Nameless Theory came here to stay! Their debut album, “Into The Void” is a superb metal record, which takes us by surprise with its quality and dynamics. Getting influenced by many different rock/metal genres, the Portuguese band has the talent and the skills to secure its place on the contemporary metal scene. Myth of Rock had the honor and pleasure to talk with Pedro Piedade (vocals), who answered politely our questions. This Theory shall not remain nameless!

by Dimitris Zacharopoulos

Hello Pedro! Give us a biography of Nameless Theory.

Hello everyone! First of all, many thanks for the opportunity and for supporting our work! Nameless Theory was formed in January 2013. At the time me (Pedro), Junior and André had worked together for around 3 months in a few songs with another drummer, but in December 2012 we had a disagreement with him, so we decided to split ways and in January we invited Igor to listen to the songs (without drums) for him to give his unique approach to the songs. It went so well that we decided that this was new band, a new sound and it would require a fresh start. So, we decided together the band name and recorded a small EP (2013, released on April that year) on the studio we used to rehearse, this EP was recorded with Igor Azougado (Shivers). Azougado was a real good friend of the band and mostly with his help we were able to get some gigs and play in a few festivals and cool spots in Portugal, opening to very cool bands. In 2015 we recorded the EP Ghosts in Le Baron Rouge Studios with Tiago Borges (The Royal Blasphemy), which was released in October and then we would also spend the next month’s promoting it but the thing is: we were never the richest or even the luckiest guys in the world so say the truth. We’ve had a lot of personal financial struggles, and even health issues during that period that made us put the things on hold and wait for better times. I guess what really hold us together was the true friendship and understanding we all feel for each other, we never once turned our backs or considered other paths than total support for the situations that happened. So, there are a few blurry years where we’d have a gig or two, but we never really stopped making new music. This leads us to September of 2018 were we really thought everything was aligned for us to record our debut album and we entered Ultrasound Studios, Moita (again with our friend Igor Azougado) to record “Into the Void”. There were still with a lot of financial limitations, but we tried to make something that we would be proud and could be released. The album was mixed and ready in September 2019 and we started building up some hype with the release of “Love” videoclip (December 2019). Finally, the album was released in February 2020 and then… COVID. Right when we had 3 promotion gigs in one month, which was a first for us. It really killed our momentum, and I guess what happened then was just the same as before: we survived. We rehearsed (when we could, due to the restrictions) and we made new music. Fortunately, when everything was getting back to normal and we were deciding what our next step would be, we got a hold of a contact with WormHoleDeath Records and got this amazing opportunity to rerelease our debut album and get a second chance of promoting it. Obviously, we grabbed it with both hands, and we are really happy that it happened. So, here we are today! Maybe I wrote too much but we are going in for 10 years as a band, so I guess a lot happened.

Why did you name the band Nameless Theory?

As mentioned before, we decided that we needed a new band name once we understood the songs with Igor’s drumming were really different. It really felt like we needed to cut ties with everything we had done before. So basically, the name came up during a brainstorm in a rehearsal. Someone threw out that we were “Nameless” and then another one said that we can put something “cool” to go with Nameless and “Theory” was one word that sounded cool and we could somehow build a concept out of it, and it had such nice ring to it that we decided immediately that that was going to be it. It was that moment when everyone looked at each other and went “yeah, this is it – no doubt!”.

You are releasing now your first album, “Into The Void”. Which are your feelings now?

We are extremely happy and grateful that we have this second chance of rereleasing “Into the Void”. We had released it independently in February 2020 and we were able to sell the 100 copies we made, and also upload it online, but we never got to promote it properly due to the pandemic. So, the album existed in what I feel of like a limbo where it was online, but no one was listening, no one cared, and we didn’t have a way of making it heard. Then WormHoleDeath appeared, heard our work and helped us in giving “Into the Void” a second life. Maybe it’s not technically, and production wise, the “cleanest” album but it has a lot of heart, sweat and tears and I really think it deserved better. So, we are just happy and grateful for this opportunity. We are already lining up dates and hopefully 2023 will be the year “Into the Void” truly goes to the stage.

You signed a deal with WormHoleDeath. How did this deal come up?

