It’s always good to honour your roots. It’s always good to play heavy metal music with passion, power and soul! A band that can do that, is absolutely Mystic Prophecy and just keep in mind that they are one of the very few bands that can be so aggressive, and melodic at the same time without becoming boring when playing heavy/power music. Three members of the band, Lia, Gus and Mark came to Greece to promote the new album “Never Ending”. There was no chance not to visit them along with my friend and partner George, in one of the most known and luxurious hotels in Athens in order to interview them. We were really lucky ‘cause Gus had a break the same time and we had the chance to interview both of them. You can read the most basic parts of the chat we had below.
Hi Lia and Gus… welcome back to Greece.
Lia: Thank you very much…
Gus: You’re welcome…
You have released a new album almost one year after “Regressus”. What made you enter the studio so soon in order to record “Never Ending”?
L: So soon…?
G: Well it’s not very soon, because we recorded “Regressus” in 2002 and it took us about a year to release it ‘cause we were looking out for a good music company to work with. So it was a natural thing to release a new album after two years from the recordings of “Regressus”. You know something… Lia and I cannot let the time pass without doing anything... even if it is a small time period or a big one.
L: I believe that the release of “Never Ending” came in a good period.
Well, before we go on to the new album, can you tell me why you decided to call the band Mystic Prophecy?
L: I called the band, at its beginning, Mystic Prophecy without any profound reason. I like how those two words combine and sound as well.
Does it have to do with any mystic prophecies that you have read or heard about?
L: No, but I tried to make a concept that would deal with the band’s name afterwards. Well… let me think of it better… well the Mystic Prophecy is our band… How Gus and I got together and in general, our efforts to succeed.
OK… What is “Never Ending”? Never ending evil, never ending pain, never ending suffering… tell us some things about the album’s title.
L: Well that’s the point! Everyone must see it from their point of view. Basically, there is a concept idea behind our three albums. There was a monk who was heretic and they killed him for that… then he is back for revenge… on the first album he haunted their dreams… on the second album he is back for real; “Regressus” means the return and on the third album he delivers his soul to the seven horsemen… as it is described on John’s Revelation. So he must get the power to return and kill all those people who tortured him when he was alive… but as it was proved afterwards that monk was the soldier who pinched Christ on the cross with his spear and he also took his cloak. Then God cursed him to live forever… that’s why the forth cross on the artwork symbolizes humanity which betrays itself with wars, creates atmospheric pollution and does things like that every day. We say that people are a very clever species with conscience but on the other hand we only care for ourselves without giving a shit for what’s happening near us.
Please make a comment about each one of the songs of the album…
L: Oh… it’s difficult but I’ll do my best…
G: You wrote the songs so you will talk about them… (i.n.: Laughs from all of us...)
L: OK. “Burning Bridges”: Talks about someone who cuts all the connections that he has with his past and he also burns his feelings for whatever he had lived till then in order to go on… no matter if he takes the wrong or the right way in his “new” life.
“Time Will Tell”: Talks about that time which will indeed tell about the future of mankind.
“Under A Darkened Sun”: People are living under a darkened sun… we live under the pressure of death every single day.
“Dust Of Evil”: The dust of all evil things that remains for thousand of years in our world and tortures us.
“In Hell”: Whatever happens during this life, or the one we wish it existed, is the same hell we live in every day. It talks about how hell could be, if in normal life only lies and death follow us. I live this thing open so that anyone can think whatever they want.
“Never Surrender”: Gives a good and clear message. Never quit trying in you life for any reason. If you insist you will succeed in the end and that’s for sure. I wrote that song for myself and for Gus cause we have been through many difficult times all those years…we left our country in order to go somewhere else to make our dreams come true and that was not easy at all. We left our ego aside and we listened to other people in order to make our first steps and without giving up effort a single time. You always learn things in your life no matter how old you are. You must always listen to other people that know better than you in order to become better not only as a musician but as a person as well. For me a good musician and a good person is the same and must be the same. Of course, you must be gifted to play music or else forget it!
“Wings of Eternity”: Talks about the “wings” that every man has and he must fly away and only go forward with them. The past is left behind and we must go on.
“When I’m Falling”: Is a kind of an autobiographic song. When I’m starting something good I must always reach the bottom, with no help at all and I must go through many hard times to get it over. We always have so many obstacles in front of us… When you want to succeed in your life, in any part of your life, you must sacrifice many things in order to achieve it.
