EXCLUSIVE: INTERVIEW WITH TONY THOMAS OF DAWN OF OUROBOROS !!
“We All Grew Up Near The Coastline Of California So The Pacific Ocean Has Been a Major Theme Across All Of Our Music. In The Case Of Bioluminescence, Chelsea Felt It Was a Theme She Found Beautiful, And Wanted To Express Her Admiration Of It Through The Music.”
DISC REVIEW “BIOLUMINESCENCE”
「僕たちはみんなカリフォルニアの海岸線の近くで育ったから、太平洋は僕たちの音楽すべてに共通する大きなテーマなんだ。”Bioluminescence” の場合は、Chealsea が美しいと感じたテーマで、音楽を通して生物発光の素晴らしさを表現したかった。主にアルバムのタイトル曲でね」
“Bioluminescence”(生物発光)とは、生物の体内で起こる化学反応が光を生み出すことを表します。これは、カリフォルニア州オークランドの DAWN OF OUROBOROS、その自らの尾を飲み込む円環の音蛇を実に的確に比喩した言葉なのかもしれません。様々に異なる曲作りの技法を組み合わせた彼らの虹色の輝き、それはまさにブラックメタルの生物発光。
重要なのは、彼らがそうしたインスピレーションを、自らが生まれ育った太平洋の海岸線、美しき海原と生命の神秘から受けていることでしょう。もちろん、今日ブラックメタルはその出自であるサタニズムの手を離れて、自然崇拝や少数派、弱者の代弁、スピリチュアリズムなど様々な分野に進出していますが、彼らも自らのアイデンティティを余すことなくブラックメタルに注いでいます。メタルにおける自己実現。それはきっと、とても尊いこと。
「作曲を始めるときは、いろいろなドラムのアイデアに合わせてギターを弾き、気に入ったものが出てくるまでその上で即興演奏するんだ。だから、インプロビゼーションを通して自然に生まれるものなんだよ。でも、僕たちのサウンドが人々の心に響くのは、イントロ部分の Chelsea の歌のおかげだよ。彼女もそのボーカルの多くを即興で歌うので、曲に自然なジャズ・フィーリングが生まれたんだ」
そうして唯一無二の方法で育まれた DAWN OF OUROBOROS の音楽は、当然ながら他のブラックメタルとは一線を画しています。現代的なブラックメタルとデスメタルが巧みに混ざり合う “Bioluminescence” の世界には、さながら深海を探索するようなポスト/プログのアトモスフィアが漂います。発光生物の多くが海に生息しているように、DAWN OF OUROBOROS の音色は明らかに水中のイメージを想起させ、ボーカルとギターのメロディーにはオワンクラゲのごとくみずみずしき浮遊感が存在します。
一方で、リズム・セクションが津波のようなシンセ・ラインとともに脈動し、激しいうなり声や叫び声が大空から轟いてくることもあり、この太平洋の神秘と荒波の二律背反こそがウロボロスの夜明けを端的に表しているに違いありません。
「僕たちは自分たちが好きな音楽を作ること以外を目指したことはなかったから、他のバンドがよくやること、当たり前なことなんて考えたことはなかったんだ。それに、Chelsea の声はそれ自身で彼女がいる意味を物語っていると思うし、何より彼女はハーシュ・ヴォーカルもクリーン・ヴォーカルも、他のヴォーカリストよりもうまくこなせるんだ」
そうした DAWN OF OUROBOROS の両極性を増幅させるのが、Chelsea Murphy の多面的なボーカルでしょう。ドリーミーな歌声と生々しい叫び声を瞬時に切り替える彼女の類まれな能力は、ROLO TOMASSI の Eva Korman を想わせるほどに魅力的。
“Slipping Burgundy” ではスムースでジャジーに、”Fragile Tranquility” では荒く、ほとんど懇願するようなトーンでリスナーの感情を刺激します。 先程までラウンジで歌声を響かせた歌姫が、まるで燃え盛るマグネシウムのまばゆい輝きのように耳を惹き、ハリケーンのように畏敬の念を抱かせるスクリームで世界を変える瞬間こそ圧巻。バスキングと威嚇を繰り返すウロボロスの円環はあまりにも斬新です。
今回弊誌では BOTANIST でも活躍する Tony Thomas にインタビューを行うことができました。「最近では、ALCEST や DEAFHEAVEN, 明日の叙景、LANTLOS, HERETOIR のようなポスト・ブラックメタルや、COMA CLUSTER VOID, ROLO TOMASSI, ULCERATE のようなプログレッシブ・メタルを探求しているね」 どうぞ!!
DAWN OF OUROBOROS “BIOLUMINESCENCE” : 10/10
INTERVIEW WITH TONY THOMAS
Q1: First of all, what kind of music did you grow up listening to?
【TONY】: Well music was always a big part of my home environment. My parents were always playing classic rock music when I was very young. So I was exposed regularly to the music of the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd etc.
As I grew older and I started to develop my own tastes. I gravitated towards heavy music which around 1997 what I was exposed to was music such as Nine Inch Nails, and various Nu Metal bands.
Around fourteen years old I discovered extreme metal through Cradle of Filth. I explored various bands such as Dimmu Borgir Mayhem, and even Sigh. and Melodic death metal such as Dark Tranquility was also early metal I was exposed to.
When I started playing my own music I took lots of influence from Scandinavian black metal, but also progressive metal such as Cynic, Atheist, and later bands like Between the Buried and Me, and Dillinger Escape Plan.
These days I enjoy exploring lots of post black metal like Alcest, Deafheaven. Asunojokei, Lantlos, Heretoir and progressive metal like Coma Cluster Void, Rolo Tomassi, Ulcerate. .
Q1: 本誌初登場です。まずは、あなたの音楽的なバックグラウンドからお話ししていただけますか?
【TONY】: 僕の家庭環境では、常に音楽が大きな部分を占めていたね。僕が幼い頃、両親はいつもクラシック・ロックをかけていた。だから、THE BEATLES, LED ZEPPELIN, PINK FLOYD といった音楽に定期的に触れていたよ。
ただ、大人になるにつれて、自分の好みが出てきたね。1997年頃には、NINE INCH NAILS や様々な Nu-metal バンドなどのヘヴィ・ミュージックに傾倒していった。
14歳頃、CRADLE OF FILTH を通してエクストリーム・メタルに出会った。DIMMU BORGIR, MAYHEM, SIGH など様々なバンドを探しあてたし、DARK TRANQUILLITY のようなメロディック・デスメタルも初期にハマったメタルだった。
自分の音楽を始めた頃は、スカンジナビアのブラック・メタルから多くの影響を受けたけど、同時に CYNIC や ATHEIST のようなプログレッシブ・メタル、後には BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME や THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN のようなバンドからも影響を受けた。
最近では、ALCEST や DEAFHEAVEN, 明日の叙景、LANTLOS, HERETOIR のようなポスト・ブラックメタルや、COMA CLUSTER VOID, ROLO TOMASSI, ULCERATE のようなプログレッシブ・メタルを探求しているね。
Q2: You are a well-known member of Botanist, why did you start Dawn of Ouroboros?
【TONY】: I started Dawn of Ouroboros about six months before I joined Botanist. So late 2018 is when the band started writing music.
Q2: あなたは BOTANIST のメンバーとしても知られていますが、なぜ DAWN OF OUROBOROS を始めたのですか?
【TONY】: DAWN OF OUROBOROS を始めたのは、BOTANIST に加入する半年ほど前だった。 だから2018年後半がこのバンドが曲作りを始めた時期だったね。
Q3: The band name Dawn of Ouroboros is very cool, why did you choose this name?
【TONY】: We felt the name best represented the sound of the band. As we take so many different influences and combine them in a way to make our own sound.
Q3: DAWN OF OUROBOROS というバンド名はとてもクールですが、なぜこの名前に決めたのですか?
Q4: First of all, what makes this band so impressive is your compositions and Chelsea Murphy’s voice. Her voice is very appealing, but why did you decide to use a female vocalist, which is still not common in the field of black metal?
【TONY】: Well we never really set out to do anything other than make music we like ourselves so we never considered what is common for other bands to do. And well, I think Chelsea’s voice speaks for itself, and it can pull off harsh vocals and cleans better than most other vocalists.
