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Band Interviews

Band Interviews

Eluveitie Interview

  • Category: Band Interviews
  • Published: March 05 2012
  • By Robin Stryker
  • Hits: 11011

Performed via Phone in February 2012

There aren’t many albums that appeal equally to my inner metalhead and my inner history geek, but hoo boy, Eluveitie’s Helvetios certainly hit the sweet spot! It is cerebral folk metal for people who enjoy giving their brains a vigorous swirl while headbanging, as well as for anyone who enjoys rollickingly good music. Helvetios tells the story of the Gaulish Wars from the standpoint of the Helvetian tribe, who were ruthlessly suppressed by Julius Caesar’s vastly superior Roman forces. The album is not a blow-by-blow retelling; rather, it captures the hopes, betrayal, struggle and despair of the Helvetians. (Check out Eluveitie’s notes on the album’s historical background for more information about the events that inspired Helvetios.)

Eluveitie

Sonic Cathedral’s Robin Stryker sat down with Anna Murphy, the female vox and hurdy-gurdy player for Eluveitie, for a behind-the-scenes look at Helvetios, the inspirational properties of gin, growing up in a touring metal band, and much more. Dive in!

Read more: Eluveitie Interview

Delain Interview 2012

  • Category: Band Interviews
  • Published: February 16 2012
  • By Robin Stryker
  • Hits: 33414

How do I love Delain? Let me count the ways. Well actually, having only 10 fingers and sub-par math skills, suffice it to say “a lot.” Whether as charming dinner companions, putting on a powerhouse live show, songwriting, or blogging about their musical adventures, Delain pursue their craft with equal measures of passion, humor and intelligence.

Delain

Sonic Cathedral’s Robin Stryker sat down with Martijn Westerholt (keys) and Charlotte Wessels (vocals) for a long chat about Delain’s upcoming album We Are The Others, label politics, the “sketchy” world of burlesque art, and much more! Read on for exclusive news about the new album that may shock you.

Read more: Delain Interview 2012

Xandria Interview 2012

  • Category: Band Interviews
  • Published: March 02 2012
  • By Robin Stryker
  • Hits: 13710

Performed via Skype in February 2012

After nearly five years of anxiously anticipating a new Xandria album, the wait is finally over! Will their new vocalist, Manuela Kraller, rise to the challenge? And is Neverworld’s End worth the wait? Because my answers would pale in comparison to Sara Letourneau’s CD review, I will shamelessly plagiarize her words: “The songs on Neverworld’s End are terrific, from the melodies and structure to the overall execution of each track. And if the music is like kerosene, Kraller is the match that lights it up.” Amen sister, amen.
Xandria

Sonic Cathedral’s Robin Stryker sat down with Xandria’s founder/guitarist/keyboardist, Marco Heubaum for his first ever Skype interview. (Thanks for agreeing to try it out, Marco!) Dive in to find out what Marco had to say about the making of Neverworld’s End, his boyhood dreams of becoming a popstar, his love of sci-fi and fantasy, and much more!

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Nightwish Interview 2012

When Oceansouls of America announced their upcoming interview with Nightwish, one thing we wanted to do in order to make our very-first interview unique: we took questions submitted from fans all over the world. We were curious to know not only how fans were reacting to the new album, tour, and upcoming film, but what other kinds of things did Nightwish fans want to know about the band? What kinds of things would a fan ask, if given the opportunity to approach members of their favorite band and ask them anything they’ve ever wanted to know? Would they ask serious questions? Would they want to know something completely off-the-wall? This would be our opportunity to find out. What better way to discover the answers to these questions than to get it from the source?
Nightwish

We talked to Tuomas Holopainen, the band’s main songwriter, keyboardist, and the center of all things Nightwish; just hours before the band’s official start to their Imaginaerum tour. Two days prior, the band had played a secret show in Hollywood under the pseudonym Rubber Band of Wolves---which was not such a secret by the time the band hit the stage---for their first live performance in over 2 years.

 

Read more: Nightwish Interview 2012