BRAINSTORM
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Brainstorm is considered
to be one of the top acts in the European power metal scene, although their
sound is closer to bands from the other side of the Atlantic ocean. After
the release of a powerful and heavy new album, we thought it was about
time to ask them a few things about the band…
1.HELLO, FIRST OF ALL GIVE US
A FEW INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR NEW ALBUM, WHEN DID YOU START THE RECORDINGS,
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO FINISH IT AND WHO WAS THE PRODUCER?
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We produced the album ourselves, but
worked with a great engineer, Achim Köhler, who also works for Primal
Fear, for example. It took about 6 months including the pre-productions
to record the new CD.
2.IS YOUR NEW ALBUM A CONCEPT? IF YES
WHICH IS THE STORY BEHIND IT? GENERALLY WHAT KIND OF LYRICS DO YOU LIKE
TO WRITE? REALISTIC ONES OR FANTASY AND WHY?
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No, it’s not a concept album, but we
have a trilogy on it called “trinity of lust” which is a very interesting
story about a man, whose soul gets tempted by a dark lady to re-awake her
father. Very cool. We don’t set us borders when it comes to writing new
songs. Not musically and not lyrically. Everything that we think is writing
over is ok for us.
3.I HAVEN'T HEARD YOUR NEW ALBUM, BUT
ONLY A FEW SONGS. I DISCOVERED THOUGH A STRONG NEVERMORE TOUCH IN THE SONGS
I HAVE LISTENED TO. DO YOU AGREE? WHICH OTHER BANDS DO YOU CONSIDER AS
AN INFLUENCE TO YOUR MUSIC?
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No, I don’t really agree. Nevermore
is a fantastic band, but I think all songs definitely sound typical Brainstorm.
Main influences in the beginning have been Priest, Maiden and Sabbath as
well as Savatage, Queensryche, Metal Church and many more.
4.YOUR SINGER ALSO BELONGS TO SYMPHORCE.
HOW EASY IS IT FOR HIM TO SING IN 2 BANDS AT THE SAME TIME? DOES HE THINK
OF QUITTING ONE OF THE BANDS? WHICH SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES DO YOU
FIND BETWEEN SYMPHORCE' AND BRAINSTORM'S SOUND?
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Absolutely no problem singing in two
bands. So, there’s no reason to quit one of the bands. I think both bands
sound totally different, SP is a lot darker than Brainstorm, for example.
5.MOST OF THE BAND MEMBERS ARE NOT
NEW IN THE METAL SCENE. CAN YOU TELL US WHERE HAVE YOU PLAYED EACH ONE
OF YOU PREVIOUSLY?
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Most of us are in Brainstorm for over
10 years now. Andy joined us 1999, so he also is in the band for more than
4 years now. Other bands we played before have been called Twilight, Ivanhoe,
Toxic Shok, Changes.
6.THOUGH YOU ARE FROM GERMANY YOUR
STYLE IS CLOSER TO THE U.S. POWER METAL SOUND. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS
KIND OF SOUND? WHICH IS YOUR OPINION ABOUT THIS TREND THAT RULES OVER THE
LAST YEAR, LABELS SIGNING HELLOWEEN CLONES? HAVE YOU HEARD ANY GOOD UNDERGROUND
GERMAN METAL ACT THAT WORTH’S OUR ATTENTION? IF YES, WHICH ONE(S)?
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We did not choose a certain sound,
it has naturally developed over the years, and as you can see above, our
heroes and influences are mainly us power metal besides the big old ones,
so it’s obvious that our sound progressed in that way, but nevertheless,
I like bands like Helloween or Startovarius very much and as long as people
are going to buy and listen to that kind of music there will be bands that
play and labels that sign.
7.IN THE SUMMER SEASON MANY FESTIVALS
ARE ORGANISED THROUGH OUT EUROPE. WILL BRAINSTORM PLAY IN ANY BIG FESTIVAL
THIS SUMMER? IF YES, IN WHICH ONE(S?) IS IT POSSIBLE TO SEE YOU FOR A LIVE
GIG HERE IN GREECE?
