AXENSTAR
"Far From Heaven" is the
third studio release for Axenstar, a melodic power metal band from Sweden.
So after the interview we did with them for their previous album "Perpetual
Twilight" we had some more questions to ask them regarding their new album
and what has happened within the band in the meantime.
1.SO, WHAT HAPPENED TO AXENSTAR
FROM THE RELEASE OF "PERPETUAL TWILIGHT" TILL NOW?
We have been busy writing new material
for the third Axenstar album, but we have also had the opportunity
to play at Sweden Rock Festival and we have done a two week European tour
together with Falconer and Doomsword.
2.WHICH DO YOU THINK ARE THE DIFFERENCES
BETWEEN "FAR FROM HEAVEN" AND "PERPETUAL TWILIGHT"?
“Far From Heaven” is more varied
and the songs are a bit more melodic I think, they are both great albums!
3.BEING A MELODIC POWER METAL BAND,
DON'T YOU THINK IT IS A BIT STRANGE THAT YOU HAVE ADOPTED SUCH A DARK ATTITUDE?
IS THERE A MESSAGE BEHIND ALL THAT?
Do we have a dark attitude? That
is not intentional, and no we have not a message that we want the world
to know.
4.THE LYRICS SEEM TO BE DEALING WITH
"NEGATIVE" THEMES IN CONTRAST TO YOUR MUSIC! WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM
AND HOW "FAR FROM HEAVEN" AXENSTAR REALLY ARE?
Thomas has written almost everything
on this album, so he is the one to blame! I don’t think that anyone of
us in the band have some kind of religious conviction, so you could say
that we are both near and far from heaven.
5.THE BASIS OF YOUR MUSIC IS DEFINITELY
THE KEYBOARDS, WHICH MAKE THE MUSIC MUCH MORE MELODIC AND LESS AGGRESSIVE.
IS THIS YOUR TARGET?
Not really, we just try to write
songs that we think sound great and is fun to play, the keyboards is just
a part of the Axenstar sound and in some songs it fits well to have lots
of keyboards.
6.MUSICALLY I THINK YOU ARE MUCH ALIKE
WITH CHILDREN OF BODOM AND NIGHTWISH. WHO DO YOU CONSIDER AS YOUR BIGGEST
INFLUENCES?
I think we are all inspired of
all the “old ones” like Iron Maiden, Helloween, Judas Priest, Accept and
so on. And nowadays we get much influence from our neighbours in the east,
like COB, Nightwish, Sonata Arctica and all the other great bands that
come from Finland.
7.DON'T YOU THINK THAT YOUR STYLE IS
A BIT SATURATED? WHAT DO AXENSTAR HAVE TO OFFER TO AN OLD POWER METAL LISTENER
AND WHAT TO A NEW ONE?
Great songs and great music will
always be appreciated so I think that Axenstar can offer just that! Don’t
be afraid to listen to unknown bands, they can be the stars of tomorrow!
8.THE COVER IS VERY BEAUTIFUL! WHO
MADE IT? IS THERE SOME KIND OF SYMBOLISM RELATED TO THE ALBUM TITLE?
Christian Andersson is the guy
who made the cover and it’s supposed to symbolize the struggle between
good and evil. The little angel that rides on the back of the dove is very
“Far From Heaven”.
9.THE VOCALS REMIND A BIT OF THE EARLY
STRATOVARIUS ONES OF TIMO TOLKKI. DO YOU AGREE? DO YOU THINK THAT A SINGER
NEEDS TO HAVE PASSION IN SINGING RATHER THAN A PERFECT VOICE?
Absolutely, of course you have
to sing in the right key and if you then have a voice that is somewhat
different to the mainstream it is just a positive thing.
10.YOU PLAY QUITE FAST AND YOU USE
MANY GALLOPING RIFFS AND DRUMS. IS THAT THE RECIPE FOR A GOOD POWER METAL
ALBUM OR DOES IT NEED SOMETHING MORE? WHAT WOULD THAT BE?
Great melodies is the most important
thing when you try to write a “killer” song, some element of surprise like
not so common harmonies or rhythms is also a good thing to add.
11.HOW DID YOU END UP WITH A SPANISH
LABEL CONSIDERING THAT SWEDEN HAS A MUCH BIGGER TRADITION IN METAL THAN
SPAIN IN GENERAL.
Well, Arise was the first label
to show interest in us and they also offered the best deal so we didn’t
hesitate to sign with them.
12.WHICH, ACCORDING TO YOU, ARE THE
MOST IMPORTANT WOMEN IN THE ROCK/METAL SCENE?
Doro and Lita Ford were or are
two of the most important women I think.
13.WHICH SONG WOULD YOU DEDICATE TO
THE WOMAN OF YOUR DREAMS?
It would be something that I wrote
myself, so I would have to say “Northern Sky” that is the last song on
the “Far From Heaven” album, and I would dedicate it to my wife Monica.
14.WHICH IMPORTANT PERSONALITY (DEAD
OR ALIVE) WOULD YOU LIKE TO MEET AND WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ASK HIM?
Hitler and I would ask him what
the hell he was thinking about!
15.THANK YOU! THESE LINES ARE YOURS.
LEAVE YOUR MESSAGE...
If you consider yourself to be
a metalhead you have to check out the latest Axenstar album “Far From Heaven”,
you will NOT be disappointed!!!
George "Volt"
Tassis
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