GR - AREA THRASH METAL

VERDICT

THEY ARE CUMING WHILE YOU SLEEP ;) LOL

1.TELL US IN A FEW WORDS THE MOST IMPORTANT MOMENTS OF THE BAND'S HISTORY. WHICH IS TODAY'S LINE UP?

THE BAND STARTED BACK IN 1995 AS A 6 ACT (VOX, 2 GUITARS, KEYS, BASS, DRUMS). BACK THEN WE HAD A CLASSIC BAY AREA SOUND WITH KEYS. AFTER MANY LINE UP CHANGES WE RECORDED OUR FIRST DEMO IN 1997 AS A 5 ACT (VOX-GUITARS, VOX GUITARS, BASS, KEYS, DRUMS). WE NAMED THE DEMO "3RD ALTERNATIVE THE NAME" WHICH WAS A SONG'S TITLE. GOOD REVIEWS FROM MAGAZINES (METAL HAMMER, METAL INVADER) AND THE FANZINES. WE DID SOME GIGS IN ATHENS AND IN OTHER GREEK CITIES. THEN THE BAND SPLIT UP DUE TO PERSONAL AND MUSICAL DIFFERENCES. ME (GUITARS) AND OUR DRUMMER FOUND NEW MEMBERS AFTER A BIG SEARCH. WITH A NEW LINE UP (STAVROS GIANNAKOPOULOS-VOCALS, VASSILIS KOUMROGLOU-GUITARS/VOCALS, COSTAS "KOKOS" PAPADOPOULOS-GUITARS, COSTAS TASSAKOS-BASS/BACK VOCALS, DRUMS-COSTAS EXARHAKOS) WE RECORDED OUR SECOND DEMO C.D. CALLED "COMING WHILE YOU SLEEP" IN 2001. WE DID SOME GIGS IN ATHENS. THEN OUR BASS PLAYER COSTAS TASSAKOS AND OUR SINGER LEFT THE BAND. NOW WE CARRY ON AS A 4 ACT WITH A SESSION BASSIST. WE WILL MAKE OUR FIRST SHOW WITH THE NEW LINE UP IN LAYRIO CITY. NEW LINE UP: VASSILIS KOUMROGLOU: GUITARS, VOCALS, COSTAS "KOKOS" PAPADOPOULOS: GUITARS, BACK VOCALS, JIM ROUVELLAS: DRUMS,ANTONIS MAZARAKIS: SESSION BASS PLAYER (PLAYS WITH INNERWISH)

2.WHY HAVE YOU NAMED THE BAND THIS WAY? HOW WAS IT SELECTED? WITH WHAT CRITERIA WAS IT SUGGESTED? VERDICT IS A LEGAL TERM... WHICH IS YOUR VERDICT AND AGAINST WHO?

I GAVE THIS NAME TO THE BAND AFTER I SAW A FILM-DOCUMENTARY IN ERT ABOUT ARISTEIDES PAGRATIDES WHO WAS ACCUSED OF MURDER AND HAVE BEEN FOUND GUILTY AS CHARGED. THE WHOLE EVENT TOOK PLACE BACK IN 1969 I THINK WHEN GREECE WAS UNDER A DICTATORIAL GOVERMENT. A BIG NUMBER OF MURDERS THAT TOOK PLACE IN SALLONICA SHOCKED THE DOMESTIC SOCIETY. THE AUTHORITIES COULDN'T FIND THIS SERIAL KILLER SO THEY FOUND A SCAPE GOAT. ARISTEIDES PAGRATIDES HAD A PERFECT ALIBI BUT ALL HIS LAWYERS OBJECTIONS WERE MYSTERIOYSLY OVERULLED. HE DIED AFTER THE TRIAL BY EXECUTION. THAT'S THE STORY BEHIND THE SONG "VERDICT" WHICH APPEARS IN OUR FIRST DEMO. AS A NAME IT HAS A POWER OF IT'S OWN. WE ALL KNOW THAT THE VERDICT IS A VERY SERIOUS DECISION THAT JUDGE PEOPLE OF THINGS THAT THEY DO OR THEY DON'T. YOUR LIFE SOMETIMES DEPENDS FROM IT. WE THOUGHT IT WAS A POWERFUL NAME THAT GIVE US A CERTAIN CHARACTER. WE ACTUALLY ACCUSE WITH OUR SONGS ALL THESE THINGS WITH WHICH WE DON'T AGREE SUCH AS WAR, FAMINE, VIOLENCE, TRENDS OF ANY KIND AND THE WAY OUR WORLD RUNS IN GENERAL. I WISH I HAD MORE TIME TO TELL YOU MORE ABOUT IT.

