Forsaken
Forsaken is a dark epic/doom
band coming from Malta and recently they released a spectacular work entitled
"Anima Mundi". Do yourselves a favor and don't lose the chance to meet
with this amazing and talented band!
1. YOU CALL YOUR MUSIC EPIC/DOOM BUT I THINK
THAT YOU ARE MUCH DARKER THAN EPIC. DO YOU AGREE? DO YOU THINK THAT YOUR
MELODIC VOCALS JUSTIFY THE CHARACTERIZATION EPIC?
Yes it could be that we sound epic because
of the way I sing , but I also feel that there is an epic musical touch
in all of our songs. Maybe there are different levels of epic style in
each song, For example All is Accomplished is more epic doom oriented than
Carpe Diem. Still I strongly believe that we have captured a unique feeling
which unites our tracks together. This has certainly been created through
our 14 years experience in the underground doom scene and composing doom
tracks. We also like to include this mysterious dark edge in our tracks
which definitely makes us sound more original and maybe give us our own
identity. The most important thing for us is mainly to stick to the
pure doom characterization which we intended to follow from the first stages
of the band's existence and shall intend to keep following in years to
come.
2. YOUR MUSIC IS FOUNDED ON LOW TUNED GUITARS
AND EXTENSIVE KEYBOARDS, ELEMENT THAT DEFINES MANY DEATH/DOOM BANDS. DO
YOU HAVE THIS STYLE IN MIND WHILE COMPOSING AND HOW IMPORTANT ARE KEYS
TO YOUR MUSIC?
No I don't think we ever had in mind of being
defined as a doom/death band, Our early metal influences can surely be
an asset which influences our tracks to sound likewise, but we strongly
believe we are a doom band. The keyboards inclusion in our compositions
is not something new for us. We had keyboards in our first year of existence
in 1991. Now we try to use it intelligently without sounding too exaggerated
and the most important thing is that we still sound as heavy as possible.
Keys are important to our music because they give it the distinct sound
that maybe not all doom bands have. Mario is a big MDB fan and he is heavily
into atmospheric metal bands but he has clearly understood our musical
and lyrical concepts, and knows how he has to use his keyboards abilities
to fit our songs. We mainly want to use keyboards for atmospherics and
some melody lines and background accompaniment.
3. KEYBOARDS ONLY USE A FEW SOUNDS LIKE CHURCH
ORGAN AND A COUPLE MORE. WAS IT DONE TO KEEP THE DARK AND MYSTICAL CHARACTER
OF THE BAND?
Yes definitely, we are are always attentive
for what sounds we use. We always have the idea of sounding really the
way we are. We will immediately know when things don't sound the way they
should be. The 2 sounds you mentioned are two of our most commonly used
sounds and they clearly define a dark mystical touch which is a major aspect
in our musical repertoire. Still Mario likes to experiment a lot especially
in the studio. Even the sound engineer at Temple studios gives us a very
good lending hand on atmospherics etc. We are very happy with the final
keyboards results.
4. YOU ALSO THANK GOD AMONG OTHER NAMES IN YOUR
THANKS LIST. HOW DOES THIS FIT WITH YOUR DARK ATTITUDE, YOUR MYSTICAL LYRICS
AND OF COURSE
YOUR NAME?
We are all Catholics, and we all believe in
God although we are not fanatic religious people either. We believe in
a superior essence who has created everything and ever human being. There
is a lot of spirituality present in our lyrics and a strong message of
hope and belief which we transmit through dark and mystical metaphorical
lyrics. For instance in Evermore we deal directly with our spiritual beliefs
especially in tracks like The Healer and Sufferance. This religious aspect
is very common in doom bands but we try to convey our message in a very
surreal way. In our new releases we also treat religion in a very dark
and mystical way. Examples are Via Crucis, A Martyr's Prayer and All is
Accomplished, You're right that the band”s name may sound very pessimistic
in a way but I strongly that we really feel Forsaken in this materialistic
world but there is a strong underlying feeling of not being Forsaken anymore
in another world after we pass away.
