MUEN: How long has Arsames been together, and how did you all meet eachother in the beginning? Surly there are not alot of Metal musicians in Iran?

ARSAMES: FOR 5 YEARS , I DECIDED (ALI MADARSHAHI) TO FORM A METAL BAND.. A REALLY ACTIVE METAL BAND IN MY COUNTRY I WAS A METAL FAN FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS SO I KNEW SOME WONDERFULLY ACTIVE MUSICIANS WE HAVE ALOT OF MUSICIANS WHO PLAY (ROCK& METAL) MUSIC IN IRAN, BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE MUCH CHANCE TO SHOW THEMSELVES TO THE WORLD

MUEN: Is the internet and Myspace the only resource you have to get your music out?

ARSAMES: YES, WE REALLY LOVE MYSPACE BECAUSE IT HELPS US TO SHOW THE POWER OF OUR MUSIC TO THE WORLD

MUEN: Ali Sanaei's bass playing is very unique!! How did he develop his technique?

ARSAMES: YES!!! A REALLY TALENTED PERSON.. HE IS 20 YEARS OLD AND PLAYED BASS FOR 8 YEARS - NO DOUBT HE IS THE FASTEST AND THE BEST BASSIST IN IRAN AND I'M SURE YOU WILL HEAR OF HIM A LOT IN THE FUTURE

MUEN: What type of drum equipment do you, (Ali Madarshahi) use? And how long have you been playing drums for? You are quite good!

ARSAMES: I HAVE 2 DRUM SETS: TAMA ROCK STAR ACOUSTIC DRUMS, AND ROLAND V DRUMS AND I'VE PLAYED DRUMS FOR 5 YEARS (SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE BAND)

MUEN: Who writes the lyrics and starts the foundation for the songs? Is it Hamed Azizi?

ARSAMES: AS A MATTER OF FACT THE LYRICS HAVE BEEN WRITTEN BY COOPERATION OF TWO GUYS (ME AND DR VAHID ZEHI) - WHAT'S MORE ALL LYRICS HAVE BEEN TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH AND BEEN ARRANGED WITH THE MUSIC BY DR ZEHI

MUEN: Who is Hamed Azizi's greatest influences as a vocalist?

ARSAMES: EXTREME AND BRUTAL DEATH METAL VOCALISTS LIKE GEORGE FISHER (CANNIBAL CORPSE) ....

MUEN: Where does the band rehearse (practice)?

ARSAMES: IN A SMALL PLACE.. WE DO REHEARSAL IN OUR BASEMENT

MUEN: Who created the band logo, and who does most of the artwork for the band?


ARSAMES: OUR BEST FRIEND AND THE OLDEST HEAVY METAL GRAPHIC DESIGNER IN IRAN MR.MALAEKEH WWW.MYSPACE.COM/MALAEKEH

MUEN: What was your involvement in Desert Rock 2007 featuring western acts such as Iron Maiden and Incubus - did you perform at this event, or just attend?

ARSAMES: WE REALLY HOPE TO PERFORM AT THIS EVENT SOMEDAY, WE HAVE TRAVELED ALOT TO SEE ALL THE GREAT BANDS LIVE IN CONCERT - BY THE WAY WE INCREASED OUR EXPERIENCE BY TAKING PART IN THESE FESTIVALS

MUEN: Who were some of the musicians from the west that you got to meet at the Desert Rock 2007 event?

ARSAMES: IN DUBAI DESERT ROCK FEST WE JUST MET GRACE CHRISTIAN FROM TESTAMENT HE REALLY GOT SHOCKED WHEN WE TOLD HIM WE CAME FROM IRAN! - AFTER THAT MEETING HE MADE AN ARTICLE FOR CRUSHER MAGAZINE AND TALKED ABOUT HOW AMERICAN PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT PERSIAN CULTURE AND HAVE A LOT OF MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT OUR NATION. WE MET DORO AND OVER KILL IN ROCK REPUBLIC FEST 2005 IN TURKEY AND SODOM, STEVE VAI, SLAYER, HOLY MOSES AS WELL

MUEN: With some of the restrictions on "Western Music" in Iran, how hard is it for a Thrash Death Metal Band? Is it actually liked or even tolerated that much in your country?

ARSAMES: SURELY METAL IS NOT OUR NATIONAL MUSIC, BUT WE LOVE IT AND WE HAVE CHOSEN THIS STYLE TO SEND OUR MESSAGES TO PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD - THIS STYLE HAS ATTRACTED A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN MY COUNTRY

MUEN: What does the name Arsames mean?

