Deus Diabolus Inversus

HORRIFIED

Horrified are one of the oldest Greek metal bands. Their latest release under the title “Deus Diabolus Inversus” is, according to me, their best release ever, but I think we should better listen to what they have to tell us…

1.THE BAND APPEARED IN THE FOREGROUND AFTER 3 YEARS OF ABSENCE WITH A NEW ALBUM "MOVING" IN MORE MELODIC FORMS. WHICH IS THE FIRST THING YOU WANT TO SAY TO THE PEOPLE?

Hmmm…shoot me! What could I say now? (laughter). I think that this is the best work we have ever done and it manages to combine the aggressiveness with maturity. It’s something in between our first 2 albums, a more mature combination of both I’d say.

2.WHAT WERE YOU BEING DOING ALL THESE YEARS OF YOUR ABSENCE?

I was somewhere in between London and Scotland, working and studying at the same time cinematography. Stauros was in tours with bands like Rotting Christ, Nightfall, etc.

3.YOU SAID THAT YOU STUDIED CINEMATOGRAPHY. WHERE EXCACTLY HAVE YOU CONCENTRATED ON?

I mainly concentrated in special effects, 3D animation, etc.

4.TELL US A FEW THINGS ABOUT DEUS DIABOLUS INVERSUS. DOES IT DEAL WITH A SPECIFIC THEMATOLOGY?

It’s a concept album in a way. We are trying to show that devil is a God’s layer, thus they are two things that co-exist. It is perhaps an alternative suggestion for the co-existence of two spirits. Maybe we could view it in a more “wicked” way in the substance of those things.

5.THE PRODUCTION WAS AMAZING AND TOOK PLACE IN FREDMAN STUDIOS AND THE MIXING WAS MADE BY FREDRIK NORDSTROM. TELL US A FEW THINGS. HOW IS IT TO WORK WITH SUCH A PRO?

Thank you for your kind words. The truth is that we got washed out by it (laughter). We have been there with Septic Flesh. Fredrik Nordstrorm listened to our songs, we talked, we settled on something…and the sequence took place in the Mastering Room. Our presence in Sweden was an amazing experience. We had the chance to see in professional levels how the mixing of an album is done.

6. I THINK THAT THIS MADE THE DIFFERENCE IN HORRIFIED’S SOUND.

This is the truth. I am not suggesting that there aren’t any good producers in Greece as well, but perhaps we are a little “behind” in technical standards. Of course things in Greece are much better now regarding the past years.

7.THE PARTICIPATION OF OPETH’S FRONTMAN MIKAEL AKERFIELD WAS A PLEASANT SURPRISE. TELL US SOME THINGS ABOUT IT. WILL THERE BE A FOLLOW UP?

Whilst we were mixing our album, Opeth were recording “Deliverance” and we had the chance to meet with Akerfield, who listened to our songs, liked them and agreed (after we asked him to do so) to participate in "Avatar Of The Age Of Horus". It wasn’t anything planned from us or the labels. It just happened.

8.HOW WAS HE AS A PERSON, MODEST OR SNOB?

He was a quite simple and pleasant person. His behavior was remarkable. Generally, Opeth are an amazing band, very nice guys and great musicians.

9.YOU ARE A QUITE OLD BAND IN THE GREEK METAL SCENE, SO WHICH OTHER GREEK BANDS CAN YOU PICK OUT OR WHICH HAVE THEY IMPRESSED YOU (THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE IN THE FOREGROUND)?

The bands that according to me make the difference are Septic Flesh, Homo Iratus and Nightrage, who are Marios’ (x-Exhumation) band and also participate Gus G. On the guitars, some At The Gates members and very big metal names. It is a supergroup I’d say, that plays a weird mixture of technical Death with Thrash elements.

10.WHICH ARE YOUR MAIN INFLUENCES AS A BAND? WHICH BANDS DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE TOP (NOT NECESSARILY ONLY IN METAL MUSIC)?

I like a lot Opeth, Dimmu Borgir, Slayer and Stauros on the other hand doesn’t listen to metal only, but also bands like Slipknot, Ronny Elfman,etc. Generally I think that Horrified have their own personal sound, there are elements from other bands as well, but not only from the metal genre. I think that Horrified’s music is a mixture of all these.

11.HOW DO YOU VALUE THE GREEK AUDIANCE? DO YOU THINK THEY ARE MATURE ENOUGH TO ACCEPT MUSICAL EXPERIMENTATIONS THAT A BAND CAN DO ACCORDING TO EACH SOUND?

In the past days, whilst we were touring with Rotting Christ, I had the feeling that people embraced something new. Now, things are a little more complicated I think, with all these tones of bands and the different branch of metal they play. There are people that if they will listen to a new release, they won’t like it, but if a friend suggested them this release, they would adore it! It depends on the character, some are more open in new proposals and some are stuck in the past.

12.DO YOU BELIEVE THAT CD PIRACY KILLS THE MUSIC OR THE PROFITEERING OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY?

It might sound weird to you, but I think that cd piracy might help music, because it might force labels to cut the prices. It’s not logical a cd that worths along with the packaging around 1,5 Euro, the stores to sell it with a price 10 times over. And I’d say ok, if the bands, earned some money from it. There are very few bands that earn money and on the other hand there are well known bands that we all think they make a lot of money but the truth is very different.

13.NOW THAT YOU MENTION IT, JESPER FROM IN FLAMES SAID SOMETHING RELEVANT…

In Flames make something out of it (laughter) to spend the next 2-3 years... But after that? It’s something that you dedicate your youth and you don’t make any money, but on the contrary some other do on your behalf. I think that the prices will fall in the future if the labels want to have competition and consumerism. If a CD costs something more than a copy, people will prefer to buy the original one and the market will turn towards this direction and things will become better for the artists as well. I am not in favor of cd-piracy,but this thing can’t go on with labels making more money than the artists.

14.DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ENOUGH SPACE FOR A GREEK BAND HERE OR SHOULD IT SPREAD ITS WINGS ABROAD?

If you make the right choices why not? I don’t see any reason for not having a bright future. Things have changed in Greece. It’s not yet as it is abroad, but things are better. Black Lotus is a serious label and consists power in heavy metal. It’s not strange having all these bands. Our voices can be heard abroad. I am not suggesting that if a band has a chance to sign with a foreign label, to reject it. They can do careful movements and if there is talent and the right mood, then the good chances will come along...

15. WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN TO METAL MUSIC IN THE FUTURE?

I think that the dominating feeling is “back to the roots”. Most of the bands leave aside the electronic elements and the extreme use of female vocals and they try to play like in the old times, with a straighter sound. We find the same tendency in the cinema as well, as we see many movies with scripts dated back in the 60s, to be filmed. I think that when something returns from evolution, it will return in the old ways but it will be refreshed in its roots.

16. WHICH ARE THE BAND’S NEXT PLANS, SOME LIVE SHOWS PERHAPS?

We will appear live in Greece and maybe abroad. Our co-operation with Fredrik Nordstrorm, will be continued. If our album finds any recognition abroad we might appear live in some other countries as well.

17.I WISH YOU THE BEST AND I HOPE THE ALBUM GOES WELL AND THE THINGS THAT WILL FOLLOW WILL BE EVEN BETTER!

Thank you for your nice words, I hope you are well and I wish the best with your Webzine.

I would like here to thank Horrified and Andreas Stasinopoulos from Black Lotus for the help in arranging and making this interview possible. Stay Heavy guys!!!

Costas “C.O.B” Meidanis

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