Hanna Tsepesh: Thanks for the interest in this interview and welcome to THE GATES OF METAL! How it all started with ANOMALLY and tell to us the lineup.Miguel: Anomally began in 2005, over nine months the band was almost set, except the bass which came only in 2007. I am Miguel and I play keyboards, Nelson is the vocalist, Tiago is the guitar player, Lote is in guitar and vocals, Luis is the bass player and Zé on the drums.
Hanna Tsepesh: what are your favorite bands?
Miguel: Dimmu Borgir, Cradle Of Filth, Opeth, Moonspell, Carcass among others, but these are basically my favorite.
Hanna Tsepesh: What is the inspiration to create the lyrics for ANOMALLY? There is something mystical in them, right? From what I’ve heard some songs have sinister melodies ...
Miguel: The lyrics are based largely on fantasy stories, issues such as vampirism, spiritualism and lycanthropy are strongly present in our lyrics. It is something that fascinates us, all these mysteries that will eventually be reflected in how you say, mystical and sinist
er melodies.Hanna Tsepesh: When did you start playing keyboard? There is some reason for your choice? Any musician inspired you to start? Now in terms of musicians who play the same instrument, is there any in particular that you admire for his work? If yes why?
Miguel: If my memory doesn’t fail me I started playing keyboard perhaps 13 years ago. Reason I think there was no reason at all, it was an instrument which by chance was at home, maybe if I got a guitar for Christmas that year I was playing guitar today [laughs]. I undoubtedly admire the work done by Mustis, he is an excellent musician who can create an environment almost alike a horror movie, I can also mention Benjamin Ryan and Les Smith (two original Cradle Of Filth keyboard players), which were amongst my first major influences.
Hanna Tsepesh: I assume that when the band started to write the first album "Once In Hell”, you've inspired by the lyrics to compose your part, right? Can you tell us a little about your creative process? I take the opportunity to give you my sincere congratulations on your work in terms of melody, I liked it very much!
Miguel: Thanks for the compliment. My creative process depends on my mood, I try to always create an environment that is capable of leading the listener to imagine our songs like in a terror movie. About the lyrics, they only inspire me on some arrangements that I do in certain musics like “Legacy of Blood” or “Apocalyptic Signs”.
Hanna Tsepesh: Very cool! Speaking on your first album "Once In Hell", I give my congratulations to the entire band for your great work on both level melodic, riffs and voices as well the lyrics are fantastic! The songs transmit me something mystical like I was transported to a completely different world with lost souls in their sadness, despair and pain! I liked a lot the music called: "The Words from the Death", it has a beautiful melody when it comes back to "Like a summer breeze, a distant dream in an image of the death”! You knew very well how to use the melody in your music and do not transform them into a boring album for the listeners! You were a pleasant surprise for me! For our national and international readers can you tell to us about the album?
Miguel: You told almost everything [laughs], but I can say that those who hear this album will make a journey to the past, what was good was done in the 90's. We tried to mix the aggression and melody characteristic of melodic Death Metal with the Gothic mysticism, for now everything went good and it has given good reviews so far.
Hanna Tsepesh: When you came into the studio you had any pre-thoughts about this album? You guys had some problems at the recording studio or something?
Miguel: When we go at the studio all the issues had already been worked, we only were there to record. There were only some small-level arrangements of guitars and keyboards in the studio but nothing that had changed the original idea of each theme. Problems during the recording process always happen, unfortunately our case was no exception, we had to stop for almost a month and a half due to health problems by the producer who had to leave for Lisbon, suffering from a cold during recording and when is the singer is serious [laughs], another small "problem" was with the song "In the Words from the Dead" which seemed to be haunted [laughs] when we started to listen to the recording quite simply we only heard sounds that nobody could figure out where they came from, it was the only title that was always a problem when trying to open it, while we listen to it, sometimes it was in the middle and more or less at the end, honestly we started to think there was something weird going on [laughs].
Hanna Tsepesh: That is a really strange and curious thing! Besides the songs I liked the graphic and artistic level of the band too, the album cover reflects your style and what “Once In Hell" is! Can you tell us the idea of who was and who did all the work for you?
Miguel: All of the artwork of our CD and the graphical design of our websites were in charge of our guitarist Tiago; the idea was presented by him and as you say, was well connected with the main subject of this album. We wanted that the listeners look at the cover and imagine what they will be listening to and I think that came out good.
