INNERVERSE - INTERVIEW


Innerverse is a music group formed by Lampros Marantos, in Athens, Greece. There are many influences in the songs and many moods to be experienced through each one of them.

- Hi and welcome to this interview. Tell us about your latest release.
Our first album, "Awakenings", is our first release. It includes 8 songs, 7 of them are instrumental, while "The Promise" has also vocals on it. It's in the style of symphonic progressive metal with ethnic elements. There is a lot of variety in the compositions, both from the themes that they get inspired from, as well as the melodies, the changes of motifs during the evolution of the compositions. I believe that they convey feelings in the whole spectrum of human emotions and they will carry the listener on a trip of personal growth and expansion.  The main members of the band is me, Lampros Marantos, who I compose the music and my brother Vasilis who does the vocals.
For the album, we cooperated with known Greek metal producer Bob Katsionis at the Sound Symmetry Studios. It took us about one year for the recording, mixing and mastering to complete. 

- How would you describe your sound?
Well, there is a lot of variety in the compositions. We probably fall under the "symphonic progressive metal" genre. There is an orchestral layer that "weaves" melodies and rhythms in the songs, with the usage of synth sounds as well as symphonic instruments. It plays a large role in the music tapestries of the songs and their development. On the other hand, we have heavy guitars with proggy themes (meter and key changes) and drums that often exhibit polyrhythmic patterns. I believe a fan of progressive music in general will be delighted with the album!

- What do you write about?
Nice question. Well, again, variety is the key. We have songs that deal with the power and dynamic changes of life in general, like "Lust For Freedom" and "Source Of Life". We have songs that portray the erotic bond between lovers, and their sharing of passion as well as secrets and desires as in "Flying in the Dark" or the dealing with the aftermath after the end of a relationship in "The Promise". "Fractal Of Loss" is about the inner process of mourning the death of an intimate person, thus it's a bittersweet main melody. Cry Of Lucifer" is inspired by the mythical/religious theme of the expell of Lucifer from heaven. In the same pattern, "Ishtar" is a composition where the ethnic elements are more prominent and the song is dedicated to the goddess Isthar of the Babylonian pantheon. Finallly, "Radical Revolution", a composition with choirs and avant-garde elements, has as a theme the evolution of our collective consciousness as human species as we pass from the world age of "Pisces" sign to the age of Aquarius. 

- What do you listen to when you are home?
I listen to a lot of music. As I follow studies in orchestral harmony and composition I listen to a lot of soundtracks, from composers, like Hans Zimmer, John Williams and Howard Shore, to classical music composers such as Dvorak and Tsaikofski. I like to listen to ethnic music as well, Celtic, gregorian, African tribal, you name it. And of course lots of rock and metal music. Sometimes I like to relax and chill out with jazz improvisations in the background. It all depends on the time of the day and the mood i am in.

- Your favourite live performance so far?
If you mean personally, we haven't played a gig yet. We are searching for band members with the right music technical skills as well as music mindset to join us. 

- Tell us a funny story that happened in studio or on stage.
In the studio, there was a funny moment, during the recording of vocals for the song "The Promise", as this composition comes from many years ago, when Bob heard the time that the song was composed, we were like:
-"We like to take our time...!" hehe

- Your favourite albums?
Non-metal:
-Dead Can Dance - The Serpent's Egg
-Fields Of The Nephilim - Elizium
-Eloy - Ocean
-Pink Floyd - The Wall

Metal:
Dream Theater - Scenes from a Memory
Symphony X - Paradise Lost
Arcturus - The Sham Mirrors
Epica - Design your Universe
and many many others...

- A musician you would like to meet for a beer?
Hmm...probably Frank Bornemann from Eloy! He would have a lot of stories to tell me from the 70s decade! He delivered amazing music with Eloy...

- What would you ask for backstage, if you were the most important band on earth?
Aesthetic decoration with themes inspired by myths and spirituality...and meet & greet of fans in the right environment. And having lots of beer with them!

- What are your plans for the near future?
Well currently, we promote our first album, and try to reach as many fans of progressive music as possible. At the same time, we are in search of key band members in order to be able to play live gigs in the near future!