CHIMAERA
I have observed lately that
some great bands pop out in the classic heavy metal sound, bands that make
us feel nostalgic, bands that make our adrenaline rise, bands that manage
to shake our foundations…Chimaera is one of them and I must admit that
their music is really intriguing and stunning. After all, it’s a fact that
Germany has been the homeland of some of the real masters of this genre,
isn’t it so?
1. FIRST OF ALL POINT OUT THE MOST
IMPORTANT MOMENTS OF THE BAND'S HISTORY AND INTRODUCE YOURSELVES TO THE
READERS.
Well, CHIMAERA were founded already
in 1990 as a School Band. After several Line-up changes and growing up,
the Band decided to play music more seriously. After writing some more
developed songs and playing some fine Live-Gigs, we recorded the "Knights
of the Dragon" Demo, which reeived exciting Reviews. The German Magazine
"Blooddawn" even wrote "...the best demo of the last years". Having toured
the release and changing the line-up once more, the band recorded the "Blade
Master" Demo, which was, concerning the sound, a step back as it was self-produced,
without an engineer but a great step forward concerning the song structures.
Also, the release was more aggressive and a clear thrash metal influence
was to be noticed. The last gigs we played with Wizard and Majesty and
the Festival we participated, where Testament were headlining, were the
cardinal points of our work.
2.GIVE US SOME INFO REGARDING "BLADE
MASTER". WHERE WAS IT RECORDED, HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU, WHO WAS THE PRODUCER,
ETC. THE SOUND IS VERY POOR. WHY? IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE OT CHANGE SOMETHING
NOW WHAT WOULD THAT BE?
Oh yes! The sound is poor! We had
decided to record it by ourselves to have more freedom concerning the songs
and the sound but soon after the release we noticed that the sound we had
on the recording and thought that it is okay was not so fine at all! Well,
the release was made and as the songs are good, we thought that we continue
releasing the record. It took us nearly two weeks of work to make the recordings.
Having the possibility to change something, we would not again record it
by ourselves, I think. And that’s why we are recording some songs again.
3.YOU ALSO INCLUDE ON THE DEMO SOME
LIVE RECORDINGS. WHERE DID THEY TAKE PLACE AND WHY DID YOU DO THAT? IS
IT BECAUSE YOU WANT TO SHOW THAT YOU CAN PLAY GOOD EVEN WHEN YOU PLAY LIVE?
TO SHOW THE FEELING OF YOUR SHOWS TO THE FANS?
These songs were recorded during
the "Wrath of the mighty" Festival on which we were Opener act for WIZARD.
As the feeling was good and the resonance of the fans was really exciting,
we decided to put four of the songs on the Demo. First, we had the chance
to put some new, unreleased tracks on the recording, so the fans hearing
them could become acquainted with the songs and they could be ready to
have the party on the next gig or remember the fun it was to be on this
gig. We are a live band and we love playing in front of people. That’s
why we're making music! To carry the soul of metal to the fans!
4.TELL US A FEW THINGS FOR THE SONGS
INCLUDED IN THIS RELEASE AND TRY TO POINT OUT TE MAIN DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES
AMONG THEM AND YOUR PREVIOUS COMPOSITIONS.
The newer songs are more complicated
and mature. Also they show a bigger potential of aggressions.
"Chase the Devil" - Written by
Michael, he tells a story of the dark side inside ourselves, which is the
blindness w have to face. Too often we close our eyes to the problems of
the world because we are to lazy to argue with ourselves. He fights, he
chases the devil inside!
"Metalians" - This is my homage
to the life and feelings of a metalhead. I sing about feelings, needs and
dreams of the metalheads! All in a manner, that it fits into the fantasy
lyrics I mainly write. So thanks again, brothers and sisters, for existing!
"Kabularasa" - It was written as
the madman from Texas decided to attack Afghanistan. This american imperialism
is something we cannot accept. And so we combined the German proverb "Tabularasa",
which means something like "to clear the table" or "solving a problem once
and for all" with the capital of Afghanistan, Kabul!
"Battlemaster" - This is one of
my oldest songs and still one of my faves. The song is a homage to a figure
in the table top game "Battletech". I love this game and i love playing
this figure! Fire the guns!
"Crown me" - Was written by Michael
with the impression of the spring time. It is simply the joy he felt on
a spring day!
"Loneliness of the King" - I wrote
this song after having been left by my girl! I wanted to spend my life
with her and... Well, it is okay by now. But the song is still a very fine
one! *smile*
5.WHERE ARE YOUR LYRICS REFERRING TO?
WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO WRITE LYRICS? DO YOU PREFER REAL LIFE STORIES OR FANTASY
AND WHY?
Hehe! I sing about me and my life!
But I "translate" my emotions into a fantasy world! I try to paint a picture
with my lyrics in which the interested reader or hearer can become acquainted
with me. I love telling about me. Maybe I'm a bit too much in love with
myself.
6.DO YOU HAVE PLANS FOR LIVE SHOWS?
DO YOU HAVE ANY WEIRD OR UNUSUAL EXPERIENCES TO SHARE WITH US OCCURRING
TO YOU WHILST PERFORMING LIVE?
I have several plans for live shows.
The nearest one will probably be a gig with Majesty about which I am discussing
already with Tarek! And I want to get some friends of mine to Germany but
that’s still a secret! :-) I am still thinking about how to finance this!