Q4: まず、このバンドを印象的にしているのは、あなたの作曲と Chelsea Murphy の歌声です。
彼女の声はとても魅力的ですが、ブラックメタルの分野ではまだ一般的ではない女性ヴォーカリストを起用したのはなぜですか?
Q5: One of my favorite tracks on the album is “Slipping Burgundy”. It’s great how lounge singing jazz is somehow swallowed by the wave of post-black metal, but how do you come up with these ideas?
【TONY】: The way I start compositions is to just play my guitar to various drum ideas and improvise over them until I hear something I like. So it just arose naturally through improvisation. However, what really makes us have the sound that really clicks with people is Chelsea’s singing for the intro section. She also improvises much of her vocals so it gave the song a real natural jazz feel.
【TONY】: 作曲を始めるときは、いろいろなドラムのアイデアに合わせてギターを弾き、気に入ったものが出てくるまでその上で即興演奏するんだ。だから、インプロビゼーションを通して自然に生まれるものなんだよ。
でも、僕たちのサウンドが人々の心に響くのは、イントロ部分の Chelsea の歌のおかげだよ。彼女もそのボーカルの多くを即興で歌うので、曲に自然なジャズ・フィーリングが生まれたんだ。
Q6: In Botanist, you and Otrebor delve into the field of botany, and the title “Bioluminescence” is also very biological indeed. Why did you choose this title and what themes are discussed on the album?
【TONY】: We all grew up near the coastline of California so the pacific ocean has been a major theme across all of our music. In the case of Bioluminescence, Chelsea felt it was a theme she found beautiful, and wanted to express her admiration of it through the music. Primarily with the title track of the album.
Q7: Regarding “Nature”, some black metal bands like Wolves in the Throne Room, Agalloch, Alcest, have an ideology of Nature Worship and spiritualism. Do you think you have some common points with them?
【TONY】: Absolutely. As I mentioned, we grew up near the coastline of Northern California. So we’ve spent a great deal of time there. But we have also explored the redwood forests of the area throughout our lives.
Q7: “自然” といえば、WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM, AGALLOCH, ALCEST といったブラックメタル・バンドの中には、自然崇拝やスピリチュアリズムの思想を持つバンドがいますね。彼らにシンパシーを感じますか?
Q8: Current black metal scene is very diverse, not only in terms of music, but also in terms of themes, with some bands moving away from devil worship and dealing with the natural environment and transgenderism. I think are obviously in the diverse black metal stream. How do you feel about black metal moving away from the violence of the early murders and church arson?
【TONY】: I first got into black metal as a teenager and the satanic themes were very interesting to me at the time as it was far darker than any other music I had found till that point. Personally, I’m agnostic so spiritual themes are irrelevant to my personal life. So for us just using themes that are from our own experiences applies best to our music. Such as themes of nature, and general life experience.
As it was the first extreme metal album I ever heard.
初めて聴いたエクストリーム・メタルのアルバムだった。
Death “Individual Thought Patterns”
It introduced me to more progressive elements in metal and inspired me to pick up playing guitar.
このアルバムでメタルのプログレッシブな要素を知り、ギターを弾くようになった。
Emperor “Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk”
It introduced me to the unrestrained and progressive possibilities that can be achieved through black metal music.
ブラックメタルで達成できる自由でプログレッシブな可能性を教えてくれた。
Sigh “Scenario IV: Dread Dreams”
My first exposure to more Avant-garde themes used with metal music. It really broke down barriers in my mind on “what’s allowed” in metal compositions.
A more recent influence, but one that I find to be one of the most emotionally compelling.
より最近の影響だが、最も感情移入しやすいものの1つだと思う。
MESSAGE FOR JAPAN
I am. I first watched Akira when I was around 12 and got into anime.
For anime some of my favorites are; Serial Experiments Lain, Ergo Proxy, or even stuff like Gurren Lagann.
For manga some of my favorites are Gantz, and Kamisama no Iutoori.
With video games I’m big on RPG games. My first was Phantasy Star IV. But I’d say my favorites are all of the Shin Megami Tensei games, Xenogears, and Chrono Trigger.
Thanks for the interview, and thank you to the fans we have in Japan! We hope you enjoy our new album Bioluminescence, but also explore our other albums. We very much hope that we will be able to tour Japan in the near future!
EXCLUSIVE: INTERVIEW WITH SKY MOON CLARK OF FROGG !!
“Obviously I LOVE Tech Death, But Yes, One Has To Admit There’s a Formulaic Approach To Both Production And Songwriting In The Genre.”
DISC REVIEW “ECLIPSE”
「特定のサブジャンルにこだわる必要なんてなくて、どんなアイデアも排除したくなかったんだ。 だから “Eclipse II” にはメタル・コア、Djent、フュージョンの要素があり、Will が演奏した何十種類もの楽器を使ったギター・ソロ・セクション、特にファースト・ソロで目立つタブラの妙技、そして黒く染まったシンフォニック・デスメタルのアウトロまでがある。 まさにそれが僕たちが感じていたものだった」
“Frogging the Horses” という SikTh の狂った名曲がありますが、Frogg の二つ名はプログ世界にとってはどうやら僥倖。”どんなアイデアも排除しない” という意味で、明らかにニューヨークのセンセーション FROGG はあの SikTh の魂を受け継いでいます。いや、SikTh だけではありません。00年代、SikTh と “カオス” の覇権を激しく争った PROTEST THE HERO の高鳴るギター・メロディ。ANIMALS AS LEADERS の超重低音とシステマティックな陶酔。BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME の驚異的で雑多な構成力。NECROPHAGIST の性格無比な超速暴威。そうした21世紀を代表するプログ・メタルを養分として蓄えた巨大なカエルが今、メタルの境界をすべて飲み込みます。
「間違いなく Alexi Laiho だね。 僕がギターを弾き始めたのは高校1年生のときで、かなり後発組だった。 でも、ギター中毒になってしまって、ギターを弾くのを止められなかったよ。僕はPCゲーマーだったから、ネットで独学する方法を知っていたんだ。 Ultimate Metal Forums と sevenstring.org は、当時ギターを学ぶのに人気のサイトだった。まだYoutubeのコンテンツが豊富ではなかったから、フォーラムとギター・タブが主流だったね。僕は地元でフルタイムのインストラクターを雇う余裕がなかったから、Guitar Proが最初の先生だったよ」
そうした21世紀の多様性に FROGG はギター・ヒーローの魂を持ち込んでいます。奔放でカラフル、まるでメインストリームのポップ・ミュージックのように光り輝く “Wake Up” においても、Alexi Laiho から受け継いだ高速の “ピロピロ” がメタルの証を主張します。
実際、”フロッゲンシュタイン” などと例えられるパッチワークな FROGG の音楽において、Sky Moon Clark と Brett Fairchild のシュレッドがすべてを縫い合わせている、そんなイメージさえリスナーは感じることになるでしょう。Alexi Laiho と Guitar Pro の遺産が実りをもたらす時代になりました。”Double Vision Roll” なんて実に COB ですよね。
そうして紡ぎ出されるのは、テクニカル・デスメタルらしからぬスケール感と意外性、そしてお洒落なムード。空想的なメロディ、短いポップなブレイク、奔放な音楽的ショーマンシップに自由を見出した薔薇色のメタル。今の時代、”テック” だけでメタル世界の水面に波紋を広げることはできません。しかし、FROGG の棲む水面にはステレオタイプに飽きたリスナーが渇望する、ぞわぞわとしたカタルシスとカエルが舌を伸ばすようなお茶目な驚きと遊び心が混じった何かが渦を巻いています。まさに新時代のメタル両生類。
今回弊誌では、ボーカルも務める Sky Moon Clark にインタビューを行うことができました。「Will(ドラマー)はこのアルバムのもう一人の主要なソングライターで、BTBAM や SikTH に影響を受けている。 THE FACELESS, COB, SCAR SYMMETRY にはもっと影響を受けたと思う。 FFO (For Fans Of) にBTBAMに入れたのは、彼らが DIABLO SWING ORCHESTRA や UNEXPECT と並んで Will に大きな影響を与えたからなんだ」 UNEXPECT!!ARSIS の名盤を挙げているのも嬉しい。また Emma のショルキーが最高よね。どうぞ!!
FROGG “ECLOPSE” : 10/10
INTERVIEW WITH SKY MOON CLARK
Q1: First of all, what kind of music did you grow up listening to?