This is as random as it gets. But I would argue that it was one of those moments that lady luck presented itself and we simply couldn’t ignore. We basically got an email from a journalist that we never had talked to before, saying that she really liked our album and gave us the direct contact to WormHoleDeath Records. Amazing coincidence (and I promise I’m not lying) she sent us the email on the 10^th of February 2022, exactly 2 years to the day after the release of “Into the Void”. So, we reached out to them, but it still felt like a longshot, but the truth is that in April Carlo replied and told us he really liked our album and offered us a deal. We feel really lucky for how it happened, but I know we worked for this “luck”, and I think we deserved it. The “luck” came after countless hours of rehearsing, composing, recording, promoting, sweating, screaming… But also came down to someone who really didn’t know us but trusted us and gave us a hand and we are extremely grateful for that.

When and where was “Into The Void” recorded? Who did the mixing and the mastering? Describe the whole production process.

“Into the Void” was recorded in Ultrasound Studios in Moita, Portugal. It was recorded between September 2018, and September 2019. The mixing was fully completed in December 2019, but we already had a few finished songs earlier so that we could work on a videoclip and singles release before the album. We’ve worked with longtime friend of the band Igor Azougado (from the Portuguese rock band Shivers), he produced and mixed the album. So, we’ve been wanting to do a full-length debut album for a long time at that point, but for the reasons we’ve been talking we’ve always had a lot of difficulties. Then by 2018 we agreed together with Azougado that there could be an opportunity for us to do this - he was also learning production (this was in fact his first album as producer) and he was also investing in expanding a studio he had in AJCOI (which was a spot where we had rehearsed since the formation of the band). In early 2018 (March I think) we actually made the pre-production there (we recorded live takes of the songs basically), but then the studio was robbed… A lot of his material was stolen, and we thought that the album needed to be put on hold, but at the time Azougado also started managing Ultrasound Studios in Moita (the home of the amazing thrash metal band Switchtense) together with the Switchtense guys. So, we ended up recording there. We tracked the drums in one full day in September 2019, and then we spent the remaining months tracking bass, guitars and vocals. We tried to be altogether in the studio when everyone recorded their instruments but due to our jobs that was difficult to manage. I think the only time the 4 of us were altogether in the studio was when we recorded the drums, but the truth is: these were songs we already played for years (some of the songs existed for more than 8 years at that point) so we trusted each other, we knew what the end result would be.

Who are the main composers of Nameless Theory? How is a Nameless Theory song composed?

We have a particular way of writing songs. Usually, it all starts with a guitar riff idea, and that 95% of the times comes from André, but then the 4 of us take that idea and we jam and see what the next part of the song could be, if it’s a verse, a chorus, a breakdown, etc. It’s a very dynamic and exciting process to say the truth because there’s never an entire song that already pre-exists it’s usually just a simple riff and then it can lead to a 7+ minute song. As we are jamming, we stop the song and say: “I think the drums should be doing this, and the bass this, and I think this is a cool part for the verse.”, “Maybe now we go for the chorus, or an instrumental breakdown” and the four of us together we try these variations. The only rule we have is to not put the song immediately in a box, meaning we never think about the structure upfront, or if it should be a 5 min song, or if it’s going to be an aggressive song or whatever. The rule is: go with the flow, let’s see where the song wants to go and then we will know that it has reached its end.

How would you describe the music of Nameless Theory? Which are your music influences?

It’s definitely metal. I don’t know if it’s Heavy Metal, if it’s metalcore or if it’s melodic metal, or any other metal genre. We truthfully never tried to label ourselves, we have so much different influences and I think they all mesh in Nameless Theory. For example: I’m really into the prog metal side of music (Pain of Salvation, Opeth, Devin Townsend, Haken), so I really like dynamics and to make “out of the box” riffs, structures and vocal lines, but I also come from the “Iron Maiden” side of the metal, so the most melodic and epic side, which we always try to add in our Chorus, for example. I know André is also a bit from that melodic side (Iron Maiden is also one of his favorite bands), so his riffs always bring up that melodic element but then again, he also comes from growing up in the hardcore and metalcore scene (Comeback Kid, Deez Nuts, As I Lay Dying, for example) so he also pulls a bit into that raw aggression. But one of André’s favorite bands is Deftones, which is also one of Junior’s favorites alongside Korn. Rounding this all up you have Igor with Lamb of God and Slipknot influences on the drums, so we have that high intensity going on even with the melody kicking in. Interestingly enough, the best description we’ve had of our sound was a really recent review we got in the last couple of weeks: High energy heavy metal with elements of metalcore and prog. In almost 10 years I never thought I’d read something that really made that much sense when describing our sound. But in the end of the day what we always want is to make music that people can relate and that we could pass all our emotion and energy in our live performances. I think we are really more of a live act than a recording act.