5. ONE CAN EASILY SEE THAT YOUR MUSIC IS EQUALLY
ATMOSPHERIC AND HEAVY. HOW WOULD YOU DIVIDE THE STYLE DOOM ROCK THAT THE
"EVERMORE" ALBUM HAD
FROM THE ORIENTATION THE "ICONOCLAST" AND
"ANIMA MUNDI" RELEASES HAVE? WHAT DIFFERENCES CAN YOU POINT OUT?
The songs on EVERMORE are the reflection of
a phase in which we where at that time. We listened to a host of all genres
of doom, from Stoner to Epic and really slow doom. It was a time where
I feel we where still searching the real direction which the band has to
take. I look very positively at this album, it clearly shows remarkable
musicianship and some really good ideas. But in my opinion the guitar should
have sounded much heavier and the drum sound more frontal in the mix. As
a matter of fact after the Evermore release there was a dull period for
the band due lack of compatibility on which direction to take. So we split
up for a few months.
After this break we talked energetically to
reform and we firmly decided to stick to our epic doom roots with a dark
edge. So we got in Mario on keyboards and started writing new material,
improving our guitar sound. The orientation of Iconoclast and Anima Mundi
starts from this new phase for the band, although again Forsaken had to
suffer through Daniel's illness and subsequent death. The difference from
these two releases is that on the later releases there is a much heavier
sound which we always wanted and an overall song writing maturity. Anima
and Iconoclast are definitely more in the dark epic vein thus showing a
clear direction the band has taken and intends to continue progressing
on.
6. HOW DIFFICULT IS IT FOR A BAND FROM A SMALL
COUNTRY LIKE MALTA TO CREATE ITS OWN NAME WITHIN A MUCH UNPOPULAR SCENE
LIKE DOOM? HOW DID YOU GET TO SIGN FOR A LABEL BASED ON THE NORTHERN END
OF EUROPE, SCOTALND WHEN MALTA MARKS ITS SOUTHERN BORDER?
We have been building contacts throughout
the globe from our early days, so there are people who have been following
us from those times. We where always fascinated by the way doom is respected
as a true underground scene which never becomes a trend. We always wanted
to show our music abroad. Yes in the beginning it was very difficult and
at a certain extent it still is because the distances are long and to send
demos etc it is expensive from here. But nowadays as regards to contacts,
things have become easier with email. Throughout these 14 years of hard
work and uphill struggle for some kind of recognition, I believe that we
have finally built a good name in the international doom scene which I
sincerely feel that we deserve.
After Daniel's death we finished in a make
or break situation. We decided to give a last chance to record something
and give it another try to get signed. So we re-entered Temple studios
and recorded 4 tracks. We only used three from these four to create the
2002 Demo, which was only sent to labels. We had some favorable replies
but we chose Golden Lake. These two Scottish brothers who run the label
where the first to answer immediately wanting to sign us, so after a few
discussions we decided to sign to Golden Lake. We based this decision on
the fact that these guys are really honest and know what they are doing
in the metal scene. In fact now there is a very good relationship based
on trust and true passion for metal in general.
7. MY FAVORITE SONG IS THE 11 MINUTE EPIC "THE
EYES OF PROMETHEUS" THAT KIND OF REMINDS ME OF DOOM/DEATH BANDS LIKE MY
DYING BRIDE. DO YOU AGREE? WHICH ONE IS YOUR FAVORITE SONG AND IF POSSIBLE,
TELL US WHY?
The Eyes of Prometheus is one of the heaviest
Forsaken tracks ever written. I really don't find any connections to MDB
and doom/death, I really think that its a pure slab of really heavy doom
metal especially listening to its mid section. There are riffs with a strong
Sabbathy feel going on in the song with a really epic chorus.
I don't really have a favorite track in Anima
Mundi because I really believe that we have put all our heart and soul
in all the tracks and I feel that all songs deserve equal respect.
8. "ANIMA MUNDI" IS DEDICATED TO YOUR FORMER GUITARIST
WHO PASSED AWAY NOT LONG AGO, DANIEL MAGRI. CAN YOU TELL US WHAT FORSAKEN
MISS FROM HIS
LOSS IN MUSICAL TERMS AND IN LIFE?
