None To Sell

BREAKPOINT

Breakpoint is a new French act with an intense love for Metallica and an even greater dedication to heavy metal music! After a quite long silence from France, we finally have the chance to listen to some really great bands from all metal genres from over there. So, check them out, cause they surely have a lot to say! Let's see what their guitarist Seb told us...

1. FIRST OF ALL GIVE US A SHORT BAND BIO AND INTRODUCE THE CURRENT LINE UP.

Breakpoint came into being in 1994. It was a school band at that time. After a line up change a few years later, Breakpoint became a 5 member band.

2. I READ IN YOUR BIO THAT YOU HAD SOME LINE UP CHANGES IN 1998. WHO WERE THE MEMBERS THAT LEFT, WHY DID THEY LEAVE AND WHAT DO THEY DO NOW? TELL US WHO ARE THE NEW GUYS IN THE BAND?

There has been only 1 line up change. Our former bass player left the band in 1998, because he didn’t feel involved enough in creating and playing songs. He then concentrated on his studies and gave up the bass. We met Tom a few weeks later; he had taken part in several local metal bands. In the meantime, Pierrot took over as singer. I have remained in the band as rhythm guitar player.

3. ALTHOUGH, YOU ARE A BAND THAT EXISTS FROM 1994, YOU HAVE RELEASED YOUR FIRST OFFICIAL ALBUM ONLY RECENTLY. WHY DID IT TAKE YOU SO LONG? WAS IT A LACK OF INTEREST FROM THE LABELS OR WEREN’T YOU FEELING READY ENOUGH?

It took time to release this album because of several reasons. First, the line up change made us waste time. We had to know one another very well before recording an album. Then, the main reason is that we didn’t feel ready for a long time. When we finally decided to record an album, we still had to do with new obstacles: money and time. We did it anyway, and we’ll try to release the next one before 2012 !!!

4. ARE ALL THE SONGS INCLUDED IN THIS RELEASE, NEW COMPOSITIONS OR WERE THEY COMPOSED IN THE PAST?

Some of the songs are very old. For example, “The Odd One Out” and “Not Granted” were composed 3 years before the recording sessions! Latest and newest were finished and arranged just in time for the recording. We probably slightly changed our way of composing as time passed, but the album on the whole remains solid.

5. TELL US A FEW GENERAL THINGS REGARDING THIS RELEASE AND THE RECORDING SESSIONS THAT TOOK PLACE. WHERE ARE YOUR LYRICS REFERRING TO? WHAT INSPIRES YOU IN WRITING LYRICS AND MUSIC?

These were our first real recording sessions. Consequently, we learned much as we recorded with Fed Rochette. His attitude and work are professional to the core; that seemed queer and new for us first, but we quickly adopted. Our process of writing songs is not very original: we try to pay tribute to our main influences without copying them literally. We want to create a particular atmosphere in each song and we keep to it and amplify it with arrangements. The lyrics are written when the music is finished; they are based on personal, intimate feelings as regards people’s behavior.

6. YOUR LABEL PRESENTS YOU AS A POWER/THRASH METAL BAND, BUT I DON’T AGREE WITH THIS TERM. I BELIEVE THAT YOUR MUSIC IS INFLUENCED BY METALLICA’S “BLACK ALBUM”. DO YOU AGREE? HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR MUSICAL STYLE AND WHICH BANDS STAND AMONGST YOUR INFLUENCES?

You’re definitely right when you mention the Black Album. We’ve always loved Metallica; still, even if our music sounds much like Metallica would do, we of course listen to many other artists. We are impressed by some American bands like Pantera, COC, or Down, not to mention Zakk Wylde. We also love the Scandinavian melodic death metal scene (Soilwork, In Flames, At the Gates…). Ach one of us could tell you about his favorite artists, but that would take far too long. To make a long story short, Tori Amos and Chuck Schuldiner stand among our favorite artists, together with Lemmy, Jeff Buckley and Steve Harris.

7. WHEN YOU COMPOSE MUSIC, UNDER WHICH MOOD AND FEELINGS DO YOU THINK YOU ARE THE MOST PRODUCTIVE? DO YOU TRY TO CREATE THOSE SENTIMENTS OR DO THEY COME OUT NATURALLY TO YOU?

We work one particular atmosphere per song. Still, when new riffs come to us, we don’t really know how the song will sound in the end. We have to work on our first feelings: riffs come first, at random, and then we mix, put aside or find new material to create songs.

