New masters of innovative and progressive death metal: CEREBRUM

(by Mike Riddick)

Greece continues to unleash a host of quality bands for metal fans worldwide. The latest addition is CEREBRUM who performs technically influenced jazz-prog metal at its finest. With percussive support from George Kollias of NILE and a production overseen by George Bokos of ROTTING CHRIST, CEREBRUM’s talent shines dramatically on their debut album, “Spectral Extravagance.” Check out what we learned about this fresh and upcoming band…

Since CEREBRUM is a relatively new band, please present us with a brief background about how the band came together and what your reasons were for forming the group.

Cerebrum was formed in Athens, Greece around 2002 by Mike and Jim. Apollon came to the band the same year, through our first drummer. We wanted to make the music we like by mixing all the things we are into (death metal, thrash, prog-rock, jazz, fusion, etc.)

Your country, Greece, has been the home of many great metal bands, in my opinion (Septic Flesh, Rotting Christ, Varathron, Necromantia, Zemial, Agatus, Nightfall, etc.). Do you believe the country you live in, filled with a history of art and culture, affects what you are doing musically? Who are some of the bands you know or appreciate from your country?

Well, of course it affects us but in a way we can’t really understand. It’s where we live and grow up and that’s very important for our development. We’re not really fond of the old scene here, but lately many new bands have created really special and interesting music. You should check out Inveracity, End, Dead Congregation, Slavebreed, and Sickening Horror.

The drums for “Spectral Extravagance” were recorded by George Kollias of Nile. How did this arrangement happen? Were you already friends with George?

Yes. George is a good friend of ours and really liked our music so it was easy for us to decide who’s playing in the album. He did a great job and gave the songs the touch they deserved! He’s probably doing drums for the second album.

I understand George Bokos of Rotting Christ mixed your debut album. How was your experience working with him?

George Bokos is our friend too and it was really cool working with him. Mike and Jim, who are also sound engineers, worked with him to achieve what we had in mind and we think the result is good. We wanted the listener to be able to hear everything clearly because many lines go on at the same time

The album was also recorded in Slovenia as well. Was it challenging to work between two studios in two different countries?

Actually, we really enjoyed all of this .We worked with really good guys and we are very happy with the results. It was not challenging because we knew what we wanted from the beginning and we just did that. The whole travel and landscapes of Slovenia was a great experience and helped us concentrate more on our purpose. The studios we used (DB Recording Studios) had the exact equipment we were looking for, so from every aspect, we had everything we needed for recording “Spectral Extravagance.”

Your debut album, “Spectral Extravagance,” really captured my attention with its technical and fluid, yet brutal sound. It really stands apart from what other bands are currently doing and is really quite refreshing. Influences from avant-garde and technical bands like Atheist and Watchtower come to mind when I hear your sounds. Who are your musical inspirations and what has inspired your particular approach to death metal?

Thanks a lot; I’m glad you like it. These two bands are among our favorite metal bands. Technical old school death metal and technical old school thrash are equally important. 70’s prog-rock, jazz-rock fusion and jazz are also among our inspirations. So musically, as you see, our approach is not strictly death metal. It’s not that we said ”we want to do what they do,” but of course all the stuff we like (like the bands you mentioned for example) played an important role.

How did your deal with Zdenek and Lacerated Enemy Records come together? It seems Lacerated Enemy, though being a small label, really produce some quality releases. Was this a reason for you to work with them?

Well it was an easy choice for us. Zdenek is a great guy and he believed in us from the beginning and really liked our music. On top of that he offered the best deal too. Of course, the quality of the label’s work was also an important factor.

The quality artwork and presentation of your release is another trademark of Lacerated Enemy’s releases. Was this an important factor in working with the label? Also, please tell us about the cover artwork…who created it and how do you feel it reflects your music?

Well, we had everything ready before we contacted Lacerated Enemy. The cover, logo and whole artwork were created by Xaay who did an amazing job on representing our ideas, visions and lyrics into art. We feel that it reflects exactly our music and lyrics…representing the surreal and paranoid world we live in.

The themes surrounding your album delve into metaphysics and the nature of reality. Do the members of your band have an interest in philosophy or physics? If so, please tell us some of your thoughts about these subjects and how they are an influence in your work. Likewise, please refer to us any books or philosophers you might enjoy that relate to these themes.

Yes. Apollon is really into this stuff and through his lyrics he represents our cosmo-theory on life. Mixed with different kind of influences, it’s all about the lives we live on this planet, the appreciation and quality of our way of living, our disrespect for mother nature, human values and ethics and worldwide corruption. But it’s also about harmony, dreaming and altered states of consciousness. Perception and reality. Time and space and finally about the power and capabilities we all have within us and deserve to release. Works by William Blake, Carlos Castaneda, Immanuel Velikovsky, Terence McKenna and some Greek philosophers are amongst our favorites, but then the list is endless and is full of amazing stuff.

Can we expect any live performances from CEREBRUM in the near future?

We currently found a drummer that George recommended to us and we feel very happy because it was not a very easy task. So yes, we are going to play live shows in the future. An European tour is on the way and we hope for an American one sometime in 2010.

What we can we expect next from CEREBRUM? Any closing statements?

You can expect some live shows and a second Cerebrum album soon. I hope to meet and talk with you all in a bar somewhere. Thanks a lot for the interview, geia mas.