Fallen Arise, with the release of their sophomore album “Adeline”, have proven to be one of the most promising Greek symphonic metal forces. Certainly, they have a long road to cross but they seem capable to overcome any issues and most of all they seem to have what it takes to deliver great songs and very beautiful symphonic themes. The band’s keyboardist & composer Gus talked to Grande Rock about the band’s new album & their course over the years among other things…
Hi Gus and welcome to Grande Rock. Since it’s the first time we talk, do give us a brief bio of the band. When did it all start and what happened in the meantime before releasing “Adeline”?
G: Well, we are Fallen Arise and we play symphonic metal. We started at 2010 and since then we released two LPs, “Ethereal” in 2013, our newest “Adeline”’ and an EP with five tracks in 2011.
Which are the differences between your debut “Ethereal” and your new album “Adeline”?
G: Definitely the maturity in songwriting and of course in playing technique. Since 2013 we have been practicing a lot, we have more experience of course and we are very specific about what we want to achieve. Other improvements are the album production, the real orchestra, mixing and mastering progress, you know, a little bit of everything.
I’ve read the lyrics of the album are based on the works of writers like Bram Stoker, Wilkie Collins and Anne Rice. Can you give us a few more details?
G: Yes, I can say that there are similarities between their “world” and Adeline’s “world”, you know, love, death, paranormal activity, human feelings etc. Especially Bram Stoker was one of my favourite inspiration while writing the lyrics.
What does the title “Adeline” declare and how did you come up with that specific title? I’ve read somewhere that “Adeline” means “noble”… did you have that in mind before you came up with that title?
G: Really? I didn’t know that, hahaha. Adeline is a noble girl by the way. Well, while writing the lyrics for “Adeline”’, realized that I hadn’t a name for the heroine. So, we spent an afternoon on the internet searching for a really dark and beautiful name. And we came up with the Adeline. Because of its beauty it became also album’s title.
Do give us a hint about each track…
G: “Prologue in D Min”: The best way for a concept album’s beginning. Heavy dark strings and a strong voice.
“The Curse of Adeline”: The dark path’s beauty.
“We’re Becoming Gods”: The power of love.
“Divine Bride”: Pure symphonic metal.
“Silent Weeping”: Revenge.
“The Heart of the Damned”: The human nature.
“My Last Breath”: Accept what you are and fight for that.
“White Crystal Angel”: Innocence.
“Funeral”: Mother’s love.
“Music Box”: Sweet memories...
“As Far the Memory Remains”: No place like home.
“Oceans of Time”: Soul deposit.
“Epilogue”: The end.
The album was recorded, mixed, produced and mastered at Devasoundz Studios, Athens, Greece by Fotis Benardo (SiXforNinE, ex-Septicflesh, ex-Chaostar) with the valuable help of Thimios Krikos (InnerWish, Diviner) and Thanos Jan (Inactive Messiah). Are you satisfied with the final outcome and how did you decide to record, mix & master the album in a Greek studio and you didn’t go abroad as many bands do these days?
G: Yes, we are totally happy with the result. We had worked with these guys in the past and we were very also very satisfied with them in our previous release, so, it was not necessary to look for anything else. In that point I must tell you that on this album’s recordings took place at two studios. The band recorded at Devasoundz studios and the orchestra was recorded and mixed at Zero Gravity studios.
Tell us a few things about the guest appearances of Bob Katsionis (Firewind, Outloud), Siegfried Samer (Visions Of Atlantis, Dragony) and Fotis Benardo (ex-Septic Flesh, SixforNine)…
G: Except Siegfried, Babis and Fotis are friends of the band for many years. We have a good relationship and Fotis was our producer and engineer in “Ethereal” and “Adeline”. About Siegfried, we met each other in a night club in Athens. I heard him sang and the next day a good friend of mine helped me contact him and that is how it worked.
You’ve also worked with 40 well-known musicians, from the National Opera, the Athens State Orchestra, the NERIT Orchestra and the Piraeus Concert Band. How did you come up with that decision and how easy or not was cooperating and recording with all these people? I must tell you the final result is stunning though.
G: Oh, thank you very much for your kind words. Well the decision was not so difficult to take. Since the songwriting had begun, we knew that what we did was huge and 100% symphonic. So we had no other way. When you play symphonic metal, you must have an orchestra. It is our seventh member and irreplaceable.
There was a label change too. How did the cooperation with ROAR occur? Are you satisfied so far?
G: Yes, we totally are. People in ROAR believe in what we do, in our music and of course that is a very big deal for us. The cooperation occurred when we sent some demos to many labels from our new music stuff. One of the labels who received the promo was ROAR. They liked it and they offered us a contract and that’s how it went down…
How would you describe the album’s sound to someone that hasn’t heard you before?
G: Pure symphonic and heavy metal sound.
Have you booked any live shows for the near future? Your live shows have a theatrical concept. Do you think it will be easy to present a show in full both . Greece and abroad?
G: No it is not and I’m afraid that we have not the comfort for such a big show in abroad. We wish for it, but I think that this, will take place only in Greece. We are in the middle of some conversations about live gigs. We haven’t something officially booked but we are talking for gigs in Greece and abroad also.
