Hello Savvas! How are you doing and how do you feel now that your debut album “The Chains That Bind Us” is in the stores?

S: Hello to everyone! All the band’s members are cheerful and pleased with the release of our first official album. It was a big step for us. We invested mentally and sentimentally on this work, but I believe that the final result vindicates us.

Tell us a few words about the band since we haven’t talked in the past, although we had reviewed your first demo.

S: The band was formed about 2,5 years ago. We were all members in other Greek bands; I was in Acid Death, Manolis Mamas and Stauros Bonikos in Brain Fade and Kostas Alexakis in Wisdom. Since we knew each other and while we didn’t have a band we decided to make a band altogether. Everything happened rapidly, but of course we all worked for the new band. The result was that within 1,5 year, and once we were tied up as a band and we had a good number of tracks, we released a good demo, then found a company and released our first full-length album.

What is the reaction of the fans and the media so far?

S: It is very good! Everyone makes good comments for the album and the band and that’s an honor for us. You know if you have seen the bad side of things, you really appreciate the good opinions and comments from people that many times in the past were not in the mood to see you positively. Of course, this doesn’t mean that everyone liked the album. We have read some bad reviews that seem to be well intentioned and this is something we appreciate too. When someone indicates you any possible errors, is often better than just telling you that everything is good...

How would you characterize your music and what are your influences? Death, Testament maybe?

S: The music style of Kinetic is in the middle of the Swedish and the American death metal, having a lot of power, heavy/thrash metal and maybe some industrial influences. If I had to tell you the bands that influenced us I would be talking all day long, so, I would mention some bands that we like: Arch Enemy, Death, Testament, Nevermore, Carcass, Dimmu Borgir.

What does the phrase “The Chains That Bind Us” means to you and how is this phrase connected with the artwork of the album?

S: The phrase “The Chains That Bind Us” may have two versions: On the one hand the chains might bind us in the sense that they keep us confined. On the other hand it means that they unite us. The concept is simple and it is dealing with human stories, fantastic or real, which are based on the feelings which they link people or they tie them up. This is what we tried to give in the cover with the chains mixed with fire, while you can see a beam of light.

Now I would like you to tell me a few words about each one of the songs.

S: Yes, of course. Let’s go:

1. “Realms Of Nightmare”: The terror from the threat of an unknown unity, inspired from a famous hero of the cinema from the previous decade...

2. “Engaging Web”: The human’s destruction from human habits.

3. “Never Ending Winter”: The loneliness and the repulsion for the mass and how is this described.

4. “Hatemaster/Holy Instinct”: How hate, twisted human spirit in the Middle Ages. Perhaps this is the only track with a social character.

5. “Free And Pure”: A young person’s fury against the education that his creator gave him, who is dead.

6. “Heed These Words”: The last words before the end. Perhaps the last words of our parents...

7. “Message From Beyond”: The end of the world in front of everyone’s eyes.

8. “Life Faded”: Instrumental. The passion and the journey to the unknown.

9. “Last Call For Reaction”: The rage/irony for today’s elimination...

Which song do you consider as the best of the album and why?

S: It’s difficult to answer to this question. I can’t pick a track...

Are you totally satisfied with the album?

S: Personally yes. As a band I know that we have more abilities, because you can’t achieve the 100% of your abilities with the first effort. I believe that we have many more things to give... plenty of things...

What can you tell us about the lyrics?

S: The lyrics are written by all of us just like the music is composed by all of us. Usually, one of us begins and finishes a subject. The lyrics may not be very “lyrical”, but they are aggressive and direct, something that suits our music.

All the band’s members are experienced musicians and all of you seem to be very technical without the intention to sound very technical but this is how your music sounds. Do you agree with my opinion?

S: Yes, I agree. Kinetic is not a technical or progressive death metal band, although you can find progressive influences in our music. What interests us is the well-played and direct music in order to give clearly what we want to say. Besides, this is the meaning of this kind of music. Aggressiveness and straightness.

I also noticed that despite the aggressive music you play there are many melodic parts and solos that are really catchy.

S: Yes, this is true and it derives from everyone’s influences. Besides, the two guitarists of the band used to play in a pure power metal band (Brain Fade) and apart from this, melody is something that we wanted to have in our music without becoming mellow.

The album also contains a video for you track “Never Ending Winter”. Tell us a few things about the video.

S: This is one of the two videos we wanted to do for this CD, which is included in the album. It has a simple concept, which is based on the lyrics of the track. The video-clip was an unfamiliar experience for us all, since nobody had previous experience with that. Giannis Tsigkounakis, who was a guitarist in the Greek-speaking band “Mauroi Kukloi”, recorded the video and made the montage. I was astonished by the way he could use simple things and produce a remarkable result... We put him in trouble, because during the shooting, we were doing what we considered as best… while he was trying to put us in order. Then we were laughing and he went bananas... hahaha. We didn’t make an overproduction, but it is a good video and works very well. During this February we will make the second video “Heed This Words”.

Tell us about the recordings because I know you worked hard in the studio.

S: The album was recorded in our studio with Stauros as a producer and the rest of us making his life difficult… We gave our best performance and it took us over 500 hours in the studio. Within 7 months we made three or four mixes for every track until we conclude to something that satisfied us a 100%. We learned many things within this period and I believe that our next album will be even better produced.

Why did you decide to sign for Sleaszy Rider Records? Are you satisfied with them?

S: When we released our demo, about 1,5 years ago, our first thought, apart from giving to people our music, was to find a label. We contacted many labels, mainly abroad. We chose Sleaszy Rider because we liked the way that the person behind the label treated us. He gave us complete freedom without restrictions and so far everything is ok, at least to what we have agreed.

I think you have signed for two full-length albums and then you will probably look for a bigger label. Am I right?

S: Yes, you are right. In addition we have started working on new stuff...

Are there any plans for a tour here in Greece or abroad?

S: Yes, there are many plans and this period we are arranging our live shows in Greece. We also made some contacts for a small tour during the summer in some European capitals. Of course, it is not very easy, because the band Kinetic means absolutely nothing to some people since we exists for a short time, but I believe that in the end we will make it.

What are you favorite bass players and vocalists?

S: I would say Steve Harris because of his ethos and the Greek Giotis Kiourtzoglou for his technique. As for the death metal vocals, I always admired Chuck’s Schuldiner throat and the screams of Maniac (Mayhem). I also admire Angela Gossow of Arch Enemy, because she had the courage to scream in front of a microphone, in a music that, for better or worse, does not use female vocals.

What do you think of the Greek metal scene? I think that it becomes stronger ever day and we must only wait now for some good albums…

S: The things go well, but we still need to work hard and the blame now goes to the bands 100%. The bands must prove that they deserve better treatment from the fans, the labels and everyone. It is a fact that the road has opened but the competition is much harder than it was in the past. No errors are excused and a false step can lead you home... We are optimistic but not convinced for the final result...

Ok, Savva, I wish you the best for that album. I am very glad you managed to find a label and record your debut album almost in a year because you deserved it! The last words of this interview belong to you. Thank you again for your time! If there is anything else that you would like to tell to Grande Rock readers, just do it!!

S: We would like to thank you for the presentation and the space you gave us in the e-zine. We wish all the best to Grande Rock and loads of success. We expect all the readers in our live shows. Take care!

by George Kouvelis