Who writes the lyrics of your songs? Where do your lyrics refer to?

100% of the lyrics are written by me, and I’m really thankful that the rest of the guys trust me in that manner. I find it really hard to sing about something I don’t relate to and to be able to put so much of my emotions in the songs is something which I think is key to our music. As I said before, we do the music altogether and during that process I’m singing vocal lines to create the melody, and when creating these vocal lines, the idea of the theme of the songs starts to build up and words start to appear and these words get stuck in the middle of the song and the vocal lines, and those words give then the general theme of the song, which I then write about. Naturally you start to say something about how you feel or an idea you want to describe, and Nameless Theory are all about that: emotions, struggles, inner demons, injustice… I found later on that this was my way of coping with a lot of things. So, some of these lyrics are really personal, and I think that’s something I’ll try to keep for as long as the guys keep letting me write them/I have something to say/it doesn’t’ get boring or stale.

Nameless Theory have played a lot of live gigs. How would you describe your live shows?

I think we really reveal ourselves in live performances, and I don’t want to sound arrogant by saying this. But I really think our songs are made for live performances more than recordings. I don’t think anyone that has seen a gig of us has left unentertained, we put our heart and souls in the performance. We are playing stuff that we truly feel and that mean so much to us, and we don’t ever want to take a performance for granted. We never know when it can be the last! So, it’s really blood, sweat and tears and trust me it get’s intense. Early on, in one of our first gigs, we had such a bad gig – basically we were playing for like 10 people in a place where easily like 500 people could fit in – and we had a bad time getting motivated since those 10 people were more interested in drinking beer in the bar, on the opposite side of the stage. After we finished another band (punk rockers Viralata, which had so much more experience than us) did an AMAZING gig, like they were playing for 500 people in fact. That really inspired us and at that moment we promised that no matter what we would give 110% each time, no matter where, no matter to who. We focus on the songs, we focus on the energy and we let it all go. If we need to go on top of the amps, or drum kit, or join the mosh pit we don’t care, we just need to have fun and then hope the audience has fun as well.

How are things for metal in Portugal?

I think things are getting better after the pandemic. Unfortunately, A LOT of bars and venues closed, but there are a few that were able to reopen, and we are seeing that they are now fully booked for several months so that brings a hope that the underground scene is remaining strong. We also see A LOT of new underground metal festivals which are so good and bring so much to the Portuguese metal scene that we really hope they continue. If you would’ve asked me this question a year ago, I would’ve been so much more pessimistic, but 2022 from what I saw was really interesting – people and promoters were really eager to get back on track, and the audience as well. For Nameless Theory in particular, we are feeling the weight of 2 years completely on hold and since we are booking everything ourselves, we are feeling a bit of a difficulty in reaching out to the venues and promoters and getting answers. It’s a real struggle to “break the noise” and stand out, but that ultimately is our responsibility. We just must keep on working, and insisting and never give up, eventually things will fall into place. But overall, I think the Portuguese metal scene is alive and well!

What do you think about internet and its advantages and disadvantages?