【SKY】: This might surprise you but when I was very young I was big into gangster rap but my world shifted when I heard As The Palaces Burn by Lamb of God sometime in 2004. That was kind of my gateway drug into the heavy metal universe. I started with the classics y’know (Death, Megadeth, Iron maiden etc…) but about a year later I got really into Children of Bodom, and that’s pretty much stuck ever since. COB is still one of my favorite bands today.
Q1: 本誌初登場です!まずは、あなたの音楽的バックグラウンドからお話ししていただけますか?
【SKY】: 驚かれるかもしれないけど、僕は若い頃、ギャングスタ・ラップに夢中だったんだ。でも、2004年のある日、LAMB OF GOD の “As The Palaces Burn” を聴いて世界が変わった。それがヘヴィ・メタルへの入り口だった。
DEATH, MEGADETH, IRON MAIDEN といったクラシックから入ったんだけど、その1年後くらいに CHILDREN OF BODOM にハマって、それ以来ずっとメタルから抜け出せないでいる。COBは今でも大好きなバンドのひとつだよ。
Q2: Frogg is a band full of technicians, what made you start playing an instrument? Who were your heroes back then?
【SKY】: efinitely Alexi Laiho. I was a pretty latecomer to the guitar playing party only starting things up freshman year of highschool. I just got addicted, I couldn’t stop playing the damn thing and I was so bad too. But I was a young degen pc gamer so I knew how to teach myself things online. Ultimate Metal Forums & Sevenstring.org were popular websites back then for learning guitar. There wasn’t as rich of a moat in the Youtube content universe yet, so forums & guitar tabs were the way. Guitar Pro was my first teacher, as I wasn’t able to really afford a full time instructor local to me..
Q3: How did Frogg come to be? What’s the meaning behind your band name Frogg?
【SKY】: So we founded the band back in 2008/9 in highschool. My sister was our co-lead singer at that time and she coined the term and it kind of just stuck. There’s no real deep meaning to it other than that. It was between frogg with two Gs or cheeese with three e’s. We were teenagers back then, young and unaware.
Q4: “Eclipse” is an album full of real surprises. It’s basically technical death metal, but without the niche feel characteristic of that genre, and with a much freer, more diverse and major cathy feel, would you agree?
【SKY】: You know, I’m not really sure what genre Eclipse really is, but I don’t think that matters. Like yeah, obviously I LOVE tech death, but yes, one has to admit there’s a formulaic approach to both production and songwriting in the genre. I’m a sucker for blast beats, and counterpart guitars. Eclipse was designed to be more of a journey, if we played a dope riff in the room Will (drummer) & I would just include it. We didn’t want to exclude any ideas because we needed to be a specific subgenre and stick to it. Hence why Eclipse II has elements of metalcore, djent, fusion guitar solo section with dozens of real world instruments that Will played, especially the prominent tabla chops during the first solo, and then a blackened symphonic death metal outro. It was just what we were feeling. This sort of mentality is pretty progressive but there’s definitely the constant “you guys are riff salad”, but when you work on a song for ~14 years or so, it’s a very conscious decision. The band is full Berklee folk, so we know how music is supposed to be, especially in these genres. But on the other hand, I wouldn’t say we made something different just to make a statement or be contrarian. To be completely honest with you, I didn’t think many people would like this thing. I was super stressed out leading up to the release thinking we’d just get torn apart by the community. While there’s still some criticism on the genre-blending that Eclipse does, it’s been pretty awesome to see us sell out almost half our physical CDs within the first week of orders being up. I mean hey, we’re a small unknown band right now, so we’re not talking big numbers here, but it still felt pretty insane to us.
Q5: In that sense, your music reminded me of bands like SikTh, Periphery, BTBAM, The Contortionist, and Scale the Summit. How do you feel about the comparison to them?
【SKY】: It’s interesting to hear the comparisons. Will (drummer) was the other major songwriter on the record, has more BTBAM & SikTH, I think I have more Contortionist, Scale The Summit. I think The Faceless, Children of Bodom & Scar Symmetry influenced me a lot more. We put that FFO inclusive of BTBAM because they are a big influence of Will’s along with Diablo Swing Orchestra & Unexpect, but the majority of the songs I gotta be honest… I don’t know who the hell influenced me on some of this stuff. The comparison is a positive though, because anybody who’s able to compare us to names like that is a huge compliment. Those bands are all killer in my book.
Q5: “どんなアイデアも排除しない” という意味で、あなたの音楽は SikTh, PERIPHERY, BTBAM, THE CONTORTIONIST, SCALE THE SUMMIT といったバンドを思い出させてくれます。 彼らとの比較についてどう感じますか?
【SKY】: I think Djent for me as a guitar player was a moment of guitar technique expansion with techniques evolving, techniques used on bass being incorporated into the extended range of 7 or 8 string guitars. A lot of good came out of the Djent movement. I think the trap there is, there’s a lot of production & similar songs. To me there’s great “djent” records but there’s a lot of staleness– but that’s just my picky ear. Disperse’s Living Mirrors was one of my favorite records for a while.
Q7: “Eclipse” deals with the mythology of various places, doesn’t it? Why did you decide to make such an album?
【SKY】: So lyrically and thematically, yes there’s some pretty on the nose references to different mythologies from Native American, to Greek, to Filipino to Warhammer (lol we are nerds that love warhammer). But each song had a specific intention, you could know jack about each one and still connect with the lyrics. The songs can be interpreted in many ways but the main two are 1)The Mythologic Angle or 2) The Emotional Implications. I think we just wanted each song to be part of a unique journey and it sat right.
Q8: The music world has changed dramatically over the past 20 years. With the rise of instant culture like streaming and social networking, prog, which takes time, intelligence, and practice to create, has never been more current. Why do you still continue to play this “Prog” music?
【SKY】: Well, great art takes hard work and dedication. It’s an honor to be able to spend time honing skills, and putting blood sweat and tears into something you love. I think this is a lifelong journey for the current guys and myself in the band. It’s not something we pursue for instant gratification, it’s deeper than that. To me, it’s almost part of connecting with my human spirit, which is ironic I’m sure to people unfamiliar with extreme metal… like if you told a grandma on the street that “this artist is connecting with his inner self” and popped an earbud in her ear she’d probably run away.
SCAR SYMMETRY “The Singularity Phase II -Xenotaph”
GALNERYUS “Resurrection”
THE FACELESS “Autotheism”
ARSIS “Starve For The Devil “
MESSAGE FOR JAPAN
Yes! My girlfriend & I watch some popular anime like To Your Eternity, Solo Leveling, JJK etc… I’m also huge into video games, really dug the Sekiro series. I definitely have my hand of Japanese artists I love both in music and visual arts, lots of insanely talented painters from Japan.
Our message to Japan: One day, we will be in Japan playing a show. Come see us, let’s go f*cking crazy!
EXCLUSIVE: INTERVIEW WITH ANDY MARSHALL OF SAOR !!
“When People Listen To SAOR, I Want Them To Close Their Eyes And Be Transported Somewhere Else―Away From Their Worries, Even If Just For a Little While. Music Has That Power, And I Think That’s What Makes It So Special.”