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We played the Blind Guardian Festival
and the Bang Your Head Festival some days ago and we are working on a tour
in fall, which hopefully will bring us to Greece again.
8.USUALLY MOST OF THE BANDS ARE CREATED
BY THE BAND MEMBERS IN A YOUNG AGE. MOST OF YOU WHEN YOU STARTED PLAYING
WITH BRAINSTORM YOU ALREADY WERE IN A MATURE AGE. WHICH ARE YOUR AIMS WITH
THIS BAND? DO YOU HAVE IT ONLY TO HAVE A NICE TIME OR DO YOU AIM AT SOMETHING
MORE? DO YOU BELIEVE THAT IF YOU STARTED OFF AT A YOUNGER AGE YOU'D BE
ABLE TO DO MORE THINGS? SO, AFTER ALL WHAT DO YOU THINK HEAVY METAL NEEDS
MORE, THE YOUTH'S PASSION OR THE MATURE THINKING AND WHY?
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Well, we actually started the band
at the age of 16-18, so not that mature, or? Of course, we wanted to have
a nice time and still have, but since quite some years we all work very
professional and are one of the best known power metal bands in Europe
nowadays. So, where you have been the last years? Come on…
9.A HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION. IF NOBODY
LIKED YOUR MUSIC AND THE WAY YOU PLAY, WOULD YOU CONTINUE COMPOSING MUSIC
OR WOULD YOU QUIT? DO YOU SEE METAL MUSIC AS A "VEHICLE" TO EXPRESS YOUR
THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS OR JUST AS A WAY TO BECOME MORE KNOWN AND SATISFY
YOUR AMBITIONS?
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No. Why should we stop? It is more
than making music, most of us are together for more than half of our lives,
so we are real friends not only musicians. Also, metal music is more than
only the music, it is a way of living!
10.SURELY YOUR MUSIC AND LYRICS EXPRESS
THE WAY YOU FELT WHILST COMPOSING YOUR SONGS. NOW, THAT YOU HAVE THE CHANCE
TO LISTEN TO THE ALBUM AGAIN AND AGAIN DO YOU DISCOVER OTHER MEANINGS OR
EMOTIONS THAT YOU HAVEN’T REALIZED IN THE FIRST PLACE?
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No. It is 100% as we wanted the album
to be.
11.WHICH IS THE BEST DREAM AND WORST
NIGHTMARE YOU’VE SEEN?
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Best dream: already came true, seeing
my kids growing up lucky and healthy.
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Worst nightmare: September 11th.
12.IF YOU WERE ALONE IN A DESERTED
ISLAND, WHOM WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE NEAR YOU TO KEEP YOU COMPANY AND WHOM
WOULD YOU BE ABLE NOT TO STAND AT ALL?
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Somebody who can build ships and bring
me home again.
13.WHICH HISTORICAL PERSONALITY OR
MUSICIAN WOULD YOU LIKE TO MEET AND WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ASK HIM/HER?
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Chris Oliva and Carl Albert and bringing
them back for some more great music. They will remain in our hearts forever.
14.WHICH IS THE SILLIEST THING YOU
DID IN ORDER TO WIN A WOMAN’S ATTENTION?
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I never had to do silly things to win
a woman’s attention.
15.IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET THE
CREATURE THAT CREATED THE UNIVERSE, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ASK HIM?
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Why there are so many useless wars
and pain against innocent people.
16.WHAT TITLE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUR
CAREER THIS FAR? A TITLE THAT COULD SUM UP ALL YOUR EFFORTS AND EVERYTHING
RELEVANT TO THE BAND?
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Good things take time to grow and then
last forever!
17.THANK YOU! HAVE I FORGOTTEN TO ASK
YOU ANYTHING AND YOU’D LIKE TO MENTION?
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Well, thanks for the interview and
hopefully see you all on tour in fall. Be sure to get the new album “Soul
Temptation”. Power Metal at its best!
Nick “William_Kidd”
Parastatidis