Daniel was primarily a great long time friend.
I got to know him in our secondary education lyceum. We used to lend albums
to each other and attend local gigs. When he joined Forsaken in 1992 our
friendship was obviously reconsolidated and his presence in the band is
missed a lot.
Musically speaking Daniel was a riff and melody
master. He was not technically gifted as much as Sean but he had a unique
bluesy feel and was really good at created really atmospheric melodies.
He was also a computer genius and involved himself a lot in studio because
he was fascinated by mixers and sound engineering.
9. ALL SONGS REFER TO FORSAKEN WHEN IT COMES TO
COMPOSING. HOW EXACTLY DO YOU COMPOSE AND WHICH ONE OF YOU BRINGS THE DIFFERENT
ELEMENTS THAT
COMBINE TO FORM YOUR SOUND?
Songs are composed in different ways. Sometimes
someone comes up with a couple of ideas or riffs which we combine together
to form a general idea of a track. Then everyone pulls in with his own
tastes and form a song. After wards we fit in a set of lyrics which
match the whole song's musical concept.
Sometimes it happens the other way round.
Myself or Albert come up with a set of lyrics, and Sean or maybe Mario
familiarize themselves with whats happening lyrically and start to
form riffs and build the song.
To form our sound, this is a subject which
has to be taken throughout our history, Guitar-wise Seam has strived for
years to accomplish his own sound being very heavy for riffs and a bit
mid ranged for solos. He has also upgraded his guitar selection and the
use of effects. I believe that we have our unique sound, and this is also
acknowledged even by the people who have been attending to our gigs from
the beginning. The keyboards sound is also important for the Forsaken identity
giving that mysterious touch.
Albert and Simon have also by time improved
their instruments for a more deep sound. Albert has new amplification
and a new ESP bass, whilst Simon now is endorsed by a Pearl kit.
10. THE ALBUM TITLE IS "ANIMA MUNDI" THAT PROBABLY
MEANS SOUL OF THE WORLD OR SOMETHING. CAN YOU TELL USA BIT ABOUT IT AND
ABOUT THE LYRICS IN GENERAL? HOW DOES THE FLAMING FIGURE ON THE COVER CONNECT
TO THE TITLE?
Anima Mundi means The Soul of the Earth. The
cover artwork depicts a fiery figure symbolizing mankind breeding a raven
symbolizing death. The message behind this cover artwork is that in these
present times mankind is slowly creating its own self destruction. This
is quite pessimistic but unfortunately quite true too.
The cover artwork is like a mirror of the
lyrics but in a very surreal way. There is an underlying expression of
disbelief in this materialistic world but a true expression of courage
and hope which in the end prevails. Songs like Kindred Veil and Carpe Diem
talk about Daniel's death and its impact on us. Kindred veil talks about
our bond of friendship which has remained strong albeit what has happened
and Carpe Diem is a call out for the band to rise for the challenges ahead.
11. THE SONGS "KINDRED VEIL" AND "ALL IS ACCOMPLISHED",
BESIDES BEING FIRST AND LAST RESPECTIVELY, THEY ARE ALSO MUCH CLOSER TO
THE LABEL EPIC/DOOM THAN ANY OTHER SONG IN THE ALBUM. WHERE THEY PUT THERE
FOR
REASONS OF FIRST AND LAST IMPRESSION, OR IT
JUST HAPPENED?
Kindred Veil was put as the first track because
it is an opening track . It is ideal to start an album with, there's a
massive intro which then changes on to an up tempo riff to charge up the
listener. We also like to open gigs with this song most of the time.
All is Accomplished talks about judgment day
and a retributed humanity fearing the loosing of the soul. The lyrics end
simply with the end of the world THIS IS THE END. So this song was put
there to finish up the album.
12. IF YOUR MUSIC WERE AN EMOTION, WHAT WOULD
IT BE? IF IT WERE A PAINTING, WHAT WOULD IT SHOW?
This is not an easy one. Well I can easily
say that our music is an emotion and I firmly believe that all true doom
is. I combine our music to darkened thoughts, religious belief, sadness
and joy. Our lyrics are basically about how the subconscious reacts towards
various circumstances of life. I would sum it up as a natural human emotions
conveyed through doom metal music.
