INTERVIEWS

Questions by: Kai Mathias Stalhammar for VAE SOLIS web-zine Answers supplied by: Stephanos (vocals, guitars)

Firstly, let’s discuss your moniker for a while. Seems like most of black metal freaks out there get high on everything that has something in common with cosmos and alike subjects. Aren’t you the ones from the same horde?

- Hail Kai i hope you are fine. This is Stephanos. Yes of course. Heavy metal music is the music of revolution against anything common, stupid and trendy. We deal with matters that most people do not have an idea that happened. You know i am not satisfied by only eating shit, fucking a girl or watching a football game. i want more than that.

What’s your view on the way our Universe has been born? Global explosion or whatever, y’know.

- O! well the big bang theory is the most popular nowadays.

Is STARDROWNED a part of Greece’s black metal community? And just by the way, what are, for example, NECROMANTIA, THOU ART LORD and NERGAL up to now?

- STARDROWNED is a true band. We played, we play and we will still perform DEATH / BLACK metal. This music is in our veins. We are metal maniacs and we perform music for metal maniacs. NECROMANTIA rule. Their new album kicks asses. All the true black death metalers should listen it. I heard recently about a reunion of THOU ART LORD and i am expecting a black thrash attack. as far as NERGAL i do not have news about them. i hope they release something in the near future.

And what about ROTTING CHRIST? Do you still consider ‘em to be a black metal act?

- ROTTING CHRIST is one of the most important greek bands. Their last album was very good but their previous releases was not so black as their beginning. But i believe that they returned to the right path.

Isn’t STARDROWNED what modern black metal is all about? I mean, heavy metal basis, simplified harmonic structures and typical blackish vokills...

- We try to be true, heavy and grim that's all. Our new route is more technical and more aggressive.

What’s your opinion on black metal’s young growth? It strikes as this genre slowly exhausts itself with an enormous number of neophyte acts coming with all the same kind of stuff...

- I like that. There are many new promising bands and people that thirst to listen good stuff. The fact is that there are not many (honest - ED) labels.

What about the demo you’ve made your debut with? The title it has undoubtedly appears as weird one. I mean, Abigor (the god of war) is NOT of a Greek origin! Aren’t you inspired with Greek mythological cycle at all?

- Of course we are inspired by the Greek mythology but we respect all the ancient civilizations. Our lyrics deal with historical and mythological facts. I also consider mythology as a part of the mankind's history that has been altered and coded in that way that could be understandable by everyone. "The Last Of Our Sins" deals with a travel down to the dungeons of Plouto (Hades). "Get Thee, Behind Me, False" deals with the destruction of the Konstantinoupolis by the Turks. "War Clouds Over Hatti" has to do with the destruction of the Hittite empire by the "people of the sea" (Greek tribes). "Slaughterland" has to do with the massacre of WW2. "Rise Of The FatherGods Cult" deals with the rebirth of the Ancient believes in Greece. Every track has its own story.

What about Passage Records? If I’m not mistaken, they were the ones who brought forth the light the first demo of yours...

- Its nothing we just put it on the tape.

Black metal band with no keyboards incorporated... Hmm, seems like you’re trying to avoid any kinds of trends and stuff like that...

- I like keyboards but we do not like playing with them. We want to produce atmosphere with vocals and guitars only.

Have you already reached an agreement with any label, in order to come up with the CD, or not?

- The last summer we recorded our first cd but we did not send it to labels yet because of problems at the line up.

What comes first, lyrical or musical canvas?

- Both of them. Kostas (drums) and I are responsible for more of the lyrics. Jim (guitars) and I compose the music.

You pay quite a lot attention to harmonic structures, don’t you?

- Yes of course. It is a metal structure. We like to produce refrains and all that changes in our music.

What place does STARDROWNED occupy in the life of yours? Is it a serious venture or just a hobby to you?

- Nothing extraordinary about our lives. We try to exist quietly. We do not like many people gathered together in a place. We hate trends. STARDROWNED is part of our lives and makes as happy.

If you ever had a chance to burn down this world or radically change the environment as well as human nature, what would you do?

- I hate the fact that humans are responsible for the situation in our planet. All that shit we created (nuclear weapons and factories, biochemical bullshit, etc). We have to understand that we should create things to serve us and not destroy us.

Do you know anything regarding Russia? Any metal bands coming from the country of mine you’ve heard lately?

- Russia is the forthcoming metal power in Europe. I know MENTAL HOME and THORN (perhaps, THRON'? - ED) and I like them a lot. I like Russia for its fighting people in the WW2. I also liked the fact that you did not like the American and European terrorism in Balkans just like us. Hail Russia.

Nothing else to be asked, at least at the moment. What about leaving a final message?

- SUPPORT UNDERGROUND AND ALL THE TRUE AND ORIGINAL BANDS AND LABELS. CONTINUE THE WAR. WE WILL NEVER SURRENDER. Best wishes to you Kai.


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