DISC REVIEW “ADMIST THE RUINS”
「メタルには生の激しさがあり、伝統的な民族音楽と見事に調和するパワーがある。民族音楽は魂に語りかけるもので、歴史や感情、土地との深いつながりを運んでくる。それとメタルのヘヴィネスとエネルギーとを組み合わせると、重厚で深い感動が生まれる。自然な融合だよ」
ブラックメタルが根付いた土地の文化や自然を愛する営みは、今やメタル世界において最も純粋さが感じられる尊い瞬間のひとつ。その老舗であり盟主、SAOR の中の人 Andy Marshall は世界屈指のフォーク/ブラックメタル・アーティストであり、スコットランドの計り知れない美しさと民俗文化に誰よりも思いを馳せ、愛情を注ぎながらその音楽を書いています。そう、ヘヴィ・メタルも伝統音楽も、魂に語りかける歴史と感情の音楽。だからこそ両者は、純粋に、そして外連見なく溶け合います。
「僕はいつもスコットランドの歴史に魅了されてきたんだ。”グレンコーの虐殺” は、僕たちの過去において最も暗く悲劇的な瞬間のひとつだった。僕は自分の音楽でスコットランドの歴史の異なる時代を探求していくのが好きなのだけど、当時は、この特殊なストーリーがとても心に響いたんだよね」
“Amidst the Ruins” “廃墟の中で” と題された SAOR 6枚目のアルバムは、ここ数作で少し霞んでいたスコットランドの自然、荒涼とした高地、艶やかな湖、霧に覆われた渓谷が再びまざまざと眼下に広がる作品に仕上がりました。壮大でプログレッシブ。伝統楽器とディストーションがドラマチックに勇躍する旋律の重厚舞踏。
ブラックメタルの激しさとケルト民謡のメロディーの壮大な融合はそうして、ハイランドの歴史に生命を吹き込んでいきます。 カレドニアの精神に導かれ、SAOR の音楽は故郷の古代の物語と響き合い、時を超えます。哀愁漂う廃墟と自然の中で SAOR の奏でる音魂は、人間の裏切りから森がささやく秘め事まで、時代を超越した風景と人類の業を風化した幽玄なる渓谷から蘇らせていくのです。
インタビューの中で Andy は、歳をとるにつれて政治に関心がなくなってきた、暴力や欺瞞が蔓延る暗い現代よりも自分の音楽に集中したいと語っています。実際、スコットランドの独立を願っていた以前よりも肩の力が抜けて、スコットランドの美点へとよりフォーカスした作品はそんな考え方の変化を反映しているようにも感じます。
ただし、そうした変化の中でも Andy は、荘厳にして深淵、一際悲哀を誘う “Glen of Sorrow” で “グレンコーの虐殺” を取りあげました。これは17世紀にイングランド政府が手引きして起こった、スコットランド、グレンコーの罪なき村人たちが殺戮された忌まわしき事件。この一件により、スコットランドとイングランドはより険悪な関係となり、その余韻は300年を経た今でも少なからず続いています。ハイランドの嘆きの谷。そこに巣食う亡霊は今の世界を見て何を思うのでしょうか?きっと、Andy Marshall はそんな問いかけをこの美しくも悲しい暗がりで世界に発しているのではないでしょうか?
今回弊誌では、Andy Marshall にインタビューを行うことができました。
「僕はメタルだけじゃなく、すべての音楽は、ある意味で逃避場所になりうると思う。人々がSAORを聴くとき、目を閉じてどこか他の場所へ…ほんの少しの間でも悩みから遠ざかってほしい。音楽にはそういう力がある。それが音楽を特別なものにしていると思う」それでも、私たちにはヘヴィ・メタルがある。二度目の登場。 どうぞ!!
SAOR “ADMIST THE RUINS” : 10/10
INTERVIEW WITH ANDY MARSHALL
Q1: I interviewed you exactly 10 years ago and the situation in Scotland and the UK has changed dramatically since then. How did you cope with those changes?
【ANDY】: The world has changed a lot, not just here but everywhere. Honestly, I just keep going, same as anyone else. I don’t dwell too much on politics―it feels like the older I get, the less I care about it. Life moves on, and I try to focus on what really matters to me.
Q2: Speaking of change, the world has changed a lot since then.There have been major wars, genocides, deepening divisions, and pandemics.Have these dark changes affected your life and your work?
【ANDY】: Not really. The world keeps turning, people keep making the same mistakes, the rich get richer, the poor struggle, and we all carry on. It’s a cycle that never seems to end. I try to focus on my own life and my music rather than getting caught up in all the negativity..
Q3: That said, the very fantastic SAOR music is still here if you listen to “Admist the Ruins”. Your beautiful music is a wonderful escape for these dark times. In fact, do you think that fantastical, out-of-this-world heavy metal is an effective way to escape painful reality, pain, and loneliness?
【ANDY】: Thanks! I think all music can be an escape in one way or another. When people listen to SAOR, I want them to close their eyes and be transported somewhere else―away from their worries, even if just for a little while. Music has that power, and I think that’s what makes it so special.
Q3: とはいえ、”Admist the Ruins” を聴けば、とても素晴らしい SAOR の音楽がまだここにあることに安堵します。あなたの美しい音楽は、この暗い時代の素晴らしい逃避場所ですよ。実際、SAOR の音楽のような幻想的でこの世のものとは思えないヘヴィ・メタルは、辛い現実、痛み、孤独から逃れる効果的な方法だと思いますか?
Q4: Speaking of fantasy, Japan is also famous as a fantasy mecca. Are you interested in Japanese games, anime, or music?
【ANDY】: Not so much these days, but when I was younger, I was really into certain Japanese games like Final Fantasy. I also loved Berserk. As for music, I can’t say I know a lot of Japanese bands, but I’m always open to discovering new things.
Q5: This album is another perfect blend of Celtic melodies and ferocious heavy metal that captures the magnificence of Scotland! In recent years, there has been a growing trend around the world to blend metal with local traditional cultures and melodies, Why do you think metal can blend with cultures from all over the world?
【ANDY】: Metal has a raw intensity, a power that pairs beautifully with traditional folk music. Folk music speaks to the soul―it carries history, emotion, and a deep connection to the land. When you combine that with the heaviness and energy of metal, it creates something massive and deeply moving. It’s a natural fusion.
Q6: “Glen of Sorrow” is a wonderful song, though, filled with sadness, It is about the Massacre of Glencoe. Why did you choose this theme?
【ANDY】: I’ve always been fascinated by Scottish history, and the Massacre of Glencoe is one of the darkest and most tragic moments in our past. I like to explore different periods of Scottish history in my music, and at that time, this particular story really resonated with me.
Q6: “Glen of Sorrow” は、悲しみに満ちた素晴らしい曲ですが、”グレンコーの虐殺” をテーマにしています。なぜこのテーマを選んだのですか?
Q7: The album is called “Amidst the Ruins”. Which Scottish locations were particularly inspirational for this album?
【ANDY】: There weren’t any particular locations tied to the album, but the name came to me while I was out hillwalking. I came across some old ruined buildings, and it just clicked. That said, my favorite places for inspiration are Glencoe and the Isle of Skye―I visit them often, and they never fail to spark creativity.
Q7: アルバムのタイトルは “Amidst the Ruins” “廃墟の中で” です。このアルバムで特にインスピレーションを受けたスコットランドの場所はどこだったんですか?
Q8: By the way, in recent years, Japanese football players such as Furuhashi, Maeda, and Hatate have been very successful in the Scottish league. Have their successes brought Scotland and Japan closer together?
【ANDY】: Well, I’m a Rangers supporter, so I can’t say I’m a big fan of them, haha! But honestly, I think Scotland and Japan have a stronger connection over whisky than football.
I don’t listen to a lot of new music these days―life is just too busy! But I have been enjoying Silhouette from France and the latest Drudkh material.
MESSAGE FOR JAPAN
I’d love to visit Japan one day―it would be a dream come true. A huge thank you to all our Japanese fans for the support. Wishing you all a fantastic year ahead
“We Had This Inspiration- What If All These Master Composers Were Alive Today, Having Access To The Technology And All The Musical Capacity Of Everything We Have Today, How Would It Sound?”
