Hell Spawn

Well for starters Stu, can you introduce yourselves to our readers? (when you started playing guitar, your previous and current band(s)...)
Sure, my metal interest began way back when I was about fours years old ( in the mid 70's) with Kiss and receiving a 'kiss guitar' for Xmas. It was a little plastic toy but to me it was the world. Really it was Maiden and Priest that brought be further into metal. I started playing guitar at about the age of nine and from about fourteen i got really serious with long practice sessions. The early influences were guys like Malmsteen, GeorgeLynch and Vinnie moore created a massive impression on my playing and later on I have been discovering guys like Steve Lukather.  Through my teens I played in tonnes of cover or copy bands as they are really popular out here in Australia, and, it's a great way to get experience for live work. I joined Dungeon in 2001 and that band had some moderate success here in Australia and overseas. Dungeon was touring quite a bit through Australia and completing supports for all the major acts coming through the country, I think to name a few we had Nightwish, Mayhem, Edguy, Destruction and heaps of others. The break for Dungeon happened when we supported Megadeth here and were invited to tour with them through Europe on the "Blackmail the universe tour". Dave was just amazing with us and really took care of the band on that tour. But sadly, there was no money from the label and while we had the chance to do Gigantour, there was just no cash and we were broke. After that tour we headed to finish our tour in Japan and after almost zero support from our record company  and various pressures from the road, I made my decision to leave the band. From there I formed Paindivision which is a hybrid of Motorhead meets WASP, quite a different direction musically. PD has been a very successful band for me and we have toured Japan on a headlining tour in late 2007. We have two album releases so far.   Currently I am the ESP clinician here in Australia and also write regular columns for Guitarist Australia Magazine.

Empires Of Eden is your own project, when and why did you feel the need to start this up and why did you choose it to be a project?
The idea came to me last December in 2008. Paindivision had some downtime between touring and recording and over the years since leaving Dungeon I had a huge collection of riffs that I felt were strong. To add to that I had some songs that never made the Dungeon sessions that I felt needed to be recorded. I have a commercial recording studio in Sydney and it was an idea to call up some good friends and have some fun. A lot of the time, artists are pushing themselves to make the huge album, to make a commercial success and when that environment is there, it makes it hard to listen back to the album and really enjoy it. So, this was designed to get some of the most talented guys I know, and simply make the recording process alot of fun. The end result really shocked us all in a good way. As far as the 'project' it's allowed me to express my total musical vision outside of a band context, but, having said that, all singers have complete control over what they do. It can be scary in letting go, but so far it's blown me out of my seat with the final product.

Any special reason you chose the name EMPIRES OF EDEN?
I guess I find the idea of ignorance in the mind very interesting. The name is to represent that most people dream of some utopian world, a world that truthfully doesn't exist. It's a confronting idea but there are places someone will come into your home and kill you. People turn a blind eye to it. But the name isn't created to show a grand concept per album or a theme as such. There has been some suggestion that there might be some religious message in there, but I can tell you there is definitely not.

There are 3 different singers on the cd, was this an intentional choice? I think it's good and it makes the album more divers! Was it easy finding 3 interested singers?

Well, the number of singers wasn't much by design but that they are great friends and available. I approached a few other singers out here and they were recording or touring. These guys I have known through various projects and tours over the years so that's how they got involved. All three of the guys are just incredible talents and underrated on the international scene. They each offer very different musical textures but Louie was really featured on the album. As well I am really influenced by the spirit of the "Avantasia" albums and found them really enjoyable.

Some cool I noticed in the booklet is that all singers could write their own lyrics and vocal lines, any special reason for this?
Yes, again, it's freedom for the artist. I have always believed the singer should write the lyrics as he is telling the story. I know many singers don't, but when you listen to someone who has composed the lyrics and has a direct feel for it, you notice it. Again, if this cd sold 1 copy we would be happy as there is zero compromise factor in anything on it. After recording about 15 different albums in the past, this is by far the most enjoyable. Infact, there was the consideration to not release it and have it as something that didn't need to be measured by  commercial standard but the overwhelming feel was that it should be out there.

