Satyricon, Σάββατο 9 Μαϊου, Gagarin 205.

-1. “Rebel Extravaganza” was a very extreme and technical black metal record. Since then, it sounds that Satyricon have changed. Many may argue that the sound became more commercial...Is that true?

Frost: We have gotten better at doing what we do, that’s the basic change that has happened. Therefore we are able to structure our songs more firmly and we are able to get better productions. This, in turn, makes our music more accessible. Our driving force, however, is always our passion for music and our will to improve as artists; commercial thinking has no place in Satyricon. But whoever feels that Satyricon has gotten a more commercial sound, is free to think so. The question is not whether something is commercial or not, but whether it is actually good or not. The music will speak for itself, won’t it?

-2. Where does your latest record “The Age of Nero” stands? 

Frost: The Age of Nero is a dark, intense and muscular album. It is in our opinion the ultimate achievement for Satyricon so far. 

-3. Nowadays, how do you see the Black Metal scene?

Frost: I have no opinions on the scene that I feel like voicing; I am rather occupied with what counts, and this is performing music. Analysis has become the great plague of the entire metal culture. People MEAN so much about bands and the scene, but seem to ignore the true substance, which is the musical experience.

-4. You have won Norwegian Grammys, you headlined The Inferno Festival, you are famous. What else Satyricon wish to achieve?

Frost: Those achievements you refer to are hardly achievements at all. They are just signs of acknowledgement. Our TRUE achievements are our albums and the powerful tool that Satyricon has become. So what else do we want to achieve..? I say like Aleister Crowley: exceed, always exceed!

God Is An Astronaut.

-1. How would you describe your music to someone that has no clue about it?

We make Heavy Rock, Ambient, Electronic, Instrumental Music, with an emphasis on melody and emotion. 

-2. From the beginning, you have released all your albums through Revive Records, your own record label. Why is that?

It was the only way for us to release our music, we had given up the pointless pursuit of getting a record deal and I think we landed on our feet, having your own label is certainly the way to proceed today.

-3. Your live performances are known for their intense self-edited visuals. Are you also visual artists? Why have you decided to accompany each of your songs with a projected footage?

Niels does all the visuals, he spends a lot of time on the visuals making sure everything suits the music with impressive results, everything is 100% in sync with the live music. We believe the visuals are an added way to artistically express ourselves, it adds another dimension to the live show which keeps it more entertaining for the audience.

 -4. Why did you name your band God is An Astronaut?

Many Moons ago we were watching Clive Barkers film "Night-breed", during the film one of the characters said "God is an Astronaut and Oz is over the Rainbow...". I felt it would be a good title to work under, a timeless, yet modern name which I think suits the music we make.

-5. Do you believe in God?

I believe there is something greater than us, wether we are apart of it or not, I'm not so sure.

Sisters Of Mercy, Σάββατο 11, Κτήριο 56.

-1. How do you feel about the fact that Sisters of Mercy are the greatest gothic rock band?

We align ourselves more with Ramones and Motorhead than with any of the scene you talk about. All sorts of people come to our gigs and buy our albums; just because housewives buy it does not make us a 'housewives' band. We would rather just be a great band than part of some pigeonhole invented by the press because we wore black clothes for two weeks in 1985.

-2. “Temple Of Love” has been your biggest success ever. It is the song that everyone knows...Do you mind that?

Not at all, it is a song we still like and still play. Other songs have sold a similar amount of copies, though. And we think that the newer songs stand up with them.

-3. People whether love you or hate you. Why?

Because all the best things polarise opinion.

-4. Do you intend to release any new material in the near future? And could that be a cd or a free download, like Trent Reznor did?

We have no plans to at the moment, because it costs an awful lot of money to record an album, and do it properly. And we're not as rich as Trent. The fans distribute the newer songs on the internet freely, and people would if we brought out a new album, but the difference is that if we spent nine months in a studio recording it, then it would leave us seriously out of pocket.

Opeth, Παρασκευή 10 Απριλίου, Κτήριο 56.