3.HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC? WHICH BANDS INFLUENCED YOU? WHICH BAND AND SONG IN SPECIFIC MADE YOU REALISE THAT YOU WANTED TO INVOLVE WITH MUSIC?

WE DESCRIBE OUR MUSIC AS TECHNO-THRASH IF WE HAVE TO PICK A NAME. WE ARE INFLUENCED BY ANY KIND OF SHIT THAT PRODUCES SOUNDS THAT WE LIKE TO LISTEN TO OUR THAT IT EXPRESSES US IN A WAY. IF YOU WANT TO MENTION SOME BANDS WE WOULD SAY: MEGADETH, METALLICA, TESTAMENT, LAAZ ROCKIT, FORBIDDEN, MEKONG DELTA, TOXIK, PARADOX, REALM, SLAYER, ANNIHILATOR, PANTERA, CRIMSON GLORY, QUEENSRYCHE AND MANY OTHERS METAL OR NOT. I PERSONALLY INVOLVED WITH MUSIC BECAUSE I ALWAYS WANTED TO MAKE SOME NOISE AND TRY TO PLAY WITH MY BUDIES METALLICA COVERS. I WITNESSED METALLICA PLAYING LIVE BACK IN 1993. ALL THE IMAGES AND SONGS FROM THAT CRAZY NIGHTS WOULD HAUNT ME FOREVER.

4.WHICH OTHER GENRE DO YOU FIND INTERESTING AND YOU'D LIKE TO INVOLVE WITH IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE VERDICT?

I BELIEVE THAT I (SPEAKING FOR MYSELF) WOULD DO EXACTLY THE SAME THING THAT I AM DOING TODAY. WHAT WE PLAY IS A BIG PART OF MYSELF THAT I AM NOT EXPRESSING IN MY PERSONAL LIFE. SO IF VERDICT WAS NOT AROUND I WOULD PROBABLY START A BAND IN THE SAME ZONRA OF METAL. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE OTHER GUYS WOULD DO. PROBABLY THE SAME AS I.

5.WHICH IS THE BEST PART OF HEAVY METAL MUSIC AND WHICH IS THE WORST? WHY DO YOU BELIEVE THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE STILL CHASING HEAVY METAL?

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A GOOD METAL MUSIC AND A DISTASTEFUL ONE. IN ANY ZONRA OF METAL OR IN ANY KIND OF MUSIC IN GENERAL THERE ARE ARTISTS YOU MAY LIKE OR OTHER YOU MAY DON'T. YOU MAY LIKE ONE OR TWO STYLES OF MUSIC. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT ANYTHING ELSE SUCKS. IF YOU PLAY HONESTLY THEN YOU ARE FINE WITH ME. I ONLY HATE ANY TRENDY KIND OF SHIT THAT THE MEDIA PROMOTE. THIS KIND OF PRODUCTS ARE CARRYING A CERTAIN TYPE OF DRESSING, ATTITUDE, OR WAY OF THINKING WHICH IS MAYBE FINE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY I AM FORCED TO FOLLOW IT AND IF I DON'T THE MAJORITY OF ALL THESE FASHION VICTIMS WILL PUT ME ON THE SIDE AND MAKE ME FEEL MARGINAL. IN THE PAST WE METALHEADS WERE CONSIDERED AS SCUMBUGS. NOW WE ARE CONSIDERED JUST A BUNCH OF IDIOTS. IF YOU ARE DIFFERENT YOU ARE CHASED. THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT YOU CAN FIND SHIT IN ANY KIND OF SOCIAL GROUP. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT SHIT IS FLOATING SO THEY JUDGE A WHOLE FUCKING CROWD SO EASILLY.