DISC REVIEW “ON SHOULDERS OF GIANTS”
「もし、現代音楽の巨匠、作曲家たちが今に生きていて、現代のテクノロジーとあらゆる音楽的能力を利用できるとしたら、どんなサウンドになるだろうか?それは素晴らしい創造的な挑戦であり、僕たちにインスピレーションを与えてくれる音楽の巨匠たちに謙虚な敬意を払う機会でもあったんだ」
ヘヴィ・メタルとクラシック音楽は、RAINBOW, SCORPIONS や Yngwie Malmsteen が証明するように、太古の昔から美しきアマルガムを演じてきました。荘厳かつ影のあるネオ・クラシカルな旋律と、メタルのダークな重さは実に相性が良く、そのマリアージュは今やメタルの顔と言っても過言ではないでしょう。
一方で、アヴァンギャルドかつ多様な20世紀以降のクラシック、現代音楽とメタルの融合はあまり進んでこなかったというのが実情でしょう。もちろん、例えば SYMPHONY X のように現代音楽まで踏み込んで咀嚼するバンドは少なからず存在しますが、それ相応の音楽知識と好奇心、挑戦心を兼ね備えたアーティストは決して多くはないのです。SEVENTH STATION はそんな状況に風穴を開けていきます。
「DREAM THEATER と一緒にステージに立つという生涯の夢が、Jordan とのつながりの直後、このレコードで実現した。僕の音楽的マインドを解放してくれた最も影響力のあるヒーローたちと一緒に演奏するという信じられないような特権を得たし、このクレイジーな夢に50人もの才能あるバークリーの友人たちを招待することができた。DREAM THEATER のライブ・レコーディングに指揮者兼アレンジャーとして参加したことは、今でも思い出すとゾクゾクする」
そうした前代未聞を実現したのは、労力と時間をかけた学びの力でした。SEVENTH STATION は、スロベニア、トルコ、イスラエルを拠点とする多国籍プログレッシブ・エクスペリメンタル・メタル・バンド。エルサレムの音楽アカデミーとボストンのバークリー音楽大学の間で結成された彼らの “学びの力” “学びへの意欲” は多くの音楽家を凌駕しています。だからこそ、鍵盤奏者でプログラマーの Eren Başbuğ はあの Jordan Rudess の愛弟子となることができました。DREAM THEATER のオーケストレーションも担当。そうして彼らは常に高い到達点を目指し、感情的に複雑で巧みな芸術を追求し、アルバムごとにプログレッシブ・ミュージックがあるべきビジョンに向かって前進しているのです。
「美的にも芸術的にも、20世紀初頭に憧れがあるのは間違いない。テクノロジーが未熟だった時代にね。現代人がいつでも誰でもすぐに情報にアクセスできるようになったことで、多くの謎や心の余裕が失われてしまった。そのミステリーとマインドフルネスには、世界と互いについて常に好奇心を持ち、夢を見続けるという、人と人との表現とつながりという意味があった」
そんなSEVENTH STATION が理想とするのが、まだテクノロジーが未熟で、だからこそそこに謎や驚き、意外性が存在した20世紀初頭。ストラヴィンスキー、ショスタコーヴィチ、ヴォーン・ウィリアムズにモノトーンの無声映画。彼らはそうした古き良き時代にあった驚き、不確実性、不調和、シュールレアリズム、そして実験精神をヘヴィ・メタルで見事現代に甦らせました。木琴も彼らの手にかかれば立派なメタル楽器。異端児や歌舞伎者の魂は、決して一朝一夕、インスタントに貫くことなどできないのです。
今回弊誌では、SEVENTH STATION にインタビューを行うことができました。
「”Nagasaki Kisses” は、ラルフ・ヴォーン・ウィリアムズの交響曲第6番の第1楽章を僕たちが再構築したもの。多くの学者やリスナーは、ヴォーン・ウィリアムズの交響曲第6番、特にその第1楽章は、第二次世界大戦の暗い感情の余波を反映していると推測しているんだ。ヴォーン・ウィリアムズが交響曲第6番を作曲したのは戦後の数年間で、世界中が原爆戦争の悲惨な結末と、紛争が残した深い傷跡と格闘していた時期だった。暗く、陰鬱で、時に不穏な雰囲気を持つこの交響曲の陰鬱な曲調は、この破滅的な出来事から生じた「死」「絶望」「喪失」の感情と一致しているよ」 どうぞ!!
Dmitri Alperovich – Electric and Acoustic Guitars
Eren Başbuğ – Keyboards, Editing, Programming
Davidavi (Vidi) Dolev – Vocals [2, 4, 5]
Alexy Polyanski – Bass Guitars
Grega Plamberger – Drums, Marimba [3], Percussion
SEVENTH STATION “ON SHOULDERS OF GIANTS” : 10/10
INTERVIEW WITH SEVENTH STATION
Q1: First of all, what kind of music did you grow up listening to?
【EREN】: Early on growing up in a conservatory, a lot of western classical music. Baroque to romantic to contemporary, from solo pieces to whole symphonies and operas. During the rebellion phase of high school, I ventured out to R&B, nu-metal, 90s pop, trip-hop and finally progressive metal of course. I also had a Gameboy Advance SP where I played lots of Pokemon, which the soundtracks still have a special and dear place in my heart to this day.
【DMITRI】: I began playing the guitar at the age of twelve, but my connection to music goes back even further. My parents often share stories of me, just one year old, sitting by the piano in our home in Belarus, pressing the keys for hours on end. Our house was always filled with a rich variety of music, and we had an extensive collection of LPs, which exposed me to a wide range of genres from pop and rock to jazz and classical a very young age. This early immersion in music played a significant role in shaping my musical tastes and interests. When I decided I wanted to learn the electric guitar, my parents, recognizing the importance of a solid musical foundation, enrolled me in classical music and classical guitar lessons. While this was initially a departure from the electric guitar I had envisioned, it opened my eyes to the depth and beauty of classical music. This exposure has profoundly influenced not only my development as a musician but also my broader understanding of music and its impact on me as a person. The discipline and techniques I learned in classical training have become an integral part of my musical identity, enriching my approach to all genres.
Q2: How did Seventh Station come to be? What’s the meaning behind your band name?
【DMITRI】: Seventh Station was founded at the Academy of Music and Dance in Jerusalem by Alexy Polyansky and myself while we were still students. I was studying classical guitar, and Alexy was focusing on piano and composition, but we both shared an interest in the world of distortion. We decided we wanted to break free from the confines of classical music and find a way to express ourselves more freely.
The name behind the band is tied to my fascination with numbers. From the very beginning, we knew we wanted the band’s name to include the word “Station,” but we couldn’t quite settle on the right name. At that time, I was often called Dima 1348 because I frequently noticed that the clock would show 13:48. I even theorized that I was somehow haunted by these numbers. Eventually, I decided to break them down: 1+3+4+8 equals 16, and 1+6 equals 7. At that moment, I knew the band should be named Seventh Station. Over time, I realized that this number has appeared in many aspects of my life and in some of the themes of our debut album “Between Life and Dreams”, the 1348 theme is being explored.
Q2: SEVENTH STATION はどのようにして誕生したのですか?バンド名に込められた意味は何ですか?
【DMITRI】: SEVENTH STATION は、エルサレムの音楽舞踊アカデミーで、まだ学生だった Alexy Polyansky と僕が結成したんだ。僕はクラシック・ギターを、Alexy はピアノと作曲を専攻していましたけど、2人ともディストーションの世界に興味を持っていたんだよね。僕たちは、クラシック音楽の枠から抜け出して、もっと自由に自分たちを表現する方法を見つけたいと思っていたんだ。
バンド名は、僕が数字に魅せられていたことと結びついている。結成当初から、バンド名には “ステーション” という言葉を入れたいと思っていたのだけど、なかなか決まらなくてね。当時、僕はよく Dima 1348 と呼ばれていた。時計が13時48分を示すことによく気づいたからだ。僕はこの数字に憑りつかれているのではないかとさえ考えていた。それで結局、僕はこの数字を分解することにした
1+3+4+8で16、1+6で7。その瞬間、私はこのバンドを SEVENTH STATION と名付けるべきだと思った。時が経つにつれて、この数字が僕の人生の様々な局面に現れていることに気づいたんだよね。僕たちのデビュー・アルバム “Between Life and Dreams” のテーマのいくつかでも、1348というテーマが探求されている。
Q3: Seventh Station is a multinational band. Are there any cultural differences or distances that hinder your activities?
【EREN】: Distances of course affect us not being able to hang out face to face in person as much as we would like to, and limits our friendship and work to be exercised through the screens and headphones. Culturally, we get to have a lot of fun learning from each other’s unique backgrounds and ways.
Q3: SEVENTH STATION は多国籍バンドですが、文化の違いや距離は活動の妨げになりますか?
Q4: Even in the wide world of metal, your music is truly unique and individual! There have been widely known attempts to fuse classical music up to the 19th century with metal, but you are translating 20th century contemporary music into metal, aren’t you? Why did you start pursuing these endeavors?
【EREN】: Our vocalist Vidi led this inspiration and idea. It is a follow up on a track from our previous record Heal the Unhealed’s The Ruthless Koba, which also was an arrangement of a Shostakovich piece. For me personally it’s a full circle: I love taking different kinds of music and putting it into the other domains, which most famously I did with my own symphonic version of Octavarium from Dream Theater. This record now is now the other way around: taking contemporary classical music and putting it into the progressive metal domain. We had this inspiration- what if all these master composers were alive today, having access to the technology and all the musical capacity of everything we have today, how would it sound? It was an incredible creative challenge, and an opportunity to pay our humble respects to musical masters who inspire us.