8. YOUR NEW ALBUM IS ENTITLED “NONE TO SELL”. CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST WITH THAT?

None to Sell is the title of one of our songs. It is about the fact that we have nothing to claim or teach to others. We thought it would be funny to name the album like that as well, because it IS for sale!!!!

9. ALTHOUGH FRANCE HAD AN INTERESTING AND BIG METAL SCENE IN THE 80S, NEVER MANAGED TO BECOME REALLY FAMOUS. WHY DO YOU THINK THIS HAPPENED? DO YOU THINK THAT THINGS HAVE BECOME NOW BETTER AND THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME MORE CHANCES TO BECOME KNOWN OUTSIDE YOUR COUNTRY?

The early 80‘s were indeed the Golden Age for French Heavy Metal. By the way, None to Sell was recorded by Fred Rochette, who formerly was the guitarist of Epsylon, one of the numerous French bands of that period. But none of them became famous abroad, except for Trust. Still, all those who like Heavy Metal of the 80 ‘s should get some essential French albums of that time like “Suprémacie” of ADX, or “Attaque” of H-BOMB. The problem is that most of the French bands sounded dull and amateur compared to what could be heard on the international scene, maybe because of the lack of money, the bad productions, etc…Fortunately, the French scene has evolved and is far more interesting now. Some bands have found their way and should be listened to abroad; they’re really worth it (for example, Nihil, Dyslesia, not to mention Loudblast).

10. IN THE SUMMER SEASON MANY METAL FESTIVALS TAKE PLACE ACROSS EUROPE. WILL YOU TAKE PART IN ANY OF THEM?

Unfortunately no. We’ve never taken part in any big metal festival yet, but this must be an interesting experience. Still, if we had the opportunity to take part in a non-specifically metal festival, we’d be glad too!

11. YOU’VE SIGNED WITH PERENNIAL RECORDS. UNDER WHICH CRITERIA DID YOU SELECT THIS RECORD LABEL? ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THEM?

The signature with Perennial Quest Records was unexpected. We were already distributed in France by United Musics Company; then we met Jean Marc of Perennial Quest. He was interested in distributing our album abroad; obviously he did his work well since you know us now!!!

12. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO SOMEONE THAT IS NOT FAMILIAR WITH YOUR MUSIC TO ATTRACT HIS INTEREST? WHICH ELEMENT IN YOUR MUSIC DO YOU THINK COULD DRAW ATTENTION?

Our music is not revolutionary; we enjoy writing songs, and that’s all. We try to give each song a particular identity and atmosphere, and keep a ”rock n’ roll” and spontaneous spirit. If you like power metal riffs, melodic parts and vocals, then lend an ear to our album!

13. IF YOUR MUSIC WERE AN EMOTION, WHAT WOULD IT BE? IF IT WERE A PAINTING, WHAT WOULD IT SHOW?

As we try to build different atmospheres, it’s hard to talk about one single emotion in our music. Our songs are sad, powerful or bouncy. Yet, as powerful as they may sound, they are never based on violence or aggressiveness (in the music as well as in the lyrics). The painting that could symbolize our music would simply show people in their everyday life. There would be dark colors here, and brighter hue there.

14. IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET THE CREATURE THAT CREATED THE UNIVERSE, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ASK HIM?

Two questions to my mind:
1- If you are the creator of all things, who created you?
2- Are you satisfied with the way we live our lives? (it would perhaps, unfortunately!)

15. YOU ARE GRANTED ONE WISH. WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH IT?

I would have the Monty Pythons gather again and come back!!!!!!

16. WHICH HISTORICAL PERSON OR MUSICIAN WOULD YOU LIKE TO MEET AND WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ASK HIM?

The 5 of us would give a different answer to this question. As for me, I’d ask Georges Orwell how he knew that the world would really turn this way when he wrote “1984”.

17. THANK YOU! HAVE I FORGOTTEN TO ASK YOU ANYTHING AND YOU’D LIKE TO MENTION?

We’d like to thank you at Behind the Veil zine and also all those who may read these lines. Our album is available all around Greece by Eternal Shadows. If you don’t find it, check our website: www.multimania.com/breakpoint
Even you’re not fond of our music, you proved open-minded by spending several minutes reading this interview! See you soon!

Nick "William_Kidd" Parastatidis

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