If it was a painting I would show it exactly
like our Iconoclast m.c.d. Cover. The cross (symbol of doom) reigning
above everything. Doom metal, our true musical expression being the our
most important way of expressing our emotions.
13.WHICH ELEMENTS AND EMOTIONS DO YOU THINK THAT
YOU'D LIKE TO EVOLVE MORE ON YOUR NEXT ALBUM AND WHY?
On the next album we shall delve into some
different emotions and elements. Musically we are composing some of the
heaviest riffing we have always done and there are some really weird ideas
in our heads too. Lyrically we have a song called THE GHOLEM which depicts
the extreme mentalities in the middle east and how these affect innocent
people. Albert is writing lyrics about God as an essence being present
even in nothingness. This is going to be pretty weird and advanced, so
right now I don't know what he is coming up with. What I know is that he
reads a lot and if I understood him well he is building a three track theological
concept. There is a track I wrote about 6 years ago called Epitaphs of
Despair which we may include. It is about a person playing too much with
occult practices and finishes up slave of his own foolishness.
This time we trying to go into maybe some
weirder stuff which can be harder to explain but the music is still going
to be pure epic dark doom metal. PURE FORSAKEN.
14.ARE YOU SATISFIED BY THE FEEDBACK YOU GOT THIS
FAR? IS THERE A COMMON STATEMENT YOU GET TO READ OFTEN (REGARDING YOUR
MUSIC)?
We are very happy with the feedback we got
from our last two releases. To start with Iconoclast the label pressed
1500 copies. They are very happy with this outcome, and as regards Anima
Mundi their first 1000 copies were sold in merely 2 weeks and they have
pressed a 1000 more. So there is an improvement. When they told us about
this we were amazed because we are persons who keep our feet on the ground
and not expect too much.
As regards to reviews we don't complain either.
Negative reviews on the last two releases are of a minimal amount. One
can checkout the reviews section on our website.
A common statement we get about our music
is that we are an epic doom band but there is something more than epic
doom. We really like this statement because it is what we really are trying
to doom being closely knitted to the pure epic doom scene but in the same
time sounding typically ourselves by using this dark edge and our
influences in our music, like early metal and thrash hints.
15.DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS FOR LIVE SHOWS OR FOR
TOURING? WHICH WILL BE THE NEXT STEPS FOR FORSAKEN?
Right now we have decided to stay enclosed
in our garage and get fully reheared for our re entry in studio for the
next album. We are composing new songs and arrangements. So for now we
we heave left the live stage a bit in the corner to concentrate more on
the album. We have in mind to play live next October for the re release
of Evermore.
As regards to touring, after our strong rendition
at the Headbangers Open Air 07 last July in Germany, there are good contacts
in progress, which will maybe get us another opportunity to play abroad
again next year but these are still in very premature stages, so better
cross fingers and wait.
16.MALTA RECENTLY BECAME MORE FAMOUS CAUSE OF
THE MOVIE TROY. HAVE YOU SEEN THE MOVIE? WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT IT?
Yes I have seen the movie. I think its great
although people say that it is not exactly according to the original story.
But for me it is a very good film and thats what matters most. The battles
are really outrageous and spectacular.
My wife wanted to meet Brad Pitt at all costs
but it was very difficult due to very high security surrounding him here
in Malta. Films like Troy and Gladiator have given Malta lots of credibility
in the Film industry and if I am not mistaken other great producers are
planning to make really good films here in Malta.
17. THESE LINES BELONGS TO YOU. TELL WHATEVER
YOU WANT...
Thanks to both of you Nikos and George for
this very interesting interview and for all the support and interest you
have shown to Forsaken. It was a great pleasure for me contributing to
your webzine. I urge all of your Behind the Veil zine readers and metal
heads to be true to themselves, stay heavy and get a copy of Anima Mundi.
They will not be disappointed if they like soulful doom. So stay alert
for our next release next year. DOOM FOREVER ONWARDS.
George “Volt”
Tassis
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