“Warriors of Lies”: Talks about the evil that is cheating on you in order to take you by its side. People fool not only themselves but also all the others around them especially when someone says to you how good you are and then he gives you the illusion that you are a unique person although that is not true.
And what about the prayer at the end of the song?
L: Listen to it very well and you will understand many things.
I did and I noticed that a part of the prayer is missing.
L: You are absolutely right. Indeed a part is missing… that part is what we do not do in our ordinary lives… Not many people have notice that a part is missing… some haven’t noticed it at all!!
OK, I won’t say anything else… it’s better to let the fans listen to it well and draw their own conclusions about it. Tell me about the last two songs of the album.
L: “Dead Moon Rising”: The moon is part of the earth… but the moon is “dead”, there are no signs of life on it… that’s the life of some people who have no hope at all. They live next to so many people but they still feel “dead” and all alone!
“Never Ending”: Is the end (?)… but as you also said before, there is no end to the suffering and the pain of our work.
So you won’t continue the concept in the next album as well?
L: No, not at all…
Lia: Thank you very much…
Gus: You’re welcome…
You have released a new album almost one year after “Regressus”. What made you enter the studio so soon in order to record “Never Ending”?
L: So soon…?
G: Well it’s not very soon, because we recorded “Regressus” in 2002 and it took us about a year to release it ‘cause we were looking out for a good music company to work with. So it was a natural thing to release a new album after two years from the recordings of “Regressus”. You know something… Lia and I cannot let the time pass without doing anything... even if it is a small time period or a big one.
L: I believe that the release of “Never Ending” came in a good period.
Well, before we go on to the new album, can you tell me why you decided to call the band Mystic Prophecy?
L: I called the band, at its beginning, Mystic Prophecy without any profound reason. I like how those two words combine and sound as well.
Does it have to do with any mystic prophecies that you have read or heard about?
L: No, but I tried to make a concept that would deal with the band’s name afterwards. Well… let me think of it better… well the Mystic Prophecy is our band… How Gus and I got together and in general, our efforts to succeed.
OK… What is “Never Ending”? Never ending evil, never ending pain, never ending suffering… tell us some things about the album’s title.
L: Well that’s the point! Everyone must see it from their point of view. Basically, there is a concept idea behind our three albums. There was a monk who was heretic and they killed him for that… then he is back for revenge… on the first album he haunted their dreams… on the second album he is back for real; “Regressus” means the return and on the third album he delivers his soul to the seven horsemen… as it is described on John’s Revelation. So he must get the power to return and kill all those people who tortured him when he was alive… but as it was proved afterwards that monk was the soldier who pinched Christ on the cross with his spear and he also took his cloak. Then God cursed him to live forever… that’s why the forth cross on the artwork symbolizes humanity which betrays itself with wars, creates atmospheric pollution and does things like that every day. We say that people are a very clever species with conscience but on the other hand we only care for ourselves without giving a shit for what’s happening near us.
Please make a comment about each one of the songs of the album…
L: Oh… it’s difficult but I’ll do my best…
G: You wrote the songs so you will talk about them… (i.n.: Laughs from all of us...)
L: OK. “Burning Bridges”: Talks about someone who cuts all the connections that he has with his past and he also burns his feelings for whatever he had lived till then in order to go on… no matter if he takes the wrong or the right way in his “new” life.
“Time Will Tell”: Talks about that time which will indeed tell about the future of mankind.
“Under A Darkened Sun”: People are living under a darkened sun… we live under the pressure of death every single day.
“Dust Of Evil”: The dust of all evil things that remains for thousand of years in our world and tortures us.
“In Hell”: Whatever happens during this life, or the one we wish it existed, is the same hell we live in every day. It talks about how hell could be, if in normal life only lies and death follow us. I live this thing open so that anyone can think whatever they want.
“Never Surrender”: Gives a good and clear message. Never quit trying in you life for any reason. If you insist you will succeed in the end and that’s for sure. I wrote that song for myself and for Gus cause we have been through many difficult times all those years…we left our country in order to go somewhere else to make our dreams come true and that was not easy at all. We left our ego aside and we listened to other people in order to make our first steps and without giving up effort a single time. You always learn things in your life no matter how old you are. You must always listen to other people that know better than you in order to become better not only as a musician but as a person as well. For me a good musician and a good person is the same and must be the same. Of course, you must be gifted to play music or else forget it!