6.YOUR SOUND BELONGS TO THE SPEED/POWER BRANCH, HOWEVER YOU HAVE MANAGED TO CREATE A UNIQUE SOUND. YOU SOUND VERY ORIGINAL. AREN'T YOU AFRAID THAT YOUR SOUND MIGHT SOUND STRANGE TO SOME METALHEADS OR DO YOU HAVE FAITH THAT THE FANS WILL UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO?

IF WE HAVE A FOLLOWING THAT' S REALLY COOL. IF WE DON'T THEN WHO GIVES A DAMN. MANY GOOD BANDS ARE NOT POPULAR AT ALL. I HAVE MANY OF THESE IN MY COLLECTION. WE PLAY JUST TO EXPRESS OURSELVES. MAYBE NOBODY WILL FOLLOW. IT MAKES ME REALLY ANGRY SOMETIMES BUT WHAT CAN I DO? MY FAVORITE 90'S BANDS ARE ALL SPLIT. NOBODY LISTENS TO CONCEPTION, PSYCHOTIC WALTZ OR ORDBANE. PEOPLE LISTENS TO STUFF THAT IS VERY EASY TO RELATE TO. BESIDES ALL THAT WE DO BELIEVE IN OUR SOUND. WE CAME TO BLEED YOUR EARS WITH MACHINE GUN RIFFING, MARGINAL AND SUPPERIOR METAL. AAARRRGGG

7.YOUR PRODUCTION IS NOT VERY GOOD (AS MOST OF THE GREEK METAL BANDS) AND I THINK THAT DOESN'T ALLOW YOUR AMAZING SONGS TO SHOW UP AS THEY SHOULD. WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ON THAT?

NOTHING NEW REALLY. WE TRY TO DO OUR BEST. WE STILL LEARN, WE ARE STILL IMPROVING OUR EQUIPMENT. WAIT FOR OUR NEXT PROMO. WE HOPE WE'LL PLEASE YOU AND US WITH THAT ONE. TO ALL BANDS OUT THERE: FIND YOUR OWN SOUND AND SPEND TIME AND MONEY ON YOUR WORK. STAY FOCUSED AND THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN. DON'T BLAME THE STUDIOS ONLY.

8.IN THE OTHER COUNTRIES I SEE THE BANDS SUPPORTING EACH OTHER. HOWEVER HERE IN GREECE INSTEAD OF BEING UNITED THE BANDS BLAME AND ACCUSE EACH OTHER FOR VARIUS STUFF. WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ON THAT? DO YOU SEE ANY IMPROVEMENT?

WE HAVE MANY FRIENDS AND MANY ENEMIES IN THE SCENE. I DON'T SEE ANY IMPROVEMENT. I HATE EVERYBODY WHO SCREWS ME. THAT'S VERY SAD THOUGH.

9.WHAT DOES HEAVY METAL MEAN TO YOU? A LIFE STYLE, A REVOLUTION OR A WAY TO PASS OUR TIME PLEASANTLY?

A SOUND A MOVEMENT, A REVOLT. I WAS VERY FRUSTRATED AS A KID, QUITE MARGINAL TOO AND AGRESSIVE, I THINK. I BELIEVE I AM NOW. DO YOU SEE ANY OTHER SOUND THAT CAN BE DESCRIBED AS MUSIC THAT CAN KEEP ME COOL? I DON'T THINK SO.

10.WHAT ARE YOUR LYRICS TALKING ABOUT IN YOUR LATEST WORK? WHAT INSPIRES YOU IN WRITING LYRICS?

