Leo: Congratulations for your latest and great effort The Arcane Odyssey! How does it feel to be awarded for album of the month at an online magazine?
András: It’s awesome! Thanks very much. We are totally surprised.

Leo: How does the composition process take place and how important are the lyrics?
András: Lyrics are the last thing we write for an album. We always write the music first. We don’t jam in the rehearsal room; ideas are born where we are alone. We write the base of the songs, record the ideas at home and send them to each other and then each of us can add something to the songs. Then we rehearse them. When we are finished with all the songs, I start writing the lyrics for them. It is very important because this way there will be definitely a strong connection between music and lyrics. I try to express the mood of the actual songs with words. This is how our lyrics are born. They are very important and they are rather like an instrument, an important part of the whole.

Leo: Is there something concerning music you are eminently proud of?
András: I’m proud that we are still here and that we are creating music and there are people who like it. It’s really cool. I’m also proud of The Arcane Odyssey because I wrote a big part of the music and I think this is our best record so far.

Leo: In contrast, do you look back on releases you would better deny?
András: I wouldn’t deny anything we made though there are things which we would do differently now and I know we made some mistakes in the past. All our releases show where we were at that time and they reflect what we felt during those days when they were created. I like even our very early recordings because they have a very special vibe. We are always striving for perfection but during our career there are surely good and not so good albums. Our standard is high now with an album like The Arcane Odyssey and we don’t want to make worse records.

Leo: If you let pass by all those years in thoughts, what did change? In the course of time, is it more difficult for a (metal) band to succeed?
András: The scene has changed a lot if we compare it to the scene of the mid 90’s. There are both positive and negative sides of this change. I think this type of music was more popular back then but I definitely see a progression now which is good. I don’t know if it is more difficult for metal bands to succeed now. It’s a complex thing and depends on a lot of facts.

Leo: Which problems did you face during your career?
András: Coming from Hungary was not an easy thing at the beginning though it was not a problem, rather an advantage as it strengthened us in achieving our goals. We often faced the problems of line up changes. It is not easy to find fully dedicated persons for this music. When someone is not dedicated to the band with 100% then it’s better to look for someone else.

Leo: Is there support in Hungary for groups like SEAR BLISS? What about possibilities for concerts, are you accepted in public or rather sniggered at?
András: Our situation is quite good in Hungary. There are possibilities to play concerts and festivals and we are more accepted by the public and media.

Leo: Did you ever want to split the band and quit playing music?
András: Never! There were some hard times during the band’s 14 years of existence but I never thought of giving it up. There were times when SEAR BLISS consisted only of two members (me and the drummer) but the thought of finishing the band never came to my mind. I always looked on things very optimistic and my will was always strong enough to survive the difficult times. This band is like my child. I formed SEAR BLISS when I was only 15. I’m 29 now and I think I’m still young enough. I feel stronger than ever. I can’t imagine my life without making music. It’s so important for me.

Leo: Are there some other bands from Hungary you could recommend?
András: It may sound a bit selfish but I recommend Forest Silence, the band of our former keyboard player. I have always been a fan of his music; therefore I’m very proud that he asked me to play the guitars on the debut album entitled Philosophy Of Winter which was released last year.

Leo: Do you like music apart from Metal?
András: Yes, I listen to some kind of synth music if I’m in that mood. Bands like Ulver always impressed me.

Leo: Please tell me about your first contact with Metal music – the first LP you bought bands that influenced your teen age and further development!
András: A friend of mine gave me a tape of “Inside The Electric Circus” from WASP in 1987. I was shocked! I fell in love with it immediately and became a big fan of WASP. I still like that album very much. I got my first LP from my father and it was the first album of WASP. Then came Iron Maiden, Accept, Grave Digger, Metallica, Slayer and I started to look for more and more extreme bands. This led me to the thrash, death, black metal.

Leo: Which items in your collection are you most proud of?
András: I have some good old records on vinyl which I cherish, for example the first three WASP albums, the first Iron Maiden album, etc. And of course, I’m most proud of my SEAR BLISS collection, haha ?

Leo: What significance does music have for you? Do you as idealist have to work beside to pay the bills?
András: Music takes probably the most important part in my life. I can’t imagine my life without making and listening to music. Yes, I have to work beside the band to pay my bills. Sometimes it’s extremely difficult to combine music and my job but so far I have always been able to solve the problems.

Leo: I estimate that the SEAR BLISS fan group is not exceedingly numerous but all the more die-hard and appreciating your music. Which kinds of people do listen to SEAR BLISS in your opinion?
András: As I noticed there are a lot of different people listening to SEAR BLISS, so I don’t think there is certain kind of personalities that are into our music. As far as I see it, our fans are metal heads with open mind and attitude. They are interested in unusual music, which is a bit outside the norm. This is good.

Leo: Can you tell me of some real funny or impressing experiences with fans?
András: There are too many to mention… and of course, there are some I wouldn’t tell, haha. We met some really crazy guys during the years. Once I had to sign a human skull and once I signed the wooden emblem of a dead crow for example.

Leo: Who came up with the idea to integrate a trombone to your sound?
András: It was me. I wanted to add something extra to our music and right after I formed the band I asked a friend of mine who was playing trumpet in a local brass band if he is interested in playing with us. He was a metal head, so he said OK immediately. After the first rehearsal with him we were totally surprised how well it fits our music. When he left the band in 1999 we used a session trumpet player but as he was not the perfect choice for the band we kept looking for another guy. Then we found Zoltan who is metal head and a very good trombone player at the same time. He is with us since 2000.

Leo: What about the first reactions concerning this uncommon instrument?
András: When we enter the stage some people seem skeptic but after the first tones their opinion changes and they agree how well this unusual instrument fits to the music of SEAR BLISS.

Leo: When will we get next chance to enjoy SEAR BLISS live on stage again in near future – I hope this killer album will be promoted copiously?
András: We will have four live shows in Hungary this year and that’s all. For next year we want to focus on gigs and tours. Right now we are looking for a European tour and I hope we will find a good one and will be on the road early next year.

Leo: How often do you meet in rehearsal room before playing a concert or tour?
András: We rehearse a lot these days because we will have two important gigs this weekend. These will be the first events when we play the songs of The Arcane Odyssey. We rehearse 5 times a week now. The first show will be in Budapest and the next one in our hometown.

Leo: One question pointing to the future development: how will the scene emerge in the next years? Do you think the problem with record selling will get under control and what’s your opinion about downloads and internet in general?
András: As far as the scene concerns, I think black metal is getting more popular these years and that’s good but the scene will never be like it was 10 or 15 years ago. I think something is lost with internet and downloading. As if the magic was gone. Of course, the internet has its positive sides and I use it a lot but not for downloading. I’m an old school guy who still gets excited when he enters a record store and holds a desired album in his hands. As long as there are people with similar thinking, there will be no problem.

Leo: All the best for further course of your career. I hope you get the advertence you deserve with your outstanding tunes! Many thanks for cooperation! Best regards to Hungary!
András: Thank you very much for your support!