First of all, please elaborate the personal characters of each member of the band? Everyone of you have their special pseudonym respectively, so please describe what are they all about, and its relation to the band Yyrkoon musically and ideologically?
We are four members in Yyrkoon, and we don't have any pseudonym, or maybe that you are speaking about the period of our first demo (Oath, Obscur, Occult...1996). Now, we just call ourselves by our true names. The actual line-up is:
Me (Stephane) : Lead guitar & Vocals
Jeff : Lead guitar
Victo : Bass guitar
Laurent : Drums.

We all evolve to a energic and insane music, combinating violence and melody. Our concept is strictly philosophic and is always tinted with a kind of darkness.. I compose 80% of music and write 90% of the lyrics, we work together on structure and songs arrangements.

Tell us when and how did you guys get together to form Yyrkoon? What were reasons you start up this band and the choice on musical direction? What is the name Yyrkoon meaning for and the hidden spirit behind it?
I started Yyrkoon in 1995 with Laurent (drums) and other guys at this time.. At the very beginning, we played typical thrash/death metal for fun, and quickly, we found a deep interset to drive a band and the energy and the wealth that it could bring to us !! So, it became serious still this moment and gave our total personnal invest to make Yyrkoon alive. We recorded and released a demo tape in 1996, first album "Oniric Transition" in 1998, a mini Cd in 2000, a second album "Dying Sun" in 2002... and today, we just came back from Jacob Hansen studio (Denmark), where we put on bands our third album "Occult Medicine"...

Our name Yyrkoon comes from the Saga of Elric which is written by an american writer Michael Woodcock. This is the name of a sorcerer, but we had chosen this name for its sonority and originality not at all to tell Elric saga in our songs.. Today, this name is our personal and music meaning.

Are you fully happy with "Dying Sun", or are there things you would have done differently now? How would you evaluate the progression you have gone through, and in what direction are you currently progressing? Have you always played like you do now, or did you play another kind of music/metal when you started up?
It's difficult to speak again about "Dying Sun" when we just finished to record our third album !! I need to dive into its context again. Dying Sun is a good album for us and we are satisfied by the work and songs done on it. Each of our releases are a bit different, you reognize Yyrkoon style but the form change a bit. For example, we were accustomed to compose with keyboards still the beginning.. and you can find some very little keyboards part here and there on Dying Sun.. but now, and already at this time, we were against the use of keyboards.. in fact we hate this ! and we need all this time to realize that !! that's why our last album is only a 100% metallic conception if you see what I mean. So I can say that our only regret is that we used keyboards 'till Dying Sun, we should have composed each songs without this fucking keyboards, that would have gave to the whole a wildest sonority !! We are

Can you describe the song writing process - how do you usually work out the compositions? Is the atmosphere or state of mind you're in while writing music important? Where does the inspiration come from?
Dying Sun is a concept album about the death of the sun ! surprising, isn't it !? All the music was composed before writing of the lyrics. Inspiration comes from different film's thematic, books, and of course personnal imagination.. When the main concept is established, I work and develop different visions and themes for each atmospheres that brings me songs. Sometimes, music changes or sometimes lyrics adapt itself to the music..

Which are the bands that you think have influenced more on you? And also not only bands, maybe films, books,... Are they the same sources of inspiration to write the lyrics? Also for the coverarts?
Bands !!?? a lot for sure ! All kinds of metal except neo and heavy speed metal... Classical music/Hard rock/Blues... We find inspiration too into movies, fiction and horror, but books too... sometimes it's a synthese of each things that we can see or read, but the world which inspire the more is with no doubts, the world of H.P Lovecraft... it's amazing !! sumerian world... !! Cthulhu !!!

And what about the main themes of your lyrics?. Can you talk about them and the way of thinking on Yyrkoon (if have someone special)?
As I just said before, it's a gloomy world with dark concepts and a special philosophical evil way...

What is the main difference in the lyrics between "Dying Sun" and your other releases? How was the major lyrical idea on the previous Yyrkoon's stuff?
The main difference is for sure, that it's more mature !! our previous and first album "Oniric Transition" was recorded in 1998 and "Dying Sun" in 2001, so the lyrics are better I think on it and the concept is still the same (with little differences) but the whole is more accomplished. And our new album "Occult Medicine" recorded in november 2003 is bit different from our past releases and is really like what we were looking for !! concept/lyrics and of course music...

How do you think was the global acceptation of your past releases? Tell us something about them and the musical evolution of the band if it has existed.
Hard to say... We seem to be well accepted. Our music changes with our maturity and our personality... with time and work, we master more easily the way of our own music, and we know where to go and how to play. That is the difference between each albums... This doesn't mean that our previous albums are shit ! but sometimes it sounds a bit different from what we are... time will tell to us...

