A new Dutch band is attracting a lot of attention with their debut album Dearest Vile. Their business start is fast as hell and the label Gothic Metal is more confusing than anything else. TO ELYSIUM serves us pure melodic Death Metal with soprano parts. So time to sort some things out … Former Seraphique member Rein was the one answering my questions.

To Elysium

Dajana: TO ELYSIUM is a very young band, founded back in 2000. After only one demo called Collision Curse you got a deal with CBI where you were able to release your debut Dearest Vile last month this year. It's an extremely quick-start. Is that the advantage already being experienced musicians? ( contains ex-members of Altar, Seraphique and Black Out ).
Rein:
Sure it is. You know your own qualities and how to react on others; we only had to become comfortable with each other. We knew most of each other before entering the band, so it was a nice and peaceful event. The inheritance of former or current activities serves as a solid foundation on which we can base a new and fresh act.

Dajana: If not, what's your secret? I bet a lot of bands and musicians would like to know, because this genre is pretty overrun and it's hard to gain a foothold.
Rein:
We all have some kind of affection with the genre, but we are not bound to it. We introduce other influences to the already settled ingredients. We know how to make catchy, accessible songs that are interesting to play as well as to listen to. Good melodies, good songs, not too much information at the same time, but enough to keep up the attention. There's a balance in our music in aggression and atmosphere. It isn't a secret, merely insight.

Dajana: You are classified as Gothic Metal. Isn't it a disadvantage ? Because in this way you will put into the same drawer as bands like Tristania, Sins Of Thy Beloved, your country mates Within Temptation ... etc. TO ELYSIUM sounds not like that in my opinion.
Rein:
Your right about that. We are not that concerned about labelling our music, but at least it's a push in the right direction. There are more sides to us than the label implicates, we are much more down-to-earth. And people who are into music like Dimmu Borgir or the mighty At The Gates might dig it as well. We have a lot more death-metal influences than the bands you mentioned; we're even a lot faster and aggressive.

Dajana: Nevertheless, it just needs one run to realize that the basic music is Death Metal. In that the term "Gothic Metal" is pretty farfetched. You could way easier get categorized as melodic Death Metal with female singing.
Rein:
That's what I call it myself, but then again we offer a lot more melody than most death-metal acts. When you mention death-metal people automatically seem to come up with names like Cannibal Corpse or something, and that's completely different, and then there are the keyboards… I guess everyone should judge for themselves. We stick to Gothic Death Metal!

Dajana: How was the idea formed, not to play the usual Gothic Metal but Death Metal as basic with Gothic influences. Were there been any paragons?
Rein:
It's a collection of the music we like and want to play. We wanted to create listenable SONGS, and this is what came out. The background of the musicians along with the idea of making accessible, strong song-structures explain the result.

Dajana: Will you keep this kind of style for the next future or is there to fear, that you go step by step closer to the "real" Gothic / Metal scene ? Or have we to expect another changes in direction ?
Rein:
Ha no, we've finished about four new songs for the coming album and they're a lot faster and aggressive, very intense with really strong vocal-wars. We even did a grind-core song with soprano parts, which will probably become a ghost-track, as it is far more extreme than the rest. On the other hand we also wrote a ballad, at least… half of the song is a ballad…

Dajana: How do you think about the future of this genre or scene in general, and especially in Holland? Is there a big scene in Holland?
Rein:
There will be some acts who persevere their sound, others will modernize it with the use of more electronic, some will become more brutal. There are more ways to this matter. In Holland there are bands that are settled, some rising stars and a lot of crap. When I compare the gothic-genre to genres like death or black, it's not that big at all. There are quality acts, big or rising and most of the others have enough self-esteem to quit after their first gig. Well…there are always exceptions. Seriously, some names become lost for the genre, but they're good anyway. Others settle, others are busy building a reputation and a future.

Dajana: Has Esther a training in classical singing?
Rein:
She studies at the conservatory. To answer your question: yes.

Dajana: What festivals are on your roster this year?
Rein:
Lill Hill Festival 6th of July, Lemelerveld, Stonehenge festival, 27th of July, Steenwijk. No other dates confirmed as yet. I nearly forgot: November Rain, somewhere in November.

Dajana: Any tour plans, also outside of Holland?
Rein:
Plans enough, but we're waiting. Nothing has been confirmed, we'll need help on that account. So if anyone's interested to book us in Germany, get in touch: n.sprong@wxs.nl

Dajana: Which ones would be your favourite tour bands?
Rein:
I would be honoured if we got to play with Tristania, The Project Hate (!!!) or Dimmu Borgir, which would be a wish coming true. The Wounded is a great and suitable act to play with, we've played together a few times and we hope to do a lot more together.

Dajana: Is there any special place, where you would like to play live?
Rein:
Yeah, of course the BIG events like Dynamo or Wacken, ha, but that's wishful thinking, at least in the near future. As long as interested people show up, we're willing to play everywhere. In particular we're curious about playing outside our own country.

Dajana: What's to tell about the future of TO ELYSIUM in general?
Rein:
We're busy promoting "Dearest…" at the moment. We'll be playing live from now on with a focus on coming autumn. Next winter we are going to record the follow-up.

Dajana: On your website are sound pieces of every song from your debut album. But unfortunately it's always the beginning of the song, mostly just the intro you can listen to. Wouldn't it be better to take pieces from the middle of the song? It's easier then to get what kind of music you are playing …
Rein:
You're absolutely right about that, but since we know jack shit about making a page we'll have to depend on someone else. We adjust those kinds of things as soon as possible. Now it gets on my nerves, a proper page is so damn important.

Dajana: Last words, tell us everything I forgot to ask but people should know about you …
Rein:
If anyone wants to know more, there are two ways: get the album Dearest Vile or get in touch through our homepage.

Thanks a lot for the attention. Shine on!

Thank you very much for taking the time to answer the questions :-)

 
5/2002 © Dajana Winkel • To Elysium