That’s a fantastic question for which we could spend hours discussing it, so I’ll focus only on the impact of the internet on the music community and even more regarding Nameless Theory. The truth is: without internet it would’ve been massively difficult to get our music spread and listened. Only in the last couple of months we’ve had our music played in international radio stations and answered a couple of interviews only because a journalist heard our music in Spotify and referenced us to WormHoledeath. The internet is such an amazing marketing tool. I guess there’s a valid argument that the internet has severely crashed the income of established bands that existed pre-internet as we know, but there’s nothing we can do about it, either we embrace the amazing things the internet can offer, or we sink and quit. It’s really a matter of adapt and overcome. I guess from a sociological point of view I’d personally have more arguments against the use of the internet, mainly on the cyberbullying and trolling aspect of the community (which we see sometimes happening). I’ve watched a band of kids releasing music online and sharing them to some Facebook groups and the metal elitist ripped them apart, demanding them to play and have the production quality like Dream Theater and that really made me sad, I think there’s a time and space for everything. If kids are making music and releasing them that’s great, that’s to be supported. If people don’t like it, ok I understand. I even understand that they make a constructive criticism – we actually had a few comments we sincerely appreciated – but just the trash talking I sometimes see… Makes me sad. But at the same time, I’d like to think that if 1 person is a troller there’s 9 people who liked or didn’t care but didn’t say anything, unfortunately we only seem to “hear the noise” more than the silence.

How did the Covid-19 pandemic and the restrictions affect you as a band and as individuals?

It affected us immensely. As a band we had the independent release of “Into the Void” made on the 10^th of February 2020. We had 3 promotion gigs made in that month and we were aligning several others. We were really feeling the hype and then in the beginning of March it all came crashing down. The gigs were no longer there, the promotion was in a halt – we released a videoclip and a few content in the first couple of months in the hope that it would be a passing thing, but that was very naïve of us. The Portuguese restrictions made that we couldn’t rehearse for months on end since we don’t have a private rehearsal space. Due to the restrictions the spot we used to rehearse kind of closed for real and another spot was also suspended. So we had no way of rehearsing. Then when we finally had the green light to rehearse the hype was all dead, there were no plans to have gigs, and I guess some of us got in a really dark place at that stage. I can personally say that I was truly feeling in a bad place, something I think it took me around 2 years to figure out. We found it very difficult to stay motivated. Financially, although we don’t live professionally from music, some of us suffered a lot and one of us even thought about working abroad, which I guess would kind of put the band on a hold, so there were a lot of indecision… Then in 2021 we started making new music, I guess the “pressure” of the pandemic kind of relaxed, and we sorted out a bit of our inner struggles and financial problems (again) and then the WormHoleDeath deal happened, which I can say was a true light to us. It gave us something to focus, brought our motivation back.

What do you think about the war against Ukraine?

This is such a sad and horrible thing. Nameless Theory will always stand for peace and love. We truly think that music is to connect and unite people and not divide, and in an age of so much hate and craziness going on we shouldn’t contribute to that. I can say that we have different political opinions within the band, but that can’t divide us as friends and as human beings, since the main focus can and always be peace, love and respect for all political views, religions and cultures. That being said, I think I can say that we never thought that in 2022 we’d be talking again about nuclear wars, about countries invading other countries, about innocent people (including children) being killed due to political decisions made by individuals that put their personal interests above the interests of peace and prosperity. No matter what the motives are, the innocents are the one’s suffering and that is just horrible and unacceptable. We are simply hoping that the conflict ends as soon and that no one else needlessly dies.

Which are your future plans? A tour maybe?

For sure! We are booking as we speak a few dates to promote “Into The Void”. I think realistically we can only aim for a 2023 tour within Portugal with a few “solo” gigs and a support band, but we’d also be very happy to be part of the underground festival scene – that would be amazing! Hopefully in the next months will have good news regarding that. Also, as I previously said, we are making new music and we are enjoying it so much! I think this new material is even more solid and really defining what we call the Nameless Theory sound, so I think in parallel we will continue to make new music and perhaps even think about recording a new album to release in 2024. But that is just wishful thinking maybe. As of right now we are just focused in promoting Into the Void and booking dates. Let’s see what 2023 brings us!

Send your message to the fans!

We just want to say THANK YOU for supporting us, if you read this until this point you are a true warrior and a NT fan. We are just a bunch of friends who really like to make music, play gigs together and just want to spread positive energy to everyone. Hopefully life will still allow us to keep going together and the truth is I never thought we’d reach 10 years as a band, especially with the same lineup. And I know there are a few people that follow us since the first EP so for them a real true THANK YOU. For any new fans out there, we are also very happy that you just joined our Theory. Just reach out to us on our social media, usually we are very available. And to all the people of Myth of Rock, a big thank you for this opportunity and for supporting our work!

