world, literature, art, history. Each song tells a different story. Silent Wonders, for example, is a reflection of the character’s inner worldview, scraps of questions and anguish, uncertainty of being. The main topics are intelligence, loneliness, self-improvement etc.

4)      Who’s the principal composer in BESTIAL INVASION?

UN: Every member of the band takes part in it, Metal Priest brings the parts of the song and we are finishing them all together, it’s a collective work.

5)      How’s a BESTIAL INVASION’s gig, and where did you have the opportunity to play till now?

UN: We decided not to play live until we are totally ready with the album. We simply don’t want to be one more nameless band without recordings. Still we’ve got couple of big festivals coming soon and we are looking forward!

6)      Nastya: Here in Argentina, mostly of Heavy Metal musicians have others jobs because they can’t make enough money with music. How is it in Ukraine and all Eastern Europe?

UN: All our metal musicians have other jobs, now it seems impossible to make money just playing. Unfortunately its not 80s anymore, time there everything was so easy or at least real to get. Magnificent bands from 80s now don’t even have money to release new albums, and you are asking about local. Yeah, sure. Music industry slowly dying, we don’t have such listeners as we used to, so it’s impossible to earn doing what you want. In fact, you should have money to create a band, coz you will spend on it a lot, and mostly it won’t be covered. Sad but true. 

7)      Please, tell us something about the Metal scene of your native city.

UN: Here I’m speechless. Really, I can say nothing at all. Our city is just too small, provincial. Even in 21th century people look odd at you, you know all that dirty looks on your tattoos, long hair and stuff. Thats why we actually dont even have metal scene at all, not to mention some local “bands” but they are not worth saying, really.

8)      And what about Ukraine? What can you tell us about Ukranian Extreme Metal?

UN: Talking about Ukraine, we’ve got a lot of damn good BM bands, which are popular worldwide. Nocturnal Mortum, Drudh, Lucifugum etc. I’m proud that they are from my country. When I’m on Instagram or smth and I see pictures of NM and others in people’s accounts all over the world my heart is filled with joy. These were bands from 90s. Nowadays thrash metal is so popular so we’ve got plenty of bands trying to play thrash. Some of them are actually able to do it, some of them don’t. But there are a lot a lot of them anyway.

9)      Who are your favourite singer, female and male? And which are your principal influences?

UN: I’m so in love with the conjunction of brutal, powerful voice with more melidoc one.  I rather listen to intresting vocal, with variery of sounds, not a big fan of Mille Petrozza kinda vocal. For me the really best are Peter Steele (TON, Carnivore), this bastard had magical voice. In all senses, Tommy from Celtic Frost/Hellhammer, very diverse, John Connelly from Nuclear Assault, Quorthon, but not on the early Bathory albums for sure, I also adore Jeff Becerra from Possessed, talanted Kenn Nardi from Anacrusis, Russ Anderson from Forbidden, God, wish I could sing like him, Scott Jeffreys from Confessor, I just cant reach that, seriously, his vocal lines damn, jim-jams always and Jonas Renkse coz early Katatonia is just smth. Speaking of females, well, Dawn Crosby is good.

10)   Please, tell us some few words about political situation in Eastern Europe.

UN: Well, its pretty mush suck. As you probably know, now it is a war in Ukraine, the economy is ruined, people are actually dying every single day. Thanks to our “beloved” neighbor Russia life of millions of Ukrainians is a disaster. That is so sad that because of couple of politicians ordinary citizens are suffering. I have a lot of friends there, they are all good people, but I cant forgive this country for what it’s government cased here. I don’t want to speak much about it, you can read it in any newspaper, all I want is our country to be free again.

11)   Did you hear about any South American (or Argentine’s) band?

UN: I’m a huge fan of those! Your scene is so impressive, very brutal and furious. My personal favorite is Sarcofago, actually, now I’m wearing long sleeve RottenJ This is definitely my top band. For sure, big fan of Holocausto, Chakal, Vulcano and first 2 albums of Sepultura.

12)   Which are BESTIAL INVASION’s plans for this 2015?

UN: We are planning to record our first album, we’re so excited about the whole thing and we are really enjoying the process, it’s gonna be incredible! Also, we have some gigs coming up, festivals and stuff. We are working really hard now, you know, it’s not easy to start the band from nothing, but we hope that our plans will come true.

13)   And which are your personal dreams about your future in music?

UN: Well, our biggest dream is to play and enjoy every moment of it, of course we would wanna see the world during tours, share stage with our metal gods, but, let’s be honest, the probability very small. But still, we hope for best!