Your last release, "Dying Sun", has created me a very good impression since the first moment I listened to it. Can you tell us the key to make this possible?
...there is no key I think, it's only a feeling question, glad to see that you have the same as us...

What does metal music mean to you? What was your first experience with it and how has it affected your life?
It means everything to me... it's not a fucking fashion ! I discovered first, hard rock with my father. When I was little boy, he was accustomed to put disc of Van Halen, Deep Purple, Led Zep... and their music was burnt into my mind... I just love it (again...). This was the beginning I think of my interest into distortion sound ! that's why I decided to play guitar and the evolve to metal was natural, in my mind it was ultra logic to play this kind of music and nothing else !! I couldn't live without now... like a drug, I need it and to compose in this vein to explain my deepest dark thoughts.

And what do you prefer for listening?. (artists, bands etc,) Any special new band to name?
Hum... to draw a fast description of my favorites I would say the following...

Coroner, Slayer, Testament, Overkill... : for their dirty thrash touch'

Morbid Angel, Deicide, Suffocation, Emperor, Immolation.. : for their evil & death touch'

Andy Larocque (King Diamond), Yngwie Malmsteen, Chuck Schuldiner (Death): for their incredible feeling

Accept, Motorhead, Skid Row... : For their rock'n roll touch'

And many many more !!!

New bands now... yeah !!! place is to the young now !!! hehe !

So, let's talk about : Aborted (Be), Scarve (Fr), Gojira Fr), Ostracized (Fr), Mors Principeum Est (?), and certainly more... but I don't remember now... there is a lot of good new bands who are coming !!! they need your support !

That "age" you have is one of the things that helped you to be where you are now. So, what do you thing about past mistakes?
Keyboards !! songs's strucutres, and sometimes , vocals or parts which are to joyful !!

Do you keep up with Metal Magazines? Which ones do you read or like the best?
For France I would speak about Rock Hard & Metallian, which are still intersting in the whole... compared to the others who repeat and repeat the same bullshits again and again, and are speaking about the same shit bands... I prefer fanzines'...

I think you visit some e-zines. What do you think about this migration of the scene to the Net?. Which are your fav and most visited webmags?. What do you think about people that only want to trade with you being a fucking rip-offs?. Did you met someone?
'Sure I met this kind of shity trader !! ... Hey bastard if you read me !! FUCK YOU !! hehe... hum... I often visit french e-zines so... I don't know if you know them : Violent Solution, Gurts Of Darkness...and the canadian Metallain.com...

And when will be more t- shirts available?. Have you thought on making caps, stickers or something like that?
There are shirts available !!!! why do you think that we are out of stock!? beware, we will print new models with our new album... with a darkest visual, and we thought to caps too yes !!

And for live shows?. Which is your way of acting for that events?. Do you contact more people for playing live or simply you don't make gigs? If you made some, what people thinks about your music?
100% of adrenaline and of power !!! we are giving our maximum, before two people or five hundred. Live shows are the logic result of a good album, and we need it, it's necessary for us to get on stage ! it's good ! It's really a unique sensation

Do you have any plan of touring? Around Europe?
...it's coming... to be continued...

What can we expect from an Yyrkoon gig?
Power, sincerity and energy the whole rocked by dark and oppressive atmosphere. Let's come to see us on stage, and just judge by yourself.

Exactly. If you have the time I'd like to ask if you would give me a list of what your top five classic Metal albums are, and give a few brief words on what that album means to you.

*Iron Maiden - Killers : One of the first albums that I've heard... excellent !

*King Diamond - Abigail : For the sole atmosphere... amazing vocals and solos...

*Death - Human : I'm talking about "Human" but the whole stuff from Chuck is tremendous !

*Testament - The New Order : Thrash you want !? Thrash you'll have !!

*Deicide - Legion : For the evil atmosphere and killing cross, lyrics...

Pfff !!! there's a lot more !!!!!!!!!!! Difficult to select only five albums...

What comes next for Yyrkoon? What are the future plans of your band?
We just come back from Danemark where we recorded our third album "Occult Medicine"*. We are very proud of this album... very dark with tensed atmosphere, more agressive... we have just find our way... We received different propositions from different labels, we have to choose the best to work with. Stay tuned ! this album should be released on february or march...

Any last closing words
Thank you very much for this interview ! Support Frenchy Metal bands and thanks to all people who support metal !! Don't forget to listen to our latest album "Occult Medicine", you can obtain samples on our web site, have a tour on it and let us you opinion on our guestbook !!!

ENJOY THE BEST AND FUCK THE REST !!!! See ya soon for the rest to come !