AGNOSIA -Dion (Guitars)
Metalzone: Hello and welcome to Metalzone. Would you like to introduce us to the band? \r\n
\r\nDion: Hello Nicoleta! First of all, I would like to thank you for the interview and the opportunity to present our band to the Metalzone readers. Well, Agnosia is a heavy - prog metal band which was formed in 2003 in Piraeus, Greece. The 4-track demo cd ‘The Inner Conflict’ was released in April 2004. That was our first step, helping us to join the metal underground. The response from the worldwide metal press was really great, giving us the appropriate push to continue. Five years later (April 2009) we released the concept album ‘Trace Decay’ from Steel Gallery Records. We have participated in many live shows in Greece, mostly in Athens and Thessaloniki. The current Agnosia members are: Louis on Vocals, Dion and Manos on Guitars, Kimon on Keyboards, Julio on Bass and Konstantinos on Drums. Louis, Kimon and Konstantinos are our newest members; we haven’t released anything with them till now so we are very excited to work with them, expecting the best. \r\n
\r\n
\r\nMetalzone: It’s been almost a year since the release of your debut album “Trace Decay”. So what have you guys been up to in the mean time? \r\n
\r\n
\r\nDion: The most important thing we did was the support appearance in the Fates Warning live show in Thessaloniki, on the 26th of March, 2010. That show was really important for us because Fates Warning is one of our most important influences. So it was a dream for us to play with them! A great experience!
\r\nNowadays, we are working on the pre-production of our second album in Noise Factory Studios in Piraeus. Additionally, we perform live as often as we can. \r\n
\r\n
\r\nMetalzone: How do you see things a year later? \r\n
\r\n
\r\nDion: I think that we feel great on the stage! Due to several problems (studies, military obligations etc) we didn’t have the opportunity to perform live in the past. The last year we performed in many underground festivals, in different cities, as well as the great experience of the Fates Warning show I mentioned above. We have concluded that Agnosia is a live band as well! We hadn’t realized this before! Moreover, we are more mature in studio. The ‘Trace Decay’ album is 80% a D.I.Y. release, concerning the sound production and mixing procedures. We have learned a lot of things and we feel more experienced in order to work on the second album! \r\n
\r\n
\r\nMetalzone: Tell us a few things about the album. It’s based on a pretty interesting concept, how did you come up with it? \r\n
\r\n
\r\nDion: First of all we are all fans of the concept albums! We like to create music that is based on a specific idea or a scenario. Maybe it is our love for the cinema too! It makes the procedure of music composition and orchestration much easier for us! Additionally, we all have a great interest in psychology and philosophy of existence and we have passed many hours of discussing these issues. Personally, when I was thinking and writing the concept story, I was highly influenced by several readings in psychology as well as by movies like ‘A Beatiful Mind’, ‘Requiem for a Dream’, ‘The Hours’ and ‘Fight Club’. I wanted to ‘create’ a story full of introspective thoughts, conflicts, inner experiences but at the same time a story of ‘light’. I believe that there is always light at the end of the tunnel! And that was my general thought for the album! If somebody reads the storyline they will understand what I mean. The album is dark, maybe depressive at times, but at the end Edward (the main character) found his ‘inner’ road. In few words, this is a story of a famous actor who dedicated his life to his career and success. A psychological disorder appeared in his life in order to remind him that something was going wrong. He had to re-arrange his whole life through the nightmare of symptoms in order to understand what was really important for him. The experience of creating a concept album was really great, making us working as a team. Every one of us participated in the creation of the story somehow. The result is really massive but at the same time it contains an aspect of everyone; both lyrically and musically. \r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\nMetalzone: What really stands out, apart from the stunning songs of the album, is the great production and the artwork as well. Everything is absolutely professional to the last detail. \r\n
\r\n
