Majestic
Vanguard
Majestic Vanguard are one
of the few bands in the melodic power metal scene that caught my attention
with their latest album and at least for this year it will be in my top
10 list. So before a few days we had a discussion with the drummer and
main man of the band.
1. Hi guys, first of all congratulations
on your newest album! At least for me it was a surprise and definitely
one of the best albums for this month.
Thank you so much! We are really satisfied
with the album and I am glad you like our music!
2. You have more than a decade in the music
scene with Majestic Vanguard and so far one album. When you started back
in the early nineties the band did you believe that you would achieve all
this?
Well, I think that’s a little misunderstanding!
Back in the early nineties, Samuel, Andreas and I were part of a band that
was called Sentinel and we played together for a couple of years. That
band has nothing to do with the band today! After a break from all music
that lasted for 4-5 years. Samuel, Andreas and I contacted each other again.
We began to talk about the possibilities to start a new metal band. In
the year of 2003 we decided to give Peter a chance in the new band and
we founded Divine Disciples! After a successful demo we received a label
deal with Rivel Records. We opened up for a new guitar player, Johan and
decided to chance our name to Majestic Vanguard and that is what we are
today! So actually, Majestic Vanguard is only 2 years old!
3. Can you tell us some things about the recording
sessions of your newest album?
“Beyond the moon” is our debut album. We did
the recordings during March–May 2005; it was some extremely hectic weeks.
I have been the producer of this album. Our guitar player Johan and I have
been the engineers, assisted by Jerker Tenenbaum.
When we got the opportunity to record an album,
our goal was to combine a good financial deal with some practical issues.
So, we decided to record our debut album in studio X, Falkoping. Most of
the band members live inside the town Falkoping, so almost everyone had
walking distance to the studio, Very practical!
For us the guys in the band, “Beyond the moon”
is truly a masterpiece. That has taken a lot of time to develop.
Hopefully that feeling also will become among the fans! We really hope
that everyone that listening will enjoy this album and support the band
into the future.
4. Which things made you write the lyrics?
The world today is very new ages influenced
and there is no room for a living God. We are told to be our own Gods and
are constantly forced away from the truth. God wants to be part of every
single life and he has a special plan for each and every one of us. This
is something that is recurrent in many of my lyrics. The holy spirits desire
to reach to people, is also something that I have been trying to deal with
in my lyrics. There is a longing in the band not to be any actors in these
final chapters of the world. We really would like to tell everyone that
there is a way to God and that way is throw Jesus Christ.
5. Personally I adore your debut album! So,
what procedure do you follow in order to write new songs?
Thank you so much!
When I am writing a song, I really prefer
to write the whole song, including all music and lyrics. For me the whole
process is very sacred. A song is like a metaphor, were the music and lyrics
will be combined to something unique. Therefore I very rarely decide the
songs length or construction before I get started. Everything will have
to crow during the creation process. The arrangement around the song is
also made in the writing process and therefore the songs are ready for
action when we begin to rehears! I have many examples of this during the
work and progress with “beyond the moon”.
6. Have you already planned any live shows
for the near future?
We have no planned shows for the moment, but
we really hope that there will be many live shows in the future!
7. Are you satisfied with the help from Rivel
Records?
We are extremely happy! Rivel records are
a label with a lot of respect in the whole metal world. Christian Rivel
is doing a wonderful job with his bands and we are very happy and proud
to be part of that label. When it comes to the Christian believes, Christian
has a longing and a hunger to deliver Gods word to people that is admirable.
8. Which are the future plans of Majestic Vanguard?
For the first we just feel that it is fun
to have come this far with the band. The band is very young and we feel
very positively about the future. To been making this album is a dream
come true and we are enjoying that for the moment. If there will be any
more albums, we don’t know for the moment. We are hopeful, but we don’t
know! The focus now is to play live as much as we can!
9. So far how are the reactions of the press
for your newest album?
Extremely well! We have received fantastic
reviews from all over the world!
10. If your music was an emotion, what would
it be?
Well, maybe Desire! We have a desire to let
people see who God really is and to explain that Jesus is the only way
to God. Hopefully this is affected in our music!
11. Tell me your influences as a drummer.
Well, nowadays I really don’t have any special
influences but when I was younger I really liked Robert Sweet, the visual
timekeeper of Stryper. In fact, I haven’t got that many drummers as influence
sources. Maybe that’s because I don’t see myself as just a drummer, I rather
see myself as just a simple musician. I love listening to music that is
well thought out and is giving time to deal with thoroughly. I really like
bands such as: Dream Theater, Rhapsody, Symphony X, Lost Horizon, and most
of all Veni Domine the best Swedish metal band ever.
12. Do you follow the metal scene generally?
I mean do you listen to works from other bands too?
Not that much nowadays, family life and other
things are taking a lot of time. But, if I have time I try to listening
as much as possible. It is interesting to follow the “white metal” scene,
especially in Sweden. Bands like Narnia and Veni Domine are very high talented
and have a great message to deliver.
13. Thank you very much for your time and close
the interview as you want!
I hope everyone will enjoy our album “beyond
the moon”. It is a very special album for us and we are really proud of
it! You are also very welcome to visit our website; www.majesticvanguard.net.
Please write us a mail or sign up in the guestbook!
Stay focused on the lord! God Bless!
Daniel Eskilsson – Majestic Vanguard
Antonis Maglaras
|