INTERVIEWS
Interview was prepared by OccultBlackMetal
1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?
Our new album “Seven Sacrifices” was released a few days ago from Metal Scrap Records, and also until next week a compilation of 8 songs that was in our first two albums were re-recorded and will be free for download in the band’s website and also to our label website. A few days ago we arrived back home from our first visit in Ukraine. We did a tour for the promotion for the new album and we had an amazing time. We are also working for many other things at the moment for the promotion of our new album!
2.How would you describe the musical sound of the new album and how it differs from previous releases?
Well, I believe that the new album is by far the best thing that we have done until now! We have managed to combine many things that I always wanted in my music! It is a really aggressive album but the same time you can find some strong melodies, I am happy that I have finally achive what I always wanted! As far as the differences from any previous release, for me this album is more straight and powerful from any other of the previous releases!
3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the new album?
Actually you can read about everything in the lyrics! Never was a certain subject that giving me inspiration about the lyrics. I can inspired from a tv show or from the news on tv from a thing that I will see as I am walking on the street! For sure mostly i prefer writing about things that moving us in live and things that make us change and see things deference.
4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name Memorian?
With my music I always wanted to create thoughts and also bring some memories to people. So the combination of the words Memory and Rain born the name of the band.
5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?
For us each show is totally unique! We really don’t care who is before or after us! We are trying to give our best, each time ,no matter the circumstances. For sure I don’t like to jump like a monkey or something like many modern bands are doing nowadays, I prefer to give all the energy to the people that are coming to our shows through the music.
6.Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?
As I mentioned before we just finish our tour in Ukraine. We have talking with our Russian agent for our third tour in Russia for next March and also we are examining some other good offers from other countries!
7.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to the new album by fans of thrash metal?
“Seven Sacrifices” was just released so I dont have a the full picture until now about the feedback. But from what I have seen things are going really great and the feedback is really positive!
8.What is going on with the other musical projects these days?
Except from Memorain I am working as a producer with other bands! For me that is a really great thing!!! I really enjoy been in the studio and recording and mixing! Things are going also great in this, and I am extremely happy!
9.What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?
Too soon to say something for this now! For sure I can say that we will do our best as always to take Memorain to the next level! In each album we like to make a step beyond at least, so the only thing I can say for the new album for now is this!
10.What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
I am a big fan of Megadeth, and I also like Metallica, Testament, Anthrax, and in general bands that comes from that era! For sure I like also bands from the modern thrash scene. I really like all the album that Five Finger Death Punch has release!
11.Outside of music what are some of your interests?
I really like traveling and relaxing, but unfortunately I don’t have the time for the relaxing now but only for traveling! 🙂
12.Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?
Thank you very much for the interview! Stay Heavy!
Interview was prepared by David Déniz (Necromance)
1) How did MEMORAIN come about? Who is who, and who does what in the band?
The idea of the name came from my first bass player, John Karathanasis, back in 1999. We wanted a name than will be original and really deferent and I believe that we succeed in that! Memorain is five members band and most of the material is coming from me, that doesn’t mean of course that I am not giving some space to the other members to add some ideas.
2) About the he new album “Seven sacrifices”, are you happy with how it’s receiving by fans and press so far?
Until now I am very happy with the feedback that we are getting for Seven Sacrifices!!! We really put a lot of hard work in the album and it is really amazing to see that this hard work is having the good result that you always wanted. I am always reading the reviews that my label, Metal Scrap Records, is sending to me and until now everything is more than great!
3) What was the best part about working on the album?
I really enjoy all the steps, from the composing of the new songs until the mastering of the album. Is a really unique feeling that is giving you the satisfaction of creating from nothing something really important! You know when it comes to music you are dealing with feelings and thoughts so put all these in something, is like this thing is getting alive! So you can say that the whole process makes me really happy and I really enjoy everything because each step is getting me closer to the final result.
4) What song is your favorite on the album and which is your favorite to play live?
You can say that Worlds Apart is my favorite one from the album. It is a fast song with great melodies and also the changes of the riffs is something that I really enjoy doing when I am playing live!
5) What bands have inspired you, and how has that list changed over time, if at all?
I am a big fan of bands like Megadeth, Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer, Annihilator and Testament, I really like the American Thrash Metal and you can say that basic my main influence comes from there. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t listen other things. A really big influence for me is Rory Gallagher, that was an amazing guitar player and a great composer!!!
6) What do you think fans will take away from listening to the new album…
Well we did our best when we were working on the album and we really hope that the fans will enjoy it. I believe that until now is my best album and hope that feeling will also pass to the fans of Memorain.
7) Please, tell us something about the collaboration for this recording… David Ellefson (Megadeth), Jed Simon (Strapping Young Lad) and Michael Gilberd (Flotsam And Jetsam)… great names in the music scene…
With David we are friends for some years and he was also a guest in the previous album of Memorain. We had also composed together and with Tim “Ripper” Ownes one song that is called Rules Of Engagement. I am very happy that he is participating in Seven Sacrifices, for me David is the best bass player in Metal music! He is also an amazing guy!!! With Jed we have met 3 years ago, through Gene Hoglan, and as you know Jed is famous for his work with Strapping Young Lad, he is an amazing guy and and amazing guitar player! With Michael we have met 4 years ago when he was in Greece for a show with Flotsam and Jetsam. He is a great guy and I really like all the songs that he composed for Flotsam and Jetsam. I am very happy that I have the honor this guys to trust me and participate as special guests in my album. Working with big musicians like them you always learning something new. Talking with this guys healped me a lot to improve many-many things!!!
8) Are there aspects of playing live that you like better than in the studio, or vise versa?
Each thing is totally unique and we really enjoy both things the same! The process of recording makes me extremely happy because of the creative mood that I am at that moment, and specially when the result is what I had in mind that is one of the best thing that happen for me! When it comes to touring and playing live my music that is also something else! To hear live the music that you recorded and most of all see the people how much they are enjoying it is something priceless!!! So I dont thing that is something that I prefer most, I really enjoy both things in the same level!!!
9) What are your goals as a band?
My main goal is, for a start, in each new album to make a step forward! I don’t really want to make an album that it is sound the same with the previous one, taken at least one step forward each time is very important for me! My other goal you can say is always to find a way and also improving the same time the level quality of the band when is performing live. This is one more important thing that I believe is helping that band so it can go to the next level!
10) What are your thoughts concerning the music industry today, from cds to mp3s and everything in between?
Music industry is changing every day and from my experience extremely fast! In the past things were much easier I believe for musicians and record labels, because except from the basic promotion that they had to do in the magazines, the live performing of the band was the only two things that was possible to do. Now with the Internet you have all these social networks, web magazines, web zines, etc. It is good that you can have a direct communication with the people that enjoy your music, but this thing is taking a lot of time and some time the help and the work of lot people! I believe that all the people that are involving with the music industry must find a new way to approach the fans!
11) Is there anything you’d like to add that you feel I’ve missed out on?
Thank you very much for the interview!!!
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