• Solitude Aeturnus is a name whispered with admiration and much appreciation by all doom metallers. Is a name with a big value. The fans can expect only good and quality albums from them. So, keeping that in mind we couldn't leave the chance and not talk to them about varius moments of their history.

• A little bit of both really.  Although first and foremost we must be satisfied.  Actually we make music to entertain ourselves and we do hope that the fans will like it but we never make music only because we think someone else will like it.

2. There are many oriental elements in your music. Why's that?

• Robert and myself are big fans of Eastern music and scales.  There is a certain mystical quality to the eastern musical scales that fits in rather well with our dark souls.

3. Which are your favorite subjectsyou like to "hurt" through your lyrics? Strange fantastic stories or ones that refer to human emotions?

• We don’t write fantasy type lyrics and don’t really care for them that much. We’re more into lyrics that deal with the dark side of the human mind, emotional traumas and events in life that strike us as relevant to ourselves and the world.

4. How difficult is for a band with only outstanding jobs to keep the quality high? Are you nervous about it?

• Working real jobs pretty much sucks the life out of us, but what can we do.  We take our time when we write music and don’t create any deadlines.  That’s why it’s been 4 years since our last album!

5. Robert Lowe is one of the top doom metal singers ever. Does the metal community conceive his value? What response do you get for him?

• I agree.  I think Robert is one of the best metal vocalist to ever come out.  His style and the tone of his voice is very unique.  He sounds like no one else.  I think a lot of people in the metal community recognize his talent and he does receive a lot of praise for his efforts but of course you have a part of the metal world that doesn’t like this style of vocals and so they don’t like Robert.  Oh well.

6. How serious was the departure of count Lyle from the band?

• It was pretty bad for me, because Lyle was always working with me on ideas and things to push the band.  Without him I’ve had to do more work.  But we’ve recovered ok from that I think.  Adagio is our best album and Lyle didn’t have any part in writing or working on it so we’ve managed to fill in the hole that he left quite nicely.  Lyle is a great person and I only wish him the best.

7. Most of SA covers never show something specific and are difficult to understand what they really show. Do you do that undeliberately or you are fond of strange covers that create a mysterious first impression?

• I just want the artwork to create an atmosphere that co-exits with the music, if that makes any sense.  It’s important for the artwork to capture the mood of the music.

8. Although many think that Downfall is your weakest album -even you think that!- , there are others, including me, that think that is one of your best. Have you changed your minds over this album after 6 years?

• I’ve always loved the album musically speaking but I still think it’s ruined by horrible production.  There is no power to the recording.  It’s a shame because I think it’s our most adventurous album that we’ve done.  I love the music and I still like the album quite a bit, but just not the production.

9. Which one do you think is your best album?

• I like all albums equally in terms of the music, although I find myself listening to Through the Darkest Hour a lot.

10. Name your 3 top doom and heavy metal in general albums.

• Fates Warning Awaken the Guardian
• Candlemass Epicus Doomicus
• Black Sabbath  anything!!!!!

11. Have you got any new good doom metal bands in mind that you like?

• There are plenty of great new bands out there right now!!  Thunderstorm, Forsaken, Mourning Beloveth, Sourvein, Eternal Elysium, and the Texas Well of Souls spring to mind.

12. The state of Texas has given metal some of the top bands in many genres such as yourselves, Watchtower and Pantera. Why do you think that happens?

• I’m asked this question a lot and to be honest I really don’t know!  Texas is a special place in America and the music scene here is always good including the metal.  Maybe it’s just because our state is so freaking big!  Or maybe the heat drives us crazy and demented to produce some of the most intense music around.  I’m not sure.

13. You are considered to be the equal succesors of Candlemass. What do you think of them?

• I love Candlemass.  Pretty much everything that Leif has done is great.  The Abstract Algebra disc was brilliant.  I hope they will do a new album since the reunion.   The remasters that were just released are absolutely essential for anyone into doom.

14. Which ones are your favorite SA songs to perform live and are these the ones the fans like the most?

• Hmmm.   Fans seem to like Destiny Falls to Ruin, The Hourglass and Falling.  My favorites to perform are Eternal (pure evil), Opaque Divinity, Seeds of the Desolate and Mental Pictures.

15. There seems to be a special thing about the song "Destiny falls to ruin" for the fans while played live. What do you think that special thing is?

• Maybe it’s the catchy singalong chorus or the fast parts towards the middle of the song that gets the crowd going.  It is a great song.  Very simple and effective.

16. Can you remember the best live show you ever gave and the one that meant a lot to you?

• Last years Bang Your Head was special to me because we played on the same stage as Judas Priest!!  I honestly can’t remember the best show we’ve ever done.  There’s been some great ones and there has been some awful ones as well.  Touring with Mercyful Fate way back in ’94 was a highlight every nite for me since they are one of my favorite bands.

17. How is brainticket records doing?

• It’s a struggle to run an independent heavy label here in the states but I’m still doing it!  We’ve released some of the best heavy albums of the 90’s in my opinion with Oversoul (ex Revelation), Las Cruces, Iron Man, Last Chapter, Archie Bunker, Dixie Witch, Datura and now we’ve just released my solo album called, the Liquid Sound Company – Inside the Acid Temple.  It’s dark and twisted psychedelic rock.  I think most Solitude Aeturnus fans will love it as there are a lot of ideas that would fit nicely on a Solitude Aeturnus release.  I try to incorporate a very heavy mental state of mind with the Liquid Sound Company.  It also features Last Chapter drummer Jason Spradlin.  We’ll be releasing in January a compilation of old Texas metal bands rare demo stuff.  It will be called Texas Metal Archives and will feature, Militia, Death Tripper, Watchtower, Necrovore, Karian, Warlock, Battalion (Edgar Rivera from SA’s old band!!), Rotting Corpse (my old thrash band!), Valkyrie and many more!!  Essential metal!

18. How's doom metal doing these days in the USA?

• About as popular as it’s ever been which is not much!

19. How do the non metal media treat Solitude Aeturnus? Are they aware of your existence?

• I don’t think so.  We don’t get many reviews or interest from non-metal magazines, zines or radio.  Hell we don’t even get that much interest from the metal ones!  Ha! Ha!

20. Which is your craziest dream as a musician and a man?

• That I can make a living from playing and/or producing music.  Talk about crazy!!

21.Thank you!Have I forgotten to ask you anything and you'd like to mention?

• Thanks for the interview, sorry if some of the answers are a bit short, but time is so limited these days that it’s impossible to do full length interviews via email.  I appreciate the support and interest.   We will be playing Greece soon!!!  We have many Greek fans/friends so we can’t wait to come and DOOM YOUR COUNTRY!!