“Wings of Eternity”: Talks about the “wings” that every man has and he must fly away and only go forward with them. The past is left behind and we must go on.
“When I’m Falling”: Is a kind of an autobiographic song. When I’m starting something good I must always reach the bottom, with no help at all and I must go through many hard times to get it over. We always have so many obstacles in front of us… When you want to succeed in your life, in any part of your life, you must sacrifice many things in order to achieve it.
“Warriors of Lies”: Talks about the evil that is cheating on you in order to take you by its side. People fool not only themselves but also all the others around them especially when someone says to you how good you are and then he gives you the illusion that you are a unique person although that is not true.
And what about the prayer at the end of the song?
L: Listen to it very well and you will understand many things.
I did and I noticed that a part of the prayer is missing.
L: You are absolutely right. Indeed a part is missing… that part is what we do not do in our ordinary lives… Not many people have notice that a part is missing… some haven’t noticed it at all!!
OK, I won’t say anything else… it’s better to let the fans listen to it well and draw their own conclusions about it. Tell me about the last two songs of the album.
L: “Dead Moon Rising”: The moon is part of the earth… but the moon is “dead”, there are no signs of life on it… that’s the life of some people who have no hope at all. They live next to so many people but they still feel “dead” and all alone!
“Never Ending”: Is the end (?)… but as you also said before, there is no end to the suffering and the pain of our work.
So you won’t continue the concept in the next album as well?
L: No, not at all…
Have you begun working on the new album or is it too early?
L: Mark and I are working on some songs and whenever Gus thinks that something does not fitting his other bands, he brings it to us.
G: It’s very early to say something about the new album, I believe.
L: I do not know when the next album will be released… maybe after two years? We will see. We must start touring ‘cause we all love giving live shows and not only recording albums. After al, we have some other bands too which we must take care of! Gus has his own band, Firewind and I also have Valley’s Eve.
By the way what is happening with Valley’s Eve? Why haven’t you released a new album?
L: I wanted to release a new album but the band’s line up has changed and I’m looking for some new musicians that will fit the band. I will have some spare time in the next months that Mystic Prophecy will be inactive so maybe I will do something with Valley’s Eve. I also have a problem with Valley’s Eve label and that thing is taking me back. We have some songs ready and we have the opportunity to release a new album in the next months but I do not want to release it just to say that I released a new album with Valley’s Eve.
OK, considering the fact that so many heavy/power albums are released every month… what is that element that can make Mystic Prophecy differ from the other bands of this genre?
L: First of all, Mystic Prophecy knows exactly how they must sound. You can’t compare us either with Sonata Arctica or Edguy or Stratovarius. We have our own personal sound.
G: At this point, I must say that Liapakis’ voice is the element that makes a difference concerning the other heavy/power bands. We have some dark “strange” melodies and a specific feeling in our songs that cannot be found in any other band of the genre.
The production was made once again by you, Lia, huh?
L: Yes, that is another element that makes us have our own sound. We have a heavy production but without bringing an “old” production of the 80’s on your mind.
Do you think that now is the time for Mystic Prophecy to make the big step in their career?
L: Only the fans can answer that. If the fans like the album then they can only give us the support to go on. We are ready to give them the best we can!
Are you satisfied with your label?
G: Till now we are very excited with their support. They brought us to Greece in order to promote our new album and they have also paid for a very expensive video clip of “Burning Bridges”.
L: Also, the distributor in Greece, Cosmic Storm, has helped us a lot and I must say that they are doing a great and very professional work. I’m very impressed with that! We are on a big label and it depends on how many albums you sell in order to get more and more help in every new release.
In which of those bands that you are participating do you prefer to play and why?
L: I do not like this question. As long as you are a professional musician then in any band that you play you must give 100% of your powers.
G: If you had three children who of them you would love more than the others?
L: You must be a professional no matter where you play and what you do. For example, Gus’ heart belongs to Firewind but he also gives 100% of his powers to Mystic Prophecy and that’s the secret of the whole thing. He is not trying to sound better in a specific band and worst in another band. He gives the best of him in all the bands that he is playing.
Lia, do you prefer working as a producer or singing?
L: I like doing both things. I like giving all my powers when doing productions and again all my powers when writing music and lyrics or singing.