【EREN】: ボーカルの Vidi がこのインスピレーションとアイデアを導いてくれたんだ。僕たちの前作 “Heal the Unhealed” の “The Ruthless Koba” に続く試みで、あの曲もショスタコーヴィチの曲をアレンジしたものだったんだ。
僕個人としては、これはフル・サークルなんだ。やっぱりこのスタイルが好きでね。異なる種類の音楽を別の領域に取り入れるのが好きで、僕の仕事で最も有名なのは、DREAM THEATER の “Octavarium” のシンフォニック・ヴァージョンだろうね。このレコードはその逆で、現代のクラシック音楽をプログレッシブ・メタルに取り入れたものだ。もし、こうした巨匠の作曲家たちが現代に生きていて、現代のテクノロジーとあらゆる音楽的能力を利用できるとしたら、どんなサウンドになるだろうか?それは素晴らしい創造的な挑戦であり、僕たちにインスピレーションを与えてくれる音楽の巨匠たちに謙虚な敬意を払う機会でもあったんだ。
Q5: In addition, your music has parts that sound like film music, or more specifically, silent films from the first half of the 20th century? Do you have a longing for that era?
【EREN】: Aesthetically and artistically there definitely is a longing. In a world where technology was in its infancy, there was a lot of mystery and mindfulness that was destroyed by the immediate access of information available anytime to anyone today. That very mystery and mindfulness had its implications in expression and connection between people, to stay always curious and dreaming about the world and each other. I had the wonderful opportunity of working with Berklee Silent Film Orchestra on performing and recording original music for seven incredible silent films, including the infamous Phantom of the Opera’s 1925 version, and the world of silent films through this experience has had a tremendous impact on me.
Q6: “Nagasaki” in “Nagasaki Kisses” is the name of a place in Japan, right? Why is it in the title of the song?
【DMITRI】: “Nagasaki Kisses is our reimagination of the first movement of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ sixth symphony. Many scholars and listeners have speculated that Vaughan Williams’ Sixth Symphony, particularly its first movement, reflects the dark emotional aftermath of World War II, and some interpretations do indeed connect it to the devastating events of the atomic attack on Nagasaki.
Vaughan Williams composed the Sixth Symphony in the years following the war, during a time when the world was grappling with the horrific consequences of atomic warfare and the deep scars left by the conflict. The symphony’s somber tone, with its dark, brooding, and sometimes unsettling atmosphere, aligns with the feelings of Death, Despair, and loss that arose from this catastrophic event.
Q7: The artwork of the previous album “Heal the Unhealed” looked like Soviet-era propaganda art. This time, for a change, it looks like a religious painting from the Renaissance era. What is your message from such artwork and lyricism?
【DMITRI】: “Heal the Unhealed” is an album that explores the parallels between the mindset of an artist and that of a dictator. Through this album, we aimed to highlight the ways in which artists, in their pursuit of control over their music, may develop unhealthy behaviors that mirror the authoritarian tendencies of figures like dictators. The album reflects on how such control can extend beyond the art itself, influencing both the artist’s relationship with themselves and others. This can ultimately lead to destructive outcomes, much like when a dictator imposes their vision upon a population, pushing them toward ruin.
Additionally, the album delves into the psychological effects shared by both artists and dictators, such as panic attacks, paranoia, and excessive self-admiration. These mental states are often a direct consequence of the choices made in the pursuit of power and control. This theme resonates with me personally because I was raised in the Soviet Union, and stories from that era, along with what I heard from my parents, profoundly shaped my perspective. My fascination with the history of that time further influenced my choice to reference figures like Stalin, as I sought to explore these complex themes through a historical lens.
Q7: 前作 “Heal the Unhealed” のアートワークは、ソ連時代のプロパガンダ・アートのようでしたね。今回は一転して、ルネサンス時代の宗教画のようです。このようなアートワークとリリックから、あなたはどのようなメッセージを送っているのですか?
【DMITRI】: “Heal the Unhealed” は、芸術家の考え方と独裁者の考え方の類似点を探るアルバムだ。このアルバムを通して、アーティストが自分の音楽をコントロールしようとするあまり、独裁者のような権威主義的傾向を反映した不健全な行動をとってしまう可能性を浮き彫りにすることを目指した。そして今回のアルバムは、そのようなコントロールがいかに芸術そのものにとどまらず、アーティスト自身と他者との関係にまで影響を及ぼしうるかを考察している。これは、独裁者が国民に自分のビジョンを押し付け、破滅に向かわせるときのように、最終的に破壊的な結果につながる可能性がある。
さらにこのアルバムは、パニック発作、パラノイア、過剰な自画自賛など、アーティストと独裁者の双方に共通する心理的影響についても掘り下げている。このような精神状態は、権力と支配を追い求める中でなされた選択の直接的な結果であることが多い。僕はソビエト連邦で育ったので、このテーマには個人的に共鳴し、その時代の話や両親から聞いた話は、僕の視点を深く形作った。当時の歴史に興味をもったことが、スターリンのような人物を引き合いに出すという僕の選択にさらに影響を及ぼし、歴史的なレンズを通してこれらの複雑なテーマを探求しようとしたんだ。
Q8: Slovenia, Turkey, Israel, and our own Japan are no stranger to war. The world seems to have reverted back to an era of violence and deception.What can your music do in such dark times?
【EREN】: Seventh Station is an international assembly of artists defying borders, separation and incompatibility, standing for unity and advancement of society and humanity through the fine arts. I believe the violence and deception never left us in the first place, we are just more aware of it due to the speed and ease of communication. In a time of constant deception bombarding us from all angles, we always strive for honesty, first to ourselves, of our communication and stories, and then to the world listening to us. In the time of war and violence challenging us, news and information trying to take over our minds, we always respond with more art, beauty and kindness, asking the world to remember the human, and not to respond with more violence or more war.
【EREN】: SEVENTH STATION は、国境や隔たり、相容れなさに抗い、芸術を通じて団結し、社会と人類の発展を目指すアーティストの国際的な集りだ。僕は、暴力や欺瞞はそもそも僕たちから離れていなかったと信じているんだ。コミュニケーションのスピードと手軽さによって、近年それをより意識するようになっただけなんだ。
あらゆる角度から絶え間なく欺瞞が襲ってくる時代にあって、僕たちは常に正直であろうと努めている。戦争や暴力が僕たちを挑発し、ニュースや情報が僕たちの心を支配しようとする時代にあって、僕たちは常に、より多くの暴力や戦争で応えず、より多くの芸術、美、優しさで応え、人間らしさを忘れないよう世界に求めていきたいんだ。
FIVE ALBUMS THAT CHANGED EREN’S LIFE!!
JORDAN RUDESS “Explorations for Keyboard and Orchestra”
At the point of breaking through the walls of the classical conservatory and venturing into the musical world at large, having the privilege of collaborating with Jordan Rudess who is my all-time musical hero, friend and sensei, literally shaped the rest of my life. It was a dream to be friends and make music with him, and I still remember our first phone call where I was in complete shock that I got to see him in person, and later to be on stage together with him in Venezuela, Poland and Czechia performing my orchestrations of this incredible record was truly a life-changing experience to this day.
クラシック音楽院の壁を破って広く音楽の世界に飛び込んだ時点で、僕の音楽的ヒーローであり、友人であり、先生である Jordan Rudess とコラボレーションする機会に恵まれたことは、文字通り僕の残りの人生を形作った。彼と友達になり、一緒に音楽を作ることは夢だったんだ。彼に直接会うことができたことに完全に衝撃を受けたよ。その後、ベネズエラ、ポーランド、チェコで彼と一緒にステージに立ち、この素晴らしいレコードのオーケストレーションを演奏できたことは、今日に至るまで、本当に人生を変えるような経験だったね。
DREAM THEATER “Breaking the Fourth Wall (Live from the Boston Opera House)”
A lifelong dream of being on stage with Dream Theater together came true with this record early on in my life right after our connection with Jordan. I had the incredible privilege of performing alongside my most influential heroes who liberated my musical mind, and I got to invite fifty of my very talented Berklee friends to join this crazy dream. Being on stage as a conductor and arranger as a part of a Dream Theater live record still gives me chills today thinking about it.