\r\nDion: Thank you for your kind words! I really appreciate them! We have been working on this album for 3 years. Most of the recording sessions took place in our bass player’s recording studio that is called Noise Factory. We didn’t hesitate to use other studios like M.I studio in Athens (for the recording sessions of the Drums and some guitar sessions) as well as Finnvox studios in Helsinki, Finland for the mastering procedure. We took care of every single detail and I feel that the final result is really good. The artwork is also great. Jen Anastasopoulou is a great independent artist and designer (she also did the artwork for our demo back in 2004). Jen reflected on the lyrics, the story, the music and she created something really unique in colours and feeling. We are really proud for her work! \r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\nMetalzone: You combine many elements and influences, which definitely makes your music very appealing. Does the term “Progressive Metal” fully describe your music or do you think it’s very general? \r\n
\r\n
\r\nDion: We like the term Progressive. It reminds us artists like Genesis, Jethro Tull, Marillion, King Crimson, Rush etc. Additionally, we like the term Metal as well (haha)! So I think I am ok with this term! Ok, I am joking! We don’t care about the terms really. They are useful though, because we are not a famous band so the label puts a term in order to describe our music. I think that our music is heavy, full of tempo changes, guitar and bass riffs and keyboard themes (reviewers and musicians call it progressive!!!). \r\n
\r\n
\r\nMetalzone: There are obviously many influences by various bands such as Queensryche, Pain of Salvation, Savatage, Fates Warning. I presume some of these bands are favorite bands in common for the band or there’s a different background for each one of you? \r\n
\r\n
\r\nDion: We have many different influences as a band. Every member is listening to different styles but, to be honest, the bands you are referring to are our common influences! We love them! I would like also to add Dream Theater, Nevermore and Opeth! On the other hand, we really love progressive rock. You will understand what I mean, in our second album… \r\n
\r\n
\r\nMetalzone: A few months ago, Agnosia performed with Fates Warning in Thessaloniki. Tell us about this experience. \r\n
\r\n
\r\nDion: Personally, that show is one of the best experiences in my life. To tell you the truth, I was trying to concentrate to our performance but at the same time I couldn’t believe that I was participating in a show like that! Fates Warning was performing a classic album ‘Parallels’ which is one of my best albums, with their classic line up! I enjoyed everything. We were also their roadies in that concert, haha! And we enjoyed that role as well! First of all we are dedicated fans! \r\n
\r\n
\r\nMetalzone: What do you think of the Metal scene nowadays in Greece? \r\n
\r\n
\r\nDion: The metal scene in Greece is very powerful. I mean it; Great bands, D.I.Y. productions and releases, great performances on stage, Greek and European tours, good live stages. I am very optimistic for the Greek bands. The main reason is that the Greek bands are honest! They don’t play for the money! Think of it seriously. For example I play music in bands from my 16th birthday. I am 27 years old now. I have never earned 1 euro for myself from this music. I have spent a lot! I don’t care. Our singer Louis Hatzimihalis is a great example for me. He is in his 40s. He had participated in great bands like Fatal Morgana, Imaginery, Equal Vector etc. He never stopped performing! Even the reunions of bands like Spitfire, Fortress Under Siege etc etc are not occurred for the money! These people are crazy for the music! These incidents create a ‘powerful’ scene! \r\n
\r\n
\r\nMetalzone: Ok, your upcoming plans are.. \r\n
\r\n
\r\nDion: The main plan is to release our new album till the end of 2011. It will take us one year because we will perform many live shows simultaneously. Our next live show will take place on Sunday 20th of February at Kookoo club in Athens. We will have the pleasure to share the stage with two great bands Wastefall and Rex Mundi. I also hope that we will perform outside Greece during 2011. Moreover, we prepare a special vinyl release of the ‘Trace Decay’ album. More information will be available soon via our label (Steel Gallery). \r\n
\r\n
\r\nMetalzone: Anything else you would like to add? \r\n
\r\n
\r\nDion: We would like to express our gratitude to Metalzone.gr. We know that the guys there are real fans of heavy music. We appreciate your support all these years! Additionally I would like to say ‘Thank you’ to the people that gave us (or will give us) some of their precious time! \r\n
\r\n
\r\nInterview by Nicoleta Sarantou
\r\n
\r\nhttp://www.myspace.com/agnosiaband
\r\nhttp://www.agnosia.info
\r\nhttp://www.reverbnation.com/agnosia
\r\nhttp://twitter.com/agnosiaband \r\n
\r\n
\r\n \r\n
\r\n
\r\n \r\n
\r\n