British alternative pop and rock artist Sicky comes back with his new album, “Garbage Town”, and Myth of Rock can’t stop stomping its foot and singing along to his music. Sicky has things to say with his songs, so, we came in contact with him for a nice chat, small but so interesting. You can see for yourselves, my friends!

by Dimitris Zacharopoulos

When, where and under which circumstances was Sicky formed? What did you do before forming Sicky?

Hello Dimitris! Thank you for asking about my music. I started the Sicky project after the band Sumo split in the late 2000s. It was a natural morphing, because not all my songs would necessarily work with the band.

Sicky is a solo project. Do you only sing or do you also play the other instruments in this project?

Everything you hear is me (for better or for worse!-). Singing, guitars, drums, keys. I’ll try and get a tune out of anything I can lay my hands on.

Why did you name this solo project Sicky?

Sicky was a nickname given to me by my Sumo band member friend Dan Raven. It kind of stuck.

Which is your favorite song from “Garbage Town” and why?

I think I’d have to go with “Sleep On It” as a favourite track from the album. Maybe because of the way the production worked out. It has room to breathe and sounds big.

If someone asked you which the music style of Sicky is, what would you answer?

I would say the Sicky sound falls into the alternate/indie pop neck of the woods. Leaning on the darker side of pop …. Sicky pop!

I understand that you have many music influences, ranging from ELO to Muse! Do you agree with me? Which are your main music influences? Which are your favorite artists/groups?

I did a cover of ELO’s “Telephone Line” in 2017. It’s on the “24 Days” album. Loved that song as a kid, it sounded so sad and vulnerable. I’ve been influenced by many artists/genres including…. Bolan, Bowie, Elvis, Scott Walker, Nirvana, Blur, Beck, Kate Bush, Idles, Supergrass, The Divine Comedy and many more.

Do you write the music and lyrics all alone? Where do you draw inspiration from?

Yes I write all the lyrics and music. Life inspires me. Things that happen to me or people around me, good or bad. I tend to write, when I least expect it. I never sit down and plan to write something, all my albums have been accidents.

Describe the recording process/the production process of the “Garbage Town” album.

I have a bedroom studio with limited gear. This I find can be a good thing, it makes you keep things simple. I’ll put the basic idea down with a guitar and build from there. Less is more, most of the time. If a recording starts to sound a bit confused or messy, I’ve probably over cooked the broth and need to brutally delete a few things. Production is a bit of a jigsaw puzzle and I’m still learning how to put things together. It’s a fun process though.

Which other albums have you released before “Garbage Town”? How much different are they from “Garbage Town”?

My solo album efforts so far are … “Loveland”, ‘Lost Souls Found”, ”24 Days”, “Sun’s Up”, “This Is My Life”, “Bowling Balls” and now “Garbage Town”. I’ve been a busy boy! -) The albums vary in moods. “Bowling Balls” for instance is a much more laid back/trippy affair. Let’s hope it’s seventh time lucky with “Garbage Town”.

If you could cooperate with another famous musician, who would he/she be and why?

I’ve worked with some fabulous musicians/producers along the way. I really like working alone these days. It’s nice to lock yourself away with no outside influences. Can only blame yourself that way. Most of the musicians I’d like to work with are sadly no longer with us.

Do you play live as Sicky? Are concerts important for you? Do you have any tour plans?

I love playing live. I have a couple of gigs coming up to try out the new album. I’ll be doing acoustic versions of the tracks that work stripped down. Playing live is the best way to test a song out, see what works and what doesn’t. The human reaction does not lie.

Which are your ambitions for Sicky?

As far as ambitions go, if my music ends up on the jukebox in my local pub I’ll be a happy boy .… Oh and I’d like to tour the world.

How difficult are things for an alternative musician in UK today?

It’s always been difficult to get heard amongst the crowd. I think if you work hard and it’s good enough the music will find a way through. It’s a healthy time for independent artists because of the ability to just release your own stuff. I’ve had record deals in the past and this is much more fun and rewarding.

Send your message to our readers!

My message… Hello lovely Myth Of Rock readers. If you like dark matter, heart felt musings, rough edge diamonds, heart on sleeve kinda music… Then please give “Garbage Town” a listen…. It might just leave a mark.

