Sirens
Of Lament
Although Sirens Of Lament
exist only a few months, they gave me a blast, when I listened to their
demo "Masks Thrown Off...". This is one of the best releases (both official
and demo) I've ever listened to and in fact I can't even imagine this band
being neglected and not signed. I don't think anyone who doesn't have a
hearing problem won't be able to recognize the potential, abilities and
wonderful songwriting skills of these guys. I think it's a must for all
of you who are into clever melodic death metal music, to give them a chance!!!
Lambros is here to present the band and its goals to all of us...
1. FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR
AMAZING DEMO! IT’S UNBELIEVABLE!
We’re glad you liked it!!
2. THE WEIRD THING IS THAT YOU ONLY EXIST A YEAR
AS A BAND AND YET YOU HAVE MANAGED TO CREATE A HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL DEMO!
SO, GIVE US A SHORT BAND BIO AND INTRODUCE THE LINE UP…
The band was founded back in 2004 by Lambros
L. (guitars) and Panagiotis T. (guitars). Both students of Ioannina’s university,
starting to work on ideas they both had. As it carried on well, they believed
it was time to finally complete the scenery and find the missing links!
That task was the most difficult to achieve in such a small provincial
town. After a few months of tiring efforts the band was joined by Dimitris
K. (drums), Panagiotis V. (vocals) and Giorgos M. (bass) and started rehearsing.
In only 4 months time the band was ready to record! So it did. The destination
was Athens, so to try and get the best sound possible for the money gathered.
It took the band a total of 48 hours to successfully complete the demo-cd.
Then followed the making of the cd’s artwork and next the difficult trail
of promoting it!!
3. YOU BELONG TO THE MELODIC DEATH METAL SCENE
AND YOUR SOUND IS CLOSE TO PIONEERING BANDS OF THE GENRE, SUCH AS DARK
TRANQUILLITY, AT THE GATES, IN FLAMES, THE HAUNTED, ETC. RIGHT? ARE THERE
ANY OTHER BANDS YOU LIKE AND YOU “USE” AS A REFERENCE TO YOUR MUSIC?
Apart from being influenced by bands that
belong in the same genre we actually allowed ourselves to put in our music
whatever we all liked to hear. After all we believe it’s not a nice thing
to connect your band name with others, because in such ways you tell the
listener what to expect and not expect, but in the end they maybe misled!
So we probably wouldn’t use any references at all!
4. IN A TIME WHEN HALF OF THE BANDS (IT’S AN EXAGGERATION
OF COURSE) PLAY MELODIC DEATH METAL OR HARDCORE, HOW DO YOU THINK YOU CAN
STAND OUT FROM ALL THOSE BANDS?
Our perspective is not to stand out by doing
something that sells or something out of our lives but stand out by being
true in what we do (even if it means we’ll stay underground!).
5. I WROTE IN MY REVIEW THAT YOUR COMPOSITIONS
ARE GREAT WITH CATCHY RIFFS AND HOOKS AND SUPERB VOCALS. HOWEVER, IF YOU
WERE GIVEN THE CHANCE TO PRESENT AND REVIEW “MASKS THROWN OFF…”, WHAT WOULD
YOU SAY, TRYING TO BE AS OBJECTIVE AS POSSIBLE?
We don’t think we can be as objective as a
listener because we lived it from day one and till the end, when it was
finally completed! However, we believe we would have liked it for
it is strong, well-produced, melodic, not boring because all songs have
a variety of themes and also the lyrics refer to every restless human being…
6. TELL US A FEW THINGS FOR THE LYRICAL CONTENT
OF THE DEMO BY INTRODUCING EACH SONG. WHICH ARE YOUR SOURCES OF INSPIRATION?
There is no specific source of inspiration.
If one has something to say and can put it on paper so he does! Panagiotis
V wrote our first track, “Masks Thrown Off...” The content is about masks
that fall every day and the truth that is being revealed. It’s a short
track, an angry one that has one and only purpose, to spit in the face
of liars and pretenders. Lambros L. wrote our second track, “Sinners Pay”,
in order to be ironic to those who pretend in relationships and step on
people’s feelings. Nothing more, nothing less! “Condemned soul”, written
by Panagiotis T., is about all of the above in a way! Pain and anxiety
caused by those who wish to see you lying down helpless, cast you in need
and then ditch you out there bleeding! “Macabre Sunsets”, written by Lambros
L., is about war, but in the way that the band sees it! The other face
of war, the cruel one, the one behind the mask! The one behind the conqueror
or the conquered, the real one, the disgusting one that is so fatal for
people’s relationships but souls also! “Nepenthe”, written by Lambros L.,
is what we would call the poetic one! It starts and ends with recitation
and goes on with brutal vocals enriched with clear vocals. This track is
up to the listener to understand it the way he wants, suit it in his life
and experiences. In a way the track talks about someone that is wandering
in the depths of his mind and life and tries to see the truth in everything.
