Greek successful Folk-Black Metal band Aherusia introduced an amusing theatrical project combines the Greek epic mythology, with the dynamic tunes of black Metal.
Last year, Aherusia released a new concept album entitled "Prometheus: Seven Principle How to be Invincible," and this year the band performed a new adaptation for the Greek epic myth Prometheus on the stage.
EUNACR had the chance for chatting with George-Voreas Melas, the founder, vocalist, guitarist and composer of Aherusia band and the founder, director, writer, choreographer and producer of Aherusia theatrical troupe
Firstly, thank you for giving us the chance of sharing thoughts about Aherusia's latest album, and theatrical performance. So, I will go back to 1997, How did you form your band and select the line up?
Back in the late 90ies I was pretty much, a boy who wanted to play black metal. So I wanted to create my own band. Unfortunately, I couldn't manage to compose something sounding original in my ears. Everything that I was trying to write, was ended up sounding, like someone, feeling remorse, was trying to hide the traditional Hellenic music influences of each track. So I finally, overcame my fears about the outcome, and put all of myself, on the way that AHERUSIA followed. My best friends from school became my band members, luckily one of them was playing pipes and bagpipes, so that was pretty much the creation of the band.
Providing your music and concepts with folk elements and choosing mythology as main theme, How the process of composing goes?
I never press myself on that matter. I let thinks come out by taking their time. Each song is composed and worked for months, and pretty much each song suggests, the next song in my mind... Lyrical concept comes very lately, although since the first song, I constantly think of the thematic concept of the album.
Using folk music or mythological elements in band's concepts, isn't something difficult. On contrary, it comes out very naturally, since I was bread up by listening Hellenic traditional music and been narrated Ancient Hellenic mythology.
I'll move to your latest album "Prometheus: Seven Principles to How to be Invincible," give us more details about its writing process.
The songs of that album, been developed since 2011, we a lot of years on its process. When we were ready we just entered the studio altogether, and recorded the whole thing live. Probably this is the reason why melodies sound so vivid. Afterwards, we took the recorded material and drove to the downhill of Olympus, where, our producer, Dimitris Douvras (Lunatechsounds studios) lives. There we recorded some remaining overdubs, vocals and made the mix and mastering. We spend almost 10 days of isolation and pretty much ascetic life, focused only on our music... That was magical... We strongly believed in that approach and we will follow that way on future recordings.
Among the epic and most celebrated Greek myths, Why did you choose Prometheus, and What are the postmodern literary approaches did you follow?
We had no choice actually... hahahahha!!! No kidding, according to my opinion, Prometheus myth, is most probably the most universal myth, carrying a universal message, that needs to be spread.
Prometheus offers the Fire and Logic to Humanity, as they emerge out of Chaos. Mankind allied with the Immortals, against Darkness. But soon the communion with Divine, will turn Humans to desire immortality and omnipotence of Gods, while at the same time, will make them hate mortality, and their perishable nature in general. This human tendency will lead to Fear and to all abominable acts that fear leads, as it blinds. Therefore, Prometheus will put under oath all the rest of the Immortals to stop every contact with the mortals while he chains himself on the Rock, "clad" in pain and deprivation, intents to give a tough lesson to Humanity, prompting humans to respect their nature again.
Thus, begins our story, describing the uncertain journey of Mankind to consciousness as we witness the torture of the benefactor Titan on the Rock. Will the Sleeper finally be awaken? Fear is just an option ...
The play is a modern approach to the interpretation of the myth of Prometheus, waging a critique to the phenomenon of post-humanism, while it is also based on the myth of both "Prometheus Pyre Bearer" and "Prometheus Bound".
The play, written in the Alexandrian Greek dialect (which was the first ecumenical language of antiquity) combines ancient Greek drama, musical, motion theater, dance, narration and video art, creating a recreational form of communication that, in its expressive diversity, is trying to bring the viewer back to his existential quest, lost long ago in these times of fear and manifest emotional uncertainty.
How did you choose your theatrical troupe?
We had some auditions, some other people came by themselves, since they were fans of AHERUSIA, day by day, show by show, we created a tight team, part of the AHERUSIA collective. Pretty much, we are all a family.
Aristotle said that the main elements of drama are six (Thought, Music, Diction, Spectacle, character, plot), and all classic literature lovers know that classic Greek literature carries the concept of the chorus like the plays of Euripides, How did you combine your Metal music among those classic elements?
For a Hellene, is a little bit more easier to achieve something like that, since the metrics of modern Hellenic language and ancient one, are very similar. Besides that, Hellenic folk music, Byzantine religious music, and ancient Hellenic music, are pretty much the same thing, because since antiquity metrical modes and tune modes, never actually changed.
There is not necessary to mention that metal follows more or less the same patterns since it uses tropic system of music scales, called "modes". Funny thing is, that those modes, are based on ancient Hellenic music, and they are named as: Dorian, Phrygian, Aeolian etc...
Six elements of drama, are always served and followed by AHERUSIA, difficult or not, it is more a necessity, for our artistic expression than anything else...
https://www.facebook.com/aherusia.prometheus/videos/238540509963163/
What was the audience feedback, and what were the main problems you faced through working on your theatrical project?
Until now, people embraced our endeavor with love and enthusiasm. We feel much obliged by that. The most important thing is that we find a way to approach people, outside of metal.
As far as it concerns the problems occurred, as we created the play, they were many, but since they are solved, we suppressed them in our memory. Probably the most important thing was the development of the group. The need to find a common ground, in order to communicate properly. Some people couldn't follow the path, so they had to be excluded...
Generally, How did you see the Greek Metal scene currently? And Do you have any contacts with Egyptian or Middle Eastern Metal bands?
Hellenic Metal Scene is very powerful, releasing very good material. We are very proud to be part of it. I respect and love ORPHANED LAND, but unfortunately I do not have any contacts with any middle east or Egyptian metal band. Although I ve been in Egypt over 30 times I never had the opportunity to play there. I am looking forward to give with my band a concert in Egypt, once.
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