Fragments Of Illusion
Hello, what's up in CEREBRUM band?
Mike: Hi. Everything is good. The album was released a few days ago and we re all very happy about it.
"Spectral Extravagance" album was recorded sometimes in 2007, why the release took so long?
Mike: Well we were searching for the best deal for our album and the band. We talked with some labels and in the beginning of 2009 we signed with Lacerated enemy records.
How have the responses been so far at home? Are they important for you?
Mike: Up to now everything looks really good and of course we care what people think about our music. Its important yes, but we d never change a single thing for none.
Do you write music all equally, or have some main author? Has George contributed to composition?
Apollon: Music is written by Mike and Jim. Mike wrote 6 songs, Jim 2 and the 3 rest are written by both. George only contributed his drumming.
Why did you decide to use the melodic vocals? Will you continue to do so still?
Mike: Apollon came with the idea, wanted to do it, we all liked it and so we did it. Its only 4-5 small parts with clean vocals within the songs. If we feel that it fits in some parts of the second album and we all like it, then yes we ll do it.
Apollon: We like to experiment as much as possible so everything can happen.
Drums were recorded by George Kollias. Who helps you live? Are you satisfied with such a situation?
Mike: Yes George recorded the drums and we re all (including George) very pleased with the result. We have found a drummer that George suggested us for tours and live shows and we are satisfied with that. We want the best for the band so George will probably record the second album too.
Have you previously played in other bands? Why did you choose just CEREBRUM as name of the band? In Poland, there is band with the same name.
Mike: Just Apollon. He used to sing in ''The Circle of Zaphyan''.
Apollon: The reason we chose that name is because we think that it totally represents what we create (cerebrum=brain , in Latin).
Besides Death Metal you listen also to psychedelic prog/rock of 70’s, could you mention your favorites? What are you most fascinated by it? Do you prove to imagine you would record cover version of one of them?
Mike: Yes we do, me and Apollon especially. Some of our favorites are Gentle Giant, King Crimson, Van Der Graaf Generator, Gong.....Its just great music! Great musicianship, great atmosphere ...It’s among our plans to cover such a song, yes.
Do you have some new material prepared already, or at least an idea which direction you will take?
Mike: Well the music for the second album is almost ready.
What is the scene in Greece? What is the status and popularity of metal in Greece in general?
Mike: The scene here in Greece is getting bigger and bigger. You could say that many people here really like metal.
Do you think that Greek bands are something typical? How would you compare them with the rest of the world?
Mike: There are many bands here today, that play really good and interesting music. There are bands that are at least in the same level with bands from everywhere else. I think that the Greek scene should not be overlooked.
Is it possible our whole world is just an illusion? I am aiming to essence of reality and the universe.
Apollon: Well, you could say that in a way.. I mean, throughout the centuries man hasn't really achieved something to last.. He still struggles to find the true meaning of life through dogmas and other irrelevant shit, forgetting to discover himself first.. his true capabilities and power. He also forgot how to protect and respect nature and animals and became so blind and stranger to himself that he's a slave now with no beliefs and purposes..
For him perception of reality is just what he sees with his human eyes, a routine - nothing more, nothing less.. But there are so much more behind closed eyelids, hehe.. The universe may seem so vast and beyond imagination but if you look within yourself you can come across the exact same thing.. Microcosmos and Macrocosmos are the same, and together with the correct 'tuning' of the brain you can discover so much more. It's kinda like going in and out of the matrix, or not? Hehe.
What's your view on the origin of man, do you think we could be evolved from monkeys? Ha.
Apollon: Of course not.. Man is a 'stranger' in a way, a parasite. We don’t know who created us but the sure thing is that a lot of knowledge came from somewhere else.. There was a time that the gods were living together with the humans, but now man is alone and will keep doing this same cycle of life over and over again until he understands other values and then use his true faculties, in order to become a more intelligent being.
Allright! This is the final question. Feel free to conclude and tell us more about your forthcoming plans! And of course, thanks for your answers.
Thank you very much for the interview. We are soon to go on an European tour and play as much shows and festivals as we can. Looking forward to meet and chat with you all out there and hope you enjoy Spectral Extravagance!
