Interview with Eternal Elysium 

First of all a huge welcome back with your new brilliant album Share, how has the reception been so far from those who have heard it and the press coverage ?

I've received almost good reactions that bigger than "Spiritualized D" album, and it's going on now. So, many radio stations, magazines, webmagazines have good impressions for "Share" album.

Your last smashing album Spiritualized D came out I think 2 years ago right, what have you been up to between the albums?

After the release of "Spiritualized D", we've done some gigs in Japan. Soon, last bassist Eiichi has left the band, however Toshiaki has joined the band. We've got to the studio for the recording of the Saint Vitus tribute album. And, we've started to write new songs for next album. But, drummer Takashi left the band by his reason of his waist. New drummer Rio joined in April 2001, soon we're returned to the studio for the recording session of "Share".

Before we go inside the new album Share lets turn the clock back to the very beginning of Eternal Elysium I first heard the band in the fall of 1993 when I got a copy of a tape, it was some tunes of a unreleased album. I guess that tape was quite in circulation before that and the time when you made that tape fill us in on the background on the band and looking back at the support in the early days from the underground doomscene how pleased were you with the support ?

About 10 years ago, nobody knows the domestic doomscene in Japan, so I've got in touch with some doom bands and labels without my country. Some labels were interested in my band and the sound, I've received many good replies from them. Anyway, there was no method except sending the promotional tape to labels, zines... and playing. I can't see the Japanese doomscene now, so everybody can count the numbers of domestic doom/stoner bands (Church of Misery, Boris, Eternal Elysium...).

More on the background on the band, before you hooked up with Meteor City, you have quite a few releases upon your sleeve fill us in on your backcatalogue and how has the response been to them and have they been a great springboard for the band when Spiritualized D came out ?

I want to say lucky that MeteorCity knew Eternal Elysium. When I decided to join the soundtrack album "I AM VENGEANCE", the label didn't decided to put out this album. I think maybe MeteorCity has listened to many sounds of bands who joined the soundtrack album. Soon, cool man Jadd from MeteorCity contacted with me.

Your very first album Faithful came out in 1996, a remarkeable album for the time being and still is. Epic doom added with classic vintage NWOBHM in the vein of early Angelwitch and Witchfinder..,to me a atmospheric melancholic and mournful album with wonderful arrangements, the material dates back to 1993, looking back at the recording fill us in on the studiotime you had and how has the response been so far on that particular album and how pleased are you with the outcome of it ?

Actually, "Faithful" was put out from Black Mark Production in 1994. I've received the contract papers in the end of 1993, and I thought the company likes our sound very much. But, negotiations came to a rupture by the agent's mistake. Soon, I fired the negotiator. Unfortunately, I think that's good experience for me. I have never bad feelings about Black Mark, they're one of great metal label.

The lineup was different on Faithful a different bassplayer and drummer. For the hardcore fans of Eternal Elysium what is Atsutoshi Tachimoto and Jiro Murakami doing at the moment and for the lineup of today with drummer Takashi Kuroda and bassist Ellichi Okuyama feels solid as a rock,how pleased are you with the lineup and their input in the progression of the band ?

I have to say about line up...Recording of "Share" line up is; Yukito Okazaki (Vo. & Gt.), Toshiaki Umemura (Bass), Rio Okuya (Drums). Current line up is; Yukito, Toshiaki, Tom Huskinson (drums). Before the works of "Share" are almost made from my ideas and creativity. They were good players, but not enough for me, because I needed the creator. But now, Toshiaki is contributing for the band. All songs of "Share" are written by me and him, he took many ideas to me and the band.

Faithful came first in Japan that is the only pressing I have, are you planning a re-issue of that album or have you already done that ?

No, I haven't. I'm so glad you like also "Faithful" album, however I have no plan about it now.

From Faithful you finally signed a deal with Meteor City and your first release was the now I would stick my nose out and call it a classic Spiritualized D, a even heavier and more hypnotic release compare to Faithful. Listening to it I find more psychedelic overtones, it is outrageously heavy and more devestating and tripping. I also find the album to be a charming experimental album to listen to, it's a excellent mix running through the record with amazing twists and turns When you made Spiritualized D what was the main difference in the studioprocess compare to Faithful and how pleased are you with the outcome of that album?

Yeah, I was experienced about so many things - music, thinking, trips, more and more - between "Faithful" and "Spiritualized D". That things got creative me. When I made "Faithful", we were like a baby about studio works. While many years, I grew up by good experiences and the times.