In the very first seconds of hearing this record for the first time, it felt like I had encountered a color I’ve never seen before in my life. What I was experiencing was something way beyond music, I felt like I was in the presence of a divine mind and soul, channeling the beauty of nature’s complexity through a carefully constructed and mindful aestheticism. Nik likes to call it Zen Funk, and it is definitely the perfect description. Every note, sound and silence recorded and every decision made is carefully intentional. I had the amazing opportunity to practice with him and call him a sensei as well, and he has shown me that art and its messengers are holistic- we artists are ideas, movement, intention and observation, in the breathing flesh.
YOKO KANNO “Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex OST CD-Box”
Yoko-san’s incredibly colorful, meticulously detailed and super wide range of musical palette has enlightened me in a profound way. I consider her a remarkable storyteller who uses music as a medium, one that can not be bound by genres, styles, or the idea of a traditional composer. From symphonic, electronic, rock to traditional, acoustic and beyond, she has shown me there are no limits in how many colors and genres you can put in a record, except your own mind and its perceptions. I humbly hope to give my respect and gratitude to her one day in person for her impact on me as an artist and human being.
In the vast seas of electronic music, Savant truly and undeniably is a master wizard. His way of surgically detailed productions, compositions and a mind-boggling amount of productivity through so many releases is an absolute inspiration. Discovering him through this record in my early twenties, I have realized to what crazy extent electronic dance music can reach, and was inspired to also make electronic music myself too. Beautifully complex harmonies, counterpoints, pristine production, a seriousness of detail like classical music, endless fun of a dance club, and the thrill of beating the final boss in a video game: putting all these ingredients together to make an insane musical potion, Savant truly is the Alchemist himself he titles this record as, and definitely is a part of my DNA.
It would probably take a whole another interview to go into details of it, but here’s some select favorites:
Anime / Manga: Ghost in the Shell (my all time favorite), Attack on Titan (with another Eren in it!!), Ergo Proxy, works of Satoshi Kon, Hayao Miyazaki, Yoshitoshi Abe, Junji Ito
Cinema: Takeshi Kitano, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Shunji Iwai, Naoko Ogigami
Music: Yoko Kanno, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Koenjihyakkei, Toru Takemitsu, Ametsub, Ryoji Ikeda, Nujabes, Galneryus
Video Game: Pokemon RBY/GSC/RSE
Message to Japan: Seventh Station is looking forward to visiting and playing for you hopefully very soon! We appreciate your support, and wish to meet you in person. Doumo arigatou gozaimasu.
Q1: First of all, what kind of music did you grow up listening to?
【CHRIS】: I started out listening mostly to metal (death, thrash, speed). Then, as a teenager, I got into 70’s prog music like Pink Floyd, Yes, Jethro Tull, Genesis, and others. At the same time, I also heard avant-garde bands like Negativland, Mr. Bungle, and King Missile, along with electronic and industrial acts like Skinny Puppy, Frontline Assembly, and Ministry. These bands really expanded my concept of what music could be..
Q1: 本誌初登場です!まずは、あなたの音楽的なバックグラウンドからお話ししていただけますか?
【CHRIS】: 最初は主にメタル(デス、スラッシュ、スピード)を聴いていたんだ。そして10代の頃、PINK FLOYD, YES, JETHRO TULL, GENESIS といった70年代プログにハマった。同時に、NEGATIVELAND, MR. BUNGLE, KING MISSILE のような前衛的なバンドや、SKINNY PUPPY, FRONTLINE ASSEMBLY, MINISTRY のようなエレクトロニックやインダストリアルも聴くようになったね。そうしたバンドは、僕の音楽の概念を大きく広げてくれたんだ。
Q2: How did Neural Glitch come to be?
【CHRIS】: As a teenager, I was a drummer for various local thrash and death metal bands in Houston, Texas. I loved the instrument, but I was frustrated that I had to rely on guitars and other musicians to create songs that I could only accompany on drums. I wanted more creative freedom, at which point I bought a sampler and began creating simple soundscapes and basic song structures on my own. Over the years, I created — or was a part of — many industrial, metal, and avant-garde projects that never came to full fruition. The most prominent was an industrial metal project called Nagual that played a few shows around Texas.
When I moved to Dallas, Texas, I was fortunate enough to meet a local band called Shaolin Death Squad and we became fast friends. Since then, several of their members have helped me create many albums across multiple projects, including Post Human (avant-garde experimental rock), THEY and Who is THEY (psychedelic prog metal), and finally, our heaviest project, Neural Glitch, which I would describe as industrial glitch-core prog metal.
Q2: NEURAL GLITCH 結成の経緯を教えていただけますか?
【CHRIS】: 10代の頃、僕はテキサス州ヒューストンの様々なローカル・スラッシュやデスメタル・バンドのドラマーだった。僕はドラムを愛していたけど、ドラムしか演奏できないから、曲を作るためにギターや他のミュージシャンに頼らなければならないことに不満を感じていたんだ。もっとクリエイティブな自由が欲しかった。
そこでサンプラーを買って、シンプルなサウンドスケープと基本的な曲の構成を自分で作り始めた。何年もの間、僕は多くのインダストリアル、メタル、アヴァンギャルドなプロジェクトを立ち上げ、またその一員となった。最も有名だったのは、NAGUAL というインダストリアル・メタル・プロジェクトで、テキサス州を中心に何度かショーを行ったんだ。
テキサス州ダラスに引っ越したとき、幸運にも SHAOLIN DEATH SQUAD という地元のバンドに出会い、すぐに友達になった。それ以来、彼らのメンバーの何人かは、POST HUMAN (アヴァンギャルド・エクスペリメンタル・ロック)、THEY and Who is THEY(サイケデリック・プログレ・メタル)、そして最後に、僕の最もヘヴィなプロジェクトであるNeural Glitch(インダストリアル・グリッチ・コア・プログ・メタルと表現したい)を含む、複数のプロジェクトで多くのアルバム制作を手伝ってくれた。
Q3: What’s the meaning behind your band name Neural Glitch?
【CHRIS】: I wanted a name that signified a radical shift in consciousness, and I thought the term was fitting for the musical style we created.
Q4: Your music is a wonderful art that literally “Glitch” destroys the conventional heavy metal style! Why did you choose this method?
【CHRIS】: I love metal in many forms, but I often thought that it could be too limiting within the bounds of each genre. I wanted to mix things up. I enjoy such an expansive variety of music in my personal life that I wanted to incorporate this diverse palette of musical ideas into a cohesive project, in this case, showcasing the heavier aspects of my songwriting.
Q5: In the past, heavy metal music, no matter how progressive, has always had a “flow” to it that fans have enjoyed, For better or worse, it has been formulated, but your music really breaks that flow and cuts and pastes like a modern artist! It is truly revolutionary. Will your metal listening experience change from this your method? Do you have a feeling that you are creating the future of heavy metal?
【CHRIS】: Firstly, thank you very much for your kind words. As a studio engineer and a songwriter, I consider editing and effects design to be as vital an instrument to the overall project as the guitars, drums, bass, and vocals. I am a huge fan of audio collage art, such as Negativland, Emergency Broadcast Network, John Oswald, and others, which exclusively focuses on the beauty of editing and audio manipulation. I definitely incorporate some of their ideas and attitudes into my songwriting and production style.
As for the future of heavy metal, it is difficult to predict where it will go, but I certainly see it expanding into areas previously unexplored. I would be very honored if my music contributes to the evolution of modern metal to any degree.
Q6: Nevertheless, Japanese fans are still praising Neural Glitch because your music is based on old-school death metal, industrial metal, progressive metal, recent modern metal, and avant-garde metal like Devin Townsend, Igorrrr, and others.It is probably because you can see shades of metal in your music. Real emotions emerge from your diversity. In fact, such your love for metal never makes your music fake, would you agree?
【CHRIS】: I try my best to write music that authentically conveys emotion and provokes thought. I have not been classically trained in music, so my songwriting and production techniques emerge solely from my undisciplined ideas, emotions, and my ever-growing eclectic taste in music. However, many of the musicians I work with are highly-trained professionals who are essential to what the songs become. Without their knowledge and skills, this album would not have been possible.
