CEREBRUM – Interview with Apollon & Mike

The Greeks CEREBRUM are a new addition to technical death metal waters. The band, formed in 2004, has released its debut album “Spectral Extravagance” last year, bringing thus some very needed fresh air into this crowded genre. Not only influenced by metal music, CEREBRUM are not afraid to show us their way of perception of music and life. The singer Apollon Zygomalas and guitarist Mike Papadopoulos were so kind as to answer few my questions.

So, at first, I would like to ask you about the start of your band. Tell me; is it hard to form a band in Greece? What is it like with the response to local bands there? Do you have some favorite?

Hello there. Cerebrum were formed around 2004 by Jim and myself, later the same year Apollon joined too. We recorded our first demo at 2005 and the response was very good. It was chosen as demo of the month in the Greek Metal hammer magazine. We had some problems finding a capable drummer so the recording of our debut took place 2 years later with our good friend George Kollias on drums. On 2009 we signed with Lacerated enemy records and on august of the same year the album was released. I can't say if it's hard or not to form a band but we surely had a hard time finding a drummer.

The support to local bands is minimum here, except maybe for some older ''bigger'' bands. Some good bands are Inveracity, Sickening Horror, Slavebreed, Homo Iratus.

Could you name some of your musical influences? Its evident from your music that theyre not only metal bands.

As far as metal goes it's mostly old school technical bands. Death metal and thrash metal too. Atheist, Watchtower, Mekong Delta, Morbid Angel, Toxik, Gorguts, Nocturnus, plus more unknown bands like Demilich, Realm… But 70's music is also as important to us. Prog bands like Yes, Gentle Giant, psychedelic stuff like Gong…, jazz-rock etc.

It's pretty much everything… Some folk stuff, blues, ambient, experimental… all the good stuff;)

Your music is technically pretty difficult. I was interested if you have some musical education

Yes, we all have several years of musical education. Jim studied the guitar and then went to a school for sound engineering. Mike also studied the guitar here in Greece and in the US at Berklee, after that continuing with sound engineering as well… and this is where he met Jim. I used to study the piano and keyboards.

Tell me something about the name of your band. Cerebrum is

a part of the brain that makes us human if Im right. Is this somehow connected with your music?

Yes, it's the biggest part of the brain and the most important section of the nervous system.

Most of its basic functions are movement, speech, memory, sensory, learning… It was the perfect name for us and it's connected with everything: musically, lyrically, and practically also… if you want.

I guess you arent full-time musicians, are you? Where do you work, eventually study?

We are currently just doing shitty part time jobs so we can stay alive and also be fully dedicated to the band at the same time.

Apollon is also soon to graduate, and probably continue with a master's degree. He studies energy mechanical engineer based on renewable energy sources and environmental technologies.

Lacerated Enemy Records is a small label, yet with really interesting music to offer. What was the impulse to release your first album under its flag?

They showed us that they really like our music and that they really believe in us. They offer the best deal too so we decided to go with them.

Are you satisfied with your labels work so far?

Well, they are a small label, a one man label to be exact and they are trying their best. We wish we had some money, so we could manage and promote ourselves (as we do now by 80% anyways…) more and book as much gigs as possible.

What are Cerebrum planning to the future? Have you already settled the problem with your live drummer? I guess it cant be easy to find a drummer to cope with Kollias parts properly.

Not easy at all. It was really difficult to find someone to do it, but we are glad we did. Jakub Chmura will be playing with us for tours etc. We are planning a European tour for the near future and some summer festivals too.

What about a second album? Do you already have enough material? When can we expect it?

The music for the second album is ready. Soon Apollon will receive it to start creating the vocal patterns and lyrics and also George to do the drums. But we can't tell u exactly when, cause we'll have to see when George will be available to record, cause right now his schedule with Nile is very tight… We think around end of '10 – within '11 ..?

Your debut album Spectral Extravagance was mixed by George Bokos from Rotting Christ. It seems that everything around your album is just as good as possible. What led you to him and how was the cooperation?

He is a good friend too. Mike and Jim also worked together with him. From the beginning we knew exactly what we wanted, so the whole mixing mastering session was great, with no problems at all.

The drum parts on Spectral Extravagance were recorded by Niles drummer George Kollias.

How did you get to work with him?

Yes, as we told you George is a very good friend and really likes our music. We know him from many years now, he was drumming for The Circle Of Zaphyan and this is how we got him to hear our stuff back then! He still regrets it for not joining the band back then, haha! He also plays with Mike in a jazz rock project!

Well, it was an obvious choice as he is our friend and also one of the best drummers around the world. He did an amazing job!! We are looking forward to the recording of the second album.

I was absorbed in the conceptual theme of your album. It seems like youre interested in naturalism and science. Can you share some of your thoughts with us?

Well, yes… there is a conceptual theme, kind of… not that you could name it a concept album though… It's about our respect for ourselves, the lives we live here, human behavior and communication, appreciation, values and ethics, our disrespect for nature and our planet, the corruption in everything… Our western zombie-slavery civilizations, our medias and lifestyle brainwash… people must wake up and unite now!

Cause on the other hand there are things we forgot, things we forbid or made illegal, or just cut from our roots, things such as harmony and dreaming and journeys and meaning and altered states of consciousness… perception and reality… space and time… this universal love and energy that many forget everyday… the key to other things and possibilities…

The only song that is independent from this idea is “Intolerable Ado”, which is a short-story about mental illness and distorted reality.

Read the lyrics together with the songs and let yourself loose… try to relax and the images will start coming… the feedback is always there, you know…

Title of the album and artwork/graphics are also part of this whole energy that represents us.

Is there anything youd like to add and tell our readers?

Thank you very much for the interview, we hope to see u all on tour! Sit down, wear your headphones and listen to the album thoroughly and mindfully, we hope you all enjoy it, viva!

All photos taken from the band's Myspace
www.cerebrum.gr
www.myspace.com/cerebrum