The Black Knights attack the metal scene

DEAD BY DAWN

I am really proud of the Greek underground scene! Back in the past you could only listen to a very few bands that had a point to make. Most of the others were just replicas, so how can't I be happy having the chance to meet some really great and promising bands that can escape the Greek borders and prove what they are capable of? Thus, I grab the opportunity and had a talk with Elias and Antton from Dead By Dawn and this is what they told us...

1. FIRST OF ALL GIVE US A SHORT BAND BIO AND INTRODUCE THE BAND TO THE READERS.

Dead by Dawn was formed in 1996 under the name “Necrotomy” by Elias and Stergius. A couple of demos were released until 1999 were the band stopped due to army obligations. In 2002, Antton met the group and under the new name “Dead by Dawn” the band released a 10’’ vinyl in the late of 2002. The band moves in the line of sophisticated death metal with modern influences and powerful melodies.

2. HOW HAVE YOU DECIDED TO NAME THE BAND DEAD BY DAWN? HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU THINK IS THE CORRECT CHOICE OF A BAND NAME?

The name “Dead by Dawn” was Antton’s idea influenced by old horror movies that he watches all the time and we think suits exactly the identity of the band. A band’s name is quite important at the first steps of the group, when people don’t know it and start digging up all the introducing details of the band. In other words, it is always the first impression anyone gets from a band. Also, the name may reveal the kind of music that the group plays (for example it is obvious what kind of metal music Necromantia plays !).

3. TELL US A FEW THINGS ABOUT YOUR 10’’ VINYL EP “BLACK KNIGHTS” (WHERE WAS IT RECORDED, WHO WAS THE PRODUCER, HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU, ETC.). ARE YOU STILL SATISFIED WITH IT?

The 10’’ vinyl EP was recorded in 2002 at Voices Studio in Athens and it was a re-recording of the best tracks that Necrotomy had with the new line up. We liked a lot the old material and we didn’t want to have I wasted. It contains 5 songs and it took us around a month to record them. Although the inspiration of the tracks is old, the result was quite satisfactory as it expresses a solid and powerful sound that few underground groups have managed to do.

4. WHY HAVE YOU DECIDED TO RELEASE THIS ALBUM ONLY IN A VINYL FORM AND JUST IN FEW HANDNUMBERED COPIES? WON’T IT BE RELEASED AS A CD?

As a new and unknown band, it is difficult, especially in Greece, to find a deal with a label in order to release and promote a CD work. Supreme Music Creations offered us a more “cult deal” by releasing the songs in hand numbered vinyl copies, because new CD releases are incredibly high and therefore difficult to promote another one CD release. Instead, vinyl releases are limited, more valuable and still have a satisfactory demand. Also nowadays it is very easy to make CD-R demo copies and spread them, but this way a good work might get lost under a pile of tons of CD-r’s !! But with a vinyl release you can contact labels and distributors easier and make them interested in your work !

5. WHICH WERE THE REACTIONS OF THE PRESS TILL NOW? WHICH WAS THE BEST AND WHICH WAS THE WORST REVIEW YOU’VE RECEIVED THIS FAR AND HOW DO YOU REACT IN A BAD REVIEW?

The reactions of the press were better than we expected. People nowadays have learned a lot about music in general and they know well how to describe a song. The best review was in Metal Domination webzine in which we had 9/10! We haven’t received any bad reviews ‘till now and that gives us the courage to continue as a band. If we get a bad review, we’ll react positively and try to locate our mistakes so as to correct them. But in general the comments are similar, we know what things we have to take care of next time !

6. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO A FAN TO CONVINCE HIM BUY YOUR RELEASE INSTEAD OF SOMETHING ELSE? WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE IN YOUR MUSIC THAT COULD BE APPEALING TO THE FANS?

First of all, what you receive by listening to the songs is the power and energy that emits from the EP. The riffs are smooth and clever under a line of simplicity that makes the refrain melodies easily memorable with a pleasant sound. It is something that you won’t find in other new releases.

7. WHERE ARE YOUR LYRICS REFERRING TO? WHAT INSPIRES YOU IN WRITING LYRICS? COULD YOU TELL US A FEW THINGS ABOUT THEM?

The lyrics refer to myths, feelings and difficult situations and how we are dealing with them. Inspiration comes from books, history and life time experiences. For instance, ‘carrion death’ lyrics refer to the several attacks a person gets from his surroundings (mostly people) who only want to step over him. These attacks can be compared with the attacks of the birds of prey and if that person doesn’t do anything to protect himself, could be characterized like a corpse of a ‘carrion death’.

8. HAVE YOU DONE ANY LIVE SHOWS? DO YOU REMEMBER THE WAY YOU FELT THE FIRST TIME YOU GOT ON STAGE? DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS FOR LIVE APPEARANCES?

Due to line up problems we couldn’t arrange any live shows. The biggest problem was a permanent drummer. Also a keyboard player is a need. As soon as we fix the line up problem, we will arrange the shows. We were asked to play live after we released the ep and it’s a pity we didn’t make it yet, I think a heavy metal band's profile is built mostly on stage, if you can’t make it live then you are doomed to fail !

9. IF YOUR MUSIC WAS AN EMOTION, WHAT WOULD IT BE? IF IT WAS A PAINTING, WHAT WOULD IT SHOW?

That emotion would be a heavy activeness. If it was a painting, it might be a reflection of the strength a person needs for surviving.

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

I would ask him if the tortured souls of the dead people who suffered in their life, will have a better treatment in the after life world. And of course what the f@ck is at the next lives, if there are any. I suppose this is the only serious question left unanswered yet !!

11. WHICH IS MAN’S BIGGEST TEMPTATION?

I would say the chance of getting power so as to rule other people.

12. WHICH IS THE WILDEST DREAM YOU WANT TO MAKE TRUE THROUGH YOUR MUSIC?

Probably what every musician wants. To gain an international recognition and respect but always inside the frames of metal music.

13. IF YOU COULD TRAVEL BACK IN TIME WHICH HISTORICAL PERIOD WOULD YOU LIKE TO VISIT AND WHAT WOULD YOU MISS THE MOST FROM OUR TIMES?

I would choose the mid 1800 in London at the Era of Jack the ripper. What I would mostly miss, is technology but would definitely gain more humanity.

14. …AND SUDDENLY ELECTRICITY CEASES TO EXIST. WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD HAPPEN TO HEAVY METAL? WOULD IT BE FORGOTTEN OR TRANSFORMED?

Definitely most of the kinds of metal would have been forgotten, but we would keep the feeling for a transformed heavy and gloomy kind of music. I think the metal people would find a new way !

15. WHAT TITLE WOULD YOU LIKE THIS INTERVIEW TO HAVE?

Nice question! As the title of the EP is ‘black knights’, I would like to see a title like “the Black Knights attack the metal scene”.

16. THANK YOU! HAVE I FORGOTTEN TO ASK YOU ANYTHING AND YOU’D LIKE TO ADD?

I think you have covered every subject. Thank you for this interesting interview and for the space in your zine ! Let the metal flow!

Christine Parastatidou

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