Calliophis

Thomas and Florian from the Germanys doom-death metal band gives an interview to subexistance.

Tell me a few words about CALLIOPHIS history?
CALLIOPHIS was founded in 2007 by three members of a former Death Metal band. It was a hard way to get into the new style, because no one was really into Doom Metal before. After a long time of rehearsals we wrote the first songs and recorded our first album “Doomsday” in spring 2008, which has been released in October 2008. After that we played the first shows and found finally in summer 2009 a bass-guitar player. This year was really amazing for us. We played a lot of gigs in France, Belgium, the Czech Republic and Germany, and we also played the legendary Doom Shall Rise festival. This was awesome.
Which are the current members and how each one of you take part in the music composition?
We are four friends making music together. There is Frank, who plays the guitar and writes the songs. Marc plays the bass-guitar and Florian makes noise behind his drum set. And we have Thomas, who’s responsible for the deep growls. The songs are generally developed during jam sessions in our rehearsal room.
You mix a lot of music elements. Can you describe me your music?
It’s always hard to describe your own music. That’s the job of the authors ;) Obviously we mix Doom Metal and Death Metal. Our music is really heavy and slow, with a dark atmosphere.
Give me some more details about your first release “Doomsday”
“Doomsday” is about two years old now. It was our first album, which we recorded for ourselves in the rehearsal room. It shows the range of music we played at this time. It’s quiet experimental. We have two guest singers on the album, a female one and a male one. Also it has some Rock’n’Roll influences, which you hear on “Balanced on a Knife Edge”. We really like this album, but many things changed since that. The new songs are much heavier and slower. By the way: “Doomsday” has been sold out a few weeks ago.
You have a lot of live experience. Tell me about your feelings when you play your music in front of a crowd?
We love to play live. Each concert is unique. For us it doesn’t matter, if there are three or 300 people in front of the stage. We always try to be as good as possible. When we are on stage we are really into the music. We have fun on stage and it’s always great to see people in the crowd having fun too. Our mission is to entertain the people and I think we do a good job. We received good feedbacks of our performances from all over Europe.
Are there any plans for a new release?
At the moment we are writing new songs for the second album. I hope we will enter the studio in spring or summer next year and release it in the end of next year. There is also a plan to do a split with our French friends of CHILDREN OF DOOM and THE BOTTLE DOOM LAZY BAND, which toured with us this year. We will again enter European stages next year as “Triumvirat of Doom”, so we maybe record a three way split for it.
Are you satisfied with the comments from the press and the fans so far?
Generally we are very happy with the comments in the press and by the fans. Of Course there are some critics that don’t like our music or think we have to change something. But that’s ok. We recognize that and think about it. But altogether there is so much positive feedback, especially at the live shows, that’s amazing.
Are there any new bands that you admire?
Oh yeah, there are some bands which we want to mention in this context.  Through our work on the Doom Metal Front webzine and via myspace we get to know new bands from all over the world almost daily. The most salient band for example in the last months was THE 11th HOUR around mastermind Ed Warby, and with a perfect mix of Death and Epic Doom. The first releases of FATUM ELISUM from France, AEON APHELION from Greece and ET MORIEMUR from Czech Republic as well as the current outputs of the Germans OPHIS and BLACK SHAPE OF NEXUS/KODIAK have been impressed us.
Tell me more about your lyrics? Who writes them and what things inspire you?
The main inspirations for me (Thomas) are actualities and pictures of everyday life with all this human tragedies plus old fairy tales and scattered movies. The case is to contain the absurdities, cruelties and insanities which uprise from human brains into words and music. Basically you have to look behind the facade of this mendacious, sick world.
A message to all the people that support the band?
Thanks a lot for the interview and best regards to the people who like our music. We are always interested in a feedback and hope to meet some of you at a gig in the future. With this in mind DOOM OVER THE WORLD...
Kostas Sotiriou