ARSAMES: Arsames grandfather of the Persian king Darius I the Great. He must have ruled in the second quarter of the sixth century BC Arsames was father of Hystaspes, satrap of Parthia, and of Pharnaces. Arsames would live to see his grandson, Darius I, become the Great King of Media and Persia,

MUEN: What is the song "Cyrus The Great" about?

ARSAMES: CYRUS THE GREAT IS THE POPULAR KING OF IRAN WHO RULED PERSIA UNDER PEACE AND JUSTICE AND INSTRUCTED THE FIRST HUMAN RIGHTS INSTRUCTIONS IN THE WORLD, HE DIDN'T NEED TO BUILD A GREAT WALL AROUND IRAN TO PROTECT OUR NATION FROM INVADERS .....!!! HE HAD ALREADY BUILT A GREAT CULTURE THAT WAS STRONGER THAN ANY KIND OF WALLS

MUEN: Who are Ali Azhari's greatest guitar influences?

ARSAMES: HE IS A REAL MONSTER GUITAR PLAYER IN IRAN, HE PLAYED GUITAR FROM THE AGE Of 10, HE IS THE LEADER AND SKIN POUNDER OF THE DEATH METAL BAND CALLED ARTHIMOTH AND OF COURSE, MY BEST FRIEND, HE PLAYED ALL THE SOLOS IN ARSAMES'S FIRST ALBUM.. HIS INFLUENCES ARE DIMEBAG DARELL RIP, MARTY FRIEDMAN, TREY AZAGTHOTH....

MUEN: How many songs has Arsames written?

ARSAMES: 7 SONGS FOR FIRST ALBUM

MUEN: Where are you going to release the album?

ARSAMES: WE THINK WE WANT TO RELEASE IT PREFERABLY IN ANOTHER COUNTRY THAT HAS MORE EXPERIENCE IN THIS FIELD

MUEN: Do you listen to and like other types of music, or is Thrash Death Metal the only kind you like?

ARSAMES: YES WE ALSO LIKE JAZZ, ROCK AND CLASSICAL MUSIC

MUEN: Who are your biggest influences in Metal, and are there any great musicians in Iran that have inspired you as well?

ARSAMES: BILLY SHEEHAN, STEVE DIGIORGIO, DAVE MUSTAIN, MICHAEL AMOT, MICHAEL ANGELO, DAVE LOMBARDO. GENE HOGLAN, FLO MOUNIER.. THERE ARE TONS OF METAL MUSICIANS THAT WE LOVE THEM FOREVER, BUT IN IRAN NO

MUEN: Are there any venues or places where a band such as yours can perform? Do you play for crowds often?

ARSAMES: JUST SOME UNDERGROUND CONCERTS, WE WANT TO PLAY IN SOME FAMOUS FESTIVALS IN THE NEAR FUTURE

MUEN: Where do you buy your equipment? Is it hard to get what you need?

ARSAMES: WE CAN BUY ANYTHING THAT WE WANT TO BUY! YOU CAN BUY ALL THE MUSIC INSTRUMENTS IN IRAN! YOU SEE WE HAVE TAMA DRUMS SET ROLAND V DRUM MADE IN USA YAMAHA BASS, ESP AND JACKSON GUITARS

MUEN: What is your dream for Arsames? What is the main goal for you guys as a band? Do you someday hope to be able to tour outside the middle east?

ARSAMES: WE JUST WANT TO MAKE MUSIC WITH ALL PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE WE WANT TO GET OUR SEAT IN METAL MUSIC - YESSSS

MUEN: Where can your fans purchase or download your music?

ARSAMES: INTERNET

MUEN: What do you want to say to the west?

ARSAMES: NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, WEST..... ARE JUST SOME WORDS TO SHOW THE PLACE WE LIVE - WE BELIEVE ALL PEOPLE ARE OUR BROTHERS BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMEN..... WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS, WE WANT TO SEND THE MESSAGE OF HUMANITY PEACE JUSTICE TO ALL

MUEN: And what do you say to your fans in general who support and love the music of Arsames?

ARSAMES: OUR FANS ARE WHO MOTIVATE US TO BE BETTER AND BETTER EVERYDAY, SO WE WISH THE BEST FOR ALL OF THEM ESPECIALLY OUR UNIVERSAL FRIENDS IN MYSPACE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED US A LOT SINCE WE HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED IN THIS AMAZING SITE

~Ali madarshahi ARSAMES

Interview by G. Cataline & Lissy MacMillan