Do you think that heavy metal music can become that popular as it was back in the 80’s?
L: We ruin it ourselves!
So, it will never become that popular as it was back then?
L: That depends on the bands and on the labels of course… and in general on the whole music industry. The TV must also promote metal music… how will the 14/15-year-old small child learn about that music if he/she doesn’t see it on TV?
L: Mark and I are working on some songs and whenever Gus thinks that something does not fitting his other bands, he brings it to us.
G: It’s very early to say something about the new album, I believe.
L: I do not know when the next album will be released… maybe after two years? We will see. We must start touring ‘cause we all love giving live shows and not only recording albums. After al, we have some other bands too which we must take care of! Gus has his own band, Firewind and I also have Valley’s Eve.
By the way what is happening with Valley’s Eve? Why haven’t you released a new album?
L: I wanted to release a new album but the band’s line up has changed and I’m looking for some new musicians that will fit the band. I will have some spare time in the next months that Mystic Prophecy will be inactive so maybe I will do something with Valley’s Eve. I also have a problem with Valley’s Eve label and that thing is taking me back. We have some songs ready and we have the opportunity to release a new album in the next months but I do not want to release it just to say that I released a new album with Valley’s Eve.
OK, considering the fact that so many heavy/power albums are released every month… what is that element that can make Mystic Prophecy differ from the other bands of this genre?
L: First of all, Mystic Prophecy knows exactly how they must sound. You can’t compare us either with Sonata Arctica or Edguy or Stratovarius. We have our own personal sound.
G: At this point, I must say that Liapakis’ voice is the element that makes a difference concerning the other heavy/power bands. We have some dark “strange” melodies and a specific feeling in our songs that cannot be found in any other band of the genre.
The production was made once again by you, Lia, huh?
L: Yes, that is another element that makes us have our own sound. We have a heavy production but without bringing an “old” production of the 80’s on your mind.
Do you think that now is the time for Mystic Prophecy to make the big step in their career?
L: Only the fans can answer that. If the fans like the album then they can only give us the support to go on. We are ready to give them the best we can!
Are you satisfied with your label?
G: Till now we are very excited with their support. They brought us to Greece in order to promote our new album and they have also paid for a very expensive video clip of “Burning Bridges”.
L: Also, the distributor in Greece, Cosmic Storm, has helped us a lot and I must say that they are doing a great and very professional work. I’m very impressed with that! We are on a big label and it depends on how many albums you sell in order to get more and more help in every new release.
In which of those bands that you are participating do you prefer to play and why?
L: I do not like this question. As long as you are a professional musician then in any band that you play you must give 100% of your powers.
G: If you had three children who of them you would love more than the others?
L: You must be a professional no matter where you play and what you do. For example, Gus’ heart belongs to Firewind but he also gives 100% of his powers to Mystic Prophecy and that’s the secret of the whole thing. He is not trying to sound better in a specific band and worst in another band. He gives the best of him in all the bands that he is playing.
Lia, do you prefer working as a producer or singing?
L: I like doing both things. I like giving all my powers when doing productions and again all my powers when writing music and lyrics or singing.
Do you think that heavy metal music can become that popular as it was back in the 80’s?
L: We ruin it ourselves!
So, it will never become that popular as it was back then?
L: That depends on the bands and on the labels of course… and in general on the whole music industry. The TV must also promote metal music… how will the 14/15-year-old small child learn about that music if he/she doesn’t see it on TV?
Do you consider Germany as the capital of metal music in Europe?
L: Yes, I totally believe that! Maybe, along with Sweden. Just consider the fact that the biggest metal labels are based in Germany.
Are there any plans for a tour? Will you visit Greece this time?
L: Well that’s a big story about Greece. They say that we do not sell so many CDs here and they can’t bring us for a live show because they are afraid that the show won’t be sold out! So, I do not want to talk about people that are only looking out for more money all the time.
So, will we have to travel to Crete or Volos to see the band’s live shows?
G: If we do not play either in Athens or Thessalonica, we won’t play anywhere else in Greece again. Then if we give those live shows at Athens or Thessalonica we will talk about some smaller towns in Greece… something like a tour.
L: I believe that some guys in the smaller towns in Greece had the guts and gave us the chance to play there; the guts to support some guys from their country that live abroad and they held the Greek flag high!