Mike, Apollon Storm
http://www.myspace.com/cerebrum
Mike: Hi. Everything is good. The album was released a few days ago and we re all very happy about it.
"Spectral Extravagance" album was recorded sometimes in 2007, why the release took so long?
Mike: Well we were searching for the best deal for our album and the band. We talked with some labels and in the beginning of 2009 we signed with Lacerated enemy records.
How have the responses been so far at home? Are they important for you?
Mike: Up to now everything looks really good and of course we care what people think about our music. Its important yes, but we d never change a single thing for none.
Do you write music all equally, or have some main author? Has George contributed to composition?
Apollon: Music is written by Mike and Jim. Mike wrote 6 songs, Jim 2 and the 3 rest are written by both. George only contributed his drumming.
Why did you decide to use the melodic vocals? Will you continue to do so still?
Mike: Apollon came with the idea, wanted to do it, we all liked it and so we did it. Its only 4-5 small parts with clean vocals within the songs. If we feel that it fits in some parts of the second album and we all like it, then yes we ll do it.
Apollon: We like to experiment as much as possible so everything can happen.
Drums were recorded by George Kollias. Who helps you live? Are you satisfied with such a situation?
Mike: Yes George recorded the drums and we re all (including George) very pleased with the result. We have found a drummer that George suggested us for tours and live shows and we are satisfied with that. We want the best for the band so George will probably record the second album too.
Have you previously played in other bands? Why did you choose just CEREBRUM as name of the band? In Poland, there is band with the same name.
Mike: Just Apollon. He used to sing in ''The Circle of Zaphyan''.
Apollon: The reason we chose that name is because we think that it totally represents what we create (cerebrum=brain , in Latin).
Besides Death Metal you listen also to psychedelic prog/rock of 70’s, could you mention your favorites? What are you most fascinated by it? Do you prove to imagine you would record cover version of one of them?
Mike: Yes we do, me and Apollon especially. Some of our favorites are Gentle Giant, King Crimson, Van Der Graaf Generator, Gong.....Its just great music! Great musicianship, great atmosphere ...It’s among our plans to cover such a song, yes.
Do you have some new material prepared already, or at least an idea which direction you will take?
Mike: Well the music for the second album is almost ready.
What is the scene in Greece? What is the status and popularity of metal in Greece in general?
Mike: The scene here in Greece is getting bigger and bigger. You could say that many people here really like metal.
Do you think that Greek bands are something typical? How would you compare them with the rest of the world?
Mike: There are many bands here today, that play really good and interesting music. There are bands that are at least in the same level with bands from everywhere else. I think that the Greek scene should not be overlooked.
Is it possible our whole world is just an illusion? I am aiming to essence of reality and the universe.
Apollon: Well, you could say that in a way.. I mean, throughout the centuries man hasn't really achieved something to last.. He still struggles to find the true meaning of life through dogmas and other irrelevant shit, forgetting to discover himself first.. his true capabilities and power. He also forgot how to protect and respect nature and animals and became so blind and stranger to himself that he's a slave now with no beliefs and purposes..
For him perception of reality is just what he sees with his human eyes, a routine - nothing more, nothing less.. But there are so much more behind closed eyelids, hehe.. The universe may seem so vast and beyond imagination but if you look within yourself you can come across the exact same thing.. Microcosmos and Macrocosmos are the same, and together with the correct 'tuning' of the brain you can discover so much more. It's kinda like going in and out of the matrix, or not? Hehe.
What's your view on the origin of man, do you think we could be evolved from monkeys? Ha.
Apollon: Of course not.. Man is a 'stranger' in a way, a parasite. We don’t know who created us but the sure thing is that a lot of knowledge came from somewhere else.. There was a time that the gods were living together with the humans, but now man is alone and will keep doing this same cycle of life over and over again until he understands other values and then use his true faculties, in order to become a more intelligent being.
Allright! This is the final question. Feel free to conclude and tell us more about your forthcoming plans! And of course, thanks for your answers.
Thank you very much for the interview. We are soon to go on an European tour and play as much shows and festivals as we can. Looking forward to meet and chat with you all out there and hope you enjoy Spectral Extravagance!
Mike, Apollon Storm
http://www.myspace.com/cerebrum