If you are searching for a new album release with features all elements, all dimensions of rock music, you shall listen to the new album of Dmitry Wild, “Electric Souls”. If you want to hear the confessions of a true electric soul, make a stop and listen to Dmitry Wild’s new songs. So melodic, so rough, so rhythmic and catchy, “Electric Souls” is an album for rockers by a rocker. Dmitry Wild talked to Myth of Rock and what was discussed follows right below!

by Dimitris Zacharopoulos

You have just released a new album, “Electric Souls”. Which are your feelings?
Ooh, many … Was it good? Did I do the best I could? Could I have released more?
Do people like it? Which song do they like the best? I mean that’s a normal process. Usually after every release I want to hide under the carpet and not listen or record another song, but then it goes away. It’s a well-known factor, you feel empty. You released it, it’s done. All that work and now it’s empty season. To refill again to get inspiration to play again. It’s a weird place, but I have been there before. So, I wait for new inspiration to keep on working.

How would you describe this new album to someone who has never listened to your music?
If you are going to judge a book by the first song, then you didn’t try. My every song is a different story, each one has its own feel, beat, vibe, message, purpose, so click through few and you will find the one that hits you.

In your opinion, how much have you progressed in “Electric Souls” since “Coat Full of Stars”?
Wow, immense, when I released “Coat Full of Stars”, I was experimenting just doing it for the sake of recording, and then I had all those bands and I always felt I am not taking my solo stuff seriously, so I kept wishing one day I will release a full length of full on rock songs and release it myself and it happened. So, I grew and definitely I started taking myself seriously and it’s been great. It’s powerful to release music under your own name. I have a Greek/Russian name and a Wild next to it, I don’t know what people think, when they hear it.

In “Electric Souls” are you the one who composed the music and wrote the lyrics? What inspires you to compose and write music and lyrics?

Yeah, I did it all myself. I wrote songs, then lyrics then mixed with an engineer. I got few guest musicians to help me make it a reality. What inspires me? Strong situations. Feelings I must resolve and deal with. Sometimes extreme happiness and sometimes introspection of where I am at, what just happened, how can I make an imprint in my own mind and others. I try to really talk to people as a whole, on a different level. Try to help us move forward.

Which are the main motifs/the trademarks of your songs?
Main motifs are inspiration, with the energy I put into music, I try to be an optimist and an observer. So main motifs are love, self believe, humanity, inspiration, danger, liberation, punk rock attitude against the chains surrounding us, and yet I want to sing a love song while I wear a leather jacket or a black Victorian coat. I feel love is very important, self-love and to others and to life.

Introduce the musicians that have performed in “Electric Souls”, please.
“21st Century”:
Drums - Byron Frayne
Slide Guitar - Ruby La Rue (Dust Bowl Fairies)

“Liberation” :
features Tryst (trystofficial.com)
Garrett Smelcer - Keys

“Summer of 21”:
Stan Killian (stankillian.com/main/biography/)

“God, Ghost and a Ship”:
Accordion, Saw - Ryder Cooley(Dust Bowl Fairies)
Slide Guitar - Ruby La Rue (Dust Bowl Fairies)
Stand up Bass - Chops La Conte (Lustre Kings)

“Wizard”:
Sax - Marine Penvern

“Small Affliction”:
Keys - Peter Breed

All other songs:
Keys - Peter Breed
(Except “Don't Need Anybody”, “Liberation”, “21st Century”, “Sweetest Thing”, “Small Affliction”)

All Drums - Matt Liptak
(All except “Small Affliction”, “21st Century”)

Why did you name the new album “Electric Souls”? Where do the lyrics refer to?

Well, I play electric guitar, and I feel that when I play it loud, and I am in a moment it charges me and that electricity is powerful and once I get charged I want to charge other souls. I think my mission is to make people aware of their souls, I try to put into lyrics a lot, since it’s what makes us divine, and yet people are too focused on the heady energy. For me it’s the most powerful that is truly ours. So, I use the word soul everywhere and therefore album name. Also it’s sort of a bit of inspiration from T-Rex’s “Electric Warrior” as well.

Name your favorite musicians and groups, please.
Naturally the Doors, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, White Lies, The Horrors, Kino, Jesus and Mary Chain, Morphine.

