Spirits
Engaged
Spirits Engaged is a newcoming
act from Greece that reveals to have great potential and a sound that can
unite a lot of fans under their name. Their music is melodic, but at the
same time it has an inner power and might. If you think you want to learn
more about them, then below is the interview to fill you in...
1. THIS IS OUR FIRST INTERVIEW AND HOPE THAT
WE DO MANY MORE IN THE FUTURE! NOW TELL US IN A FEW WORDS WHEN YOU DECIDED
TO FORM SPIRITS ENGAGED AND WHICH THE MOST IMPORTANT MOMENTS OF THE BAND
SO FAR ARE? PRESENT THE CURRENT LINE-UP…
The Spirits were formed in 2003 when we had
the idea to go in the studio with some guys and play some famous metal
songs that we like. The first line-up was: George Hararis and Gabriel Kostakis
on the guitars, Thodoris Berberoglou on the bass guitar, Bill Xirokostas
on the drums and me on Vocals & Keyboards. We where doing fine for
a long time with rehearsals and composing new material which is now included
in the demo. After some period of time Gabriel and Thodoris left the band
due to personal reasons and their place was taken by Apostolis Spanoudis
and Nick Dienis. As time was passing by we got stronger, more reliable
and we were composing better than the past. We had our up-and-downs since
2003 but we never gived in to anything. I believe that the band’s best
time was the compilation of our demo because it took a long time to finish
it.
The current line-up is: George Hararis-Bass
Guitar, Ilias Michailakis-Vocals & Keyboards, Apostolis Spanoudis-Guitars,
Nick Dienis-Guitars and Bill Xirokostas-Drums.
2. DID ANY OF YOU PARTICIPATE IN OTHER BANDS BEFORE
YOU FORMED SPIRITS ENGAGE? HAVE YOU RELEASED ANYTHING WITH YOUR PREVIOUS
BANDS?
George is a member of Strikelight and Dia
Pyros & Sidhrou. Bill recently left Strikelight but he still plays
with Vice Human. Also Nick plays with Dia Pyros & Sidhrou and in the
past he played with Strikelight, Iohl, Fireblade. Strikelight and Vice
Human have released 1 album each.
3. NOW, HOW DID YOU CHOOSE THE NAME SPIRITS ENGAGED?
HOW IS IT CONNECTED WITH THE MUSIC AND THE GENERAL ATTITUDE OF THE BAND?
The name “Spirits Engaged” was a result of
a list with about 20 names and we decided that it fits better with the
lyrics and the attitude of the band. We are very connected to each other
and our feelings are transformed into melodies and lyrics. I believe that
we can express these feelings through this music and I believe we’re doing
it well.
4. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO COMPOSE THE SONGS
THAT YOU HAVE INCLUDED ON YOUR FIRST DEMO? WHICH WAS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM
THAT YOU HAD TO CONFRONT? IS SOMETHING THAT YOU DIDN’T LIKE AND YOU WILL
CHANGE IT ON YOUR NEXT RELEASE?
It took us about 6 or 7 months to compose
our songs because as I said we had our ups-and-downs in the band and this
was our biggest problem. But we faced it with the best way we could, we
accomplished our target and we are all very pleased with the final result.
Of course there are some things that on our next release will be corrected,
such as the production.
5. DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW MATERIAL READY? WHICH ARE
THE SIMILARITIES AND THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW AND THE OLD MATERIAL?
We have infinite ideas and we’ve written songs
that can fill at least 3 albums. At this time we are in a recording session
of a new song which will be included in a metal collection and it is a
little bit different from the songs in the demo. It has some same elements
but it is very heavy (in some parts thrash) and more progressive. Also
the vocals are heavier but they continue to be melodic.
6. NOW FROM THE LYRICS OF THE BAND I HAVE THE
IMPRESSION THAT YOU WRITE ABOUT CHRISTIAN THEMES. AM I RIGHT? WHO IS RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE LYRICS AND FOR WHAT KIND OF THINGS DO YOU LIKE TO WRITE?
You’re right! We have Christian lyrics but
not only this. The lyrics are my responsibility but they express all of
us. They are white and some of them refer to God, some other to love and
hope and some to… girls! And of course there are many connections between
them. If we can’t understand how God affects our lives we won’t understand
what love truly means. I have seen and felt many things in my life till
now and this is reflected in the lyrics I write in every song.
7. WHICH BANDS DO YOU THINK THAT HAVE INFLUENCED
YOU AS ARTISTS? NAME SOME OF YOUR ALL TIME FAVORITE METAL ALBUMS.
Well many bands have influenced our music,
such as Iron Maiden, Helloween, Paradise Lost, Stryper, Yngwie.J.Malmsteen
and Scorpions. There are many more that if I name them I will finish tomorrow
:) ! Our all time favorite metal albums are: Dream Theater-Scenes from
a memory,Cannibal Corpse-Tomb of the multilated, Stryper-To hell with the
devil.
8. WILL YOU SEND YOUR DEMO TO ANY LABELS? WHAT
EXACTLY DO YOU SEEK FROM A LABEL TO OFFER YOU? DO YOU THINK THAT THE LABELS
ABROAD ARE POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE WHEN THEY LISTEN TO THE GREEK METAL BANDS?
We have already sent our demo to Secret Port
Records, a Greek label, and we just had a proposal from Italy. A label
gives the oportunity to the band to have more acceptance from the audience
and it helps the band to be more official. Also I believe that if you have
talent you will be accepted from a label abroad and their review for your
job will be positive.
9. DO YOU HAVE PLANS FOR LIVE SHOWS? HAVE YOU
DONE ANY LIVES SO FAR? WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER FROM THE FIRST TIME YOU PLAYED
ON THE STAGE?
As Spirits Engaged we haven’t done lives yet
but we have plans for live shows in the near future. From my personal experience
it is a great feeling. Recently I sang the song “Inner Voice” with Strikelight
and it was a wonderful experience.
10. WHICH IS THE BEST AND WHICH THE WORST COMMENT
THAT YOU’VE READ ABOUT YOUR MUSIC AND WHY? DID PEOPLE FROM ABROAD LISTEN
TO YOUR SOUND? IF YES, HOW HAVE THEY COMMENTED IT?
Well the comments are mostly good. The songs
are for all the metal-ears and not only. Some have mentioned that we play
aor/heavy and some others gothic/power. This happens because we have many
elements from different kinds of heavy metal. The only thing that some
have mentioned about the demo is the poor production and I agree with that.
But it is our very first job and surely the production will be heavier
and louder on our next release.
11. DO YOU THINK THAT CREATIVITY IS THE WAY TO
COME CLOSER OR UNDERSTAND BETTER GOD AND WHY?
As a band we believe that our lives are creative
because they are inspired from God just like our music. This happens because
music is a gift from God and we thank him for that. If our life is affected
from the good book and the holy spirit then our lyrics and our music will
express our feelings, our thoughts and our beliefs.
12. THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS! LEAVE
A MESSAGE TO THE READERS OF BEHIND THE VEIL WEBZINE…
First of all we want to thank you for your
good and realistic review and for your friendly advices for the band. A
big hail to all the heavy metal spirits that walk this earth.
Stay Engaged!
Nick "William_Kidd"
Parastatidis
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