14)   Nastya: Thanks a lot for your time and your answers. Please, do you want to add anything more?

UN: Sure, I wanna thank you for your interest in our band, I really appreciate it, every and each of you deserves a big hug. Hope for the best and look only forward! XOXO

Interview by Javier Parente, for OXIDO.

Answered: Unknown Nastya, of BESTIAL INVASION.

Entrevista a TONY KAKKO, Voz de SONATA ARCTICA!

Merced a la gentileza de la agente de prensa Gabriela Sisti, tuvimos la oportunidad de entrevistar al líder de los finlandeses SONATA ARCTICA, antes de embarcarse en un nuevo tour latinoamericano que los traerá a Argentina el domingo 8 de marzo. Los invitamos a compartir esta entrevista realizada por Iván Marchesani nada menos que a TONY KAKKO...

- Aparte de sus visitas en 2010, en los últimos dos años a la fecha, van a sumar cuatro actuaciones en nuestro país y una más por venir. Lo que es más de lo usual, para bandas que provienen de Europa y se presentan aquí:
¿Se puede afirmar que Sonata tiene su público en Argentina? ¿Qué les deja cada visita a nuestro país?

Tony: Sí, pienso que hemos tenido una aceptación realmente fuerte en Argentina desde la primera vez que tocamos allí. Es siempre una gran experiencia para nosotros. Asombrosa audiencia, siempre. Cada visita nos deja un fuerte deseo de volver.

- ¿Qué  nos puedes decir acerca de la última placa “Pariah's Child”?

Tony: Es nuestra vuelta a la música metálica, después de nuestras pequeñas aventuras con el rockero "Stones Grow Her Name" y los arriesgados "Unia" y "The Days of Grays". Yo diría que volvimos a aquel tiempo después de "The Reckoning Night", y antes de "Unia"; este álbum pudo haber sido el que realizáramos después de "Reckoning Night". Una vuelta a las raíces, de este modo.

- Se dice que en la mencionada placa “regresaron a sus primeros tiempos”: ¿Qué me puedes decir acerca de ello?

Tony: Sí, como dije antes, esto es una vuelta a aquel camino original; no a la Edad de Piedra, al tiempo de "Ecliptica", porque eso sí sería imposible.

- ¿Piensan presentar parte de ella en la actuación aquí?

Tony: Sí, absolutamente. Tanto "Pariah's Child" como "Ecliptica-revisited" serán bien presentados.

- “Pariah's Child” es la primera grabación de Pasi Kauppinen (bajo), como miembro de Sonata: ¿Cómo fue que se integró a la agrupación?

Tony: Pasi ha estado en la misma banda con Henrik durante, realmente no sé, 15 años o más, pienso … de todos modos, Pasi posee un estudio, Studio 57, y ha trabajado con nosotros en muchas realizaciones antes de que priorizara unirse a la banda. Él ha mezclado tanto "For the Sake or Revenge" como "Live in Finland", álbum en vivo / DVD respectivamente, y ha jugado un rol importante en la concreción de cada mejor edición de Sonata desde "For the Sake or Revenge". Así que conocíamos al tipo bien, y él era realmente nuestra única opción, no consideramos a nadie más. Marko inclusive dijo que quería que Pasi lo sustituya. De modo que fue muy, muy fácil para nosotros.

- ¿Qué planes tiene Sonata para este 2015, posterior a finalizar el Latin American Tour?

Tony: Después de este tramo, vamos a tomarnos un pequeño respiro, un mes más o menos, ensayar, y luego dirigirnos hacia Europa y Japón en mayo. Participar en festivales de verano de junio a agosto, y luego vamos a tomar un respiro más largo, para tanto descansar como escribir nuevo material. Espero sacar el siguiente álbum algún día en 2016.

- Más allá de los años de Tricky Beans y Tricky Means (nombres de la agrupación al principio de su carrera): ¿Cuál es tu balance y el de Sonata Arctica, tras 15 años de carrera?

Tony: He logrado crear una carrera de algo que solía llamar una afición, algo que yo siempre gustaba hacer más que ninguna otra cosa. Pierdes algo cuando esto pasa, al menos que necesites un nuevo hobby, pero de todos modos es un sueño que se realiza. No puedo quejarme. Sólo lamento que no pudiera tener esto empezado algunos años antes, y haber sido un poquito más consciente al principio, pero todo ha ido verdaderamente bien. Soy feliz. Miro adelante por los próximos 15 años.

