BATTLE FOR GLORY!

FINAL ASSAULT

FINAL ASSAULT PLAY EPIC METAL IN A VERU STRANGE WAY. I DON'T THINK THAT YOU HAVE LISTENED MANY BANDS IN OUR DAYS TO PLAY IN A SUCH STRANGE WAY. IF THEIR PRODUCTION WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE PROFESSIONAL THEN WE WOULD HAVE AN EXCELLENT UNDERGROUND METAL RELEASE. ANYWAY, I WAIT MANY THINGS FROM THEM IN THE FUTURE. ONLY TIME WILL TELL...

1.HELLO!I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO START WITH A SHORT PRESENTATION OF THE BAND, THE CURRENT LINEUP, THE MOST IMPORTANT MOMENTS AND WHO ARE THE FOUNDERS?

Hi, and before all thanx for your interest. Final Assault was founded in 1997 around old friends, the singer (Xavier), one of the guitarist (Jean-Roch) and myself (Pat - drummer). Our first wish with our new band was to give birth to a powerful and emotive music, without losing our classical influences. The result was an original metal blend...

2.I LISTENED TO YOUR ALBUM "BATTLE FOR GLORY" AND I FOUND IT REALLY DIFFICULT TO POINT OUT SOME OF YOUR INFLUENCES. CAN YOU HELP ME AND TELL ME WHICH BANDS AND MUSICIANS HAVE INFLUENCED YOU?

It's an usual difficulty, to classify our music... We have been qualified in all the metal categories since we're playing ! Maybe because our influences are very varied : classical music, traditional and celtic music, rock and metal music of course... So we can speak about Dickinson/Maiden and Metallica, Orphaned Land, Paradise Lost, Mundanus Imperium, Dream Theater, Angra, Artsonic...

3.I HAVE LISTENED TO MANY CLASSICAL AND ORIENTAL PARTS IN YOUR MUSIC. I UNDERSTAND YOUR LOVE FOR CLASSICAL MUSIC, CAUSE YOU'VE STUDIED FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS NOW. WHAT DID YOU FIND INTERESTING IN THE ORIENTAL MUSIC?

Indeed, our classical studies have influenced our compositions. For the rest, it's the result of our pleasure to discover traditional music from everywhere. You were speaking about oriental music, and it's true that this kind of music never use our occidental musical laws and never play with the same intervals. So we have found interesting to use some of this rules in the arrangements. I was speaking about Orphaned Land concerning our influences, it's a good example, the result of an original blend between loud metal and oriental influences. Nevertheless, we have also used other traditionnal influences as celtic music or french Brittany music...

4.YOUR COMPOSITIONS ARE COMPLICATED AND WITH MANY CHANGES. HOW EASY IS IT FOR YOU TO REPRODUCE THESE SONGS LIVE? DID YOU EVER THINK TO COMPOSE SONGS WITH A SIMPLIER STRUCTURE? AREN'T YOU AFRAID YOU MIGHT TIRE THE LISTENER?

You're right, the compositions of this first album could appear complicated in there structure, but it was not an intellectual choice. Our wish was to produce emotive and epic songs, the result can give birth to different kind of compo. But don't worry, the live result is always here ! Our fans appreciate the blend of music, and the energy do the difference. 'Cause our real pleasure is the live ! Some of our songs are more easy to appreciate and our new compo are easy of access I think.

5.I LIKED YOUR ALBUM AND FOUND IT VERY ORIGINAL, BUT I THINK THAT THE PRODUCTION IS NOT VERY GOOD AND IN A WAY LESSENS THE FINAL RESULT.WAS IT DUE TO FINANCIAL REASONS OR LACK OF EXPERIENCE?

You're right ! Unfortunately, we were young, studying, that is to say without money ! The story of the recording of our album is also complicated ! Indeed, there is a lack of experience it's sure, but the biggest problem was to finance the recording... With the help of studios, with the winning of a local fest, etc... At last, the album is a compilation of all the opportunies found to record ! Besides, the last song was recorded in my cellar... Our chance was the unity of our compositions, so the album has been appreciated in spite of the production...

