> We actually had more time to record this album than we did on Darkest Hour, > although this was not necessarily a benefit. On Darkest Hour we had three > weeks to ourselves in the studio, on a farm in England, so we could really > concentrate on what we were doing. On Downfall we had about four weeks, but > it was more of an eradic schedule. We were also working at our full-time jobs > while recording Downfall and recording around that. So all of us were not > necessarily in the studio at any one time. I didn't hear some of the stuff > they laid down until I heard the CD, even on the songs that I wrote. We had > never done it this way before, but I think it didn't really make too much of a > difference. We are very happy with the way it turned out considering we > produced it ourselves on a budget that would make most professional bands puke. > 

> The production on Downfall compared to the earlier albums sounds a bit > more smooth in my opinion compared to your previous more harder records. > Was it planned or did it turned out that way in the studio?  

> As I said before, we only have a limited control over what comes out in the > end. With our budget, we either get it right the first time or suffer. We > didn't plan on anything being more or less "smoother or harder," the songs > just come out in their own way. I believe that the songs take on a certain > life of their own and we don't like to suppress anything that may come out > during their recording by trying to force the song into some kind of "smooth" > or "hard" mold. >  

> Talking about the past of Solitude Aeturnus, this year 1997 you have > been going for 10 years. What has been the driving force in the band in > all those years? What have been the motivation?  

> That's a hard one to answer because I'm not really sure I could pinpoint one > thing that could sum up why five guys would dedicate a decade of their life to > something that has been a battle the entire time. Fortunately, we managed to > find five members who have very similar goals, personalities, and drives and > that has been the main reason for longevity in this band. Our main motivation > I suppose is to put out quality music. We don't care about marketablity, > singles, or anything else. We never set out to make money in this band so > that has certainly never been a motivating factor. We simply wanted to put out > some quality music and meet fans who could really appreciate it (like > yourself). We have, in my opinion, done just that. The money thing has > stayed just as it was in the beginning of the band...we're still broke and > have to work day jobs to make ends meet. It's really amazing how a band could > have stayed together for all these years under the circumstances of labels > ripping us off, no tour support, and a being involved in a music scene that > doesn't give a fuck about the music itself. >  

> Looking back on all the 4 albums you have done so far, what is your > personal opinions about them?  

> At the time you record an album, I think you must believe that the music you > are recording at that moment is the best that you've done so far. If you > don't believe this, then the songs will never be able to achieve their full > potential. Each album we've done is a little different because they were > recorded at different times. Not only different times for the albums > themselves, but different times in the lives of everyone involved in the > project. This makes it a very complicated thing and makes it hard to compare > them. I love the songs on the first album, but wish the production could have > been better. I love the second album, but I think we got too carried away > with complexity. But I really do love that album. Darkest Hour is depressing > to me and that is what we were going for. I have to be in the right mood for > that one. I think that one contains my best lyric work. Downfall to me has > the best tunes because we sort of let the songs write themselves instead of > forcing them like we had done sometimes in the past. But like I've said, I > really love them all and feel that each one is a deep artistic work that we're > all proud of. >  

> One thing that I consider to be a strong thing in Solitude Aeturnus is > that its been the same lineup now year after year since the departure of > your old singer way back, is that one of the biggest strengths in the > band?  

> It's definitely a big strength. I think if we were always getting some new > guy in the band, having to teach him the songs, wonder if he's gonna whip out > some needles or coke, or be a pussy on the road, we'd just give it up. It > would really get old you know. The members we have now don't do drugs or have > any problems like that, so that helps alot. But the most important thing > about the members of SA is that we all have a great sense of humor. That has > really made some really bad times fun instead of depressing. > 

> You were included on the first Dark passages compilation(legendary > comp.), now there is a second one out, what's your opinions about the > second one?  

> I've never heard it. How's that for a simple answer?  

> > You followed the footsteps of Candlemass way back in the late > eightees, is Candlemass the most important influence in Solitude Aeturnus music?  

> They were an influence on us in the beginning because when you first form a > band you need some kind of starting point. Later on as you progress in your > songwriting, it's easier to be yourself. This is true with most bands. The > band finds their own "voice" as they mature and depend less on the influence > of other musicians. For us, Candlemass hasn't really been an influence, so to > speak, since the writing of the first album. They were a great band, but we > don't really try to do anything like them, it's just that when you play music > people call "doom" and your singer actually sings, you get compared to > Candlemass. I write alot of music for SA and I don't even listen to them, so > I would say that they are not an influence at all. >  

> With the album Through the darkest hour you finally made it over to > Europe, what was the reason the european fans had to wait so long to see > the band live?  

> Because we could not afford to pay for our own tour over there and our labels > would not put up the money for it. It's really expensive to tour nowadays and > it wasn't until a German promotion company called Getto set up and paid for > the tour, did we get to come over to Europe. >  

> You did 2 albums with Roadrunner now you have done 2 albums with > Pavement is the Pavement deal better than Roadrunner?  

> Well, at the risk of sounding like some old bitter musician, I will have to > say that Pavement really sucks fucking rotted marmoset skulls! For all the > albums we've sold, we've never seen a fucking dime from their company. They > don't even give us enough respect to even send us a statement like the > contract says they are supposed to. They ignore the contract and basically > make money off of our product. Everyone a Pavement has a job in the music > industry because of Crowbar and Solitude Aeturnus and the other bands getting > fucked up the ass by this label. Meanwhile, we cannot make a living in the > music industry and have to work at minimum wage jobs so that we can keep the > band going. Does this sound fair? Hell no! The band could really be great > if all I had to do was concentrate on it. But I know there's tons of other > bands getting the same fuck as us. If you have a band don't even think about > signing to Pavement. Roadrunner, on the other hand, was pretty cool to us > despite the fact that our kind of music isn't really what they're into. > 

> Now you have some touring in the US. and one tour in europe what has > been the best and worst moment so far on stage, any great memories?  

> Worst stage moment was Salt Lake City Utah. Our only fan in the whole town > got kicked out for being too drunk. Best stage moment was the Wacken festival > in Germany. It was just cool to be playing at a festival in Europe. >  

> What is the difference between the Solitude Aeturnus fans in the US > compared to Europe in your opinion?  

> Not a damn thing. They all rule! We are color, country, and continent blind. >  

> Talking about the hardcore fans of Solitude Aeturnus, it seems like > the appeal is really well spread to different genres of music fans. Where > lies the magic in the bands music?  

> I think SA doesn't just write "heavy doom metal" songs. Our songs are heavy, > and can be classified as doom metal, but the songs are of themselves. I mean > to say that we play from the heart and that can appeal to anyone who has the > potential to like it. Plus we have those sad ballad pieces that anyone can > identify with. I just wish more slutty chicks were into the band. Edgar says > he really needs to get laid! >  

> What is the plans for 1997?  

> Play music. Get ripped-off by Pavement. The usual things. I have been > working on a second band with Wolf called Vampire Circus and that seems to be > going well for the moment. It's alot different than SA, but there's more to > my persona than "doom metal". A CD should be surfacing this summer. For > those with internet access, check out the Vampire Circus site at >  

http://web2.airmail.net/vcircus1 

for news. As for SA, we have a German tour > starting March 3, which will cover all of Germany and maybe one date in > Switzerland. Be there or be doomed! >  

> Thanks Gabriel!!! Check out more Solitude Aeturnus on  

http:\\www.uni.edu\~turner\solitude.html