PreEmptive Strike 0.1

 PreEmptive Strike 0.1 was created in 2002 in Agios Nicolaos on the island of Crete in Greece by Jim 'The Blaster' and Cryon. Having worked together before on electronic projects they decided to form a band making the kind of music they enjoyed, combining the harsh Dark Electro/EBM sound with powerful melodies, eastern elements and sci-fi thematology.

You were formed back in 2002 but your first release was on 2006.Why did you so long?
At the time when we first formed PES 0.1 I was still a student studying abroad in Edinburgh. This meant that we were forced to work on music only when I was back home on Crete during the summer months. So we produced maybe 3 or 4 tracks each summer for the first couple of years mostly as a learning process and later as demos. It was the demo we produced during the summer of 2005, when I had finally finished my studies, that led to our deal with Infacted Recordings after a track of our had appeared on the first Endzeit Bunkertracks compilation. This track was Lethal Defense Systems which later become the title track from our debut album. Because of the attention this track drew we knew we had a good chance with the demo which also included the track Juggernauts Swarm, Error:biomech and Through the Sand (also on our debut). The next few months we really had to push to complete the rest of the album since in January 2006 I was due to go into national service. Lethal Defense Systems actually come out while I was halfway through my service. 
You are now on the top bands in the scene in Greece.Did this stress you somehow?
Our aim when we started we to become an established member of the international scene basically because of the limitations of the domestic scene. Therefore if we succeeded that would automatically make us one of the top Greek bands but this wasn't something we had bearing on our minds, not something that stressed us in any way. Just a reality we had to face. What did and does stress us is producing what we first of all consider good music. We don't want to be a face in the crowd or a clone of some other successful band. Although we wear our influences on our sleeve it was important to us to establish our own sound and voice. We want people to recognize a PES 0.1 track when they hear it, not confuse it with something else or forget it afterwards.
Give me more details about your new cd "The Kosmokrator "
"The Kosmokrator" represents a step forward for us. Just to make sure no-one gets the wrong idea, we aren't about to radically change our sound or anything like that. But we feel its time push boundaries and expectations. We made it our goal to bring as many fresh elements as possible to the established PES 0.1 sound. You will find our influences from outside the industrial scene are much more prevalent this time-from the metal and trance scenes. In addition, we have sought out and achieved a number of collaborations with artists (V:28, ex.es, Lamia, FGFC 820) who have brought in their own unique styles. Finally, the eastern feel use is more prominent and includes the use of eastern chants, samples of traditional instruments and percussion and even a real bouzouki. We were lucky to find a bouzouki player with a background in electronic music so he was perfect. We feel that all this will appeal to fans who are tired of the same old preset sounds and tired cliches.
What was the strongest emotions when you start recording the new cd?
I wouldn't say there are any emotions. We have a very work-like attitude towards writing music. We don't really ever set out to write an album strictly speaking. We set out to write tracks and more specifically just one track at a time. We work very intensely on a track until we are completely satisfied with it before moving on to the next one. Having said that we do have several separate ideas we have in mind for tracks when we begin. This can be something specific like a song-structure, a riff, a sample or melody, or something more general like the feel or theme.
What are you  trying to experience through your music?
Essentially, we started PES 0.1 to make to kind of music we like to listen to. Music is our greatest passion in life. We are huge fans of dark electro, EBM and industrial music so our mission is to create just that - dark, powerful, melodic and innovative music. It was also a unique opportunity to unite our passion for music with our passion for sci-fi cinema and literature and one flag. We are proud to be able to be part of the scene both as fans and as artists.
The local scene is small but there are a few good bands.Are there any bands that you admire?
We believe that for the size and resources the local scene offers the standard of Greek bands is exceptional. If we look at the bands coming out of other countries with much larger scenes we can clearly see this. There are several bands signed to major labels abroad such as Iambia, Cygnosic and Virgins or Pigeons which have established themselves firmly in the international scene. Apart from these there are several highly talented bands currently on the rise like Technolorgy and Hydra Division V to mentioned but a few. It's just a shame that the Greek scene cannot support all this talent as it's impossible for a band or artist to build a strong fan-base at home and get the same opportunities as one from say Belgium. Having said that it's up to the bands to work hard and persevere in order to find the recognition they deserve.
Tell me about your live shows.The feelings on the stage?
Performing on stage is an always exciting prospect. It's amazing to get the opportunity to see how the audience reacts to our music. Unfortunately, since we live on Crete, the possibilities for live shows are very limited on the one hand by the virtual non-existence of a scene on the greater part of the island and on the other hand by the increased travelling costs, concerning both time and money, of getting to shows on mainland Greece or abroad.
Are there any plans for a tour or something ?
Like I mentioned above, given the cost and logistics of a full tour I find it highly unlikely. Besides we can't afford to take as much time as would be needed for a tour away from our jobs. Let's face it, being an artist in an underground scene rarely offers financial independence and it's not why we do it either. We do it because it something we love. I think the prospects for playing a handful of festivals abroad like we have in the past is a more realistic possibility than a full-blown tour.
Are you satisfied with the comments of the fans and the press so far?
Yes, so far the comments have been extremely positive. Naturally, we'll have to wait until after the release in order to hear more comments and reviews and get a fuller picture. The only people who have heard full tracks so far are friends or people at live shows. However, the feedback on the previews is very good and we are confident that this is definitely our strongest work to date.
A message to all the people that support the band all these years?
We will never disappoint you and we will always be harder and more innovative! Forget anything about presets, hellectro cliches and pseudo-fetish sex, porn bullshit!

Kostas Sotiriou