DESIRE
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THEIR MUSIC
IS A VESSEL THAT WILL TRAVEL YOU IN A WORLD THAT POETRY AND DARK FEELINGS
RULE. DESIRE DEFINETELY KNOW HOW TO CREATE FEELINGS TO THE LISTENER! FROM
THE MOMENT YOU WILL LISTEN THEIR NEW ALBUM YOU WILL CATCH YOUR SELF WONDERING.
1.TELL US IN A FEW WORDS THE MOST IMPORTANT
MOMENTS OF THE BAND'S HISTORY. WHICH IS TODAY'S LINE UP?
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FLAME – The band was formed back in
92 under the name of INCARNATED and with that moniker we recorded our debut
promo-track DEATH BLESSED BY A GOD. Around 94 we changed the bands name
to DESIRE and in that period we recorded an ADVANCE TAPE featuring 2 new
songs with the intent to find a record deal. Portuguese already extinct
label Skyfall Records offered us a deal for 2 releases and in 96 we came
out with our debut album INFINITY... A TIMELESS JOURNEY THROUGH NA EMOTIONAL
DREAM. With this release we were the first band in Portugal introducing
that kind of sound genre and that established us a well known reputation
among the Portuguese scene. Around 98 we released PENTACROW celebrating
the bands 5th year of existence and again this release was very well received
among the national scene. Meanwhile, we rescinded the deal with Skyfall
due several reasons... Later the label ended its activities... Since then,
we passed by many problems, mainly in terms of line-up and only in 2002
we are self releasing our newest album LOCUS HORRENDUS – THE NIGHT CRIES
OF A SULLEN SOUL...
2.WHY HAVE YOU CHANGED YOUR BAND NAME
FROM INCARNATED TO DESIRE? HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU THINK IS THE CORRECT CHOISE
OF A NAME FOR A BAND'S FUTURE?
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FLAME – We decided to change the bands
name, since at the time, the scene was infested with many bands sounding
like INCAR..., so we thought a change of the bands name was definitely
necessary. Of course we think that the bands name is very important, and
DESIRE reflect much better the romantic and poetic vein that we are creating
and developing...
3.YOU EXIST A DECADE NOW AS A BAND.
ARE YOU THINKING OF DOING SOMETHING IN SPECIFIC? CAN YOU COMPARE THE METAL
MUSIC AND THE METALLERS OF TODAY WITH THE OLDER ONES?
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FLAME – The worldwide scene is quite
different from when we started. At that time, people were strictly more
into the underground cause and the reflection of that old passion was quite
obvious. Nowadays, the scene is pretty saturated with tons of bands, most
of them with very few quality and ruled by trends. Its sad to watch that,
when Internet obfuscates tape-trading and stuff like that... Times has
changed a lot, not for good I guess...
4.HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR
MUSIC? IT'S VERY ATMOSPHERIC, DARK AND MELANCHOLIC...IT CREATES AMAZING
FEELINGS. HOW DO YOU MANAGE TO CREATE SUCH GREAT FEELINGS TO THE LISTENER?
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FLAME – With our music, we try to expose
our true inner feelings that usually we aren’t capable to express in our
daily life... I think that our passion for darkness, melancholy and sad
feelings are the key to create such atmospheric environments and gloomy
atmospheres... Above all, that’s our true inner I, expressed into music...
5.WHY PORTUGAL HAS A GREAT SCENE IN
THE ATMOSPHERIC - MELANCHOLIC BRANCH? THIS DARK MUSIC IN GENERAL IS VERY
POPULAR IN THE MEDDITERRANEAN. HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THIS?
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FLAME – I don’t know, really... Maybe
Portuguese personalities hide more than just good moods and hot weather
and only through music people feel free to expose their true identities...
At least, I’m speaking for us...
6.TELL US SOME GENERAL THINGS ON YOUR
RELEASES (ESPECIALLY ON THE LATEST ALBUM) AND COMPARE THEM. WHAT DO YOU
HAVE TO SAY? ARE YOU STILL SATISFIED WITH THEM?
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FLAME – All our albums represent different
stages in the bands progression. I want to look at them as a stage that
we passed until we reach the higher lever of perfection that we intent.
Now, I look at the old releases and I’m still proud of them, because they
represent a certain era in the bands history. With this new album, I think
we reached our highest level and it describes with more perfection all
the dramatic area where we include ourselves. Of course, like we use to
say always, DESIRE albums are OBRAS INACABADAS, which means that there
is and always be something to change, something which could be done better,
but otherwise, that’s what maintain us alive and working hard to reach
for a better future, music wise speaking...
7.CAN YOU TELL US WHAT ARE YOUR LYRICS
TALKING ABOUT IN GENERAL? WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO WRITE SUCH LYRICS?
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FLAME – Back in 93, with DEATH BLESSED
BY A GOD track, we started developing a concept story, which deals with
the morbid fascination and eternal dwelling of LIFE AFTER DEATH. In 96
with INFINITY... that concept was developed in a dramatic way and with
LOCUS HORRENDUS we added some romantism and poetry to it... The story deals
with a sullen I, which in general traces, is suffering from love rejection
and ends tragically... In INFINITY... you can ride on its imaginary realms
searching for peace for its soul... With LOCUS HORRENDUS, we created something
like a feed-back, and we explored the main reasons for the main characters
death... LOVE IS SUICIDE...
8.WHY HAVE YOU RECORDED, MIXED AND
MASTERED THE CD IN DIFFERENT STUDIOS? WHAT DID YOU WANT TO WIN BY THAT?
