NIGHTRAGE

The following interview was possible by Karina Somacal – CMR
Nightrage is a swedish melodic death metal.
The forntman Marios Iliopoulos (guitar) answered...

A pleasure to have you in our magazine, how are you?

Hi there I’m fine thanks we just returned from the USA tour and I’m pretty tired,
but the feelings and impressions we gathered were awesome. We met so many cool
people/bands and we had a tremendous time showing our stuff to new audiences.
It was a positive experience for the band and we learned a lot from that.

What happened with the US tour that you had to pull out, and are guys still playing in Portugal?

 Things were out of our hands when we got to the Chicago show in Metro, there were no guarantees
that we can continue doing the tour so unfortunately we needed to pull out from the tour,
we felt so sorry that many fans waited to see the band in the next shows but we really want to return
and play in another tour for them as soon as we can. We have to do more shows now that they are
confirmed in Portugal at 22 of October and at London at 22 of November.

So how was it, to play in US, which of the bands you guys play along
side you enjoyed the most, any surprises, what about the crowds?

As I said before it was an awesome experience and we had a blast being there playing in so many
different states. USA it’s a huge country so you need to spend enormous time there touring and
gaining new ground. I really liked Thine eyes bleed, Hell within, Lilitu, and God Dethroned they are killer
bands and we had a blast hang out together all the time. The crowd seemed to love NR and we made
for sure some new fans, in some States there were not so many people show up in the shows and
that was due to the poor promotion, but still we gave the best performances every night for the people
that they came to see the band. Many surprises came along like having flat tires and some problems
when we travel with our mini bus but I guess things like that happening in tours
so you just get along with that, it’s only rock n roll you know.

Why did Tomas left the band? You were (in other interviews)
so sure he was going to stay, was it a surprised when he call it quits?

 Tomas left the band because he didn’t have the time to concentrate anymore in NR,
he has his other bands Disfear and the Great Deceiver and also he have a family and a job
to take care of. I was not surprised of the fact that he left because I realised at the end
of the day that he had a lot of other obligations that prevent him to be a stable singer in NR.
I was hoping that he would stayed but when he explain to me the situation I understand him
that it would be better for both parties to follow a different path, we are still good friends and
I still have a huge respect for him and the things we accomplished together doing 2 albums.

How was it to play live with Jimmie, did the people expected to see Tomas? How was Jimmie welcomed?

 The fans really liked our new singer Jimmie and they accept him pretty easy. Some people of course
were expecting to see Tomas on the shows, but as soon as they hear Jimmie they like him and they were
satisfied that we are continuing to keep the same quality in NR.

Talking a little about your new singer Jimmie Strimell, how did you found the guy?
Because you have always had a very particular taste (always selecting the best),
he's a replacement for Tomas based in what particularities?
Similarity of voice (to that of Tomas) or a different approach all together?

The new guy Jimmie he is an awesome vocalist and we found him through our bass player Henric
that he knew him from his other band Death destruction. We were looking for a vocalist when Tomas
left and when we tried Jimmie he proved us that he was the right guy for NR, he is dedicated in the band
and he loves the music. We had a blast together in the tour and the fans seemed to like him a lot and
they are waiting the new album with him. We didn’t want to have the exact same voice like Tomas
when we started to look for a new singer, we were looking for someone that he is hungry,
loves the music, and has an original style in his voice, and all those aspects Jimmie had covered
that’s why we pick him up. Actually we want to move on and it doesn’t hurt to change a bit and try
some new things both with music and vocals, for sure the music on the next album would be heavy
but I guess a bit more spiced up.

Do you think having this new singer that is not as recognized in the
metal world as Tomas will actually help Nightrage gain more credibility?

 Because maybe before a lot of people thought that Nightrage was just another Lindberg
project and you and Gus didn't receive the credit you deserved.
Jimmie he is hungry to play and we have a lot of confidence to him, I think it’s only a matter
of time to make a new album with Jimmie and things will be cleared that the band it’s there
doing it’s job and the fact that we really believe in the band would convince everyone that the band
doing the right thing. It’s logical that many people were interested to listen to NR in the first place
because of Tomas since this guy created a scene on its own, but later I think the people embraced
the band because we had good music otherwise nobody would be interested in us.
So having that in mind it’s the music that makes the difference and not the big or small names
in the band. NR was never a Tomas project and we will still continue playing and making albums.

Let’s talk a little about Nightrage albums. Your first record, the one you recorded right
after arriving from Greece was Sweet Vengeance, is it true that this album was so intense
and aggressive because of all the frustration and anger you had for your former band members
of Exhumation, what do they do? Because whatever it was, it worked, amazing record!!!

