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ANUBIS GATE: We decided on concept album (2007)

"We decided on a concept album..."

HENRIK FEVRE,
(bass, vocals) - ANUBIS GATE

ANUBIS GATE

Interview - July-August 2007,
Denmark - Russia

- Til lykke! :) The third album has released and, by the first reviews, this one is quite successful... I believe, that a certain hopes have been assigned to this album, isn\'t it? This is very early to speak, but anyway, how much of your hopes are justified for now?

I think it\'s the best album we\'ve done, and actually the heavy metal album I\'ve always dreamed of making; great melodies, interesting chord structures and a lot of backing vocals. So I\'m very happy that the first reviews talk about a masterpiece. I hoped that people could actually hear the improvements we\'ve done since ‘A Perfect Forever’, and it seems to be the case. We hope for the best and believe that a few more people will know our name from this album.

- From Ancient Egypt you’re moving to… the space? Or what’s mean ‘Andromeda Unchained’? And my other question at the same time: why the band was named as Anubis Gate?

‘Anubis Gate’ is actually a Tim Powers novel and it was our ex-vocalist who came up with the name. Therefore we thought it would fit the name perfectly with some Egypt themes, mainly in artwork. But after two releases with similar art direction (beautifully done by Mattias Noren), we decided that we needed something new – also a means to show certain changes within the band, both musically and personally (Jacob replaced Torben). So we decided on a concept album and changed the scene to a future scenario. Andromeda is a star and there’s a war going on to unchain it from those who had possessed it (very briefly put).

- The first great surprise for your fans has prepared... :) One of the Anubis Gate\'s members - the guitarist and well-known producer Jacob Hansen has completely took the role of the lead vocalist at last. Can you suppose before that this role will be placed by your old friend and colleague? ;)

I had not expected it, \'cause all I knew about Hansens voice was what I\'d heard on Invocator records, and this is a totally different style. So I would not have guessed that he was the man. But when the demos were recorded and I thought about having Jacob in the band, it actually seemed like he had always been there. He was the sixth member from the beginning in some way, because he had produced the first two albums, but also because he ends a circle of people who have played together through the years. I never met with Hansen before our second album, so we were not exactly old friends, but colleagues in a way, \'cause we had both played with Jesper and Per M. Jensen (The Haunted, ex-Invocator), who was the lineup in my first heavy trio in 1985.

- And...ahh, really I can\'t wait, when I\'ll hear this... Well, tell me how it sounds?! I\'ve heard some comments before... And according by them this album should be more interesting, and for by Jacob\'s work also...

It is melodic heavy metal with elements of prog metal. I guess the general sound of this, compared to the prequels, is lighter and not as dark. You might call it a friendlier tone. Some of the explanation to this could be the higher voice of Jacob, compared to that of Torben Askholm.

- OK. Then tell me, please, about the other Anubis Gate\'s members.

Jesper M. Jensen, guitarist and one of my oldest friends, founded this with drummer Morten Sorensen, who I also go way back with, but in a different band. They are sort of the backbone in Anubis Gate, the original tribe and both self-taught. They made the sound and visions for AG early on, and only few can compare with Jespers riffing abilities. Mortens drumming is inventive as it is steady. On top came Kim, who\'s educated in the Music academy like myself, who, I might call the (musically) intellectuals. Kim has the ability to think BIG, write complex chord structures into metal and play both guitar and keyboards superbly. Production is Jacobs second great ability, but both this album and ‘A Perfect forever’ was very co-produced by Kim Olesen also. Another great duo.

- Anubis Gate has a long prehistory… Could you tell me about this?

Only that we’ve been working on different projects since the 80’s. Some of us together in Metal, some of us in totally different musical directions. Jesper has played with everyone involved; with Jacob in Invocator (early 90’s), with Kim and Morten in Extreme Feedback (late 80’s), later with Morten in Geronimo (Mid 90’s) and with me in Graff Spee (1984-6). Before the making of our debut ‘Purification’, I had not played Metal in 18 years so it was some kind of funny comeback for me and in some way I got hooked again. But I guess, if it wasn’t for ‘Anubis Gate’, I wouldn’t be playing Heavy Metal and if the band should break up one day, I wouldn’t look for a similar act to replace it.

- The band looks as a team which hang together… Is it so? And some of band’s member have other projects at the same time, isn’t it? What about your personal solo project?

Working perfectly. So it is not a one-man effort. We can’t make ‘Anubis Gate’ songs on our own – we need inputs from each other. Therefore there is not a single song on the album that is done by one man, except for the brilliant short instrumentals (by Kim Olesen) that link the ‘real’ songs together. Aside from ‘Anubis Gate’ I do have some sort of solo career. I made the album ‘Other Rooms” this May, which is far from Metal. It is pop music for an adult audience, which I also like very much. You’re welcome to check it out on www.henrikfevre.dk

- OK. And some months ago the official Anubis Gate site got a new design with the cover artwork. Who is the author of this work?

Bjorn from Killustrations. The layout on the website is set by our manager Claus Jensen from Intromental on basis of Bjorns ideas.

- Back to ‘Andromeda Unchained’, do you plan any gigs to album\'s support? We haven\'t so many chances before to see Anubis Gate on the stage. Which changes for now?

Nothing specific yet, but keep an eye on our website www.anubisgate.com, cause there will be gig this fall or/and in the spring of 2008.

- What\'s new in music this album has brought?

We have at least two tracks that stand out from the pack: "Resurrection time" and "Point of no concern". They have different elements and sound from what to expect from a HM song, I think. Some have said that ".. Time" sounds like mixture between Voivod and Duran Duran. I don't know about the last one, but... Different. Hear for yourself.

- We have a great chance to hear Anubis Gate’s songs from the last album on the Official Band’s site for now. Welcome to visit and wish more great reviews to ‘Andromeda Unchained’. :)

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