Editor's note:
This interview was done by TRISSTESSA when their 3rd album "Quod Superius Sicut Inferius" came out .The New album " SIRENS " should be out on February 2004 on AvantGarde Music

DARK RECOLLECTIONS : 1. For those not familiar with the band , please introduce the band.
TRISTESSA: Right now the band follows a new path more evil and hatred. Mistress Tristessa( bass, Vocals, acoustic guitars) and the new companions in darkness
KATHARSIS(keyboards) and HYBRIS ( Guitars) are now in full action by creating the upcoming Hellish album of ASTARTE. We signed with the Italian Label AVANTGARDE and right now we are finishing the recordings of our fourth album "SIRENS"

DARK RECOLLECTIONS: 2. When did you decide to form ASTARTE and how did you meet the other members for the band.?
TRISTESSA: We were formed in 1995. The new members were very familiar to me. Katharsis was an ex member of the band On Thorns I Lay and Hybris is a very skilled guitar player but never play in other band in the past.

DARK RECOLLECTIONS 3. Talk about your new Cd "Quod Superius Sicut Inferius" .

TRISTESSA: This album contains 10 songs with pure Black metal. The music is composed in a way that it sounds like an Epic Soundtrack. We have mix aggressiveness and feeling. Of course synths are always adding the dark atmosphere that we always have. The lyrical part is inspired from my studies and experiences from mythology, movies and astral views.

DARK RECOLLECTIONS: 4. So far you have released 3 Cds, in your opinion which Cd represents ASTARTE the best?
TRISTESSA: I will not be fair if I will answer this question. First of all right now our fourth cd will come out so I will have to decide among 4 albums. The right for you is to ask our fans about which is the best album. I love all of them equally. Every album is the best we could do for the specific time period and it represents successfully our aims. Each album is made under different music ideas and applies its own characteristics.

DARK RECOLLECTIONS 5. What kind of response have your other Cds received so far?
TRISTESSA: Our first album has become a Black Metal Legend because is the most Dark,raw and evil album. It has re-released 4 times and maybe more. The second album is one step further, it is more open, we came more closer to audience because it is more melodic, and is addressed to wider audience. Our third album is the more clear, and even more open to audience. It has taken the best rates on reviews. People show their preferences with many crazy actions and sometimes they do unbelievable things for us. In Germany we became Heroes to the comic series of the great artist Timu Wursz (blackm.de). We have also enter in some big bibliographies of the history of Black Metal and right now we will join in the great bibliography of the history of “Females into Metal music”.

DARK RECOLLECTIONS: 6. ASTARTE is an all female black metal band, except for the drummer,how hard has it been to find a female drummer, have you searched for one is this a minor aspect to your music?
TRISTESSA: First of all I want to say that we never pay attention to the sexes. Both male or female drummers are welcome, our aim is to work with skilled musicians. The fact that we are a female band was made accidentally. About female drummer the truth is that here in Greece there is NO girl to play drums for Astarte. So, we have a male drummer and we will continue with him.

DARK RECOLLECTIONS: 7. Who or what bands have influenced ASTARTE' s music?
TRISTESSA:We are quite static on our influences and we usually follow the old bands (Eloy, Scorpions, Urian Heep, Metal Church, Dio, Iron Maiden…). Those bands and many other bands of those years are for me a full classic library of music. It contains the A and Z of Metal Music.

DARK RECOLLECTIONS: 8. Have you done any touring or is ASTARTE an studio band only?
TRISTESSA: For the moment we have not played any live shows.

DARK RECOLLECTIONS: 9. Any ASTARTE merchandise available for sale from you?
TRISTESSA:There is an availability of our albums and our demo. Orders can be made from our site www.astarte-site.cjb.net and from my e-mail:astarte_tristessa@yahoo.com Soon we will make t-shirts, posters.

DARK RECOLLECTIONS: 10. What is the scene like where you live, any bands you would recommend checking out?
TRISTESSA: The scene in Greece is very static. I am not satisfied of this suppression that exists in the music scene here. There are no Labels and no media to support our scene and the underground is very powerful but unknown abroad. Some beloved Greek bands are Via Serpentis, Ravencult, Crossover…., etc

DARK RECOLLECTIONS: 11. What has it been like to work with BLACK LOTUS RECORDS, have you received any offers from other labels that have shown interest in your music?
TRISTESSA: From my side I can say that I was very flexible and very tipical with all my obligations with them. But from their side I can say that they create a lot problem to my band during our contract period and even more problems when our contract finished. For those reasons we started to take offers from other Labels.

Right now we have reached a good deal with Avantgarde and we are very satisfied with them. Our new album "Sirens" would be released under the AvantGarde Music banner.

DARK RECOLLECTIONS: 12. What is the title track of your new Cd "Quod Superius Sicut Inferius",and what inspired the lyrics for the song?
TRISTESSA: Reign Unfold ,In Velvet Slumber, Oblivious Darkness , Crossing the Wounded Mirror of Death, Inflamed paradox, Quod superior sicut inferior, Incarnate Legend of Mummy Queen, Astarte , Deep Down the Cosmos. Each track has its own story. I will speak only for my beloved ones. There is one ASTARTE song that embraces and talks about the Goddess. Another one is the “ Quod Superius…” this is a description of the cover of our album and describes the meaning of this Latin phrase. Is stressing the Microcosmo and macrocosmo, which are united through balance. Another song called " Inflamed Paradox", talks about the Lady of the Lake. Her daughter was killed and the story describes the grief of the Lady. After some time the lady dies too, she appears as a ghost to the passengers of the lake and she scares them to take revenge of her daughter!! All lyrics are written in allegoric way and needs a lot of fantasy to be understood!!

DARK RECOLLECTIONS: 13. Any last words, comments? Thanks TRISTESSA for the interview.
TRISTESSA: Yes I want to say that in February we manage to release our fourth album called SIRENS. In this album there are guests vocal participations from SHAGRATH (Dimmu Borgir), from Sakis (Rotting Christ) and Nicolas Maiis (LLOTH). The new album is the most speed and hatred album that Astarte have ever made. The covers will be made from the famous GRAAL. I have also reform LLOTH band with male members. We play Death Metal with a lot of sick compositions and soon we plan to start playing live in Greece and abroad. I want to thank you! And to close this interview I hail all Undergroud people and bands Astarte sends our Darkest regards to all those who has support us so far. We are here to mesmerise your minds!!!!!!
CONTACT ASTARTE AT:

E-mail: astarte_tristessa@yahoo.com
Official Astarte webpage:
www.astarte-site.cjb.net
Official AvantGarde Music
www.avantgardemusic.com


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