Is there going to be a follow up? Any plans on that? Same or different singers and also more than one singer?
I can guarantee there is a second cd coming. I am in the middle of working and writing it now and have taken the concept one step further with approaching a few big singers to appear on the next cd. Each of the celebrities have had the compositions written for them and as a fan of each of them, I wanted to hear some of these guys perform in an aggressive melodic metal context. So far I have four guys involved that have been in some big bands and as well, Louie - Mike and Chris will be on the cd too so it's very exciting but more details as they come.

There are off course other guest on the cd, are that friend that happily came in to lend a helping hand or...?
The other guests are all friends that I have worked with in the past and they were happy to lend their abilities. The guys from Japan I met when doing the Dungeon and Paindivision tours in Japan and if anyone has toured Japan, they'll know the level of playing is much higher per muso over there. Just jaw dropping and depressing at the same time.

Great artwork on the cd, does it have any special meaning?
Well, it really hit me at first and I knew I had to have it. Oliver is an incredible artist and was great to work with through the design process. I liked the idea of the world coming apart at the seems and the chaos unfolding. The original work is Grey in colour but I wanted it blue and really am happy with the final result.  The artwork that is on an album should be taken very carefully. I think presenting a product that shows respect to the care taken on the cd is very important.

Can you tell us anything more about the cd title "Songs of war and vengeance"?
 The title came to me before the cd was finished or the lyrical topics completed, which I guess is quite strange. My personal vision was to offer a collection of emotions that showed all the aspects of power. I can see that the title may not directly connect to the material individually, but overall it works. At some level there is struggle in all of the songs and that can be at many levels.

As said in my review, I really like the spoken word song towards the end, it gives something extra to the album!
That is the magic of Gun Arvidssen, he's an accomplished author here in Australia who writes Sci-fi and we have been close mates for a long time. I came up with the idea of wanting to create a deeply epic story on the end of the human race and the subsequent rise of the human soul after destruction. Gun, really brought the work to life. We did discuss having a voice over actor do the part, but in the spirit of the project, "Gun" really wanted to perform it and going along the line of the project, it's worked for the better. I was a little unsure of how this would be received as the work is very different to what some people are putting on albums but I think again, it's about creative freedom instead of commercial grabbing.

Can you tell us something more about the metal scene in Australia, I think there a lots of cool band, and thanks to internet and Myspace, we get to know more and more! Don't you think so...
The list of talent here is incredible, I urge everyone reading to check these bands out:- LORD, Vanishing Point, Mortal sin, Switchblade, The Amenta, Paindivision (lol), Psycroptic and the list goes on and on.  Myspace for me is an incredible tool as I cannot write web pages and something that allows everyone to connect with fans. People can write to me direct and I always reply fast so it's a great tool. As well, I can load new tunes and info up fast so I personally really like it.

If I'm not mistaken Dungeon toured Europe a few years ago, were you also here and do you remember our little country of Belgium? What did you like or dislike the most here in Belgium?
Yes I do. Belgium has the best Steaks and Coffee in Europe! We had one night off in Brussels and did some sight seeing of the old churches and stuff like that. I do remember we got totally lost! and spent two hours looking for our hotel, but that might have been because we were all really drunk... Nothing but good memories. Actually, I have some tour shots there that I'll send you.

Some differences you saw concerning fans scene etc.. in comparison to Australia?
I think European fans might be more discerning in their tastes, they expect more from bands which is a good thing. Bands are touring there all the time so they want a high quality of act to make an impression, I am hoping I can bring EOE over there for a tour. If there's a promoter interested, please get in touch with me. Australian crowds are very aggressive and great to play in front of, it's a very hungry crowd here.

Anything important we left out or anything left to say...? (otherwise go ahead)
Please visit www.empiresofeden.com and if you like the music, please leave a message or feel free to drop me a line. There are some handsigned copies still available and I'll ship worldwide.  Thanks

http://www.myspace.com/empiresofeden

Nico