FIERCE
ATMOSPHERES
Fierce Atmospheres is a new
band coming from the U.S. and bearing the title of a power/progressive
metal band. Many bear this label, but few manage to prove it's true and
Fierce Atmospheres are one of these few. Their album "Gale Forces" consists
of some beaitiful ideas. The sound is bad, however, if you manage to concentrate
on their music, you will be consumed by it. For the rest, just read the
interview below...
1.HELLO! YOUR ALBUM "GALE FORCE"
IS REALLY GOOD, BUT I THINK IT NEEDED SOME IMPROVEMENTS. WHICH ARE YOUR
THOUGHTS ON THIS RELEASE?
I definitely agree with you as
do most of the people reviewing it right now.It was a project I got to
do for free with limited time from a studio in Austin Texas when I was
living there.I helped them out for a few months and did a compilation project
with them of local acts and just did grunt work around the studio. They
in turn offered us to record this demo and we just did it basically.
2.I READ IN YOUR BIO THAT MOST OF YOU
USED TO PARTICIPATING IN OTHER BANDS BEFORE YOU FORMED FIERCE ATMOSPHERES.
WHICH ARE THE REASONS THAT LED YOU LEAVE THOSE BANDS AND START FIERCE ATMOSPHERES?
I left the band Living Impaired
after 5 years because of a lot of inner struggle in the band.We were doing
tours around the states in a van and the pressure was too much for everyone.
I must stress though that I wasnt the one that gave up.It is a very long
story.Touring was my life back then and it was all I wanted to do.On another
note, Jon from Fierce Atmospheres and I were in the black metal band called
Of the Fallen (Texas) together. I left a year before he did after doing
some great things though like Milwaukee metal fest 2000 where we played
a fantastic show' and many Texas shows. I just got burnt out on black metal
and there were also some internal conflicts. Jon also left due to internal
struggle. We started FA to do what we love and that is melodic prog/power
metal.
3.I THINK THAT YOUR MUSIC IS CLOSER
TO THE GOOD OLD 80S U.S. METAL, ALTHOUGH IN YOUR BIO I READ THAT YOU DESCRIBE
IT AS POWER/PROGRESSIVE. SO, HOW DO YOU DEFINE THE TERM PROGRESSIVE IN
YOUR SOUND?
I guess that term to me means having
more than just root 5 power chords and also having melodic solos with great
harmonies. The vocals are also important because for years all I had in
my bands were death vocals. Jon brings in a different sound because he
has a baritone approach to vocals. The lyrics also are ones that should
tell great stories...
4.WHICH BANDS DO YOU CONSIDER AS BIG
INFLUENCES IN YOUR MUSIC? NAME SOME OF YOUR MOST BELOVED ALBUMS...
Well my favorite progressive bands
are Steel Prophet, Edguy, Stratovarius, Evergrey, Rush, Dream Theater,
Kamelot, Tad Morose, Iron Maiden and on and on. I love all these bands
efforts... One of my most beloved is Steel Prophet's Dark Hallucinations.
5.NOW I WOULD LIKE YOU TO TELL ME A
FEW THINGS ABOUT YOUR LYRICS. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM AND WHAT KIND
OF THEMES FO YOU LIKE TO TALK ABOUT? DO YOU PREFER FICTION OR NON FICTION?
Jon wrote all of them and might
I add in just 5 days!!! He sang and wrote everything on a whim. He is a
great lyricist I think and he loves Science fiction. He is also a computer
guru so he is definitely into fiction and imagination. I think he will
just get better in time also.
6.WHAT KIND OF FEEDBACK DID YOU RECEIVE
TILL NOW? DID YOU HAVE ANY PROPOSALS FROM LABELS? IS THERE A COMMON STATEMENT
YOU READ IN ALMOST ALL THE REVIEWS YOU RECEIVE?
We have got some label interest
though only small right now. We are getting the same reviews in the sense
that the recording needs to be better. The people that listen through that
though and hear the SONGS are seeing that we are really on to something.
Once we re-record everthing with our new material,the production will be
much better and should stir up some more interest. This Gale Force album
was a demonstration only disc that we really didnt target record companies
with. That will be later. We wanted to just get the name out through reviews,etc
7.YOU INFORMED ME THAT YOU ALREADY
HAVE SONGS FOR A NEW ALBUM. WHEN DO YOU PLAN TO RELEASE IT AND IN WHICH
WAY WILL IT BE DIFFERENT FROM YOUR DEBUT ALBUM?
We hope to release it ASAP but
we are having lineup problems. I live in Illinois and Jon lives in Texas.
I am in the process of finding players right now. A drummer would be the
key ingredient and I could do the rest just to be able to record the album.
Jon would then add his vocals here or in Texas. It will be different in
terms of the quality. We will not put it out until it is as good as it
can be. All things will be taken into consideration, production, artwork
etc...
8.IF YOUR MUSIC WERE AN EMOTION, WHAT
WOULD IT BE? IF IT WERE A PAINTING, WHAT WOULD IT SHOW?
An emotion. It would be tension
and release, anger, frustration and satisfaction. It would also be uplifting
and dramatic. If it were a painting it would show the elements of the whole
world in one vast sweep. Frigid to extreme heat and all things in between.
9.WHICH IS, ACCORDING TO YOU, THE BEST
AND WHICH THE WORST PART IN YOUR MUSIC? WHICH IS YOUR TRADEMARK?
The best I guess would be the song
structures. We try to incorporate standard formats but also like long middle
sections with harmonies and leads. I think acoustic overlays are very cool
too. The worst would probably be some of the performances on the album.
Our drummer was inexperienced but did us a great favor. We wouldnt have
been able to do it without him. Also our bassist had only known the material
a short while.
10.DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS FOR LIVE SHOWS?
WHAT SHOULD THE FANS EXPECT FROM A FIERCE ATMOSPHERES LIVE?
We would love to do some shows
when we can achieve a solid lineup. We had plans for a small tour of the
midwest here but we'll have to wait and see. Europe would also be fantastic
as we would probably be more appreciated there. People should expect some
hopefully inspiring stuff, especially other musicians.
11.WHICH WORDS DO YOU THINK COULD BEST
DESCRIBE "GALE FORCE" AND YOUR MUSIC IN GENERAL?
I think the progressive banner
is good but also it has elements of thrash, speed and technical playing.
12.IF TIME TRAVEL WAS POSSIBLE, WHICH
PERIOD WOULD YOU LIKE TO VISIT AND WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE?
Probably the 1800's to be able
to witness the great composers like Mozart,etc..
13.WHICH ARE ACCORDING TO YOU THE MOST
IMPORTANT WOMEN IN THE ROCK/METAL SCENE?
I would say that bands like Nightwish,
Lacuna Coil and Synergy have some very important things to present. They
are extremely creative in their crafts and I appreciate what they do a
lot.
14.WHAT TITLE WOULD YOU LIKE THIS INTERVIEW
TO HAVE?
Oh I dont know...maybe Fierce Atmospheres/The
Gale Forces of the mind.
15.THANK YOU! HAVE I FORGOTTEN TO ASK
YOU ANYTHING AND YOU'D LIKE TO MENTION?
Not really, just thank you for
this opportunity and we will be in touch because our music is very inspired
by what comes out of Europe and other parts of the world. We will of course
focus some of our attention on the states but I think in the long run we
will be much more appreciated in your parts of the world...take care...
Nick "William_Kidd"
Parastatidis
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