APHELION

EDENBRIDGE

EDENBRIDGE HAVE RELEASED THEIR NEW ALBUM AND CAUSE OF THIS OCCASION KOSTAS GRAB THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH THEM. A CHAT THAT INVOLVED TO A VERY INTRESTING CONVERSATION. SO IF YOU ARE CURIOUS TO LEARN WHAT DID THEY SAY PASS THIS PROLOGUE AND START READING THE INTERVIEW...

1.FIRSTLY TELL ME SOME THINGS ABOUT THE NEW ALBUM?

“Aphelion” is not a real concept album, but the title “Aphelion” which means “outermost point” is leading like a red line through all the songs. This outermost point appears in the space sense, the human sense, the universal sense and the time sense. When I had written the first songs and lyrics and then discovered the title of the album I saw this title in every single song, so I continued about this thematics. From the musical point of view I would say that the new album is heavier, the guitars are more in front than on our previous releases and the album is also more symphonic.

2.WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE NAME EDENBRIFGE FOR THE BAND?

Edenbridge is a town in the county of Kent in England. When I first heard this name I thought it would be a great name for the band cause it also describes our music very well.

3.WHAT ARE YOUR MAIN INFLUENCES AS AN ARTIST?

I grew up with classical music, then discovered metal at the age of 14. I can tell you all my favorite composers and bands. Anton Bruckner, Antonin Dvorak, Vangelis, Robbie Valentine, Shadow Gallery, Dream Theater, Symphony X, Fair Warning, Royal Hunt.

4.TELL ME SOMETHING ABOUT THE PRODUCTION OF THE NEW ALBUM?

We were again in the House of Audio studios in Germany and recorded with Dennis Ward. Dennis was responsible for the engineering and mix, I was responsible for the production. The whole production took 25 days, which is very fast, but when we enter the studio everything's worked out to the point.I think it's our best production so far.

5.WHAT ABOUT THE LYRICS, DO YOU WANT TO FOCUS ON ONE SUBJECT?

No, not really, but the lyrics have to be positive. Positive energy is the thing we want to transport to the listeners. A lot of inspiration comes from “Star trek” especially “The Next Generation”, I love those esoteric episodes. But not only Star Trek is an influence. “The Final Curtain” is inspired by the great movie “The Elephant Man” which is one of the sadest movies I ever saw. “Deadend Fire” is based on the movie “Moby Dick”. Anyway the “outermost point” is present in all of the lyrics on the new album.

6.WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY TO THOSE THAT COMPARED YOU IN THE PAST AS A NIGHTWISH CLONE BAND?

They can fuck off (ha, ha). Meanwhile the last ignorant one should have checked out that we have our own style. Yes, both bands do have female singers, yes both bands play bombastic music. Yes, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest have both male singers, yes they both play straight heavy metal, but no one would have the weird idea to compare them.

7.IF YOU COULD TURN BACK TIME, WOULD YOU CHANGE SOMETHING?

No, absolutely not. Everything in life has its meaning and we have reached a lot within the last 2 ½ years.

8.WHAT CDS ARE YOU LISTENING AT THE MOMENT?

Tolga Kashif – The Queen Symphony
Howard Shore – Soundtrack Lord of the rings (The 2 Towers)
Masterplan – Masterplan
Stratovarius – Elements Part 1

9.WHAT'S YOUR FUNNIEST AND MOST EMBARRASSING EXPERIENCE?

Well, there were quite a lot. But when we played in Korea we steadily had bodyguards around us and that was really funny, it gave you somehow a feeling of being a rock star (ha, ha).

10.WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS, AFTER THE RELEASE OF THE NEW ALBUM?

It is in plans to do a South American tour in April which was cancelled last October. Then we also try to play a European tour but at the moment nothing is fixed and then I also hope that we can return to Korea and maybe also Japan. The Korean concerts last year were simply great according to the fans and being there was one of the best experiences of my whole life.

12.LETS PLAY A GAME OF WORDS.I WILL TELL YOU 10 WORDS AND YOU MUST ANSWER WITH THE VERY FIRST THINK THAT COMES UP TO YOUR MIND. IF IT IS POSSIBLE YOU MUST USE A SINGLE WORD.

a) Edenbridge : Music
b) Austria : Home
c) Arcana : an important album
d) Love : essential
e) War : senseless
f) Hate : even more senseless
g) Friends : important when they are good ones
h) Manager's : Office files, files and more files
i) Money : what's that ?
j) Nightwish : great band

13."SUNRISE IN EDEN" WAS YOUR DEBUT ALBUM THAT ON THE ONE HAND COMPRISES OF A QUITE POPULAR STYLE, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND SOUNDS DIFFERENT STILL. HOW WOULD YOU PERSONALLY DESCRIBE THE EDENBRIDGE'S NEW ALBUM SOUND?

Each album marks a step, a momentary view of the band. And I think you can see the progress the band have run through within the last years. We have grown as musicians and I personally as a songwriter , arranger and producer.

14.YOUR FIRST CD ORIGINALLY HAD BEEN ISSUED AS A SELF - RELEASE.HAD IT BEEN A DEMO - CD THAT EVENTUALLY HAD LED TO THE CONTRACT?

Yes. We did the album on a self-finance basis and then sent it out to about 30 record labels around the world. Two weeks later we had the deal with Massacre Records.

15.WHAT GOALS DO YOU HAVE WITH EDENBRIDGE?

To bring this band as far as possible. That's what I am working on day by day.

16.WE REACHED AT THE END OF THE INTERVIEW, THANK YPU FOR YOUR TIME AND I HOPE THAT EDENBRIDGE WILL FULFIL ALL THEIR DREAMS AS BAND IN THE FUTURE.

Thanks a lot for the interview, Lanvall

Costas "C.O.B" Meidanis

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