Regarding the examples you gave of Devin Townsend and Igorrr, I am extremely flattered to even be mentioned in their company. I am a huge fan of both, Devin especially, as he has been one of my songwriting and studio production heroes for so long. His early work is brilliant, but his album Empath is a genre-blending masterpiece that represents the pinnacle of what studio production can be, in my opinion. I can only strive to reach a fraction of the quality and genius of their respective works.
Q7: The Police cover is an unexpected choice – it’s a great finish, reminiscent of Devin Townsend’s Slapping Young Lad, but why did you cover this band?
【CHRIS】: I have been a fan of Sting and The Police for many years. I knew I wanted a cover song on this album and I considered songs from many different artists, but I decided on “Synchronicity II” because I recognized elements in the song that I thought would fit well with our style and themes for this album. I wanted to use a somewhat recognizable song with memorable melodies that might help ease the listener into our new chaotic and volatile musical direction. In addition, I knew that our main vocalist, Androo O’Hearn, would deliver an amazing vocal performance for that song, which he did.
Q7: THE POLICE のカバーは意外な選択ですね。あなたが挙げた Devin Townsend の SLAPPING YOUNG LAD を彷彿とさせる素晴らしい仕上がりですが、なぜこのバンドをカバーしたのですか?
Q8: “Convinced to Obey” is an interesting album title and its artwork. Divisions are deepening, wars are starting, and we are returning to an era where power and violence rule. In these times, what message does your metal send?
【CHRIS】: I prefer to let people draw their own conclusions as to the meanings of my songs, rather than dictate to others what they mean to me. Music and lyrics are subjective, and therefore, can mean different things to different people.
However, if you want my personal perspective on the world, I tend to believe that the world of humanity itself is a predatory environment in which the most ruthless and devious people on earth ascend to the top. Fueled by their own endless greed for wealth and power, a small group of interlocking international financial interests privately own and control all the major societal institutions, using their corporate dominance and monopoly of “official” information sources to manipulate and exploit humanity. Many of the themes of this album reflect that sentiment, certainly including those depicted in the cover artwork.
Q8: “Convinced to Obey” “従属する” というアルバム・タイトルとそのアートワークも興味深いですね。分断が深まり、戦争が始まり、権力と暴力が支配する時代に戻りつつあります。こうした暗い時代に、あなたのメタルはどのようなメッセージを送りますか?
I suppose I should start with the self-titled Mr. Bungle album. It blew my mind when I first heard it and I still use it as a barometer of creativity and musicianship for any new music I hear. They set the bar so high so long ago that very few can measure up, to be honest.
MR. BUNGLE のセルフタイトルのアルバムから始めるべきだろう。初めて聴いたときは度肝を抜かれたし、今でも新しい音楽を聴くときの創造性と音楽性のバロメーターとして使っている。彼らはずいぶん前に高いハードルを設定してしまったので、正直なところ、それに匹敵する人はほとんどいないよ。
NEGATIVELAND “Free”
Negativland’s album titled Free is another seminal album in my life. Their combination of found sound audio clips with original instrumentation and brilliant pre-digital editing techniques inform my work to this day.
As mentioned earlier, I consider Empath by Devin Townsend to be one of the greatest albums ever made. It is the peak of professional recording, engineering, and songwriting from one of the most innovative and knowledgeable musical artists alive today.
Close to the Edge by Yes has to be mentioned here, as well. The world building in their soundscapes, and the flow of their expansive musical passages to include so much while staying a cohesive song for 20 plus minutes, is truly impressive. The fact that it was recorded in the 70’s with the limited equipment of the time just makes it that much more astounding. It sounds as if it could have been recorded last year.
YES の “Close to the Edge” もここに挙げなければならないね。 彼らのサウンドスケープにおける世界観の構築と、20分以上にわたって1曲のまとまりを保ちながら、これほど多くのことを盛り込むための広がりのある音楽的パッセージの流れは、本当に印象的だ。 70年代に当時の限られた機材でレコーディングされたという事実が、この作品をより驚異的なものにしている。 まるで昨年録音されたかのようなサウンドだ。
EDGE OF SANITY “Unorthodox”
For my final choice I will have to say Unorthodox from Edge of Sanity. Dan Swano is a powerhouse songwriter and producer. He writes some of the most brutal, ominous, and crushing metal sections directly adjacent to such beautiful and delicate passages. Even with all his musical diversity, he still always delivers a result that somehow encapsulates his signature sound.(Special album mentions include Cynic – Focus, Jethro Tull – Thick as a Brick, Ozric Tentacles – Jurassic Shift, Circle of Dust – Brainchild, Aphex Twin – Come to Daddy)
最後の選択は、EDGE OF SANITY の “Unorthodox” だ。 Dan Swano は強力なソングライターでありプロデューサーだ。 彼は、最もブルータルで、不吉で、破砕的なメタル・セクションのいくつかを、美しく繊細なパッセージに直接隣接させて書いている。 彼の音楽的な多様性をもってしてもなお、彼は常に彼の特徴的なサウンドを包み込むような結果を出している(他に特別なアルバムとしては、Cynic – Focus、Jethro Tull – Thick as a Brick、Ozric Tentacles – Jurassic Shift、Circle of Dust – Brainchild、Aphex Twin – Come to Daddy)。
MESSAGE FOR JAPAN
I love and respect many aspects of Japanese culture; however, animation and video games were not really my primary focus. Music has always been my first love. I am a fan of a number of Japanese bands and musicians, though. The Boredoms are relentlessly insane and incredible to hear. I own several of their albums. Their singer Yamataka Eye’s work with the band Naked City is something I cannot speak highly enough of. Nothing like it has ever been recorded before or since. I also love Space Streakings, who put out some wonderfully noisy electronic punk albums. I was lucky enough to see Melt Banana open for Igorrr a couple of years ago, and their performance was intense and explosive! More recently, I have discovered Deviloof, who really impress me with their wild, genre-shifting, unpredictable sound and captivating visual elements. I am also looking forward to seeing Hanabie. and Crystal Lake live in a few weeks, playing alongside the phenomenal Kim Dracula.
Thank you, Sin, for the opportunity to connect with our Japanese audience! I am very happy to share our story with you.
My message for Japan: Thank you so much for your interest and support of Neural Glitch! I am truly honored. Since we are completely independent with almost no marketing, we rely on our listeners to help spread the word. Therefore, we sincerely appreciate any sharing of our music across various listening platforms and social media sites. With your continued support, I hope we will get the chance to visit your beautiful and culturally rich country some time in the near future.
僕は日本文化の多くの側面を愛し、尊敬しているけど、アニメやビデオゲームに関してはあまり詳しくはないんだ。 音楽は常に僕の最大の関心事なんだよ。多くの日本のバンドやミュージシャンのファンだからね。 The Boredams は容赦なく狂気的で、聴いていても信じられないようなサウンドだ。 彼らのアルバムを何枚か持っている。 彼らのボーカル、山塚アイのバンド、NAKID CITY での活動は、高く評価してもしきれない。 後にも先にもこのようなレコードはないね。
素晴らしいノイジーなエレクトロニック・パンク・アルバムをリリースしている Space Streakings も大好きだ。 数年前、Igorrr の前座で Melt Banana を見る機会に恵まれたんだけど、彼らのパフォーマンスは強烈で爆発的だった! さらに最近では、ジャンルを超えた予測不可能なサウンドと魅惑的なビジュアルで魅了する Deviloof を発見した。 それに、数週間後にHanabie. と Crystal Lake のライブを見るのが楽しみなんだ。驚異的な Kim Dracula と共演するんだよ。
シン、日本の観客のみんなとつながる機会を与えてくれてありがとう! 僕たちのストーリーをみんなと共有できてとてもうれしいよ。
NEURAL GLITCH に興味を持ってくれて、応援してくれて、本当にありがとう! 本当に光栄だよ。僕たちは完全なインディペンデントで、マーケティングをほとんど行っていないから、リスナーのみんなひとりひとりに情報を広めてもらうことに頼っているんだ。 だから、様々なリスニング・プラットフォームや SNS で僕たちの音楽をシェアしてくれることに心から感謝しているんだよ。 みんなの継続的なサポートにより、近い将来、美しい、そして文化的に豊かなみんなの国を訪問する機会が得られることを願っているよ。ありがとう!