Nice cover art! How'd you guys get in touch with the artist?

Elvio (instruments): Hey, first of all, we want to thank you for the interview! Yes, JP Fournier did an amazing job, converting our concept into a great piece of art. Well we had some other options, but then they told us that what we were asking for required the use of some techniques that they didn't use. After that, it got clear that it had to be done by someone who had some experience. So, it was an obvious choice to ask JP Fournier to do our artwork.

Bruno "Shark" Pereira (vocals): Yeah, JP was the obvious choice. His works are amazing, especially that Immortal cover from "At the Heart of Winter", cold and epic, just what we needed for "A Journey Through Darkness".

What was the process like between the band and artist in conceptualizing it?

E: Well, Shark told me about this concept that he had for the cover of the EP. I instantly started adding details. Once we had decided what we wanted and who would do it (JP Fournier), we just explained in detail to JP Fournier the concept of the cover. We gave him the basic ideas, and he turned our ideas into this great piece of art!

B: I sent an email to JP with the concept and he created the cover. I just had to describe it to him. It was quite easy, and the fact that JP himself like the whole concept helped a lot.

Does 'A Journey Through Darkness' tell a story as most epic metal does?

E: It tells a story or maybe two. But I think that they can be considered as one. I think it's not done in the same way the other epic metal bands do. Those probably tell stories about fantasies and stuff. Our "stories" are more like real things. Things that happens to us as human beings and this is our way to deal with it. In the second part of the EP the stories are based on Finnish mythology, but in a way, I think they are just metaphors to the "real" life.

B: Well, it does tell two stories that can merge into one, as the two of them are based on the same feelings: hatred, rejection, and guilt . . . The second part of the EP, the one based on Finnish mythology, is as Elvio said, about metaphors. For me, the whole story of Ilmarinen is about someone who fails to live up to his own expectations. Of course, there are dozens of ways to interpret it but that's the beauty of it in my opinion.

Aren't there just two people in the band and alot of programming?

E: I'm glad you point that out. Yes, we are just two people in the band and there's some programming involved (wouldn't say "a lot"). I think this is important to understand from where the band comes from. I'm almost sure that a whole bunch of people don't take too seriously bands that have programmed drums. It's not like we love the sound of programmed drums, because we don't, but it has been hard to find the right members to complete the band. Because it's not only the fact that they have to love this kind of music, they have to feel everything that surrounds the band. They have to feel the lyrics, because that's an equally important part of our music. There are bands that have lyrics just because it is supposed to. I don't understand that, I mean, if it doesn't have any meaning then why bother? So programming drums isn't the best thing ever, but that's how things turned out for the EP and if this is the way to keep this band protected against the meaningless songs that are often made out there, then we might keep it this way. Let's see what happens next. Anyway, I think you can get a glimpse of how important this band is for us.

Given your manpower shortage, will the band be using session musicians for any upcoming shows or tour?

E: We would love that, but we haven't found anyone yet.
B: It's hard, as playing live is something that we were looking forward to. But for now, it's not possible.

How long has each of you known each other? Are there other bands you're involved in?

E: I think we have known each other for five and a half years already. I'm in a couple of projects that are not worth talking about yet.

The band uses a different vocal approach, mixing harsh and clean vocals. Why not just settle for the usual gay-fairy opera style so popular in the genre?

E: Well, it looks like your interpretation of our sound is a little bit different from mine. I think from your point of view you see us as a power metal band with harsh vocals and some clean vocals that are not used in the same way bands on that genre use. Anyway, our goal is to create interesting music with meaning. This is our first EP, so this is just the begining. Maybe when a band starts, their influences are more noticeable but what we are aiming for is to create a sound of our own. I think that's what we are going to try to do on our next releases, to continue developing our sound.

This question might seem a bit odd but I'm not very familiar with some of the equipment used for music these days. How do you actually program drums?

E: For the EP, I programmed the drums with a Boss BR-600 digital recorder. People frequently think that what I do is just press some buttons and that's it. But that's not what happens, I actually put a lot of thought into it.

Between the two of you, who handles most of the composing and writing?

E: I'm the one who composes the songs, and Shark is the one who writes the lyrics.

How do the two of you work on a song? Is it like Music and Lyrics (that romantic movie with Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore) where you sit around in a room for days until the song comes together?

