Ancient Plague

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View Interview on it on Metal Blessings Radio

MBR: Hey, how are things this time of year for you guys? Any special plans for this Christmas?

Gedaliah: Christmas for me is pretty much the same each year, spend it with my entire family, which is easy cause there's only 11 of us! haha

Alexis: I have been very busy this year with university and stuff but thanks to God I’m almost done. For this Christmas I just plan to do the usual thing and spend some time with my family.

MBR: First off, tell us a bit about Ancient Plague for those who may not be familiar with your music.

Gedaliah: For me Ancient Plague was an idea that i started which didn't really fulfill what i wanted in a project, i was inspired by Azazel from bands such as Dusk, Absum, Funeral Silence. I worked with him a lot in Holy Night and i really loved what he was doing musically, and i wanted to do something like that, unfortunately my attempt wasn't as good! haha. Im a drummer, and a vocalist, not really much you can do when you want to create a dark ambient project! haha. But i gave it ago and it sort of went from there. I left it alone for a long while because i was busy with Holy Night projects, but then i heard some songs Alexis had done, and he was creating what i wanted to be doing! so i begged him to join me and he did and now we make sweet music together! hahah

MBR: I understand you are currently hard at work on your debut album. How is the progress coming along?

Alexis: It’s coming along pretty well. We have some crazy ideas we plan to include on future songs.

Gedaliah: Yes we do as much as we can with our time. I let Alexis do all the work of course! haha but seriously i am pretty excited on how everything is turning out!

MBR: Now Gedaliah, being a graphic artist yourself do you feel you have a greater freedom and flexibility on your album artwork? I imagine it probably makes that stage of your album flow smoother. As opposed to letting someone else interpret your idea for a design.

Gedaliah: Oh yes very! to be honest being the way i am with designing it has got me in a lot of trouble in my old band! im very very very picky with artwork, and in my mind, im always right! but im getting better with that problem, cause Alexis likes what i do, so im happy! haha.

MBR: When did Alexis become part of Ancient Plague, and what role does he play in the band?

Gedaliah: Alexis joined this summer 2009. And he plays all Keys in the band .

MBR: Upon his joining Ancient Plague did Alexis bring anything unique and new to the band, as opposed to it previously being a one-man project?

Gedaliah: Well the reason why i wanted Alexis to join was because of his talent in Keys playing, the thing i totally lacked originally, so he brought exactly what Ancient Plague was suppose to have in the beginning, an amazing keys section.

MBR: Since Ancient Plagues conception how has the music evolved? Have there been any major changes?

Alexis: Judging from the demo and from what we are doing now, there’s definitely an evolution on the sound without leaving the ambient thing forgotten.

Gedaliah: Yeah just to repeat on what Alexis has said, now we were are able to incorporate more unique styles which before i couldn't alone.

MBR: What is the title of your upcoming release? And how many tracks are going to be included on the album?

Gedaliah: Ohh thats a tough question really, we haven't fully decided on the name yet, but the way the album is shaping out, something to do with Ancient Cultures, but i won't say anymore, not to throw away the surprise haha. And the number of tracks, we are planning on around 10-11, maybe more, we are just seeing how everything pans out, picking the best of the bunch.

MBR: You are also involved in a grindcore project called “Infectious Apostasy,” is there a release being planned for that band as well?

Gedaliah: Yeah i hope so in the future, but we have had to put Infectious on hold for now due to personal reasons.

MBR: Alexis, do you play in any other bands or musical projects?

Alexis: Not at the moment. But I’m dying to form a Gothic Metal band in the vein of (old) Tristania, Virgin Black and Trail Of Tears.

MBR: As far as your work in Ancient Plague goes, where do you both draw your musical influences from?

Gedaliah: I would say my main influences have changed over time, in the beginning of Ancient Plague, my main influences were. Dusk, Absum, Suspiria Profundis, which was my inspiration really. But when Alexis joined i opened up to other styles such as: Admonish, Dimmu Borgir, Ecthirion, Phanerosis, Xasthur, Turisas, Kult ov Azazel. Mainly more guitar driven artists, but not for the guitar parts but for the vocal styles. My main influence for vocals has to be Admonish, i just love that rawness. I obviously don't sing like that! but it has been a big influence for me.

Alexis: For this project my influences come from Gothic/Doom bands like Draconian, Virgin Black. DSBM like Austere, Coldworld and some Darkwave / Neoclassical bands like Ophelia’s Dream and Dark Sanctuary as well as classical music like Chopin and Satie.

MBR: Where did the idea for Ancient Plague come from? Also what is the meaning behind your name? If I were to take a wild guess I would say “Ancient Plague” represents sin, and how it is a plague in our lives that has existed since the Garden of Eden, making it “Ancient”.

Gedaliah: Well you have pretty much nailed it on the head there! another meaning for me is the "black death" plague that circled the globe really, the wiped out 30-60% of europe in the 14th century. We are very very lucky not to have lived through that! haha

MBR: Typically, how involved is the song-writing process for you? And how do you normally get started with writing? Do you write the music together, or do you each write separately and collaborate your ideas later?

Alexis: I usually start with the idea of a song, then I send it to Gedaliah and he adds other effects, lyrics and the drums. Then he send it back to me and we discuss what we like, what we could add, etc.

MBR: When should we expect your album to be available to order?

Alexis: Hopefully next year.

MBR: Is there anything else either of you would like to say to those reading this interview?

Gedaliah: Just to say thank you for the interview! and we pray that you will be blessed in God!

Alexis: Thanks for the interview. And remember that all things are possible through God.

MBR: Thank you very much for your time and I will be looking forward to the debut album.