Unusual experiences after Live Gigs? Well, not really. Sex, Drugs, R'n'R.
But something really weird? No, only some nuts organizers and strange other
Bands. The funniest thing was as we played in Karlsruhe with BRIGHTNESS.
The guys were totally drunk and as I talked with Steffen some days later
on the phone he told me that he had slept with the guys in a brothel bus
without knowing it! *lol* But we are not so crazy! *smile*
7.WHICH ARE YOUR AIMS AND PLANS FOR
THE FUTURE? WHAT WILL YOU DO NEXT?
At present we are recording another
Demo and concepting a new live show with optical elements. We are on fire
to play live again!
8.ARE YOU SATISFIED BY THE FEEDBACK
YOU GOT THIS FAR? IS THERE A COMMON CHARACTERISTIC THAT GETS REPEATED IN
ALMOST ALL THE REVIEWS YOU GET?
Well, we are more than amazed what
zines write about our Demo! We thought we would be ripped off but this
reaction is great! Strangely your zine criticizes my voice which is commonly
referred to as outstanding. Well, okay. In some points maybe, mainly on
the live one, there are some false tones but, this is for sure, they are
not mine. Our former bassist had some fun on singing with me but he did
it quite awful. He's got a very fine black metal voice but for our music
unsuiting.
9.WHICH IS THE BEST AND WHICH IS THE
WORST PART OF YOUR MUSIC ACCORDING TO YOU. WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU NEED
FURTHER IMPROVEMENT?
The best part? hmmm.. I think the
songs taken as whole. Michael is a very good guitar player and his love
for reggae music improves his feeling for melodies. I like reggae, too
but it is too soft to take it a long time. So I don't think we have specials
to point out. The songs are to be taken completely. We need some further
improvement on our live performances. Playing live means much to us but
we want to try to get some show elements (Guitar/Bass Frontrow and such
things) into our shows. And for that we still lack the discipline and we
are still overwhelmed by a crazy crowd!
10.WHICH SONG WOULD YOU DEDICATE TO
THE WOMAN OF YOUR DREAMS?
Oh! Hard question. As I am a man
of feelings and have to transfer these into my songs, I did already write
songs for my girls (And I had a whole lot! hahaha!). I started with "Praise
the Fallen" from the "Knights..." Demo. these were my tears for my first
real woman. Then followed "Loneliness...", "Dragon's Witch", "Fireflower",
"Netherworld" and "Bearheart". These things come and go. But I think that
my homage to my true and only love is the Song "Metalians" as I dedicate
it to the music we all love and admire!
11.IF YOUR MUSIC WERE AN EMOTION WHAT
WOULD IT BE? IF IT WERE A PAINTING WHAT WOULD IT SHOW?
My Music is not only one emotion!
My music is all emotions I have! It combines everything. Joy, hatred, love,
tears, lust... I cannot answer to this question. If it were a painting,
I think it would show the "Gods of Metal" sitting around the world, watching
their children play! They are smiling! And if you take a close look on
the planet, you will find the "Metal Armies" banging, cheering, loving...
simply living! And on the Billboard Charts you can see Chimaera on 1st
place! Hahaha!
12.CHIMAERA IS A GREEK WORD. DO YOU
KNOW ITS MEANING AND IF YES HOW IS IT CONNECTED WITH YOU?
Yes, I know! As I am half Greek
I have a mental connection to this lovely country! But the CHIMAERA to
which we refer is the one used in the medieval, when the Greek chimaera
was called "Manticore". This Chimaera is the wingless fiery Dragon! That’s
why the first Demo was called "Knights of the Dragon". But, concerning
the name I have a funny story to tell. Back in 1993, having started to
try playing music seriously, some friends of mine had the Idea to form
an "Anti-Chimaera"-Project. So, they tried to play Hardcore as this music
was by then hated by most Metalheads and called themselves "MantiCORE"
as in medieval myth these two are enemies! Well, they succeeded in playing
one rehearsal which eded in total chaos and lots of beer! Haha! And I was
drunk, too!
13.IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO TRAVEL
BACK IN TIME WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO AND WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE?
Oh! I don't know! I think I would
travel to the medieval and start a career as a bard! Or in the antique
of Greece to celebrate one of these parties the Greeks had in this time!
With lots of wine, food and women! Haha!
14.WHICH FAMOUS PERSON WOULD YOU LIKE
TO MEET AND WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ASK HIM?
Fuck! I hate that question. As
I don't see the famous ones as others than us, I don't have such dreams
or wishes! But perhaps I'd like to meet Tarja (Nightwish) and ask her if
she would continue my singing lessons. Last time I had lessons is quite
3 years ago and I have the feeling to seek someone to continue teaching
me.And just for the fun, I'd like to ask Christina Aguilera and Tittney
Spears if they would do some threesome with me! That could be funny, too!
But seriously, I don't know!
15.THANK YOU! HAVE I FORGOTTEN TO ASK
YOU ANYTHING AND YOU'D LIKE TO MENTION?
That was by far the most complete
and complicated Interview I have done this far! You really pulled the last
out! *grin* Well, I hope to be playing soon in Greece for some gigs, if
possible with my mates of Battleroar and Bloodstained, which I want to
greet! Hail and Drink!Thanks to you for this Interview! Perhaps we'll have
someday the possibility to meet, bang and have a big party!
Christine
Parastatidou
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