Distorted Force prepares us for progressive Angelic Bloodshed
“Angelic Bloodshed” is the latest album of the Greek band Distorted Force. A progressive metal album in which the band has opted for a tighter and toned down sound as a whole
Hello Distorted Force! How are you? It’s a pleasure to interview you.
Hello and thank you for having us. The pleasure is ours.
I understand that the band was founded about 15 years ago. How do you feel about it so far?
Yes, 15 years ago, in 2008. It’s an amazing journey including pretty much everything. Fun, excitement, fights, drama, companionship, and some very, very strong bonds that last till today.
How much has the band and its members grown in all these years?
As members of the band, we changed and are still changing. We don’t think the same way as we used to 15 years ago. This is natural, and in my opinion, it’s healthy.
We used to be more like angry youth who were trying to play fast and technically, but now I think we are more chill. We know what we can do, we take our time, we reduced our bpms and we all have in mind how to serve the song better.
Our way of thinking has changed dramatically over the years. Both in performing and composing.
Let’s go into more detail. How did the idea of creating the band come about?
Well, I was in high school, and I was seeing all these teen bands playing and I was feeling that I wanted to be part of it. I was feeling jealous. So, I tried to form my own band. I came up with a very cool name that no one else liked: “The Water Boiled Lemons”. Unfortunately, I couldn’t convince anyone to agree with that name, so we changed it to “Black Flame”. But that also didn’t last because there were like 5 or 6 other “Black Flames” out there. So, after one rehearsal we were chilling’ drinking wine, trying to think of a cool name, and this is how “Distorted Force” came to be.
Who are the current members of the band?
The current lineup is me (Nikos Felekis) on the guitar, Spiros Emmanouilidis on vocals, Markos Diamantopoulos on drums, John Thanopoulos on bass, and Marios Ioannidis on keyboard.
How would you define your musical style and what would you mention as your main influences?
As for our musical style, if you want to put a label on it, let’s say Progressive Death Metal. Like Opeth meets Fates Warning or something. But if you ask about the bands and artists that influenced us the most, I have to say Anathema, Death, and Bach.
At the end of last May, you released “Angelic Bloodshed”, the band’s seventh album. How was the editing and recording process?
Yes, “Angelic Bloodshed” is out since May 22nd. The recording process was very challenging but after almost 2 years of recording, it got to a level we are satisfied with. Editing was done in extreme detail. We wanted our sound to be crystal clear and I think the result lives up to that.
How many songs does it include and what are the songs about?
Okay, let’s delve inside the album.
8 tracks. All different moods and different subjects.
The album starts with “Desert”, written in D harmonic minor, and the lyrics talk about a man who finds himself in the middle of an endless desert and the desert actually speaks to him. Heavily influenced by Donald Tyson’s “Necronomicon”.
Then we have “Charge & Slay” which is a story about a wanderer who finds shelter in a cave in which he meets a demon. So, this song is about their encounter.
“Light & Stone” is next. Describing an ancient Viking battle. And then we have “Achérondas”, which as you may know is this river in Greek mythology that the souls of the dead travel to the underworld. The lyrics describe a post-apocalyptic world in which even the air you breathe is poison. So that is that. Then we have “Machine”, which I think carries the best lyrics this band ever put out. It’s a story about a man who
finds an underground civilization, which is constantly working on a huge machine. Day and night.
And this machine actually eats its workers. Now the symbolism of that is referring to our lives as employees of big enterprises. We give our time in exchange for money. So, in a way we provide to the “machine” part of our lives, in order for it to keep living. And then it’s “Hellbroth”. This is a word I invented, it’s a combination of hell and breed. It means “the one who was bred in hell”, and it talks about childhood abuse and trauma.
Then we have clouds which is just a piano and some dialogues from movies and series. More like a transition track, and finally “Approaching Event Horizon”. This is a ci-fi song that takes place in a spaceship which is moving towards a black hole. So, you get the idea. We are trapped inside these walls, there is no way out, and the black hole’s vacuum is pulling us in to be crushed by gravity. Just another reminder of the fragileness of mortality.
And this is all. That is the album.
Any audiovisual material?
We have prepared lyric videos for all tracks and will be released from our YouTube channel (and other platforms of course, like Instagram and TikTok), one every two months.
Where is it possible to get a copy of it?
You can find a physical copy of the album by either contacting the band directly or our label, Soman Records. If you want to buy the album through our label, I think it’s better to do it via Bandcamp.
Regarding the promotion and diffusion. How did you do to make it known and promote it?
Regarding promotion, we collaborate with K.S. Artist Promotion, and they take care of that part. They spread the word through the public, they contact magazines and webzines, so the album keeps going strong.
How has it been received, in general, both by the public and by the specialized press?
So far, we have received very flattering reviews. You know, playing non-commercial music may not have success with the vast audience but at least the critics know to recognize it. Our music is more like a … “music for musicians” kind of thing.
I had the opportunity to listen to this album and without a doubt you can perceive that it is quite strong, something that the fans have undoubtedly enjoyed a lot. How have you felt about this new album?
I felt satisfied with the result. I think it’s the best version of itself that it could be. Since the album was released, I am not listening to it, because I ‘ve listened to each song like a thousand times during production and I had enough. Now it’s for everyone else to enjoy.
Could it be said that it shows the musical maturity of the band?
I don’t know about musical maturity. I mean… when we were recording our first albums, we thought that this was like the apex of our composition abilities. Now we think the same way about the current album. Maybe in the next we will again feel that this is the best so far. So, as I understand, maturity is not like a static level that you can reach, but an ongoing chase for perfection. Or at least, of what you perceive as perfect in each phase of your musical journey.
Regarding the band. What are the most immediate plans?
We don’t have any immediate plans. We would like to take a rest now and enjoy the release of the album.
After that, we are planning to go back to the studio for our next one.
Well Distorted Force, that’s all. Thank you for your time and wish you the best of luck in your career. Before we finish, anything you want to say.
We would like to thank you again for having us. If there is something I want to conclude with, is a message to anyone who may come across this interview.
I think I speak for everyone in the band when I say that music is what keeps us going through all these years. So here is my advice: put more music in your life. Sing along in the car as much as you can, sing in the shower, it’s good for you. Listen to music while you work if able.
It’s like a bridge connecting you with your feelings, and as we found out, getting to know yourself better like that, can actually make you understand your own psychology better in a time of need.
Take care of yourselves, take care of each other.
Don’t do drugs. Read H.P. Lovecraft instead. I warranty the same effects.
My best regards to our friends Cuban metalheads.
¡Hasta la victoria siempre! Cheers!
Follow the band at:
https://www.instagram.com/distortedforce/