What do you wish to achieve with Fallen Arise in long term?
G: Staying a family, making good music and touring to the end!
Time for our “weird questions”!!! How did you come up with the name Fallen Arise?
G: Hahaha!!! It was a combination of different words, fall and arise. It is also describes our music, you know, sometimes it is powerful, and sometimes it is really depressive.
Do you believe that the Greek Metal scene can break its own barriers and become more popular, trustworthy & successful abroad like the Italian one, let’s say? What does it take to do so?
G: Greek Metal Scene already does that. Septic Flesh, Rotting Christ, Firewind, Suicidal Angels etc. Those guys started from the early 80s and 90s and through hard work became what they are now. I am convinced that Greek Metal Scene will surprise us abroad in the next few years.
Which are the basic drawbacks that have held the Greek Metal scene back all these years, according to you?
G: Definitely the financial crisis.
Which is the most underrated Greek metal band of all time?
G: There are no underrated bands for me. Everyone gets what they deserve. Α price proportional to his effort.
What are those things that you do not like in the music industry nowadays?
G: I don’t like the way some labels treat the artist. Some of them treat a band in a way that shows no respect about the music.
Which are the best 3 symphonic metal albums of all time according to you?
G: Nightwish – “Once”, Therion – “Theli”, Septic Flesh – “Communion”…
Which is the record you wish you had written and why?
G: No, I’ve never wished something like that. I believe in my effort, in my talent and that drives me all these years.
Were you obliged to give just one album to extraterrestrials that would represent the whole human music, which album would it be and from which band/artist?
G: Bach’s “Well-tempered Clavier”.
Fill in the phrase… “Symphonic metal wouldn’t have evolved the way it did, if it hadn’t been for…”
G: bands like Therion and Nightwish…
What’s the worst thing you can say right after sex?
G: Usually I don’t say anything. Just giving a kiss to my girlfriend.
Who is the sexiest female Rock Star of all time?
G: Samantha Fox.
Which character from the “Game of Thrones” would you have been – if you lived in the Seven Kingdoms?
G: I’m not a big fan of Game of Thrones, so, I can’t answer that, sorry, hahahaha…
Which of the Seven Deadly Sins do you reckon is the one, that’s more likely to send you straight to Hell, in the afterlife?
G: All of them! Hahahahaha!!!
Imagine that your girlfriend/wife is selling your whole album-collection just to buy an expensive ring for herself. How would you react?
G: I’d asked her why she did that. In any case, I will be very angry.
Thx for talking to Grande Rock, Gus. Best of luck with Fallen Arise. Any last words? Take care dude…
G: Thank you very much for this awesome interview and for your hospitality in Grande Rock. Listen to our new album “Adeline” and have a great New Year.
G: Well, we are Fallen Arise and we play symphonic metal. We started at 2010 and since then we released two LPs, “Ethereal” in 2013, our newest “Adeline”’ and an EP with five tracks in 2011.
Which are the differences between your debut “Ethereal” and your new album “Adeline”?
G: Definitely the maturity in songwriting and of course in playing technique. Since 2013 we have been practicing a lot, we have more experience of course and we are very specific about what we want to achieve. Other improvements are the album production, the real orchestra, mixing and mastering progress, you know, a little bit of everything.
I’ve read the lyrics of the album are based on the works of writers like Bram Stoker, Wilkie Collins and Anne Rice. Can you give us a few more details?
G: Yes, I can say that there are similarities between their “world” and Adeline’s “world”, you know, love, death, paranormal activity, human feelings etc. Especially Bram Stoker was one of my favourite inspiration while writing the lyrics.
What does the title “Adeline” declare and how did you come up with that specific title? I’ve read somewhere that “Adeline” means “noble”… did you have that in mind before you came up with that title?
G: Really? I didn’t know that, hahaha. Adeline is a noble girl by the way. Well, while writing the lyrics for “Adeline”’, realized that I hadn’t a name for the heroine. So, we spent an afternoon on the internet searching for a really dark and beautiful name. And we came up with the Adeline. Because of its beauty it became also album’s title.
Do give us a hint about each track…
G: “Prologue in D Min”: The best way for a concept album’s beginning. Heavy dark strings and a strong voice.
“The Curse of Adeline”: The dark path’s beauty.
“We’re Becoming Gods”: The power of love.
“Divine Bride”: Pure symphonic metal.
“Silent Weeping”: Revenge.
“The Heart of the Damned”: The human nature.
“My Last Breath”: Accept what you are and fight for that.
“White Crystal Angel”: Innocence.
“Funeral”: Mother’s love.
“Music Box”: Sweet memories...
“As Far the Memory Remains”: No place like home.
“Oceans of Time”: Soul deposit.
“Epilogue”: The end.
The album was recorded, mixed, produced and mastered at Devasoundz Studios, Athens, Greece by Fotis Benardo (SiXforNinE, ex-Septicflesh, ex-Chaostar) with the valuable help of Thimios Krikos (InnerWish, Diviner) and Thanos Jan (Inactive Messiah). Are you satisfied with the final outcome and how did you decide to record, mix & master the album in a Greek studio and you didn’t go abroad as many bands do these days?
