MY DYING BRIDE : nouvel album - des news ....

avragorn · 24 Jan 2009 0:56

J'ai trouvé ceci sur un forum anglais , posté ce matin :

" Blissfulviolet of Beyond The Dark Horizon recently conducted an interview with vocalist Aaron Stainthorpe of the UK doom metal band MY DYING BRIDE. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Beyond the Dark Horizon: I just received news that the band has recently recorded MY DYING BRIDE's ninth studio album at the Future Works studio in Manchester. What can you tell us about this particular LP? I hear the violins are back…

Aaron: The majority of the music has now been recorded, including the violin, leaving just the keyboards and ambient effects as well as the final mix to do. Naturally, we think it's our best work to date and has a sort of "new-meets-old" sound; the violins giving a nod to our past and the new riffs and vocals showing the way forward. It is quite possibly the most depressing thing we've created to date, and all the more wonderful for it.

Beyond The Dark Horizon: The band previously used keyboards in place of the genuine violin sound on a few albums. Has technology offered some qualities that you were unable to find in actual violin players in the past?

Aaron: It has indeed which we took full advantage of. We always liked the idea of getting another violin player but didn't actually do a great deal about it, favoring more guitar harmonies instead, which worked wonders for us. Rather lazily, we were waiting for a violinist to contact us rather than the other way around.

Beyond The Dark Horizon: This brings me to ask about the bands recent addition, Katie Stone… Tell us about her and what she brings new to MY DYING BRIDE's table.

Aaron: She's a superb violin and keyboard player and a great addition to the band, young and attractive too which is surely a bonus. She brings a touch of "old school" back to the band with her violin; however, playing it differently to Martin, it sounds more modern. It's hard to explain really, kind of old meets new so interesting stuff.

Beyond The Dark Horizon: Back to the new album, how do you feel it differs from MY DYING BRIDE's last studio album, "A Line of Deathless Kings"?

Aaron: Would you believe it, it's even darker? I've pushed the vocals further finding more melodies, as have the guitars, and of course the violin has added a deep range of feeling. It's quite a fresh, melodic sound despite being utterly despondent.

Beyond The Dark Horizon: Lyric-wise, was there any difference in the approach you took when it came down to writing songs for this album?

Aaron: To be brutally honest, no. 99% of all the music was written AND recorded before I wrote a line! I got a rough mix on CDR, listened to it heroically all day — every day and wrote how I felt during the hours of darkness, candles spluttering, red wine at hand and I'd like to think it's rather good.

BTDH: Tell us about the recording process and the type of scenery/vibe at the Future Works studio.

Aaron: I missed most of the actual music recording because I'm extremely lazy but I'm told it was great. When it came to my turn, I loved it.The studio is very new, we're the first band to ever record an LP there, and it has all the facilities and technical bullshittery you could possibly hope for. It's also right in the heart of Manchester, so popping out for cheeky Chablis was no problem at all.

BTDH: Describe this new album using one word.

Aaron: Magnificent.

BTDH: I'm assuming that when this album is released there will be a tour in support of it. Will My Dying Bride make it to the US? I know the band hasn't performed here in years…

Aaron: We'll do our very best to make it back to the States. We loved it last time (supporting Dio) and can't really understand why we haven't been back. I do apologize.

BTDH: My next question is one that I always have in mind when listening to My Dying Bride albums and watching live performances on DVD. How do you maintain your voice? One minute you're growling and the next you're practically talking…

Aaron: Fuck knows! Just very lucky I suppose. It's even better now even if I do say so myself. Really, I should be
croaking like a gnarly old sea dog but I seem to be getting a bit better, which is a hoot. My throat used to get very sore after a gig but now there are no affects at all.

BTDH: You have stated in your biography that you hate being on stage. Why? Is this the reason why you keep your eyes closed while singing?

Aaron: The lyrics must be lived by myself on stage, and those are grim words for reciting. I cannot possibly just holler and prance like a knob, I have to dive into the character in each track, and most of my characters are suffering terribly. I suppose I'm a sort of method vocalist to a small degree, experiencing heartache and grief as I cast about in front of thousands of strange faces. It's horrifying and I could easily live without it.

BTDH: Do you usually have in mind what you are going to do during each song or it all spontaneously based on emotion? You seem to be visualizing something when your eyes are closed…

Aaron: Nothing is planned; I generally fall about the place in tears and often hold back from actually hurting myself or causing great physical harm. It's a very uncomfortable place to be for me. With my eyes closed I can almost see unholy melancholy and utter deprivation laid bare before me, pouring down onto me and crushing my spirit.

BTDH: Elaborate on My Dying Brides musical imagery as opposed to your daily lives? I'm sure there are some fans out there that think the band literally roams the earth in somber…Do you?

Aaron: We've always seen the music (and therefore the image) as a form of escapism, a place to go to when real life gets a bit tough. We live in the north of England and are surrounded by its beauty and heritage and ancient cultures and this can often be reflected in our music and persona. It may seem a bit clichéd but it's true that at times I have often sat on a hill, overlooking a lush valley and penned my thoughts which have later become My Dying Bride lyrics.