- ¿Qué podes adelantarle a los fans de lo que verán el próximo 8 de marzo?

Tony: Van a escuchar muchas canciones que no hemos tocado en los viajes anteriores, y no estoy hablando sólo de las nuevas, sino también de algunas viejas canciones. Sobre todo de "Ecliptica". ¡No puedo esperar para estar en camino!

-  Muchas gracias por tu tiempo y tus respuestas. ¿Por favor, quieres añadir algo más?

Tony: ¡Un placer! Hemos echado de menos a todos ustedes. Feliz de visitar Argentina otra vez, y de volver a verlos a ustedes y a su hermoso país nuevamente. Asegúrense de venir a ver el espectáculo!

Entrevista por Iván Marchesani para OXIDO.

Respondió: TONY KAKKO, por SONATA ARCTICA.

SONATA ARCTICA Interview! TONY KAKKO Answers!

TONY KAKKO's Interview - OXIDO

Apart from your visits in 2010, in the last two years to the date,
you’re going to add four gigs in our country, and one more for coming.
What is more of the usual, for bands that comes from Europe. Is it
possible to affirm that Sonata has his public in Argentina? What did
every visit to our country leave to you all?

TK: Yes, i think we’ve had a really strong following in Argentina since
the first time we played there. It’s always such an experience for us.
Amazing audience, every time. Every visit leaves us a strong will to
return.

What can you tell us about your last effort "Pariah's Child"?

TK: It’s our return to metal music, after our little adventures with
rocking “Stones Grow Her Name” and adventurous “Unia” and “The Days of
Grays”. I’d say we returned to that time after “Reckoning Night”, before
“Unia” and this album could have been the one we released after “RN”.
Back to the roots in that way.

It is said that in the mentioned record, "you returned to your first
times": what can you say about this?

TK: yeah, like I said there earlier, it’s a return to that original
path, not in the stone age, the time of “Ecliptica”, cause that would be
impossible.

Do you plan to present part of it in the gig in here?

TK: Yes, absolutely. Both “PC” and “Ecliptica-revisited” are well
presented.

”Pariah's Child" is the Pasi Kauppinen's first recording, like bass
member of Sonata: how did it be that he joined to the group?

TK: Pasi has been in the same band with Henrik for, I don’t even know,
15 years or more, I think… anyhow, Pasi owns a studio, Studio57, and
he’s worked with us on many releases already prior joining the band.
He’s mixed both “For the sake or revenge” and “Live in finland”
live-albums/DVD’s and played a part in making of each major Sonata
release sins “FtSoR”. So we knew the guy well and he was really our only
choice, we did not even consider anyone else. Marko even said he wants
Pasi to replace him. So that was very, very easy for us.

What plans has Sonata for this 2015, later when you finish the "Latin
America Tour"?

TK: After this leg, we’re gonna have a little break, a month or so,
rehearse, and then head out to tour Europe and Japan in May. Summer
festivals from June to August and then we’re gonna take a longer break
to both rest and write new material. I hope to get the next album out
sometime in 2016.

Beyond the years of Tricky Beans and Tricky Means (names of the group
at the beginning of its career): which is your personal balance and
Sonata Arctica’s balance, after 15 years of career?

TK: I’ve managed to create a career out of something I used to call a
hobby, something I have always loved doing beyond anything else. You
lose something when that happens, at least you need a new hobby, but
anyway it’s a dream come true. I can’t complain. I only wish I could
have gotten this thing started few years earlier and been little bit
more aware of everything in the beginning, but everything has gone real
well. I am happy. Looking forward for the next 15 years.

What could you advance to the fans of what they will see next March
8?

TK: You’re gonna see a lot of songs we have not notplayed on the
previous tours and I don’t mean only the new ones here, but also some
old songs. Especially from “Ecliptica”. Can’t wait to get on the road!

Thanks a lot for your time and your answers. Please, do you want to add
anything more?

TK: My pleasure! We’ve missed you all. Happy to visit Argentina again
and see you and your beautiful country again. Make sureyou come and see
the show!

Interview by Iván Marchesani, para OXIDO
Answered: TONY KAKKO

Entrevista a PUNTO OMEGA antes de su show en Buenos Aires

Qué se siente ser reconocidos en Europa y haber podido editar sus álbumes por un sello como Trisol, que nuclea a las principales bandas de su movimiento? 