G: Yes, we are totally happy with the result. We had worked with these guys in the past and we were very also very satisfied with them in our previous release, so, it was not necessary to look for anything else. In that point I must tell you that on this album’s recordings took place at two studios. The band recorded at Devasoundz studios and the orchestra was recorded and mixed at Zero Gravity studios.
Tell us a few things about the guest appearances of Bob Katsionis (Firewind, Outloud), Siegfried Samer (Visions Of Atlantis, Dragony) and Fotis Benardo (ex-Septic Flesh, SixforNine)…
G: Except Siegfried, Babis and Fotis are friends of the band for many years. We have a good relationship and Fotis was our producer and engineer in “Ethereal” and “Adeline”. About Siegfried, we met each other in a night club in Athens. I heard him sang and the next day a good friend of mine helped me contact him and that is how it worked.
You’ve also worked with 40 well-known musicians, from the National Opera, the Athens State Orchestra, the NERIT Orchestra and the Piraeus Concert Band. How did you come up with that decision and how easy or not was cooperating and recording with all these people? I must tell you the final result is stunning though.
G: Oh, thank you very much for your kind words. Well the decision was not so difficult to take. Since the songwriting had begun, we knew that what we did was huge and 100% symphonic. So we had no other way. When you play symphonic metal, you must have an orchestra. It is our seventh member and irreplaceable.
There was a label change too. How did the cooperation with ROAR occur? Are you satisfied so far?
G: Yes, we totally are. People in ROAR believe in what we do, in our music and of course that is a very big deal for us. The cooperation occurred when we sent some demos to many labels from our new music stuff. One of the labels who received the promo was ROAR. They liked it and they offered us a contract and that’s how it went down…
How would you describe the album’s sound to someone that hasn’t heard you before?
G: Pure symphonic and heavy metal sound.
Have you booked any live shows for the near future? Your live shows have a theatrical concept. Do you think it will be easy to present a show in full both . Greece and abroad?
G: No it is not and I’m afraid that we have not the comfort for such a big show in abroad. We wish for it, but I think that this, will take place only in Greece. We are in the middle of some conversations about live gigs. We haven’t something officially booked but we are talking for gigs in Greece and abroad also.
What do you wish to achieve with Fallen Arise in long term?
G: Staying a family, making good music and touring to the end!
Time for our “weird questions”!!! How did you come up with the name Fallen Arise?
G: Hahaha!!! It was a combination of different words, fall and arise. It is also describes our music, you know, sometimes it is powerful, and sometimes it is really depressive.
Do you believe that the Greek Metal scene can break its own barriers and become more popular, trustworthy & successful abroad like the Italian one, let’s say? What does it take to do so?
G: Greek Metal Scene already does that. Septic Flesh, Rotting Christ, Firewind, Suicidal Angels etc. Those guys started from the early 80s and 90s and through hard work became what they are now. I am convinced that Greek Metal Scene will surprise us abroad in the next few years.
Which are the basic drawbacks that have held the Greek Metal scene back all these years, according to you?
G: Definitely the financial crisis.
Which is the most underrated Greek metal band of all time?
G: There are no underrated bands for me. Everyone gets what they deserve. Α price proportional to his effort.
What are those things that you do not like in the music industry nowadays?
G: I don’t like the way some labels treat the artist. Some of them treat a band in a way that shows no respect about the music.
Which are the best 3 symphonic metal albums of all time according to you?
G: Nightwish – “Once”, Therion – “Theli”, Septic Flesh – “Communion”…
Which is the record you wish you had written and why?
G: No, I’ve never wished something like that. I believe in my effort, in my talent and that drives me all these years.
Were you obliged to give just one album to extraterrestrials that would represent the whole human music, which album would it be and from which band/artist?
G: Bach’s “Well-tempered Clavier”.
Fill in the phrase… “Symphonic metal wouldn’t have evolved the way it did, if it hadn’t been for…”
G: bands like Therion and Nightwish…
What’s the worst thing you can say right after sex?
G: Usually I don’t say anything. Just giving a kiss to my girlfriend.
Who is the sexiest female Rock Star of all time?
G: Samantha Fox.
Which character from the “Game of Thrones” would you have been – if you lived in the Seven Kingdoms?
G: I’m not a big fan of Game of Thrones, so, I can’t answer that, sorry, hahahaha…
Which of the Seven Deadly Sins do you reckon is the one, that’s more likely to send you straight to Hell, in the afterlife?
G: All of them! Hahahahaha!!!
Imagine that your girlfriend/wife is selling your whole album-collection just to buy an expensive ring for herself. How would you react?
G: I’d asked her why she did that. In any case, I will be very angry.
Thx for talking to Grande Rock, Gus. Best of luck with Fallen Arise. Any last words? Take care dude…
G: Thank you very much for this awesome interview and for your hospitality in Grande Rock. Listen to our new album “Adeline” and have a great New Year.