More on Meteor City, how pleased are you with their support and promotion so far since the release of Spiritualized D ?

Many media began to mind Eternal Elysium, I'm very glad about it. That's their achievement.

It leads us to the new smoking album Share, a fantastic album. Compare to your previous efforts what was the main difference in the studioprocess this time and how pleased are you with the outcome of the album ?

I always think only want to make a good album for fans and us. That's same as my thinking and fan's it. I think that fans make happy if I'm stoned by my album....do you understand ?

It is obvious on Share that you have made a more experimental disc compare to your previous albums, the album is packed with progressive attitude and visual effects, uptempo riffing,atmospheric,catchy straightforward material and devestating dark heavydoom. How pleased are you with the mix of the album ?

This time, I wanted to add the Jamming feeling. Usually, My tunes are written by myself and my ideas. So, some tunes made from Jam sessions, I hoped so. Well, we've got the good result.

More on the musical direction, I feel after listening to Share that the tracklist are stunning it's a great package, going in on the pre-production when you wrote the material to Share, how pleased are you with the musical direction and the arrangements on Share ?

Actually, I don't like pre-production, because I think the most important thing is the feeling. Sometime, too much pre-production bring the tired and the tedium. I thought that, the point is keeping the balance about buildingand adlib. Anyway, I needed so much time for creative works on this time. It was so hard to keep the concentration.

Talking about your excellent vocalperformance on Share, ever since day one I have admired your sound. There are new ways covered here on Share stuff I havent you heard you done before, do you feel more established now in your vocal performance after the studio process on Share ?

That's feelings that changed largest.

Looking at the wonderful cover artwork of Share, it's a bit similar to Spiritualized D. Where did you find the cover and do you feel the cover match the title Share ?

All is my imaginations and hallucinations, ha ha.

Looking at the lyrical standpoint on Share, what are the main subjects in the lyrical direction ?

All is my imaginations and delusions....

For those who still havent heard Share, would you like to make a review of the album for all the doomsters and those who are looking for a alternative, what can they expect on Share ?

Anyway, what I can say now.... "Share" is one of good doom/stoner album. But, it's never ordinary, and not typical doom rock sound.

Looking at the strength of Eternal Elysium, what do you feel are the bands major strength ?

I don't know what's the strength...Only I can say that I hope Eternal Elysium is always revolutionary in doomrock scene.

Eternal Elysium is a great name,where did you find the name and do you feel the name match the concept that you have ?

My original idea from one of Japanese great buddhist word "Go-Ku-Ra-Ku-Jo-Do" that means "Paradise".

You also contributed to SceneKiller another Meteor City release how pleased are you with the outcome of that project album ?

That was a good experience. The unit and the harmony with my ideas and other artist's ideas make music organic.

Looking at the Japanese Doom/Heavyrock scene compare with the 70s period when Japan had a tremendous scene, it is you and Church Of Misery that are the frontfigures today how is the scene for heavy/doom in Japan considering bands and live support ?

We're always playing with other musicscene's bands, and many Japanese bands are followers to ass of trend bands. Doom/stoner is minority. No musicians want doom rock feeling. 10 years ago, nobody likes Black Sabbath around me. There is no scene of doom/stoner in Japan.

Talking about the liveperformance that you have, for obvious reasons I havent seen a liveshow or something on video either what is the difference between Eternal Elysium live and Eternal Elysium practise/studio ?

I think that the feeling is the most important on the stage, so we always never forget to add some adlib. We think that want to enjoy on the stage. Also in studio, we're doing the jamming everytime, but there is much standard practice more than it.

Finally after the release of Share what is happening in the Eternal Elysium camp at the moment, what is the next plans a Ep, the next album livedates etc. Fill us in ?

Well, I'll join the Beard of Stars Record's 7inch EP box project. And, I want to start the writing new songs for next album in the end of this year. And, I have a plan about US tour in October and November this year.

Any last words ?

Buy my CD, and enjoy it. I promise you'll trip to the sky if you can do it.

Thank you very much for the interview, all the best wishes with Share, an album that is in my mind one of the best albums so far this year. Hope you are finally coming over to Europe for some dates.

Thank you Gabriel. Stay heavy.

By Gabriel Lilliehook

Eternal Elysium info webwww.soybean.co.jp/ee email weed@soybean.co.jp

Adress: Yukito Okazaki 1201-8-203 Fujisato-cho,Meitoh-ku Nagoya 465-0036 Japan

Order Share at www.peoplelikeyou.de or www.meteorcity.com