Ash: When you first formed, the band only consisted of Ethan and former-member Ramsey, yet you still managed to release a demo. What were some of the problems you had while trying to records the demo since you didn't have a live drummer?
Ethan: We got around that problem by using a program for PlayStation called "Music Generator". It had drum samples on the program, so we just looped some of the tracks together to make one long track to lay our guitar tracks to.

Ash: Was the demo ever released to the public?
Ethan: Yes, it was posted on mp3.com. That was when we were under the name of APOTHEOSYS.

Ash: How exactly did you come into contact with Rob and Zac?
Ethan: Their former bands had broke up and we were friends with their bands, so when their bands broke up, we just asked them to come to ours.

Ash: After Rob and Zac joined the band, you guys started to work on The Fall And The Triumph EP which was released in 2003 on Profane Records. What was the recording process like once you had everything worked out? And that you had a full line-up to work with?
Ethan: We had it recorded at Perverse Productions. We played with a mix, because we all lived in difference places and it took a long time to record. We had to wait for one person to finish his part so we could mix them all together to put them all in one form. So it took a long time to do.

Ash: In 2004, Rob left the band due to personal reasons, so how did you come into contact with Trent?
Ethan: Rob lived in Salisbury which is about 45 minutes away so practice was hard to come by. So it was just a mutual decision to leave the band. Trent's band had just disbanded so he was a godsend for our band since he was not available to play in a band.

Ash: The Fall And The Triumph was just a re-recording of your original demo-what made you decide to re-record it and not just write some new material?
Ethan: We dropped two of the songs and made improvements on the once we kept, added two instrumental tracks, and sped it up a LOT!

Ash: The Fall And The Triumph was absolutely amazing! My first thought was "There is no way this band is form America!". There just aren't that many American bands doing what you are doing and doing it well! What is the metal scene like in Gastonia/Charlotte, North Carolina area?
Trent: This area is ripe with musicians. I started out in Darkmoon when I was sixteen so I have been around the scene for a while now; I have had a chance to meet a lot of different people in the scene. The quality if musicians up here is just superior to a lot of the other scenes in North Carolina. I also think that the Greenville, South Carolina scene is mixed with our scene up here in the Gastonia/Charlotte scene since Greenville is only an hour and a half away. But, if you live in Charlotte and you are a musician, you will not be bored!

Ash: Are there any new releases from APOTHEOSYS on the horizon?
Ethan: Yes, yet untitled. It takes a long time to write this stuff! It’s a very involved process, writing our music. We put our 100% into it so it is taking a while. I would say we have written about 1/3 of enough material for a new release. But we have been playing a lot of shows, so we have been taking time away to do that as well.

Ash: Are there any plans for a tour or festival dates?
Ethan: Now that we have our bus finished we can make more shows available. So yea we are planning on a few shows coming soon.

Ash: Are any APOTHEOSYS members involved in any side-projects?
Ethan: Not really, I mean I do some instrumental stuff for my friend’s projects sometimes. But I don't think of that as a side-project and I also have a classical project I have been working on. But I put my focus on that in a different way. It’s hard to explain. But we put our 100% in APOTHEOSYS.

Ash: Are there any local or regional bands that you enjoy playing or hanging out with?
Ethan: Wehrwolf, Malebolgia, Mystiriarch, Black Autumn, and Brent Of Chaosego.

Ash: In your opinion, what is the best/most memorable show you guys have ever played?
All: Definitely the Nile show we played a few weeks ago, every time we go to Greenville, North Carolina the shows are crazy. We are originally from there so all our friends come out to the show, so it’s a lot of fun to play there. And the Wilson Metalfest was pretty fun too.

Ash: What is the worst show you have played?
Trent: This line-up, no shows! I haven't had a bad moment with these guys.
Ethan: We practice too much!

Ash: What is the best show you have ever seen?
James: We have seen so many shows; it’s hard to say just one. But we saw Rigor Mortiis not to long ago, that was pretty good.

Ash: If you could play your dream gig-who would the top 5 artists you would like to perform with be?
All: Akercocke, Emperor, Centurien, Absu, Cryptopsy

Ash: What is in your CD changer right now?
All: 1349, Crotch Duster, Myrkskog's Deathmachine, Akercocke, Ninnghizzida.

Ash: In 5 words of less describe the sound of Apotheosys.
All: Violent, furious, precise, complex, scary (just to make Ethan cringe! [laughs]-Trent)

Ash: What are your Top 5 favorite albums?
Ethan:
Absu - Tera
Myrkskog - DeathMachine
Emperor - Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk
Sabatage - Hall Of The Mountain King
Akercoke - Choronzon

Trent:
Kvist
Behrit
Akercocke - Choronzon
Sinister - Cross The Sticks
Ceptic Flesh

James:
Angel Corpse - The Inoxorable
Centurien
Akercocke - Choronzon
Cryptopsy
Nokturnal

Ash: What are your Top 5 favorite albums to headbang to?
Ethan:
Morbid Angel - Covenant
Destruction - Crushed Brain
Sanctuary - Battle Angels
Megadeth - Rust in Peace
Emperor - Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk

Trent: Same shit as before (starts to name off APOTHEOSYS song titles)

James:
Absu
Angel Corpse
Akercocke - Choronzon
Gorgoroth

Ash: Is there anything you would like to add to your fans?
Ethan: We just want to wake up the local metal scene. To let people know that there is good music to be had.
Trent: I want to wear ass-less chaps on stage. But they won’t let me.

(all laugh)

Ash: Thanks guys for having me up here and thanks for the kick arse album! Hope to see you all again real soon! \m/