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FLAME – It just happened... We worked
on two different studios in Portugal, since the mixing on the studio were
we recorded weren’t good, so we decided to search for another one where
we may achieved a better mix result. After that, we weren’t completely
satisfied with the final result, and then we decided to add more professionalism
to this release by mixing the album at Finnvox Studios in Finland. I guess
the final result is pretty obvious, since the final sound is excellent!!!
9.WHY HAVE YOU PARTED WAYS WITH SKYFALL
RECORDS? ARE YOU IN CONTACT WITH ANY LABELS? WHAT DO THEY SAY ABOUT YOUR
MUSIC? WHICH ARE YOUR PRIORITIES WHILE SIGNING A CONTRACT?
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FLAME – As I explained earlier, we
rescinded the deal with our previous label, since their conditions in terms
of promotion and distribution weren’t very good for us. Also, because we
watch them falling in economical terms, so we didn’t wanted to get drown
with them, so we decided to leave the boat... Before this new release,
there were some labels approaching us for signing the band, but unfortunately
in general, the conditions never satisfied us. Not because were too demanding,
but maybe because we use to sit and think very much about everything, about
what may be good and band for the band. Presently, were more concerned
in promoting the new album as much as we can, and after we start getting
some reviews, well contact some labels in order to know their opinion and
interest in signing us... For the moment, the critics we started to receive
are very good, which encourages us even more...
10.WHAT DID THE FANS AND PRESS SAY
FOR YOUR LATEST CD?
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FLAME – Its a bit early to speak about
reactions, since the album is out just since early July, but one month
after the release of the new album, the reactions have been extremely good.
In Portugal our return was very expected, because we didn’t released any
new material since 98. Abroad, were achieving some new contacts and also
some old ones which are very well impressed with the final result of the
new album...
11.HOW WAS IT TO BE THE OPENING ACT
FOR CRADLE OF FILTH? WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER FROM THAT DAY?
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FLAME – It was pretty normal. Underground
band vs. Rock Stars!!! I remember the venue was crowded (around 800 people)
and our performance was short, as we expected... At that time, we were
still finishing the recordings of PENTACROW... Anyway, the reactions to
that show were great!!!
12.WHY DID YOU HAVE SO MANY CHANGES
IN THE LINE UP?
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FLAME – To play in DESIRE is much more
than simply know how to use an instrument... To be a part of the bands
line-up, you must have the right mood, the true inner feeling, capable
to express towards the music you play... And that’s the main reason why
we had so many line-up changes in our history. Initially, people show us
one side of their personalities, and after some time, they leave their
masks fall, showing their true identity to ourselves... That identity not
always fit with the aims of this band, so most of the times, people are
invited to leave DESIRE...
13.WHICH IS MAN'S BIGGEST TEMPTATION?
IF YOU HAD THE ABILITY TO CHANGE SOMETHING IN THE WORLD WHAT WOULD THAT
BE?
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FLAME – Man’s greed, must be its biggest
temptation.. Ability to change it? Impossible... I wouldn’t dare to have
such powers...
14.HOW ARE YOU PLANNING TO PROMOTE
YOUR WORK?
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FLAME – We started to promote it through
mail and internet, by sending promotional packs to many entities worldwide.
We’re now starting to receive some feed-back towards the new album. In
Portugal, we intent to start playing live as soon as possible, since live
it’s the best way to promote our sound and name throughout the fans. Let’s
see how things manage to go...
15.WHICH IS THE BEST PART IN YOUR MUSIC
AND IN THE BAND IN GENERAL AND WHICH THING DO YOU THINK YOU SHOULD CORRECT?
WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU NEED IMPROVEMENT?
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FLAME – The best part, I’ll leave for
the fans and critics to comment, and the parts where we think we need to
improve, sorry for not sharing with you, but they’re personal and strictly
connected to the band itself... Any suggestions? ;)
16.IF SOMEDAY YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO
MEET THE CREATURE THAT CREATED THE UNIVERSE, WHICH WOULD YOUR BIGGEST QUESTION
BE?
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FLAME – “There’s life after death?”
17.IF TIME TRAVEL WAS POSSIBLE, WHICH
HISTORICAL PERIOD WOULD YOU LIKE TO VISIT AND WHY? WHAT WOULD YOU MISS
THE MOST FROM OUR TIME?
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FLAME – Dark Medieval Times, for sure...
18.WHAT PROLOGUE AND TITLE WOULD YOU
LIKE THIS INTERVIEW TO HAVE?
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FLAME – It depends a lot… You’ll surely
find a good title for this one…
19.WHY DO YOU USE NICKNAMES?
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FLAME – We decided to adopt heteronymous
nick names, in order to express our true inner identities, that wouldn’t
be capable to transmit using our birth names. Together with our lyrical
and musical line, I think it fits perfectly...
20.THANK YOU!HAVE I FORGOT TO ASK YOU
ANYTHING AND YOU'D LIKE TO MENTION?
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FLAME – Let me thank you in the name
of the band for this opportunity to share and express our thought and ideas
with the readers of BEHIND THE VEIL. Anyone which feels identified with
the world of DESIRE, is invited to drop us some lines... Any kind of mail
will surely be replied... You can also buy our new album directly through
us for just 15 euros.
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Contact us at:
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DESIRE, c/o Flame, P.O.Box 21.380,
1132-001 Lisboa, PORTUGAL
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[email protected]
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[email protected]
Nick "William_Kidd"
Parastatidis