Rockezine.com interview with To Elysium on Apr 27, 2002

with the whole band on Apr 27, 2002

It’s around 20.00 hours, two hours before the cd-presentation of To Elysium, and I’m backstage at the “Hedon” in Zwolle. It’s time for an interview with this upcoming band. It was planned to do an interview with singer Rein and guitarist Mannes, but with a cup of coffee in front of me, I found five band members across me to fire my questions at (bassist Andries, keyboard player Matthijn and guitarist Ray didn’t want to miss this). After I put my antique cassette recorder on the table, and got some laughs from the band, it was time for serious business.
		What are the first reactions to the just released debut “Dearest Vile”? Andries: Since the first week of April it’s been in the stores and the first reactions were very good, especially according the technical quality and production. Mannes: The first reactions from the press also were good to very good, magazines graded from 7.5 to 9.0. Some magazines were nagging about our singer Esther, or the music being to predictable, but as mentioned before, the quality was always good.
		Tell us about it, how did this baby get born? Rein: It was a heavy delivery (Laughs)! Mannes: We recorded some stuff just for fun at home, with guitar vocals and a keyboard with drum computer. As a wild action we sent it to “Aardschok”(Dutch Magazine for rock and metal: C.S.), for review, and got a very positive reaction. Rein: When record company “Cold Blood” heard this home tape, they asked us whether we had a record deal. Well, we didn’t, so they answered: “you’ve got one now”! Andries: Again we recorded everything more thoroughly at Mannes’place, and got into a real studio (Frankie’s: C.S.) for the recording of the drums. Mannes: This way it took quite a while, but it’s not as stressful as recording everything in a studio.
		To get back at a point of critics: the predictability. This can also been interpretated positively: meaning you have a recognisable sound. But what are the influences and inspirations of the band? Rein: Well, the album sounds a bit like “Iron Maiden” after a car-crash. No, seriously, we are compared with bands like “Orphanage”, got some gothic influences and of course Mannes his 80’s metal influence. (Guitarist Mannes set his first steps into metal, with the 1984 “Blackout” album, “Evil Game”: C.S.) Andries: We are trying to keep a balance between heavy and melody as well as speed diffences, that’s what I like most about the album.
		Mannes: We like to exploit the possibilities and moods to the maximum.
		How are roles divided within the band, who does what? Rein: At first I wrote all the material and Rein wrote the lyrics. Andries: Nowadays with the new songs, we do it all together, except the lyrics; which is still produced by Rein alone.
		Can you tell us anything about these lyrics, they seem pretty mythologic/fylosofical? Rein: Well, actually they are not. They are about what goes on in my head: where are we going now, and some religious matters. But I write pretty metaphorical so… My intension is to write more direct in the future.
		How did this bunch of people come together? Andries: Mannes and Eline (former keyboard player: C.S.) were playing in a band called ”Aliby”, which needed a bass-player. Mannes: I was already writing the stuff for this CD, and actually needed another drummer, female vocal and male grunt also, to complete this work. Since it was something completely different from the work we had done until then. (Pop- rock till classic metal and a rock-opera: C.S.). Rein: Then drummer Sjoerd joined and Esther and I at first joined at project bases. When second guitarist Ray also got with the band, it was pretty clear, this was more than a hobby project. We got more and more positive response.
		As youngest member of the band, can you find your way in this band,Mathijn? (Mathijn replaced original keyboard player Eline, right after the recording of the CD, due to the well-known musical differences: C.S.) Mathijn: At first it was difficult to create the original sound, because my equipment is different. But now I feel quite at home. Maybe later on I want to add some more classical influences into the bands sound.
		Finally, what are the plans for the future? Rein: Mostly getting lots of experience, doing lots of live gigs. Mannes: We’ve just started yet, we can develop much further and so maybe, hopefully, we will find lots of fame and fortune on our way. At least we’ll work for that.
		(Cor Schilstra)