Apart from a singer and musician, you are a poet, a painter and an actor. Is it easy or difficult to combine all these artistic activities? If you had to choose only one activity, what would you choose and why?
Yeah, it’s a lot, I know I try to limit myself, I had a painting phase when my dad was leaving this world, I produced 7 pieces but then with kids and all it’s tough to find too much time to paint. I am saving painting for when I will have a big barn when I can just paint it and leave it there, it’s a very messy business lol. I love acting as well, but I can’t take it seriously enough due to the fact it’s not a steady income and very time consuming unless a great opportunity comes up, I am always open. I decided to focus on music and writing. Poetry is also at my fingertips. I can just open a doc and start writing then come back to it. It’s always been with me. Next to me so that’s part of me.

In your opinion, where does all this inspiration come from?
My inspiration comes from being alive. To me that’s the most powerful feeling. Feeling truly alive. You walk outside and it's between you and the world every day and what can you accomplish.

As an artist, which are your ambitions?
My ambition is to be the best live/recording artist, with the most entertaining live shows that move people. Also, I want music to provide income for me to be able to maintain myself and my family but that’s a long shot, ha ha, the financials of the music industry are a laughingstock nowadays. From touring to how much you make on your recorded music I don’t play Hip Hop or elevator music... It’s really sad, but I remain being optimistic I will find a way, I am loud with a lot to say, so my ambition is to be heard and to move audiences with my songs, guitar and a mic!!!

Do you play live? How much important are concerts for you? Your tour plans?
I do play live. It’s not an easy fit. I love playing live and being on stage. It’s the one place where I truly let go and live, but the logistics of running shows are sad sometimes, sometimes you don’t get paid and you gotta pay musicians. Or you play a festival at a wrong time at a wrong stage, or sometimes sound sucks. It’s so many variables that must work together for you to get satisfaction from playing shows. So, I do it for the people. Also, I want to tour Europe extensively. I love Europe and Mediterranean. I am a history freak. I want to visit all those temples and castles.  

Which is your motto?
Motto? Ha! Never thought of it. Just do it!  Today! Whatever you want to do. Just do it right now. Once you start you will figure out the rest! There is always a solution.

Send a message to the listeners of your songs!
Believe in yourself. Listen to music loud and laugh out loud. We got this. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Find your purpose and live through it. Thank you Dimitris … When I was living Astoria, New York, guess what my landlord’s name was: Dimitris. LOL! All Dimitris Unite J

Chaoist is a Serbian one-man project, which flows in a black metal music style and has just released its debut EP, "Annul". The black metal landscapes of Chaoist are strange, mysterious, but, above all, enchanting and mesmerizing. Myth of Rock has just discovered this promising black metal prodigy and conducted an intriguing interview. It is obvious that Chaoist has things to say and offer!

by Dimitris Zacharopoulos

Give us a biography of Chaoist.

As of yet, there isn’t much of a biography to Chaoist as such. It would perhaps best be described as a part of a whole, whose story in this world started becoming concrete in 2014. My musical work was at that time being released under the name Joys of Life, manifesting in two full-length albums, namely ,”Dem Tod sei Dank” via Depressive Illusions and ”Ausweg/Existenzfeind” at Jesboligakurac records.  I look back fondly on those two releases and stand by them fully. As time changes though, so do the tools and weapons of the Art, and in that sense the change of the project’s name was necessary as to more accurately reflect and also carry even further which it has become, perhaps in broader sense than only musical. At latest, by the time of writing the songs, the next step was already being taken, and in that way Chaoist was spawned. Aptly named, the coming EP ,”Annul”, which is released on the 28^th October, is a symbol to this change on some levels. Its release also marks the partnership with Wormholedeath.

Chaoist is a one-man project. Why didn’t you select some other musicians to form a regular band? Is there a chance you will do that in the future?

Indeed there was a live setup in working for Chaoist, but even after about a year, it never made it past the rehearsal room. We all agreed that in the particular arrangement we had at the time, it simply didn’t carry the full force it is meant to and therefore the decision was made that I carry on, alone. I am not against the idea of live performances by any means, although it is not the highest priority. With the right people and circumstances, I am certain that it might happen further down the road.

How would you describe Chaoist’s music style?

