Negative
Creeps
Negative Creeps belongs
to that category of bands that can make a difference and allow the worldwide
metal press deal with the Greek metal scene. Their music is tight, well
played and their hardcore/thrash metal with some death metal tinges has
all these ingredients that will allow even the most choosy and difficult
fan of this branch relate to their music and enjoy "Mutual Annihilation".
Let's see what Makis, the band's vocalist told us...
1.FIRST OF ALL, POINT OUT THE MOST IMPORTANT,
ACCORDING TO YOU, MOMENTS OF YOUR CAREER AND INTRODUCE YOURSELVES TO THE
READERS.
The current line up of the band is me Makis
(vocals), John (guitar), Panos (guitar), George (bass) and Tomek (drums).Talking
for me the live show at Rodon Club along with Rotting Christ in 2001, the
signing of the contract with Black Lotus and the live shows with Biohazard
and D.R.I. in Athens are the most important moments till now. Finnaly I
must also say that one more very important moment was the live show at
Izmir Turkey which is something unforgetable. But I also believe that every
live show is important and unique.
2.WHICH ARE THE MAIN SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES
BETWEEN “MUTUAL ANNIHILATION” AND “IN UTERUS REBIRTH“? IN WHICH FIELDS
DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE PROGRESSED AND WHICH ELEMENTS YOU HAVEN'T ALTERED?
WHICH IS YOUR PERSONAL STIGMA?
“Mutual Annihilation” came as the sequence
of “Inuterus Rebirth”. M.A. is more solid and concrete than I.R. where
we were more experimental and open minded and we also wanted to give to
the listener our musical preferances in general. With M.A. we play the
kind of music that is more representative to what Negative Creeps want
to play and also we are more mature. For sure we have not altered our attitude
and way of expression which I believe are our stigma.
3.IF A METALLER CAME ASKING YOU FOR YOUR OPINION
ABOUT “MUTUAL ANNIHILATION” AND TRYING TO BE AS OBJECTIVE AS POSSIBLE,
WHAT WOULD YOU TELL HIM? WHICH ARE THE THINGS THAT CAN SET YOU APART FROM
THE REST OF THE RELEASES?
I would say to him/her that “Mutual Annihilation”
is a fine example of solid, aggressive thrashing metalcore. A hearing that
will not live you in apathy and a great try to combine the old with the
new. The thing that can set it apart from the rest of the releases is simple…It
is Negative Creeps.-
4.THE PRODUCTION IS VERY GOOD AND GENERALLY THE
WHOLE RELEASED IS WRAPPED UP WITH A PROFESSIONAL AURA AND ATTITUDE. WHERE
HAS IT TAKEN PLACE, WHO WAS THE PRODUCER? ARE YOU FULLY SATIFSFIED WITH
THE FINAL RESULT OR IS THERE SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO CHANGE?
The recording sessions took place at Praxis
Studio by Lambros. After that we took the whole thing and start working
on it. John, our main guitar player, made the mastering and the mix at
Zer0 studio which is our studio.I believe that one can never be totally
satisfied and by listening to the CD over and over again we always find
things that could change but mainly we have the opinion that we have achieved
a good result.
5.YOU HAVE INFLUENCES FROM BOTH THE THRASH METAL
AND THE HARDCORE GENRE. INFLUENCES THAT ARE PERFECTLY BLENDED IN TOGETHER
AND OFFER TO YOUR MUSIC A VERY FRESH SOUND. CAN YOU MENTION SOME OF YOUR
MOST BELOVED ALBUMS AND MUSICIANS THAT SET THEIR SEAL UPON YOU AND YOUR
MUSIC?
Each one of us in the band has his own likes
and influences. We try to blend these influences and the result is what
you listen when you listen to Negative Creeps. It is a bit difficult to
mention some names. We are influenced from genres such as Thrash and Death
music, sometimes Black metal, sometimes Hardcore or sometimes just Metal.
6.SINCE THE PROMO CD DOESN'T CONTAIN ANY LYRICS,
I'D LIKE YOU TO COMMENT ON THEM AND REVEAL THE MAIN TOPICS OF YOUR SONGS.
WHERE DO YOU DRAW INFLUENCE FROM?
The lyrics are mainly inspired and influenced
from the things and the situations in our worldwide society.We describe
our point of view, our thoughts and our attitude towards all this lie about
worldwide peace and harmony and freedom and also fake people and way of
life, when we can all realize that everything is done for power dommination
and money!Humans have gone mad and the only thing we can do about it is
to scream in their face hoping that they will open their ears and eyes.
We also describe personal experiences and believes and the use of an allegorical
way of expression is always legitimate.
