Code666 Artist Aenaon Interview up

http://www.aenaon-band.com/

Interview answered by: Achilleas C.

1. For those of us loving this Experimental Post Black metal journey. Tell us a bit about the bands beginnings..

We formed Aenaon back in 2005 and started rehearsing in Larisa, Greece in 2006. At that time we were really inspired by the "intelligent" black metal fields and wanted to do something like that. Bands like Emperor, Zyklon, Thorns and not too early Mayhem were our first "guides". After the release of our EP "Phenomenon" in 2009 we realised that we wanted something more original, a more personal path to express ourselves. After some line up changes we released "A Parallel Zoetrope" 7'' split with Satanochio making a first step to a new direction. In 2011 we released our first full length "Cendres et Sang" making a big step after a long period of line up and personal problems. The last two years we have finally a strong team and at last we feel powerful enough and focused. We believe in "Extance" and hope people will sooner or later embrace this album the way we do.

2. Aenaon mixes elements of Jazz, Prog rock, Post Hardcore, Black and Death metal into something very similar to bands like Code, Arcturus, Virus/ V.B.E and D.H.G. Where you fans of this style before or is this just the collection of musician making this interesting sound?

I think Aenaon is a team of personalities with a general passion for good music no matter genres. Black metal is the foundation but of course we cannot stop combining stimuli from any extreme metal or any other possible genre. Dark Jazz is for sure a strong element in our latest releases but from times to times we just follow our ideas without any hesitation of crossing our musical borders. The names you mentioned are huge bands and have inspired a lot of new open minded black metal artists and of course us too.

3. How did you come to work Code666 one of the best labels for Avant music in 2014?

Well, we knew Code666 because we did like their attitude and quality in their releases. It's a small label but they really care about music and art and not just business. We send them our music, they liked it, we made a deal. Simple us that. We are really happy with our collaboration and honestly bands should seek out to find people to collaborate that appreciate and support their music and stop waisting their time to chase big labels that don't give a fuck about them.

4. How is the live show different from your recording?

Aenaon are not a live show oriented band. The last years we try to play only some good gigs so we stopped waisting our time and money for 30-40 people just to feel like a live band. When we perform we try to be as passionate as we can but at the same time keep our sound as close as possible to the recordings. That's the reason we also use a lot of prerecorded stuff. All and all, if you want a band to perform just to bang your head we are not your people. If you want something more spiritual and you can stay also focused to the music then I'm sure you'll enjoy our live shows as much as you enjoy our recordings.

5. What are the members of Aenaon currently listening to it tells a lot of the style of the band as well?

I really don't have a clue what the other guys are currently enjoy listening. Nycriz, our new drummer is usually listening to New Jazz. lots of Death Metal and some Orthodox BM stuff lately. Thyragon is always finding himself listening to good old Swedish style black metal. Anax is mostly I think into extreme guitar based music and Astrous… I don't have a clue what he is listening these days. He is a "true" black metal fan but on the other hand very open minded and multi-genre listener too. These days I find myself not listening to a lot of music. That makes me a little sad, but working all this time on "Extance" and doing other productions too, it really hit me hard and I feel very tired. I don't know if I answered correctly to your question… I guess diversity and variety is what you get from us anyway.

6. So you're part of an amazing Greek heritage with bands like Septic Flesh, Nightfall  etc...  What is the modern Greek metal scene like if your anything about it . It's more adventurous then ever before...

A lot of people in my country keep talking about an upcoming greek metal scene. I don't agree. Greek scene was always powerful. Take for example mediterranean early 90s extreme greek Metal. It didn't became of course as popular as the Norwegian BM but all in all It was and still is a unique scene. At the moment lots of good bands rise up every year from Greece but a lot of clones too. I really envy the French scene to be honest a little. The french are unstoppable but we are doing anything we can too, hehe.

7. I love Aenaon mix of Clean, Black, Sung and Chanted vocals with brilliant Horn's and Prog metal metal all mixed into the post metal veil. How do you create the songs does it start with a story line or does the music come 1st then all else follows?

First of all usually comes an abstract idea of a song. A sense of structure, groove, emotional direction. After that, I work on riffs and structure. When the first good demo is ready then all band members listen, brainstorm, give new ideas or propose alternative arrangements. It is a very important part of this process that Astrous will like the track and will be inspired to structure his own vocal storyline. He is the "manager" of the whole process if you will. Finally, when we're doing the recordings, the tracks change a lot. Everybody wants to add things and everybody throws an exciting idea on the table that we can not resist on trying out. We always like to work with other musicians too and experiment with their ideas while guiding them in what we want from them. The whole songwriting process is very confusing some times and that's the reason our music sounds interesting in the end. I hope so…

8. What's Aenaon's thoughts on the Digital age does it help or allow to many to come out and flood the musical landscape?

I think your question defines exactly the problem. On one hand this new era provides many easy ways to record, to promote yourself, to publish, to communicate etc but on the

other hand as you said allows a high rate of mediocrity. Nevertheless I think the biggest problem created by the download, live streaming and social media era is not

that too many come out but that the listeners don't have the patience to choose right and follow the ones that deserve it. I miss the old musical culture a little, the

old school way of not just creating music but also listening too. I miss the days that bands where communicating and trade stuff. Spamming around in Facebook or other social media is really an ugly new musical culture in my honest opinion.

9. Is there a Story or Theme behind Extance?

I wouldn't speak about a story, no. There is always the human topic. An anthropocentric approach in lyrics and in our visual approach too. Lukasz Wodinsky's art is helping us having a more focused emotional and aesthetic path. I would say that Astrous works his lyrics in a similar way that we write our music too. Every song is special. A special feeling and a special lyrical approach. "Extance" is a compilation of stories that define a big more abstract emotional story. You can feel the chain between the tracks if you have the patience to listen to the whole album.

10. I loved Cendres Et Sang as well but this is far more forward thinking metal to my ears where do you see the future releases heading?

I really don't have a clue. We don't like doing same things over and over again so we will probably try different approaches again. It's very soon and I'm very tired so I just want to enjoy this one for a while before getting on the mood of creating new stuff again.

11. If you could collab with any artist who would it be and why?

Difficult question. I am really happy with everyone we worked together so far. Usually we think of a collaboration while working on a track so the idea comes naturally. If I had to name at least one artist at the moment it would be Eugene from OxBow. I think that would be very interesting.

12. Where do you see the extreme underground music scene heading . it's seems like a rebirth right now and labels are really wanting to work with the right artists?

Rebirth? Maybe old school, occult or 80s thrash not extreme in general. On the other hand, I'm not very good on seeing the big picture. There might be something good going on on the underground but maybe because I'm on it too, I can't see it. Anyhow, most of the labels are having the same problems with the artists nowadays. They spend more than they get. I admire these small labels just because they do this job for the same reason with the artists. They love this musical culture.

13. Is Social Media the best way to promo bands in 2014 or does touring and indie radio really move bands into the spotlight still?

I think both social media and touring is important. If you want to be on the spotlight you must do everything you can. Touring is very good because there is a real connection between you and people but you know, it is not easy financially to plan such, especially if you are living in Greece.

14. Thank for the time any closing thought here..

Thanks a lot Clint, I really enjoyed our conversation. Wish you the best for you and Absolute Zero Media.