EDENBRIDGE |
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With their third disc, Austria's symphonic metal band EDENBRIDGE exceeds all expectations. More symphonic, more progressive, more melodic ... more everything ... Of course Benjamin had to ask bandleader and guitarist Lanvall some questions about it all ;
Interview by Benjamin Genach |
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1. What is your own opinion of the new album?
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"Well, I think it is our best so far. Although I donīt have the right distance to it Iīm very happy with it at the moment."
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2. This album is without doubt your best so far! Can you describe what separates this album compared to the others?
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"Itīs a constant development, the band is running through. As a songwriter, arranger and producer I always try to improve myself. Although Edenbridge will keep the style, there is always room for experiments. I guess, songs like "Where silence has lease", "Perennial Dreams" and "Red ball in blue sky" are totally different from songs we did in the past."
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3. I know that "Red Ball In Blue Sky" probably is on everybody lips, but could there be any possibilities to see more duets in the future?? Why/why not?
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"I would never say no. This time the right song was there, so we have to see what the future will bring."
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4. I have noticed that the keyboard is much more dominant in this album compared to your previous albums! Can you explain, why there is more focus on the keys?
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"You think the keyboards are more dominant ? No, definitely not. I think this is the album where the guitars are in front compared to the other albums. There are a lot of Keyboards on "Aphelion" but never taking over the guitars."
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5. In our last interview I asked you about always being referred to as a "copy" of Nightwish! How does the media react to you now that you've done three individual discs?
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"Well, most of them see us as an individual band. I think only eternal ignorant people wonīt and donīt want to see the differences. Meanwhile I am also bit tired speaking about those comparisons."
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6. Since you have entered the metal scene, has there been more focus in Austria? And has the metal scene grown since our last interview?
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"Well, we are selling quite well here, but the scene is pretty much the same."
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7. How was it to work together with D.C Cooper??
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"It was great to have one of my favorite singers on the album. When Sabine recorded one song for the "Missa Mercuria" project in Germany, D.C. was also in the studio. Sabine, D.C. and myself spent great 2 days and talked a lot. When I had "Red ball in blue sky" finally written, I thought it would be a good idea to bring in D.C. to make a duet with Sabine. Finally to cut a long story short he was in Germany in November and he liked to do it, so he came to the studio for 2 days and did a great job."
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8. What are your own expectations for your new album?
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"My expectations are quite high. The album seems to run very fine in Germany after 3 days. We were on position 82 on the first day in the trend-charts, so it looks good to enter the charts next week."
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9. Who are your major inspiration sources? And why have you chosen a female vocalist instead of a man???
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"I grew up with classical music, then discovered metal at the age of 14. I can tell you all my favorite composers and bands. Anton Bruckner, Antonin Dvorak, Vangelis, Robbie Valentine, Shadow Gallery, Dream Theater, Symphony X, Fair Warning, Royal Hunt. Iīve been working with female singers since 1994 now. The reason at that time was that we couldnīt get a good male singer here in Austria. Sabine entered the pre-band before Edenbridge in 1996 and from that point on it was never in doubt to change anything. I couldnīt imagine Edenbridge with a male singer. The voice of Sabine perfectly fits to the music I`m writing."
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10. Since your debut album, has the sales increased with the last 2 discs??
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""Sunrise in Eden" was one of the most successful debuts in the year 2000. And "Arcana" could top the sales. In the same time many bands had a decrease in sales."
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What is your opinion about the illegal home copying?
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"Home copying was always usual. Years ago there were cassettes, now there are CDīs. I donīt have a problem with that. You canīt buy everything, there are much too many releases every month. What really sucks are the mp3-downloads. Itīs is pissing me off that our album was in all download machines 3 weeks before the release. I canīt understand why some journalists (who are getting the promos) put the album in the net."
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12. What do you think about the nu metal scene (Limb Bizkit etc.) do you think it promotes metal or do you think it just temporary?
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"I donīt care about nu metal, this is definitely not my music. But Iīm sure it doensīt promote metal."
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Well guess I see you in Scandinavia soon :o)
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" Thanks for the interview and hope to see you, Lanvall"
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