Criticizes the world surrounding him, the people surrounding him, the fake
image of one’s self in the mirror, the one behind the mask, the one we
all prefer to see and ignore the real one! It is somehow sad, but we believe
it speaks the truth!
7. WHAT’S THE BEST AND WHAT’S THE WORST PART IN
YOUR MUSIC, ACCORDING TO YOU?
We believe the best part is that we are not
boring, meaning that the themes, riffs, vocals etc. aren’t repeating themselves,
the music progresses in a way in most songs and its not tiring to hear,
not boring! Worst part is that the band exists only a few months and if
somebody listens carefully he might understand our influences. We haven’t
managed yet to move away from what we like to hear and it affects our writing
and composing! But doesn’t that happen always? We think it’s inevitable
in the beginning until you create your own sound and feeling in your playing!
8. HAVE YOU SENT THE DEMO TO ANY LABELS AND ZINES?
WHAT KIND OF FEEDBACK HAVE YOU RECEIVED TILL NOW? ARE YOU UNDER NEGOTIATION
WITH ANY LABEL?
The demo has been sent to many labels and
the truth is that some of them came back to us with interest! We’re negotiating
with three labels but aren’t sure yet where to sign. We’ve also sent our
work to a few e-zines, including you, and the feedback in most cases was
satisfying, but in some others it was disappointing, saying even that our
sound is terrible, that the artwork is not good etc., something that is
absolutely wrong at least for the quality of the recording! In our country
we believe that a more professional work for a debut demo is much too expensive
for a band to bear!! So our answer to all those who do nothing but backstab
bands that really try to do something, is f*** off and go home for they
aren’t worth being in their places! You know and we all know who you are…
9. I LIKED THE COVER ARTWORK A LOT. THE DEMO TITLE
IS “MASKS THROWN OFF” AND IF I AM NOT MISTAKEN THE COVER IS X-RAYS OF A
SKULL? IT’S NOT CLEAR. SO WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IT? DESCRIBE IT AND TELL
US WHAT’S THE CONNECTION WITH THE TITLE?
Well the one to shoot is Lambros L., for he
created the booklet!!! That’s right, it is x-rays of a skull! Under the
beauty of the flesh, that hides the interior, lies the unbearable liar
within, the slave of jealousy, the slave of ugliness! No mask can finally
hide the inside. It will come to light, even by death…but it will!
10. IF YOUR MUSIC WERE AN EMOTION, WHAT WOULD
IT BE? IF IT WERE A PAINTING, WHAT WOULD IT SHOW?
Something disturbing, revolting in a way.
A lot of pain and anxiety disguised. If we had to put it on canvas we believe
it would be a painting from the renaissance, with vivid colors and expressive
characters who reflect the power and uniqueness of the human spirit.
11. THINGS ARE DIFFICULT IN GREECE. I’VE COME
TO REALIZE QUITE MANY YEARS NOW THAT FEW GREEK METALLERS SUPPORT THE SCENE.
HAVE YOU REALIZED THAT OR DO YOU THINK METALHEADS HAVE BEEN “KIND” TO YOU?
Those who liked our work show some interest,
as well as other guys who just want to help upcoming bands. But they are
only a few.
12. ARE THERE ANY PLANS FOR LIVE SHOWS IN THE
HORIZON?
Yes of course! We’re thirsty for live action!
Our first appearance was in 14/5/2005 here in Ioannina, with Rotting Christ.
It went very well, we believe that besides the fact that we had no time
left for sound check we did good with real nerve onstage.
13. LET’S SUPPOSE THAT SUDDENLY ONE DAY ELECTRICITY
CEASED TO EXIST. WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD HAPPEN TO HEAVY METAL MUSIC? HOW
WOULD SUCH A WORLD BE?
It would be unbearable, but those who truly
love metal would find a way to recreate all these sounds we’ve come up
to love!
14. IF YOU COULD INVITE FAMOUS MUSICIANS TO PARTICIPATE
IN YOUR ALBUM, WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND WHY?
Well, our singer says he would like to invite
Anastasia because of her voice variety!! Nevertheless, in our plans is
to add some parts in a couple of songs performed by classical instruments.
15. THANK YOU! HAVE I FORGOTTEN TO ASK YOU ANYTHING
THAT YOU’D LIKE TO MENTION?
No, we believe that is all! Thank you very
very much for your time and interest! And wait for a lot more from
us in the future, that’s a promise.
Christine Parastatidou
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