7.DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS FOR LIVE SHOWS OR FOR
TOURING? YOU DID MANY LIVE APPEARANCES IN GREECE, SO I SUPPOSE IT'S TIME
TO CONQUER THE FANS OUTSIDE OUR BORDERS TOO. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE READY
FOR SUCH A LEAP? DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS OR NOT YET?
A lot of things and ideas are under consideration
and we are making some plans for the future.We feel ready to make our next
step abroad. We would like to participate in a festival or some kind of
tour in Europe and play live in Greece as much as we can.Nothing is impossible
and we are on it.
8.AS I SAID IN THE QUESTION ABOVE, YOU HAVE GAINED
QUITE SOME EXPERIENCE WITH YOUR LIVE SHOWS. SO, WHICH WERE THE MOST IMPORTANT
THINGS YOU EARNED FROM ALL THIS? YOU PERFORMED LIVE IN IZMIR, HOW WERE
THINGS THERE? THE TURKISH METALLERS SEEM TO APPRECIATE GREEK METAL A LOT...
Playing live makes the band stronger, more
mature and more experienced. And not forgetting the relationship between
the band and our friends/fans which is getting stronger through each show.
The show in Izmir is something that we will never forget! It was our first
show abroad and we were a bit anxious. We did not know what to expect but
when we went on stage everything was clear. The fans there were crazy,
headbanging and doing the mosh dance all the time. The whole thing was
organized, people were very helpful and friendly and we had a damn great
time.We drunk a lot of beers too and taste their great (spicy) food!!!
We hope that we will have the opportunity to play for all those crazy people
again.
9.TELL US A FEW THINGS ABOUT THE ARTWORK. I DIDN'T
LIKE IT TO BE HONEST. I DON'T THINK IT SUITS YOUR MUSIC AND I FIND IT TOO
“LITTLE”, VERY PLAIN. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF IT?
We needed something row and also dark…even
a little bit sick if I can say.The photos were taken from us and we gave
the material to Seth and he did his art and we believe he did it damn well.
One can give his own explanation of what the artwork stands for like I
have given mine. For me you can see the remains of lady Democracy or lady
Justice up on a some kind of surgical table. In the booklet there are some
more confusing ideas and images but also conventional to what we needed
to give to the humans. Generaly we are very satisfied from the whole concept
of the artwork.
10.IF SUDDENLY ELECTRICITY CEASED DO EXIST, WHAT
WOULD YOU DO? DO YOU THINK YOU'D BE AB;E TO REPRODUCE NEGATIVE CREEPS'
MUSIC OR AT LEAST THE ENERGY AND THE FEELING OF YOUR MUSIC OR NOT?
Even in such an occasion Negative Creeps would
never cease to exist.It is something more than just the sound you get when
you listen to Negative Creeps. For me it is also the attitude and the way,
something that exists within us as humans. I believe that we would find
a way to produce our sound. Electricity is the main thing for the sound
but there is not only this. Generaly if electricity ceased to exist there
would be some kind of chaos worldwide and I believe this would be so….romantic…(hehehehe)
and would give us bigger incentives to have new ideas for our music….
11.IF TIME TRAVEL WAS POSSIBLE, WHERE WOULD YOU
LIKE TO GO AND WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE?
I have thought about that and I have come
to the conclusion that going back to Roman years would be great! I would
like to participate to a Roman feast. I would also like to go to Dallas
the day J.F.Kennedy was murdered from his own people.
12.IF YOUR MUSIC WERE AN EMOTION, WHAT WOULD IT
BE? IF IT WERE A PAINTING, WHAT WOULD IT SHOW?
I believe that it would have something to
do with anger, hostility…somekind of appetite for vengeance. As for the
painting…something having hell as the main theme.
13. IF YOU COULD INVITE FAMOUS MUSICIANS TO PARTICIPATE
IN YOUR ALBUM, WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND WHY?
Some people that we would like to see in the
same studio,with us are: Lombardo Dave, Cavalera Max, Lalonde Larry, Anselmo
Phil, Jordison Joey, Garm, Trujillo Robert, Taylor Corey and many many
more….There are so many musicians out there that this could go on and on
. Now why them? Because they are great on what they do and that’s all.
14.WHAT TITLE WOULD YOU LIKE THIS INTERVIEW TO
HAVE? WHICH PHRASE DO YOU THINK IS SUITABLE FOR YOU AND YOUR MUSIC?
Well nothing fancy…just “Talking with Negative
Creeps” should be ok. For me a phrase I like to use is “keep your mind
safe” and I thing there is a bit of that in our music because we want to
keep humans in alertness through our music and lyrics.
15.THANK YOU! LEAVE YOUR MESSAGE TO THE READERS...
Thank you for this interview and to all the
humans out there..keep your mind safe.Cheers.-
Christine Parastatidou
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