Es un orgullo muy grande y un sueño hecho realidad. Ver el nombre de nuestra banda al lado de grupos que admiramos y hemos escuchado por años es una gran satisfacción. Nos sentimos muy agradecidos con todos los que confiaron en nosotros y nos apoyaron para que podamos lograr todo esto.

Trasladando la pregunta a lo contrario: qué se siente no ser reconocidos en su país de origen como sí lo son fronteras afuera?

No podríamos decir que no somos reconocidos en nuestro país ya que todo se fue dando muy rápido afuera dejándonos sin tiempo para movernos localmente. Obviamente esto generó que la banda no sea muy conocida en Argentina. Desde que lanzamos el primer disco fue una rápida serie de sucesos. La edición limitada se agotó, los sellos Metropolis Records (EEUU) e Irond Records (Rusia) editaron el disco en sus países, surgieron tours en Europa y tuvimos que comenzar a trabajar en el segundo y tercer álbum. Fueron unos años de mucha  actividad, pero ahora que estamos un poco más tranquilos, queremos saldar esa deuda pendiente y empezar a movernos más en el circuito nacional. Por ahora estamos teniendo una muy buena respuesta de la gente.

Punto Omega tuvo oportunidad de girar junto a una de las mejores bandas oscuras como L’Ame Immortelle. Qué pueden contarnos de tal experiencia? 

Tocar junto a una banda con tanta trayectoria como es L’Ame Immortelle fue una experiencia increíble. El tour consistía en 14 fechas corridas. 13 en ciudades alemanas y 1 en Viena, Austria. Como si fuera poco, nuestro primer show en vivo con la banda fue en la primera de las fechas de este tour en Nüremberg, Alemania. Pueden imaginarse lo fuerte y significativo de la experiencia para nosotros. Por suerte la gente respondió muy bien y nos recibió con mucha calidez. Aprendimos y crecimos mucho como banda. Estaremos por siempre agradecidos con Thomas Rainer (lider de L’Ame Immortelle y Nachtmahr) por confiar en nosotros y darnos esa inmensa oportunidad.

Cómo surgió la chance de participar en la banda de sonido de “Saw IV”?

Tuvimos 2 participaciones en soundtracks de la saga “Saw”, conocida en Argentina como “El juego del miedo”. La primera fue en el 2005, para “El juego del miedo 2” donde aparece “Sawtooth”, un tema instrumental inspirado en la película. La segunda fue en el  2008 para “El juego del miedo 4” donde se incluyó nuestro tema “Mundo de Mentiras” entre otras canciones de grandes bandas como Nitzer Ebb, Skinny Puppy, Nachtmahr, etc. La banda sonora de las películas estuvo a cargo de Charlie Clouser, ex miembro de Nine Inch Nails, que trabajó también como productor de Rammstein, Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, Skinny Puppy y otros y fue editada en Europa por nuestro sello Trisol Music Group, quienes confiaron en nosotros y nos sugirieron para ser incluidos. Como se podrán imaginar, fue todo un honor haber podido participar entre semejantes artistas.

Cuáles son las diferencias sustanciales entre sus previas placas, y qué podemos esperar del futuro registro?

Podríamos decir que el primer disco tiene un sonido más harsh ya que fué nuestra primer experiencia. Este álbum salió primero en una edición limitada doble con un CD bonus que incluía versiones de nuestros temas remixados por diferentes artistas reconocidos dentro de esta escena musical. A diferencia de los otros dos, el segundo álbum fue un disco conceptual y con mucha más experimentación y variedad sónica. En esa ocasión también se editó una versión doble con remixes de Funker Vogt, Heimataerde, Samsas Traum y otros. El tercer y último disco es para nosotros el más logrado ya que tiene un sonido más pulido y potente, toman un poco más de protagonismo las guitarras y tiene composiciones más directas. Evidentemente con el correr de los años hubo una gran transformación y madurez. Tratamos de que Punto Omega sea una evolución constante. Todavía estamos trabajando en el material para nuestro próximo álbum por lo que no podemos adelantar mucho, pero va a ser un álbum muy enérgico y rítmico con un sonido más elaborado, conservando nuestra impronta musical.

Qué expectativas los acompañan en este nuevo desembarco en suelo argentino? 

Estamos muy contentos de poder tocar en The Roxy este 30 de Noviembre, ya que es un lugar con muy buen sonido y de trayectoria. Nos preparamos con mucho entusiasmo ya que este evento significa mucho para nosotros. 