Hanna Tsepesh: A personal curiosity: the representation of a woman with wings of an angel (in the cover album) with blood what represents? The band wanted to say something with the cover?
Miguel: This was one of our concerns, trying to send a message through the cover of our album. The representation of an angel with one of the wings ripped apart ends up having at least two possible meanings. Both can be imagined that the wing was tore apart by someone against the will of the angel, or even if it means a revolt, a rebellion against something that could be eventually the church represented in the form of an angel. I personally prefer the second message [laught].
Hanna Tsepesh: You also have available a video of the song "In the Words From The Dead." It is also a video available on your MYSPACE and the respective MAKING OFF! How came the opportunity to film? How was the filming?
Miguel: The video was one of our bets since we started the process of recording this album. It would be another way of projecting the band, one advantage for us. The opportunity finally came when Débora Castro in conversation with us created the whole idea for this video. The recording went well, the making of our video is available on YouTube at www.youtube.com/anomallytube you may have an idea of the environment that resulted from all the work that has now get this to be the first of many I hope.
Hanna Tsepesh: Let's talk a little about concerts, you have played with bands such as: MNEMIC (Hiper Tensão festival), DAGOBA and FEAR MY THOUGHTS. How was that experience for ANOMALLY?
Miguel: I think that three years ago when this band started someone said to me that we will be playing with bands like Mnemic, Fear My Thoughts and Dagoba, I would laugh a little and say for sure: “are you crazy?” [laughs]. Fortunately, things here in the Azores had a few improvements and were some of the few happy covered with the opportunity to share the same stage with these bands. It was without doubt three of the best moments in our very short musical career at the concerts. The reaction of the public was very positive because they never had seen Anomally in live act and is always a desire to return there.
Hanna Tsepesh: The band has been distinguished as the best rock / metal band act in the “Azores music awards”. How was your reaction?
Miguel: It was a pleasant surprise particularly because we are a young band.
Hanna Tsepesh: The band have some dates/places scheduled that you can tell to us?
Miguel: For now we have nothing scheduled. In the Azores is quite complicated to have a very full agenda, or the lack of space to play or the fact that the public get a little tired of seeing the same bands playing which ultimately influence who they would like to spend more time on stage.
Hanna Tsepesh: What is the next step for ANOMALLY in the future?
Miguel: We are currently spreading our work, trying to capture the attention of anyone that not yet know us. For the future I think the next step will be getting a label; to give concerts and continue to work on what will be the next album.
Hanna Tsepesh: Being a band of Azores, has been difficult this journey? The band can get some supports?
Miguel: Speaking of the eternal wails of the Azores bands is already a cliché. The truth is that it remains complicated to get support, places to play as I mentioned earlier and publishers here (they don’t exist in here). Living in an island has damaged a little our path. For example, we didn’t record at Ultrasound Studio due to the fact that each crossing cost almost 300€ for each of us, we are six that would make a total of €1,800 only in tickets. It is very complicated and when I talk about it I remember that I read the editorial in the Loud! magazine on the scene report of Azores where the editor was not aware of the bands going through hell for not playing, and after preparing the report Azores we find an unfair scene because there are bands with great value but they are located in an island having to spend years and years to battle without achieving their objectives and he didn’t understand why the continent bands are always complaining about they don’t have places to play. Our "weapon" for this was very simple; we don’t want to have the Azores thinking that you can’t do anything because you live in an island! I think this is quite indicative of the situation that we live here, however we have tried doing it all to break this barrier and we hope that this album is the starting point.
Hanna Tsepesh: Last question, do you want to send a message for people that will read this interview but also the fans that have supported you?
Miguel: I would like to thank those who have supported us and for anyone that will read this interview and want to hear a little of what is in "Once in Hell ..." just visit our official website at www.anomally.com and www.myspace.com/theanomally
Hanna Tsepesh: Thank you Miguel for your answers! THE GATES OF METAL wish you and the entire band a big success with your first album "Once In Hell…" as well as for future concerts! See you guys very soon somewhere...
Miguel: I hope to see you in our concert in mainland...
Hanna Tsepesh: For sure you will see me! All the best…
By: Hanna Tsepesh
To listen to some ANOMALLY song’s please go at:
www.myspace.com/theanomally
www.anomally.com/
