ICE
CAKE
Weird name don't you think?
A name that grabbed my attention. Can this band play metal? How strong
is the connection of those French with heavy metal? The answer is simple.
Very strong and here we have Willy MIDOUX (Vocals) and Arno NICLOUX (Guitars)
talk about the band and everything that's relevant with the band.
1. HI! FIRST OF ALL POINT OUT THE
MOST IMPORTANT MOMENTS OF THE BAND’S HISTORY AND INTRODUCE YOURSELVES TO
THE READERS.
Ice Cake forms at the beginning
of the year 2000 at instigation of Gilles (drums), Willy (Lead vocals)
and Arnaud (guitar & Background vocals). The first repertoire is set
up quickly. But the group does not manage to find the ideal bass player
to complete the line-up (in spite of very numerous attempts). It does not
keep the band from composing and recording a first CD demo (Red Grass,
Loving Monday and With You) with the collaboration of Michel Pazgrat. The
result is brilliant, things look hopeful. The musicians are very fond of
a powerful, groovy and melodic music. At the end of September 2000, the
line-up is completed at length: Christian (Bass) set Ice Cake free in rehearsals
and open quickly the way to the stage. Then, the band shoot several concerts
one after the other in the region. Summer 2001, Ice Cake get back for the
third time in studio with Michel and La Belle Musique Association (LBMA)
to record the key title of the group: « Paradox ». After some
live presentations with some great bands like EDGUY, PAIN OF SALVATION,
SUP, NIGHTMARE, KILLERS… Ice Cake has recorded its first album with Anvil
Corp., out the 3rd November of 2003.
2. WHERE WAS “PARADOX” RECORDED? HOW
LONG DID IT TAKE YOU? WHO WAS THE PRODUCER? ARE YOU SATISFIED BY THE FINAL
RESULT? IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO CHANGE SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD THAT BE?
“Paradox” was recorded at the P’n’F
Studios (Châlons-en-Champagne). The recording took us 7 days. The
album was produced by John W. JONES. For us, the final result came up to
the best of our expectations, John did a really good job and if we had
the chance to change something we would have been present during the entire
final mix to modify some little effects. Unfortunately, we were working!
3. I NOTICED THAT IN SOME SONGS YOU
USE THE BASS A LOT AND IT HAS AN IMPORTANT ROLE. THE BASS IS PUT IN THE
FRONT ROW WITH THE PRODUCTION YOU DID. WHY? HOW IMPORTANT IS THE BASS FOR
YOUR MUSIC?
We are a quartet! Every musician
has his importance, his place and his role. Moreover, we play with only
one guitar, the power is brought by the bass player too.
4. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND?
YOU HAVE LOW TUNED AND GROOVY GUITARS AND SOME REALLY GREAT VOCALS AND
HEAVY RIFFS ARE MIXED WITH PROGRESSIVE RHYTHMS AND SOME PSYCHEDELIC ELEMENTS.
DO YOU AGREE? IF YOU HAD TO GIVE A NAME TO YOUR MUSIC, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?
WHICH BANDS INFLUENCED YOUR SOUND THE MOST?
We totally agree with your point
of view. Powerful, melodic and groovy are the three words which described
our music. If we had to give a name to our music, we would say… metal groove.
We are influenced by Sevendust, Dream Theater, Freak Kitchen, Creed…
5. WHERE ARE YOUR LYRICS REFERRING
TO? WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO WRITE LYRICS AND WHAT CAN TAKE THE INSPIRATION
AWAY FROM YOU?
The lyrics are inspired by fantastic
movies like “The 6th sense”, “Stigmata”… paranormal items, or society items
like drugs, money…
6. DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS FOR LIVE SHOWS?
YOU HAVE PARTICIPATED IN SOME BIG METAL FESTIVALS WITH GREAT BANDS. CAN
YOU SHARE SOME OF YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH US? HOW WAS IT FOR YOU TO PLAY
IN SUCH A WIDE AUDIENCE? DO YOU REMEMBER ANY WEIRD OR IMPORTANT INCIDENT
TO MENTION?
