Andromeda - Interview - Adam Barthonnet
Launched in 2001 thanks to the album ' Extension of a wish", this swedish band which is led by the guitarist Johan Reinholdz, came strongly back with "chimera" from Replica Records, the fans were wainting for this third album of progressive metal for nearly 3 years. We had the opportunity to get an interview which was quite rewarding. Thanks to Anthony Beauvois for the translation.
Adam :
Okay, so I wanted to ask you how was the group formed, how you meet each other and...
Johan Reinholdz :
It started back in 99, or… 98-99. I played in another band, which was more straight metal, you know, not so progressive. And I did… something’s on my own, some solo stuff. And I did instrumental stuff with program drums, and I did a demo, or two demos actually, and I got in contact with the boss at a record company called War Music, and he got interested in the music, and he suggested that I would write an album like that, progressive metal scannel, but with, uh, vocals, more song-oriented. So, then, I signed a contract with War Music, and then he got me together with a drummer, Thomas [Lejon], from another band. And then me and Thomas started rehearsing the songs I had for the first album. I’m talking about songs, that ended up with next stations, the first album. And so Thomas, he knew Martin [Hedin], the keyboard player, because they had played in a previous band, and he also knew Gert, first bassplayer. So the four of us got together and started rehearsing the seven songs I had written. So that’s how it kind of started, and then we had a session sing on the first album. And then, maybe, one and a half years later, we got David Fremberg as a permanent singer. So, yeah, that’s kinda how it got started.
Adam :
First time I listened to the album, I feel like uh, Pink Floyd ambiance…
Johan Reinholdz :
Cool. That’s a compliment, we like Pink Floyd. But… I don’t really know, but I don’t think you have to have, you know, a deeper meaning to calling an album, it’s like you have a children, like the album are the band’s children, so to speak, and you find a name that seems to fit, so, we thought it was a good title, kind of mysterious, and it actually came about because it was actually one of the song titles, the fifth song on the album, The Cage of Me, it was originally called Chimera. And so we thought “hey, that’s a great album title”. But we didn’t want to have a title song, you know, a song that’s named the album, so we changed the title for Chimera the song and then we used the title for the album instead, so that’s where it came from. But there’s not really any deeper meaning, other than it sounds good.
Adam :
For the album, were you inspired of nowadays’ society, or of…
Johan Reinholdz :
You mean the lyrics?
Adam :
The lyrics, yeah. Of, I don’t know, common moods, or is there any message of hope, or something…
Johan Reinholdz :
I guess… On the previous albums, the lyrics have been pretty much about internal stuff going on inside people. And this time round, it’s… There are songs like that too, like The Cage of Me and Periscope, also about, you know, inner feelings and problems. But there’s a lot of new themes, concerning the lyrics this time, cause I think they’re dealing more with the outside world as well, about society and about the environment, like Blink of an Eye’s about how the environment is being ruined in the world and… So there’s more input from the outside world on this album.
Adam :
I wanted to know also if you got a different influence from other groups and which ones ?
Johan Reinholdz :
It’s hard to… You speak a few. Cause we listen to lots of bands, and we don’t listen to the same bands, so I can’t really speak for the others. I know some of the bands they listen to, because they tell me “hey, you should listen to this, etc” but I can’t account for all of the bands the others like. But… (laughs) Yeah, there’s a lot of bands. I like to listen to different styles, not only metal or progressive, so I like to listen to classical stuff like, electronic music or atmospheric pop or… whatever.
Adam :
So, Andromeda is a kind of mix of culture, a mix of musical culture?
Johan Reinholdz :
Yeah, you could say that. Yep, I guess. Takes the best things from all the different artists… And try to make something new. I think that’s the way most artists work. You pick up things from others, and then you extract things that you like the most, and then try to make them your own. I guess that’s a way to make music.
Adam :
What do you say it is… theater metal, or opera metal? Or not? It’s between melodic ambiance and death metal.
Johan Reinholdz :
Yeah… Maybe some are from all those styles. I think it’s hard to put the label on it. Other than… You know, it’s metal music. I think it’s pretty bold to even say that it’s progressive because progressive really means that you’re doing something really new. And it’s pretty, you know, arrogant, a bit arrogant, maybe, to claim that you’re a progressive band, because that’s maybe what other people have to decide for you, if that’s true or not. So I guess you just have to call it metal, or rock music, or something.
Adam :
Yeah. Roger tell me you’re on another band, an extra band. Can you tell me more about it ?
Johan Reinholdz :
Yeah, actually, we haven’t really played for a couple of years, now.
Adam :
Not enough time?
Johan Reinholdz :
Yeah. It’s a band called the Nonexist. We did one album
Adam :
Sorry, I haven’t heard about it.
Johan Reinholdz :
Okay. We actually never hearsed or played live or anything, we just made an album. It was Johan Liiva, he used to sing in Arch Enemy. And we had Matte Modin, who used to drum for Dark Funeral and Defleshed, did the drums. And then I played guitar and bass. So we did one album, Deus Deceptor, came out in… beginning of 2002, so it’s been a while. We haven’t really done much since then, but now I’ve actually been talking to Johan, the singer, about doing something, about doing a second album. So, I think we’re gonna do another album.
Adam :
Don’t know when, or if you’ll do a concert…
Johan Reinholdz :
No, it’s pretty much on the planning stage right now, so I don’t know even when we’re gonna record. We’re just talking about, putting the songs together. I have some songs written, but we need to do some lyrics and artwork in all that. So, yeah, we’d love to play live, but we don’t even have a line-up yet, so… In some time, maybe. Would be really fun.
Adam :
So, it was my second interview
Johan Reinholdz :
Okay (laughs) But you did good.
Adam :
First one was Derrick, from Sepultura. Really impressive.
Johan Reinholdz :
Derrick is a singer?
Adam :
Yeah.
Johan Reinholdz :
Okay. Cause I haven’t really listened to Sepultura since Max left. Is he also from Brazil?
Adam :
Yeah, from… I guess. I don’t really know. But I think he is from Brazil. But the new album, Dante XXI, is really… wow.
Johan Reinholdz :
Is it really… Is it heavy or fast or…? How is it?
Adam :
It’s quite fast, but…
Johan Reinholdz :
It’s not death metal, like the old.
Adam :
No, no. There’s something new, I don’t know how to explain it…
Johan Reinholdz :
It sounds fresh.
Adam :
Yeah. Fresh, about nowadays’ society, and… Really a great album.
Johan Reinholdz :
Okay… I have to check it out, I used to listen a lot to, especially to Beneath the Remains and Arise albums. I listened a lot to them, when I was a kid. Okay. Should I?
Adam :
Here, it’ll be fine. Okay, thank you very much.
En Septembre en concert au festival de Raismes (59).