E: Hahaha . . .Well, I guess it depends. On this EP it all started with Shark; he wrote four lyrics and then he sent them to me (at the time we weren't living in the same city, I was in Lisbon and he was in Funchal, a city in a little island called Madeira). At that point, inspired by the lyrics, I started composing the first Through Darkness tracks. Then I returned to Madeira and we started recording ideas that later on turned out to being our debut EP "A Journey Through Darkness". Generally it is a slow process, where we make sure we like every little detail. So, we really take our time when we are making music. We try to record songs that are not predictable and that are not based in that kind of verse-chorus-verse-chorus-solo-chorus-end formula. We want our music to be interesting, and maybe more important than that, genuine.

Where does the germ or primary inspiration for a Through Darkness song usually come from?

E: The primary inspiration for a Through Darkness song will come from living. I'm a negative person. I guess I focus too much on the negative things that surround me. This is where I let some of it out.

B: It's all about suffering. That was always my main inspiration. There isn't room in music for happiness. Music is about helping you to cope with your problems. That's why honesty is really important, something that the extreme music scene is lacking nowadays, in my opinion.

How do slow, instrumental sections like 'The Dawn Dark Sun Rising' work? What role do they play in an album?

E: I think this song can be misunderstood, in the sense, that many people will only see it as an intro. Because there are bands that use certain things on intros and stuff that would never be used in a "normal" song. As for me, I see "The Dawn Dark Sun Rising" as an equally important song in the journey that this EP offers. I really think it is a good song that establishes the right mood for the rest of the EP.

B: The EP has four interludes. Their main function is to create the right mood and help in the transition from one part of the EP to the other.

You're from Portugal, which I'm sure is a pleasant country. How's the metal scene in your area?

E: Well, I guess I'm not the right person to talk to about this but and I think we can't talk about a scene here. Madeira is a little island and there are few bands. Shows are rare. It wouldn't even make sense to tour in this island. Here in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, where I'm at now because of my studies, it's completely different. But even so, it isn't that good.

B: I can't be sure, as I don't attend concerts that much. But I think that the punk and hardcore scenes are stronger than the metal scene. It's sad but true. But still, there are some Portuguese bands that, in a different country with the right support, could be "big".

Is it easy to travel to other countries like France, the UK, or Spain to catch a metal show?

E: I've never done it. I don't have the money or the time, but I think it's easier now with low cost flights and stuff.

B: It's a lot easier these days for sure. Maybe in the future people won't need to travel to other countries to catch a metal show as there are some festivals in Portugal that are "growing". For example there's Lagoa Burning this summer that will have Gorgoroth, Opeth, Soilwork, Angra, and Obituary.

Are venues for metal bands hard to find? Here in the Philippines the scene relies on its connections with a few bars who are very charitable to our local productions. Is it the same in Portugal?

E: In Madeira there aren't that many places to play live. In Lisbon it's better, but then again, it still isn't that good.

It's impossible that you aren't big Blind Guardian fans. I didn't like their last album that much. Do you think the band is past their prime?

E: Funny . . . I'm not a big Blind Guardian fan and I don't know their music that well, but the tracks I've heard are actually good. I don't have an idea as to how good their last was, I didn't hear the new album.

B: Yeah, unfortunately. Their last album was ok, it had some decent tracks but it was no "Somewhere Far Beyond" or "Imaginations From the Other Side ". But still, I'm confident that they will resurrect.

If Spain has the running of the bulls, what does Portugal have?

E: Maybe "fado", it is a musical genre that is well known around here and has its origin in Portugal.

B: They have the bulls, we have high taxes, narrow minds, and Cristiano Ronaldo to balance things, so it's not that bad.

Will Portuguese history make excellent material for a metal album?

B: For sure. Our history is full of conflicts. An album based on the Lusíadas (it's Portugal's national epic) would be a pretty good idea, but that atmosphere of triumph wouldn't be possible to recreate as the Lusíadas isn't as vague as other epics like the Kalevala. But still, our history is rich enough to serve as inspiration for an album.

When did each of you start learning to play music and how far do you think have you gone in terms of skill and a music career?

E: I started five years ago. I decided to buy an acoustic guitar and started learning by myself. At this point, I'm happy with my playing, but I still have a long path to walk. I like technical shit and stuff, but I'm more about meaning/feeling above technique. You can actually get the wrong idea listening to the EP, but that's because I also like the challenge of playing something that not everyone plays, but that's it.

B: I started to scream some years ago, I'm not sure when. Now I'm learning to play keyboards to add another element to our music.

I look forward to seeing Through Darkness become a big name, thanks guys. I'm currently broke, but is there a way I can get a copy of your album?

E: Thanks man! We'll see . . . only time will tell! I'm broke, you're broke, we are all broke. At least we all have something in common.

B: Thanks for the interview! We will send you a copy of the EP ASAP.

STAY HEAVY