BTDH: Some of my favorite My Dying Bride songs are from your album, "The Light at the
End of the World." I fell in love with this album for its simplicity and detailed story-like lyrics. What can you tell me about this particular release? Did you and the band enjoy creating this album?

Aaron: We enjoyed that one more than most because it had an almost 'back to basics' feel and approach, after the rather more experimental "34.788%...Complete". We'd thrown all kinds of unusual ideas at "34..." which meant that when it came to writing "The Light…" we felt the need to return to our roots and write what came naturally and simply without trying to prove anything. It has a simple beauty about it which many people loved.

BTDH: Being a lyricist myself, it's an honor to be conducting this interview. My Dying Bride lyrics and music have always been a huge inspiration for me. Personally, I had to stop listening to your albums for awhile, because I did not want my work to sound too My Dying Bride-ish. With this in mind, have you ever had to just block away your inspirations in a sense, when writing?

Aaron: I did, quite a while ago because in the very early days of MDB, I loved classic poetry and so my lyrics reflected that and became the things I was reading, but it couldn't last as I really needed to discover my own identity. I stopped reading the classics and simply allowed influences to come to me from anywhere rather than I going to look for them, which has helped me find my own style.

BTDH: You have noted in previous interviews that books and films are a huge influence and inspiration for you. Name some of your all time favorite books and films.

Aaron: One book of note that directly influenced a song was 'And the Ass Saw the Angel' by Nick Cave, which became the song 'The Raven and the Rose'. It's actually not a brilliant book but was sufficient enough to give me ideas. Regarding films, 'The Hunger' heavily influenced our song 'A Kiss to Remember' and it's quite a visual and aural treat, being directed by the excellent Tony Scott, and brother of the more famous Ridley Scott.

BTDH: The UK is home to many legendary musical acts, from the Beatles to Black Sabbath. What are your thoughts on British Culture; has it been an influence in any way?

Aaron: Not musically funnily enough, but culturally it was and still is. I love the history of this little island I live on, the diversity of its people, the chaos of its past and still the beauty of its rolling hills. It's hard not to be influenced by the place!

BTDH: Are there any great underground bands from the UK you recommend we check out?

Aaron: Well, I'm almost ashamed to admit it but I don't actually know. I seem to have missed the scene over the last few years as many of the great clubs here have closed down. I don't really surf the net much either so don't have a clue who's doing what.

BTDH: Many out there may still not be aware that you are also an artist. Having created many of the My Dying Brides album covers and merchandise, is there a particular piece that you are most fond of?

Aaron: The cover for 'The Dreadful Hours' is one of my favorites, although it is rather nasty. I love all the images I've created, like my songs. They're like my children and it's very difficult to have favorites.

BTDH: Will you be creating the artwork for the upcoming My Dying Bride album as well?

Aaron: It's open season. We are looking for suitable imagery right now and I may or may not put a couple of idea's forward. It's by no means certain that I automatically get first choice just because I am
the vocalist. All idea's get put to all members of the band and the best is chosen no matter who created it. We need something by the end of September so get your ideas in quick folks!

BTDH: Some of your work, both lyrically and artistically, evokes both religious and anti-religious themes at times. What do you make of this concept?

Aaron: Religion should be beautiful and helpful but in reality it's very nasty indeed. More sorrow seems to emanate from religion than anywhere else, which is why it's a great source for a miserable
bastard like myself. I'm not exactly anti-religious as I do appreciate the fact that for some people, it can be a crutch to help them through life, it's just that most of the time it's full of death and hatred and kiddy fiddling.

BTDH: What do Christ and the crown of thorns mean to you?

Aaron: Not much apart from the obvious theological nonsense…Great imagery though, very powerful.

BTDH: Is there a certain vision that you have for My Dying Bride and if so, have you achieved it?

Aaron: I'm very lucky to be able to say that I have achieved the things I set out to do when I formed MDB back in 1990. But it's not over yet, I still have one or two more ideas that I'd like to pursue with My Dying Bride.

BTDH: What should we My Dying Bride fans be expecting from now to 2009?

Aaron: Well, due to unforeseen circumstances, our newly recorded album will not come out in 2008 but in February/March 2009, so I suppose that's something to look forward to. Naturally we'll support it with a few shows too and maybe even a rare video.

BTDH: Excellent, Thanks for your time Aaron. It is truly a pleasure having this opportunity to gain more insight into the world of My Dying Bride. Any final thoughts or a quote you'd like to leave us with?

Aaron: Thank you for taking time for this interview and we look forward to seeing all those interested in MDB next time we're playing live.

Cheers

Aaron

www.myspace.com/officialmydyingbride
www.mydyingbride.org

Interview Excerpt from http://www.beyondthedarkhorizon.com
"

MY DYING BRIDE : nouvel album - des news ....

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