 The first album Sweet Vengeance reflects the feelings and the thoughts that I had at the time,
I was pretty disappointed and I felt much frustration and sadness of the things that happened
to me playing with my old band Exhumation. I would say that the breaking up of the band is a bitter story.
It seems, unfortunately, that the rest of the band members did not have the same views with me
as long as the future of our career was concerned. They are responsible about the breaking up
of the band since they saw the whole thing as just a hobby and nothing more. They didn’t even want us
to go out on tour!!! Another important reason is the differences in our characters and the complete lack
of professionalism on their part. Because of this attitude we lost a deal with Century Media back in 1998
for our 2nd CD “Dance across the Past” because they denied signing due to “heavy schedule of the band”.
We also lost an already booked European tour from Holy Records and because of that we practically ruined
our relationship with them at our 3rd album, “Traumaticon”. And then we also lost a cover at the Greek
“Metal Hammer” because our vocalist, being selfish, quarrelled with the rest of the band. They forced me
to resign from the band with their behaviour and they already had found a replacement the next day of
my departure. In the end they asked me to return to the band again after a month or so, but “some people”
already had decided for their own reasons the final breaking of EXHUMATION. I want to remember the good
creative period we had together, the friendship and the support we had, which anyway became a total
disaster after all. Sometimes I’m listening to the albums and good recollections and good feelings are
coming to my thoughts, I really want to remember the good times we had, but to be honest sometimes
this is really difficult for me, because of the bitter reality.

For Sweet Vengeance you had amazing musicians helping you in the band and in the studio,
how did you managed to found them and was it hard to make them help you out?

 I never believed that I would have all those amazing musicians on our first album, from the first time
I was in Sweden I approached a lot of guys to play in Nightrage, but nothing really happened.
The key for us to start recording this album and finally get the contract with Century Media was
Fredrik Nordström and the material we already had composed, he liked our songs so he gave us a chance
to record the album for free in his studio, and he took a risk to do such a thing. After all I approached
by myself Tomas Lindberg from the demo days of Nightrage and I gave him some material to listen
but I never got any reply from him. So it was just a simple phone call at the time we were in the studio
recording the album, he came down to listen to some songs and he liked them a lot, and he told us
that he was in. About the joining of Per moller Jensen and Tom S. Englund it was Fredrik’s idea to work
with them. I can tell you it was a big adventure the recording of this album it was not so well planed as
far as the timing and I was surprised also to see all those amazing musicians contribute in our album.

This first album for Nightrage was very well welcomed by the critics and many metal fans,
I have heard the comparison, and share the idea of the incredible potential it has to become
someday an improved version of another legendary production Slaughter of the Soul by At the Gates,
did you had this kind of expectations when you finished the record and listen to it for the first time?

I know what do you mean and to be honest with you I never expected such a thing, I mean we recorded
the album and we knew that it sounds good but to compare it with such strong a legendary album like
“Slaughter of the soul” it was beyond my expectations. I’m glad that many people were so interested
in our music and that gave us even more confidence to move on.

Could you please explain the song Circle of pain, its some sort of a ballad (balada in Spanish)
mixed with a screams of desperation, simply great, love the clean vocals in this one.

This song it’s one of the first songs that I wrote when I started the band, it’s very emotional
and the lyrics cover a lot of the feelings that I had at the time when I felt betrayed of some so called
friends that I had. I really like the clean guitar parts and the way the vocals help the song grow
in a really intense outcome at the end. It’s one of my favourite songs that we ever did and
I hope that we will play it soon in our live shows.

Moving along to your next production, Descent Into chaos, for this one you put together
something that resemble more a real band than just a gathering of good musicians,
this had to be a plus in the song writing process?

Definitely that more stable line-up we have on the new album helped the band had a more strong effort.
We change the rhythm section of the band, Fotis Benardo ex- touring drummer of Septic Flesh and
Henric Carlsson ex-Cipher system took care of the bass. Fotis is an amazing drummer and he gave
a lot of spirit and kick in the bands sound, he came and blow away everyone in the studio, he is really
dedicated and his talent will be heard really soon. On the other hand Henric Carlsson he is a Swedish
guy and a killer musician that showed interest to be in the band after we met him and propose him
the idea at Studio Fredman. The line up finally is complete and we get along together really nicely.
The songs were written before the new members arrived, but anyway they shaped with their own ideas
their touch on the album, giving with their chops freshness and great team spirit in the band.

This second record is obviously better handle and more refined, is fast and brutal,
but that desperation the first one made me feel is gone, is this because you where
personally in a better place than when you wrote Sweet Vengeance?