6.WHY DIDN'T YOU PRINT THE LYRICS IN THE BOOKLET? CAN YOU TELL US WHAT YOUR LYRICS ARE TALKING ABOUT?

The problem was financial, that's why we just put the line up and the thanx... So that's not a choice, and now we insist on. Our lyrics are talking about different subjects, corresponding to the spirit of the compo. But in general, it's epic and metal ! You can find also historical stories ("My Kingdom for a Dream" for example).

7.YOU WON WITH YOUR FIRST DEMO A REGIONAL COMPETITION. HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT IT?

We were very proud, winning with a metal band was not easy ! It was the first step of our story, this competition was a first reference, then we appeared more seriously. With it, we had found financial help and musical support.

8.YOU SAY IN YOUR BIO THAT YOU ARE VERY SATISFIED WITH THE AGREEMENT YOU DID WITH SACEM. CAN YOU TELL US WHAT SACEM IS AND HOW THEY CAN HELP YOU?

SACEM is the french reference of professionnal agreement. That is to say that with it, you are recognized by the musical profession. It give you the right to protect your songs, and to be paid when you play live, with radio shows, or just CD sales, etc... So it was another interisting step for the band, the way of "pro" mind.

9.WHICH WERE THE REACTIONS OF THE FANS AND PRESS FOR YOUR DEBUT ALBUM? ARE YOU SATISFIED BY THE FEEDBACK?

It was a very good surprise for us, the feedback has been very good. We were anxious because of the production, but fans were so enthusiastics that we send it to press and pro. The answers were also surprising ! Our original compostions do the difference, so a big french national review ("metallian") spoke about us, with a "Battle for Glory" chronic. It was the beginning of the album life. A lot of national contacts give birth to reviews, sales, specialised radios, and overall the distribution of the CD in France (by Adipocere, Holy Records, and Furtive records) and in Japan (Worldchaos prod) ! Without speaking about all radio shows and zines all around the world (brazil, Germany, Lituania, Italia, Japan, New Zealand, Usa, Canada, ......).

10.WHICH DO YOU THINK IS THE BEST AND WHICH IS THE WORST PART IN YOUR MUSIC? IN WHICH FIELD DO YOU THINK YOU NEED FURTHER IMRPOVEMENT?

Well, this album was recorded at last during summer 2000, and then mixed and produced until january 2001. Since, a lot of progress have been done : the composition, the instrument mastery, and maturity in the science of the recording... You will understand easily that our actual level is not the same... The line up has also changed, Jeremy Ledey was fired for misconduct, changed by Steph, and we have added a violin (Cecile). New stuff have been done, and the future of Final Assault now pass by our new label, Furtive records... To follow !

11.WHICH IS MAN'S BIGGEST TEMPTATION?

To think he can be God !

12.IF SUDDENLY ELECTRICITY CEASED TO EXIST WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD HAPPEN TO METAL MUSIC? WOULD IT BE FORGOTTEN OR TRANSFORMED?

We should amplify the sound by playing in front of cliffs, surely more uproar than Slayer !! More seriously, music has lived & could in the future without electricity, but the power of metal needs it !

13.IF YOU HAD THE ABILITY TO CHANGE SOMETHING IN THE WORLD, WHAT WOULD THAT BE?

We should name Lemmy (from Motorhead) king of the Universe! Otherwise, giving the same chance to everyone, in order to have the same access to culture and knowledge...

14.IF THERE WAS NO MUSIC IN THE WORLD, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? HOW DO YOU IMAGINE A WORLD WITHOUT MUSIC TO BE?

Without music on the Earth, we should be cutter of stone. For us, it's really a way to live... The only advantage without music on Earth should be the end of having to support commercial music & shit.

15.IF YOUR MUSIC WAS AN EMOTION, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

The pleasure to play music, to feel it.

16.THANK YOU! THESE LAST LINES ARE YOURS...

One more time, thanx for your interest and your amazing last questions! We just hope that everyone who will listen to "Battle for Glory" album would have the same pleasure that we had to do it, with sincerity and the only wish to feel good...

NICK "William_Kidd" PARASTATIDIS

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