Interviews: Meteora

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Symphonic Metal band, Meteora, from Hungary. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

Atilla: Rather the latter. The first concert of the band was coming, and the promoter asked for our name for the flyers. We had to decide pretty fast, were throwing ideas at each other for a few days, and Meteora was the one all of us nodded for. I remember ’Avalon’ and ’End of the Line’ being discussed as well, and I’m happy we chose Meteora in the end. Later, as we started writing our own music it grew on us, and could really feel the metaphor and ideas behind it our own.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

A: It has a lot of potentials. Being able to use an orchestra gives you an endless amount of possibilities, it sounds epic, can be beautiful and brutal at the same time and symphonic metal has always been the number one genre I listen to. I feel like it is more flexible than most, you can blend all kind of stuff together (goth-, power-, death metal), mix in classical instruments and it’s considered symphonic metal.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

A: Me and Máté are related so we kinda have known each other since birth, and we are also the only ones remaining from the original line-up. We had quite a few musicians during the years, but luckily since ’Our Paradise’ came out in 2017 we have the same people in the band. Noémi (vocals) has been with us since 2015, then came Csaba (guitar) next year, and Gábor (drums) in 2017.

4. Each band member favourite band?

A: Epica I guess would be the one for me.

Noémi: Dream Theater, Stratovarius, Symphony X

Máté: Gojira and Babymetal…

Csaba: Iced Earth, Amon Amarth, Ensiferum, Blind Guardian, Amaranthe Gábor: Avantasia, Rhapsody, Edguy, Fleshgod Apocalypse, Wintersun, Epica

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

A: It depends on which part of the writing we are talking about. The music and the melodies are inspired by what I’m listening to, series, and just everyday stuff, like the rhythm the subway clicks or the melodies of the birds outside. Sometimes I can’t even really tell what made me make up a musical line, and they usually occur to me at the most inconvenient places. Under the shower is commonplace for the birth of melodies, just staring outside while traveling or walking would be another. The hard part is remembering that melody until I get to my home computer to write it down, and not to get distracted in the meantime. The lyrical themes, on the other hand, come from the global issues we have nowadays, and the personal problems each of us face. Other then these books, movies are a good source, and even a lecture at the university gave me an idea for a song, which later became ’Memento Mori’.

6. Where was your last gig?

A: In Budapest in February. We were planning an album release tour this Spring for our new LP ’Tragedy of Delusion’, but unfortunately we could only reschedule the show we would have had in Budapest to a later date, the other venues were not sure when, or whether if they could open up later.

7. Where would you like to perform?

A: Wacken would be a dream come true, but other than that we can find things we love in all stages we had shows on so far. It would also be really cool to play a show with a live orchestra in a theater or classical concert hall.

8. Whom would you like to perform with?

A: Epica and Lord of the Lost would be fun to tour with. Having Tony Kakko from Sonata Arctica for a guest appearance on one of our albums or even live would be beyond awesome as well.

9. Whom not?

A: This list would either be too long or non-existent. There are a lot of artists nowadays, with a lot of them getting famous for their scandals or their bodies. I guess I would put people with non-existing musical talent in this ’nope thx’ category.

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

A: In my case, it wasn’t that severe, but I was really nervous before every concert in the first 1-2 years. I was really hyped and couldn’t concentrate on anything else, I just wanted to practice so that I wouldn’t f* up. In the beginning, this took 2-3 days prior to shows, then it reduced to the day of the concert, and then it vanished. Didn’t really do anything to make it go away, just got used performing in front of people.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

A: Epica is my greatest influence, but I get inspired by a lot of bands and artists. Old Sirenia with the piano and violin runs, Lord of the Lost with the bass voice of Chris Harms, score composers like Hans Zimmer or Adrian von Ziegler and classical composers like Bach or Wagner. Nightwish, Therion, Sonata Arctica, After Forever, Nevermore all had a great impact on me as well during different periods of my life.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

A: Can’t think of any, either our fans are just too normal, or their weirdness seems normal to me.

13. What do you think of your fans?

A: I love them, they are always really nice and supportive to us but of course I can only see them the way they treat us. 14. What do you think of our site? Really solid, it is nice to get to know all these new bands here.

15. Something to add?

Thank you for the opportunity! Check out our new album, and follow us on social media, we are everywhere.

Also, stay tuned, we have a new video coming in the near future.