You are very well informed! We
have really good souvenirs concerning live performances on big stage like
the Raismefest with Edguy, Pain of salvation or more recently at Paris
with the Canadians of Slaves on Dope. We enjoy the fact that each time,
the public support us with a real enthusiasm. For the present we have some
live dates for 2004, but not a tour.
7. TELL US A FEW THINGS REGARDING THE
ARTWORK. WHAT DOES THE FRONT COVER SHOW? IS THIS THE PLANET EARTH? WHAT
DO YOU WANT TO EXPRESS AND HOW IS IT CONNECTED TO THE LYRICS?
The artwork has been realized by
Ludovic RAZIN (http://ludovic.razin.free.fr)
a friend of us who is professional graphic designer. The idea was to realize
something abstract and close to our music. It’s the result of Ludovic’s
inspiration. We are very proud of his work.
8. AS FOR THE REST OF THE BOOKLET.
WHY DIDN’T YOU INCLUDE THE LYRICS AND WHAT DO THESE DRAWINGS SHOW? THEY
LOOK LIKE THE SIGNS FOUND IN SOME FIELDS THAT ARE CONSIDERED TO HAVE BEEN
CREATED BY U.F.O.S AND WHAT IS THIS DRAWING BELOW YOUR PERSONAL THANKS
LIST ?
As we said before, it’s the free
inspiration of Ludovic and everyone can imagine what he wants ! Concerning
the lyrics, you can consult them on our official web site (www.icecake.fr.st).
9. ARE YOU SATISFIED BY THE FEEDBACK
YOU GOT THIS FAR? IS THERE A COMMON STATEMENT YOU SEE REPEATED IN ALMOST
ALL THE REVIEWS YOU GET?
Yes, the different reviews all
over the world are really good! We are satisfied. The common statement
we see repeated is that our music is varied with different influences and
that the album’s production is enormous!
10. WHICH ARE ACCORDING TO YOU YOUR
BEST AND MOST APPEALING ELEMENTS AND IN WHICH FIELD DO YOU THINK YOU NEED
FURTHER IMPROVEMENT?
The best? It’s the fact that we
are a band, a real entire band. Before to be the members of ICE CAKE, we
are friends and for us it’s very important. It’s our power! Concerning
a further improvement? We need more maturity in our music, and we think
with the new songs we have composed for the second album, we are on the
right way.
11. WHAT NEW DO YOU HAVE TO OFFER TO
THE METAL SCENE? IF SOMEONE ASKED YOU WHY HE SHOULD PREFER TO BUY YOUR
ALBUM INSTEAD OF ANOTHER RELEASE, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL HIM?
We are not prophets, but we think
that our music has something special because we have 80’s influences concerning
the melody and actual influences for the sound and the power. It’s an interesting
mixture! It’s for these things that you must buy our album!
12. IF YOUR MUSIC WERE AN EMOTION,
WHAT WOULD IT BE? IF IT WERE A PAINTING, WHAT WOULD IT SHOW?
Our music would be an element like
fire or water. Something powerful in fact. As a painting, it would be the
booklet actually!
13. WHY DID YOU NAME THE BAND ICE CAKE?
IT’S A WEIRD NAME. HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH IT?
The name is taken from a song of
the Steve Morse's band, the "Dixie Dregs". A song named "Ice Cakes". A
song that Gilles and Arno used to play at the beginning. It came up simply
when we were looking for a band's name because we like this song.
14. WHAT TITLE WOULD YOU LIKE THIS
INTERVIEW TO HAVE?
15. THANK YOU! HAVE I FORGOTTEN TO
ASK YOU ANYTHING AND YOU’D LIKE TO MENTION?
Thank you for your interesting,
deep and unusual questions. It was a pleasure. And now, let's take a piece
of cake!
Christine
Parastatidou
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