I do not have so good relations with the promoters in Greece either so let them live in their own narrow-minded world!
L: The guys must demand to see Mystic Prophecy in Greece so the promoters will be forced to bring us here. We want to make a tour in Greece… first we will play at the two big cities of Greece and then on the smaller ones as Gus said before.
And some Weird Questions now, to relax somehow!!! Do you consider yourself to be a rock star?
L: No, not at all… the band’s fans made us who we are… without them, and please write that down, we are nothing at all!!
Which is the most overrated band today?
L: Who else than Metallica??!!!
What would you tell to someone to convince him to buy your album instead of hundreds others that are released every month?
L: Whoever wants to listen to an authentic and traditional heavy metal album then he should try out Mystic Prophecy! It’s an album that people should find 80’s metal elements along with fresh dynamic metal elements, good melodies and catchy refrains.
If Mystic Prophecy’s career was a movie… which movie would it be and why?
L: Movie... huh... maybe “From Dusk Till Dawn”!
Imagine that your wife is selling your whole album-collection just to buy for herself an expensive ring. How would you react?
L: She has the right to do that thing!!! I do not take care of her as I should and if she did that then I would probably understand her entirely!
Maybe I should not put your answer on the site… just imagine to read it and do it afterwards!!! (laughs from all of us!)
L: No... put it down. There is no problem. Honestly, due to my musical obligations now I spend less time with her.
Ok Lia & Gus those were my questions. Thx very much for the great chat that we had! Leave a message to Grande Rock readers for the end.
L: I hope to have the support that we deserve, especially from our Greek fans; just give us a chance. Listen to the album and decide for yourself whether you like it or not. We have done our best in order to offer you good heavy metal music.
P.S.: Thx to Velis for the great time that we had during the interview and Alex for helping me out with the text.
L: Yes, I totally believe that! Maybe, along with Sweden. Just consider the fact that the biggest metal labels are based in Germany.
Are there any plans for a tour? Will you visit Greece this time?
L: Well that’s a big story about Greece. They say that we do not sell so many CDs here and they can’t bring us for a live show because they are afraid that the show won’t be sold out! So, I do not want to talk about people that are only looking out for more money all the time.
So, will we have to travel to Crete or Volos to see the band’s live shows?
G: If we do not play either in Athens or Thessalonica, we won’t play anywhere else in Greece again. Then if we give those live shows at Athens or Thessalonica we will talk about some smaller towns in Greece… something like a tour.
L: I believe that some guys in the smaller towns in Greece had the guts and gave us the chance to play there; the guts to support some guys from their country that live abroad and they held the Greek flag high!
I do not have so good relations with the promoters in Greece either so let them live in their own narrow-minded world!
L: The guys must demand to see Mystic Prophecy in Greece so the promoters will be forced to bring us here. We want to make a tour in Greece… first we will play at the two big cities of Greece and then on the smaller ones as Gus said before.
And some Weird Questions now, to relax somehow!!! Do you consider yourself to be a rock star?
L: No, not at all… the band’s fans made us who we are… without them, and please write that down, we are nothing at all!!
Which is the most overrated band today?
L: Who else than Metallica??!!!
What would you tell to someone to convince him to buy your album instead of hundreds others that are released every month?
L: Whoever wants to listen to an authentic and traditional heavy metal album then he should try out Mystic Prophecy! It’s an album that people should find 80’s metal elements along with fresh dynamic metal elements, good melodies and catchy refrains.
If Mystic Prophecy’s career was a movie… which movie would it be and why?
L: Movie... huh... maybe “From Dusk Till Dawn”!
Imagine that your wife is selling your whole album-collection just to buy for herself an expensive ring. How would you react?
L: She has the right to do that thing!!! I do not take care of her as I should and if she did that then I would probably understand her entirely!
Maybe I should not put your answer on the site… just imagine to read it and do it afterwards!!! (laughs from all of us!)
L: No... put it down. There is no problem. Honestly, due to my musical obligations now I spend less time with her.
Ok Lia & Gus those were my questions. Thx very much for the great chat that we had! Leave a message to Grande Rock readers for the end.
L: I hope to have the support that we deserve, especially from our Greek fans; just give us a chance. Listen to the album and decide for yourself whether you like it or not. We have done our best in order to offer you good heavy metal music.
P.S.: Thx to Velis for the great time that we had during the interview and Alex for helping me out with the text.