TRANSCENDING BIZZARE – Interview with Akis

Hello my friend! I am Andrew. How are you? How do you feel now that Transcending Bizarre have released their debut album?

Hi Andrew. I’m Akis from T.B.? in charge of samples and programming.I feel a sensation of accomplishment since we’ve done a lot of work composing and preparing the album.It’s a dream come true and I’m very proud of it!!

Would you like to give me a short bio of the band because by the time you are a new band most people will not be familiar with you?

Formed as a band in 2000 AD ,T.B.? recorded two promo CDs in the next couple of years which received astonishing reviews from mags and webzines.In 2003 we signed up with SleaszyRider records and the outcome was T.B.’s debut album “The four scissors” in June 2003.

The music path you have chosen to follow is not a usual one and it is certainly difficult. Arcturus is an unreachable band, in my opinion, and Ulver and Bal Sagoth are also bands unique in their style. I mention these bands because I consider them as your major influences. How easy is for a band, especially in Greece, to play this kind of music?

The style of T.B.? is an outcome of our will to experiment and evolve through music.I think that the common link with the fore mentioned bands is the will for evolution in music and not the aural resemblance.Creating such music isn’t easy since music it’s self isn’t easy.In Greece there aren’t other bands in the same style with us except maybe Dol Ammad.

Many people (including myself) call this style intelligent black metal. You know, bands like Ulver, Arcturus, Thorns, Ved Buens Ende etc. Do you agree with this term and would you ever call your music as intelligent black metal?

I agree – though I hate Thorns – but intelligence is a relevant matter. It depends on the intelligence of others and our capability to criticize and combine information around us.

What do you mean with the title of the album? What is the use of these four scissors?

There’s no particular use of the four scissors neither they mean something.It’s just sound related to Vivaldi’s “Four seasons”.Simple as that.

How important do you consider your lyrics to be and, what are the sources from which your lyrical concepts are drawn?

Lyrics are important in a song.You can’t play such aggressive music and talk about flowers, clouds, broken hearts and so on. Our lyrics are inspired by the irony we express for humanoids (watery creatures) and our disgust over new ethics, dogma, religion and politics. They talk also about things greater than our miserable existence such as the coils within all forms of creation and about the translation of nature through numbers. A Pythagorean look that is!

Are you satisfied with this release as a whole? Music, production, artwork? What I do not like is the bad printing of your lyrics in contradiction with the very clever front cover and the photos of the band?

There are always things you notice after the release and you realize you could done it better..There’s no question about the music.The production could have been better but that doesn’t mean it’s bad.You can hear everything clearly.As for the printout of the lyrics, that’s what happens when you let others take care of things you should.It’s not our fault.Full lyrics will be available in our forthcoming website soon.

Do you consider your music easy to be performed live?

NOT AT ALL!!!!Believe me ,the first two rehearsals were like hell but now we’ve reached a very good , almost professional level of performance. Practice makes better!

How do you plan to promote “The Four Scissors”?

At first we thought of getting naked and hold our CD in a public area but it was getting cold so we decided to give interviews and play live for promotion!!

If you had the chance to play on the same stage with any band or artist you like, who would that be and why?

I’d like to perform with any great band such as AC/DC , U2 , Rolling stones etc. because it would be my only chance to see thousands of people screaming for me as far as the eye can see!!! Just once god damit!!!

Would you prefer to be a great band in the underground scene or just an average one in the mainstream scene?

I prefer to be in a band that innovates in music either underground or mainstream though mainstream means more money thus more opportunities and so on.

So, we are approaching the end. I want to thank you for your time and wish you good luck for the future. Closing is yours…

Thanx for the interview!!Hail bleeding chaos and keep up the good work!If you can’t find our album fell free to contact us.

transcending bizarre?
c/o Kleovoulos Delilambou
Pentaplatanos Giannitsa 58100
Greece
or
transbizarre@hotmail.com
semen_astrorum@hotmail.com