I am not someone that will put out rigid labels on music in general, nor do I feel that it would be of any practical benefit. Chaoist, in its current form would be best described as black metal, even though I believe that this medium is a product of the Inspiration, and not the other way around. Time will tell to what form it evolves in the future in order to best express and evoke what it is meant to.

How is a Chaoist song composed?
There isn’t a definitive way I write, although I am making an effort to include a regularity in time that is entirely dedicated to the process. Doing that has lately proved to be very fruitful. The Spark, an idea, a feeling, an image or even a more or less abstract concept appears and builds up consciously or often subconsciously, so it may take a somewhat cognitive form and surface in a liminal point in consciousness, however this ,”state” is brought on. As it rises, it is then freed into the world as it is translated musically and lyrically into what is Chaoist.

Which are your music influences? Name some of your favorite artists/bands.

I believe that all music one listens to is in some way inspiring, or at least it should be, therefore there are truly many that can be mentioned. Besides the black metal bands that this inspiration is drawn from, I have to mention Return to Forever, Perihelion and Vágtázó Halottkémek. One of the bands I will always return to is Ondskapt. Other, more contemporary acts that I respect and am extremely fond of are Death.Void.Terror., Amnutseba, Skáphe, Thy Darkened Shade and Acrimonious, Shaarimoth and Siculicidium to name a few.

Where do your lyrics refer to?

The lyrics are the last salve, the anointed surface of the Intent. That which together with the music carries the maeteria, the interaction between inner and outer - the Other that is the true and greatest Inspiration of the Work.

Why did you name the project Chaoist?

As the Work progressed, not only in composition and writing, certain aspects had to be left behind to move forward. Just as a snake sheds its skin to grow, so was the necessity to leave Joys of Life behind to infect the wounds it created, and continue as Chaoist.

You recently signed with WormHoleDeath. How does it feel to have a deal with a renowned metal label?

I can only report positively about the partnership with WormHoleDeath. At every step since out paths have crossed, the cooperation and the understanding on both sides was on the highest level and the release of ,”Annul” succeeded in a professional and planned out way, sparing neither time nor resources, tailored to the needs and demands of the project in question. It feels not only like a step forward, but much more!

Which are your ambitions for your newly released debut EP, “Annul”?

There are no concrete expectations as such, when releasing an album on my side. The highest goal is that it fits in idea and form, meaning that the end product is the most suitable vessel it can be, one that appropriately carries the impulse and the message it is meant to. For me, the energy and intent is spent in the actual creation, rather than what it achieves in the end, so that these ,”achievements” may act as building blocks for the following actions.  

How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect you as a musician and as an individual?

All in all, it didn’t affect me much. Since Chaoist is a one-man band I write and record in my home studio, therefore, except a few nuisances that led to minor delays, there wasn’t really anything major that changed. There were only short periods of total lockdowns in my country, mostly during the weekends, therefore, a great part of the pandemic I was even going regularly to my workplace instead of doing home-office. Except these things however, there was nothing worth mentioning for me personally.

What do you think about the war against Ukraine?

In an age, where every aspect of life is slowly becoming politicized, as was the case similar in earlier history with the Christian religion being forced upon the ”heathen”. A tailored subjective truth is again and again being presented as an idea that is often even openly called ”supreme” to that of others.  So to answer your question, as with war in a broad sense, I view it as being a play of filthy politicians and their mass control schemes that in the end only serves them. Philosophically speaking, in the course of history, we can oftentimes see an evolutionary leap or at least a step in some direction after major conflicts. I also believe that one of the steps is bound to break the circle, or at the very least, further its breaking.  

How are things for metal music in your country (Serbia)?

There were some pretty great releases recently, especially regarding black metal. Only in September, Praznina re-releases its two EPs from this year via Hammer of Damnation, and Aura Mortis has dropped its full length “Aion Teleos”. Be sure to check out both bands for some inspired and honest Art!!

Which are your future plans?

The Work continues. Currently the next release is being prepared, the writing is mostly done, and soon the studio sessions will follow.

Send your message to the metal fans!

Thank you for the support! Stay tuned for the release of the CD version of “Annul”. Until then, you can find the EP on the following link digitally: https://orcd.co/annul