94X1 VAIN IS ABOUT TRYING TO CLONE A VERY DANGEROUS PERSON OF OUR HISTORY. YOU NAME IT. I INSPIRED THE CONCEPT BY A MOVIE CALLED "THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL". STEVE GUTEMBERG FROM "POLICE ACADEMY" ACTS THERE!!! "FAKE ALIBI" IS ABOUT DRUGS. WE HAD MEMBERS OF THE BAND IN THE PAST THAT HAD MANY RIDES WITH THIS DEMON. I WAS VERY ANGRY WITH THAT SO I FOUND A WAY TO GET IT OUT. "SERENADE OF A DREAM" IS ABOU FREEDOM. "KOKOS" WROTE THAT SO ASK HIM. ANY KIND OF SHIT CAN INSPIRE US. LATELY I AM VERY INSPIRED FROM PEOPLE THAT ANNOY ME.

11.IF SUDDENLY THE PRODUCTION OF ELECTRIC ENERGY WAS STOPPED, DO YOU THINK THAT HEAVY METAL MUSIC WOULD STOP EXISTING OR NOT? IF NOT, WHAT FORM DO YOU THINK IT'D TAKE?

THERE ARE RIFFS THAT SOUND TWICE AS HEAVY WHEN THEY ARE PLAYED UNPLUGGED. SO...

12.IF YOU HAD THE MONEY TO MAKE A PROPER VIDEOCLIP HOW WOULD YOU IMAGINE IT TO BE?

DON'T KNOW REALLY. SHOOT US WHEN WE PLAY LIVE AND FOCUS IN OUR EYEBALLS. YOU WILL GET OUR MUSIC VISUALLY.

13.IF YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO COMPOSE MUSIC, WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO?

WRITE BOOKS MAYBE OR BEING AN ACTOR. A COMEDIAN I THINK. IT WOULD BE A GOOD CHOICE. GOOD QUESTION, HOPE THE BEST ANSWER.

14.WHICH IS THE WORST AND WHICH IS THE BEST REVIEW YOU'VE EVER RECEIVED?

SOMEBODY ONCE CALLED US ICED EARTH CLONES. THAT'S THE WORST. I HATE IT WHEN IT HAPPENS. THE BEST COMES FROM PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT WE SOUND ORIGINAL. MAYBE YOURS I THINK. DON'T THINK I AM A SUCKER.

15.WHICH IS THE BEST PART IN YOUR MUSIC AND IN THE BAND IN GENERAL AND WHICH THING DO YOU THINK YOU SHOULD CORRECT? WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU NEED IMPROVEMENT?

WE MUST IMPROVE ANY SECTOR OF OUR MACHINE. WE ALWAYS TRY.

16.IF SOMEDAY YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET THE CREATURE THAT CREATED THE UNIVERSE, WHICH WOULD YOUR BIGGEST QUESTION BE?

WHY?

17.IF TIME TRAVEL WAS POSSIBLE, WHICH HISTORICAL PERIOD WOULD YOU LIKE TO VISIT AND WHY? WHAT WOULD YOU MISS THE MOST FROM OUR TIME?

80'S IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA

18.WHICH IS MAN'S BIGGEST TEMPTATION?

A WOMAN'S ARSE! I AM KIDDING....NOT. MAYBE TO ACHIEVE ALL HIS GOALS WITHOUT LOSING HIS DIGNITY AND LEAVE A HIGH VALUED LEGACY AND A GOOD FAMILY.

19.IF YOU WERE GIVEN THE CHANCE TO CORRECT SOMETHING TO THIS WORLD, WHAT WOULD THAT BE?

KILL ALL DRUG DEALERS, ERASE ALL ARMIES. PROMOTE ART AND SCIENCE. SOME GROUPIES WOULD BE NICE. WE WANT MOREEEEEE.

20.WHAT PROLOGUE AND TITLE WOULD YOU LIKE THIS INTERVIEW TO HAVE?

CUMING (THERE IS A A REASON FOR THE "U") WHILE YOU SLEEP. A JOKE. WE ALWAYS LAUGH AND MESS AROUND.

21.THANK YOU!HAVE I FORGOT TO ASK YOU ANYTHING AND YOU'D LIKE TO MENTION?

I CAN'T THINK OF EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW. GOOD QUESTIONS!!! I HAVE ANSWERED IN MANY POINTLESS QUESTIONS FROM TIME TO TIME.

NIKOS "William_Kidd" PARASTATIDIS

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