Hay actualmente alguna banda latinoamericana, y especialmente argentina, que los haya sorprendido por su talento?

En latinoamerica podemos nombrar a bandas como Vigilante (Chile) y C-Lekktor (México). En Argentina podemos mencionar a Alien Produkt, que de hecho serán la banda invitada en nuestro próximo show.  

Qué planes tiene Punto Omega para el futuro cercano?

Luego del show que daremos el 30 de Noviembre en The Roxy Live de Palermo, vamos a concentrarnos en trabajar en nuestro próximo disco y en otras fechas en Argentina. Una vez terminado el álbum empezaremos a planear futuros shows en el exterior.

Muchísimas gracias por vuestro tiempo y vuestras respuestas. Desean agregar algo más? 

Muchas gracias por el apoyo y los esperamos el 30 de Noviembre en The Roxy Live para poder compartir con Uds. esta fecha tan especial para nosotros, ya que es el único show que estaremos dando en 2014.

Entrevistó: Javier Parente, para OXIDO.

Gentileza de Gabriela Sisti.

Entrevista a WARCRY antes de su tour latinoamericano

1)      ¿Quienes integran actualmente WarCry?

Pues:  Santi Novoa a los teclados, Rafa Yugueros a la batería, Roberto García al bajo, Pablo García a la guitarra y yo (Víctor García) a la voz.

2)      Teniendo en cuenta que la mayoría de las bandas que trascienden sus propias fronteras cantan en inglés: ¿cómo ven ustedes hoy en día al Heavy Metal cantado en español dentro de la escena mundial?

Creo que estamos creciendo poco a poco. El mercado "sajón" lleva años de diferencia del cantado en Español, por medios y tradición  en este estilo de música, pero creo que poco a poco algunas bandas van rompiendo esas barreras.

3)      ¿Qué nos puedes contar de "Inmortal", la última placa de WarCry?

Parece que ha sido muy bien recibido por público y crítica, esto no es algo nuevo ya que siempre hemos contado con el apoyo de ambos, pero siendo ya el octavo trabajo hace que cada vez debamos ser más exigentes.

4)      Desde "Revolución", de 2008, hasta estos días, los fans han advertido un cambio en el sonido de la banda, más que nada en las guitarras: ¿puedes contar algo de ello?

Personalmente creo que eso puede ser en el directo ya que hemos pasado de dos guitarristas a solo uno, sin embargo en la grabación lo hacemos como lo hemos hecho siempre e incluso en este último disco hay más guitarras grabadas, otra cosa es que haya habido un pequeño cambio compositivo, pero yo creo que es algo más del directo.

5)      ¿Qué representan para ustedes los premios ganados, tales como los obtenidos en Rockferendum (Premio en poder de los votos de los lectores de Kerrang! y Heavy Rock), Metal Zone y Premios AMAS (Anuario de la Música de Asturias)?

Los premios son reconocimientos por parte de medios de prensa y público que te hacen sentir que cuentan contigo y que te tienen cierto cariño, pero hay que tener las cosas claras ya que no van a hacer que vendas más discos o que vaya más gente a un concierto.

6)      ¿Cómo crees que será el desembarco de WarCry en Argentina y qué sabes de nuestro país?

Espero que sea el primero de muchos viajes y que el público Argentino quede muy satisfecho. A nivel de conocer,  Argentina es un país importante en Latinoamérica me gusta a nivel "creativo", Rata Blanca, Les Luthiers  y claro no puedes hablar de Argentina y no hablar de futbol, pero supongo y espero que en los próximos años aprenda mucho más.

7)      Teniendo en cuenta que ya poseen varias producciones y ésta es su primer visita: ¿piensan incluír en el setlist títulos de toda la carrera de la agrupación?

Siempre que visitamos un país por primera vez intentamos balancear el repertorio para que intente abarcar todo el camino recorrido por el grupo, así que rescatamos algún tema que ha quedado fuera de los últimos repertorios para que el  público pueda disfrutar de ellos.

8)      ¿Qué planes tiene WarCry para el futuro cercano?

Centraremos este 2014 en girar con el disco aunque seguimos componiendo y posiblemente entremos a grabar en 2015, pero el directo es el objetivo principal.

Muchísimas gracias por vuestro tiempo y vuestras respuestas. Desean agregar algo más?

Gracias por esta entrevista y por permitirnos llegar un poco más al público Argentino, nos vemos en Mayo.

Entrevistó: Iván Marchesani para OXIDO.

Respondió: Víctor García por WarCry.