 The new album finds me I guess in a better situation, all this anger/sadness I had transformed
into creativity and positive feelings. You know you can’t be forever angry time always make you
forget and heal the wounds of the past, I’m glad that I continue doing what I’m passionate with
and that is doing music itself, I didn’t want to be in a situation that let other people telling me
what to do with my life, I’m happy that I still play music and feel good about that, and don’t let
other situations being obstacles prevent me to do the things I always loved.

I love Frozen; it's an amazing song, packed with fury and melancholy (my perfect mix)
how was it to have Tomas and Mikael Stanne from Dark Tranquillity sing in the same song
(for me a dream come true, will love to see that happening some day)

 Thanx for your nice comments about Frozen it’s one of the stand out tracks on the album and
everybody seemed to like this one. It was really cool to combine those two great vocalists
complement each other on a NR song. I think Mikael did a great job on his small clean parts
and he gave that emotional feeling that we wanted to achieve with that song.

Have those two first albums clenched your thirst for song writing, and have they fulfilled you expectations?

I feel that this is only the beginning for the band, with those 2 albums we found the NR sound
and I think that there is more to follow after that. We have many ideas that we want to express
and it’s only a matter of time to do so. Every album we are doing reflect the feelings and the
emotions that we have, NR will continue doing music because this is a part of our lives and
it means so much to us, sharing our music with all the people that are interested in the stuff
we do, and express our thoughts and feelings through music.

Looking at the bands line-up, and by reading some interviews I can see that you and Gus
are the brains, the nucleus, the core (well I think you get the point) of Nightrage,
how much do you respect Gus, and what level of mutual appreciation do you think you guys
have (getting sentimental here)

 I and Gus started the band back in 2000 and we are the driving force behind the NR wheel.
I have a huge respect about Gus as a musician and as a friend as it happens to be my best friend,
he helped me a lot back in the day in a very difficult period of my life when I felt so disappointed
and together we create this sound. He is an excellent guitarist/song-writer and he has been a big
part of the NR sound. Gus he is my blood brother and I feel proud about him for the things that
he has accomplished playing in so many albums.

Funny question, in Sweet Vengeance the album art was made by Niklas Sundin
and in the second record you had Mikael Stanne doing vocals for you,
what kind of relationship do you have with Dark Tranquillity?

 I know them pretty well and we hang out some times, they are killer guys and really good in what they
do with both music and art. I wish that we will tour sometime together so the fun it would be endless.

Talking a little about your arrival to Sweden several years ago, what was the first
thing that shock you the most? Referring to all those cultural differences between
your home land and your blossom land Sweden (a little poetry there). Do you miss Greece?

 I think it’s the complete differences that the 2 countries have in a lot of aspects like the weather,
how the people think and act, the way the society works, everything is different and it takes a while
until you get used to that. I miss Greece a lot of times and who knows maybe one day I will come back
and continue doing music from there, but this will take some time until I feel ready to do it, maybe I can
live in both countries and still don’t lose the opportunities that they will occur as far as music and life.

If someone would like to hear Nightrage for the first time, what records of yours will you give him or her?

I think that I will give him both of our albums so he can have a wider picture of what NR is all about.

Which band of Melodic Death Metal (active) do you think is the best right now
(other than Nightrage of course)

 The Haunted, Soilwork, Shadows fall, and Killswitch engage.

What do you think of music trading person to person, and of the music trading
via internet do you think it could be another way of promoting your band all over the world?

I think that this is good for smaller bands like NR and it helps them to grow pretty easy,
on the other hand sometimes it’s not fair that the bands don’t get the credit that they deserve,
but I think that the fans that they download the music eventually if they like the music they will go
and buy the album so they can help the bands still doing what they do. So after all it’s not so bad
as it seems, metal fans are real fans and they really believe in the bands that they listen,
it’s not pop here you know or another kind of trend metal music is real and down to earth, so the music fans.

Is there a new record on the works; if so please tell us something about it?

We already started to compose some new material and we are thinking to enter the studio next year,
we have 2 songs ready so far and a lot of other ideas for more songs, this time all the members
will contribute to the new material and everybody seemed to be excited to start writing and creating new songs.

And finally, would you guys consider playing a concert in Costa Rica?
What have you guys heard of our country? (If you have heard something at all)

 I think that would be awesome to play at your territory, I don’t know much about your country
but I hope that there will be interest from the promoters there to bring NR for some shows.

Thank you again and if you will like to add something more please do.

 Thanks a lot for this Interview and the interest in NR. A big hello to all the NR fans there
I hope that they will like our new album and we are looking forward to meet you all in our shows.

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