MUEN: Hey Antenora! You are a great metal band hailing from the Cleveland area. What was it that made you want to form this band and how did you all meet up?

COLE- I had been writing a lot of the material with my previous band (Years Of Fire) which had Brian on drums, We had left that band to pursue the material I was working on, with talks of starting a new band,along the lines of In flames and Soilwork. I had then asked a close friend of mine, Chris (who was playing in a band called By Their Blood) if he�d be interested in writing and playing second guitar in the project. Then a really long time friend, Jonny (who I�ve recorded a number of his bands he�s been involved in) approached us about working together, said he wanted to pursue something heavier and more melodic, which was tough because that�s exactly what we were going for.

MUEN: When you put this band together, did everyone have similar musical interests or is it an infusion of different musical backgrounds?

COLE- Ah, honestly its a huge selection of tasty brews...haha. I mean, like I ranged from death and black metal to like pop music...ha Jonny was ranging from a lot of southern rock and country to like British pop music, and well Ogre, Chris and Brian tend to have Neil Diamond dance parties.

MUEN: Who were your influences in music, while growing up, and do you incorporate these influences into your music when writing for Antenora?

COLE- I believe all of us have been influenced by a ton of different bands and all that. I think we are all heavily influenced by Nine Inch Nails, Foo Fighters, and Soilwork, just to name a few.

MUEN: There are so many media pushed, mega money packaged bands out there today. Mostly due to tv shows and networking like for example American idol. Do you think Metal is alive and kicking or being drowned out by all the dribble being fed to our young people? What do you think people are looking for in a metal band?

COLE- I honestly think American idol is rubbish... I have to give those mega money packaged bands a pat on the back for ya know, really deep throating the prick and doing what being a rock star is all about now. It�s really lost all sense of reality and it just sucks now for anyone. That�s why the metal scene is awesome., and a lot of people are looking for it. I mean metal has changed so much over the years, i mean there are poppy hooks and brutal death grooves and parts that sound like people are throwing a typewriter down the stairs. I think any real, not even, per say �metal kid�, just someone who appreciates good metal, will look for something thats heavy, has good hooks and ass ripping leads, ya know? well maybe having a pint with their fav metal band. haha

MUEN: What�s it like playing in the Cleveland area? Do you want to tour the US? Maybe the world? And what kind of venues do you enjoy playing the most?

JONNY- Well, Cleveland is awesome...when it�s awesome. However, it�s like any other big city that�s congested with "image savvy, back stabbing, two face, dime a dozen piece of shit" bands that ride the coat tails of previously shitty bands and that concentrate more on how many pairs of girls jeans and hair products they have than playing their instruments. It pretty much sucks. As for touring, yeah, I think we�d love to tour, if it�s the right tour. We love to play. Period. Touring the world would be a friggin� dream come true! I�m pretty sure that we want to be able to say we ripped faces and drank the best of boozes from every country in the world, ha! As for venues, I personally prefer smaller clubs. You can get more up close and personal with the people that pay their hard earned money to come see you. Not to mention, the bigger venues tend to over charge for beer, entrance fees and all that shit. Hell, we�d play a bar b q if there was a crowd and some booze!

MUEN: Are you interested in the financial backing and professional promotion a label can offer you? Or.. are you just happy doing it all yourself, bringing the people what you want to give them as a band, without the rules that sometimes comes along with being signed?

OGRE- We love doing everything ourselves, because of the freedom it allows us to have. Everyone in the band does their own thing and amazingly enough, when it all comes together it just clicks. Everyday i�m amazed by what we can do. But, there comes a point where we just dont have the resources and strings to pull anymore.

MUEN: Your lyrics are very thought provoking. "Homage" is a very sorrowful, but strong and beautiful tribute to your friend. Do you feel that music and writing can be an escape to life�s trials and tribulations. A means to cope with things on a personal level?

JONNY- Absolutely! I think music is that separation between the harshness that reality can sometimes bring and that make believe, perfect world where everyone understands what you�ve been through. It�s the connection that draws people to the musician and the work they do. It�s amazing to me how one song can give you so much hope yet another can make you break down. Homage, lyrically, was just that... a tribute to my best friend. Unfortunately, everyone has lost either someone or something they truly loved and I hope that�s carried over though the music and words. That�s the connection. That�s what makes the listener think...

MUEN: I loved the video you did for "Homage" as well. You are so passionate when you sing. Do you feel the emotion of the songs when singing them? Is it hard to do them the same live?

JONNY- Well, first, thanks for the compliment on the video. I actually find it EASIER to feel what I�m singing when it�s live. Especially when you have the fans feeling it with you. It�s like a HUGE rush. There you are, in front of these people that came to see YOUR BAND and they�re connecting to YOU through something YOU wrote. I really hope that other musicians feel that. If not, I really don�t see a point in performing at all.

MUEN: Do you have any more music videos coming up that we can look forward to?

THE BAND IMITATING BRIAN WHILE HE SLEEPS - "We have plans to shoot and release a series of videos from our upcoming record. I�d really like to see a video for "I Am Eternal", so hopefully that will happen soon."

MUEN: What do you all do when not playing with Antenora? Do any of you have side projects going on as well?

COLE - The Pub? Ah we like to share a few brews, shots. black tooth grin? That sounds really good right about now...watch it go... WE all have some side things going on ogre, brian, chris and myself are jamming with Chuck Mosley(originally Faith No More) I�ve got a couple side project I�ve been working on, as well. Go check out Fupascat you�re gonna laugh for awhile! Its pretty funny(www. myspace. com/fupascat) And another really cool project to scope out is Chikatilo(www. myspace. com/chikatilo). Also, Jonny is working with his rock side project Burning Vegas (www. myspace. com/burningvegas).

MUEN: Have you been compiling anything for a new cd? Do you have any music and/or merchandise available? Where can people purchase it?

JONNY - We have all kinds of new goodies coming out soon. We�re recording our new record as we speak and, the new songs are going to wish you wore some Depends, because you�re going to crap yourself when you hear them. In fact, maybe we�ll use that as a marketing campaign. "Free diapers with purchase of the new Antenora disc!" HA... We also have a slew of designs for new merch that we�re working on as well. Just keep checking back and sign up for our mailing list, so we can keep all of you gnarly dudes and dudettes up to date!!

MUEN: Do you think the internet plays a pivotal role in promotion and generally getting the music out to so many people world wide? What is your opinion on the whole Myspace phenomenon?

JONNY- The internet is an amazing tool and a "crutch" at the same time. It�s wonderful that you can reach people all over the world with such ease and able to get to those that you would never be able to reach if it weren�t for that access. However, I think too many bands rely on the internet and myspace to get their music out. Instead of concentrating on their home base of fans and getting out their, busting their asses everyday, proving themselves worthy of the attention they so desperately pursue. "Grassroots promoting" isn�t even a word the newer generation of bands� know or understand. It�s a shame.

MUEN: What is your ultimate goal for Antenora? What is the next step for you all?

OGRE- The ultimate goal for Antenora would be world domination. You know, big houses, big cars and big women.. lol. The life of a drug lord, with out the DEA hunting you down every day. The next phase for the 12 step plan for world domination is to rock. Rock on every single stage possible. Play as hard and heavy as humanly possible, and melting faces worldwide..

Thank you Antenora!

Interview by Jeanne Thomas