Interviews: Apeiron Bound

This is a new interview with the Progressive Metal artist Aperion Bound from the USA. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

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

Andrew: The name "Apeiron Bound" came about when Michael and I were in the early formative stages of building this project in between studio work back in 2018. We wanted a name that best represented the progressive nature of the music that blends the best elements of the most extreme chaos and tranquility as well as the best melodic moments combined with avant-garde like experimentation. We tried a few different similar names and "Apeiron" was actually one of ideas until we found out it was taken by a German melodeath metal band, whom are fantastic musicians. Mike threw in the "Apeiron Bound" comment and thus, we have the yin-yang version of a band name that best represents us. 

Michael: ""Apeiron" is a Greek word meaning "infinite, indefinite, or boundless". There was a philosopher named Anaximander who used it to describe the unlimited, indeterminate, and indefinite ground, origin, or primal principle of all matter. Given that it means "boundless", the name "Apeiron Bound" as in literally "bound for boundlessness" or "infinite bound" just kind of popped in when thinking of a name for the project and coming across this philosophy."

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Andrew: "I love the progressive metal subgenre in particular because of how open the landscape is from the musical possibilities to the fan base. For me, it allows me to express my creativity in my compositions with no compromise and the only person I have to ultimately answer to is myself. Yes, you run into the few elitists that'll never be satisfied with how much they think a band sucks for not being "prog enough". What group doesn't have their elitists? Thankfully, the majority of the prog community from my experience are some of the most open-minded individuals out there. Hell, some of them don't even predominately listen to prog but still participate in the music culture whether among the listener or musician side. To me, "progressive" is more of an approach to songwriting rather than trying to fit inside a mold. As a click grows, so do the carbon copies and elitists that reinforce certain stereotypes that come associated with certain clicks. For every Twisted Sister, you get 100 carbon copies and elitists hopping on a train. For every Alice in Chains, 100 more carbon copies and elitists, thus repeating the endless cycle repeating history. It's to be expected as something grows in popularity. Better to have longevity adding your own touch rather than deliberately copying and pasting something just because of its momentary hype." 

Michael: "For me, it just sort of happened. One of the first bands I ever sang for and played active shows with was a group called "Alpha Decay", I sucked back then but I had a penchant for coming up with good song patterns over weird time signatures. SInce then, I've gotten much better, and when Andrew said he had a prog project going on, I agreed to join." 

Kyle: "I have always been a fan of “prog music.” My first taste of anything in this category was my death metal days hanging out with bands like Atheist and Death, where they brought technical riffs and odd-time signature song arrangements to the forefront. Ever since I picked up the bass guitar as a teenager, I wanted to not be the stereotypical bass player, which also led me to this genre where many bassists pushed the boundaries of the instrument in their songs."

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

Andrew: I knew everyone but Kyle before forming this project. I knew Mike the longest (and closest) from the group as he mentioned how we became friends and built on that foundation for nearly 7 years. I met Kris a few times from his involvement in Alpha Decay as well but didn't get to know him too much until he got involved with AB last year. Phil, I met through some shows and mutuals. Phil and I also did guitars for another prog-rock band I was involved in pre-covid called "The Mourning" for a couple years. We all met and connected in our own way with the love of music and antics and I wouldn't have it any other way. - 

Michael: "Yes, Andrew did some photography for a few bands I was in, and we met when Alpha Decay was playing a show with a group he was supporting at the time called Aionios. We hit it off and have been friends for years, and Kris (drummer) I've known for a good 15 years almost now when I first started singing and tried out for a Misfits cover band."

Kris: "Mike, who has been one of my best friends for over a decade, and Andrew, who I knew more indirectly by way of Mike."

4. Each band member's favorite band? 

Andrew: My favorite musician of all time would have to be the versatile mad scientist, Devin Townsend. This includes everything from his (disbanded) extreme metal project Strapping Young Lad to his solo material spanning his entire career. The way he can shift from new-age meditative, arena rock, to extreme metal effortlessly is inspiring for me as a composer to push the boundaries of my writing. I love his unapologetic approach to writing music and staying true to what he feels like writing. He also influenced me to write music in open tunings, in which most of the songs on the record were written in open tunings. with 2 being in Open B (inspired by Hevy Devy) and 3 being in my signature tuning the Open A major 7 tuning. 

Michael: "Too many to count but to name a few Led Zeppelin, Thin Lizzy, Queen, Talking Heads, Death, Devin Townsend, and Strapping Young Lad, Nevermore, Kamelot, Anthrax, Evergrey, Leprous, and Behemoth."

Kyle: "Too many to choose from..." 

Kris: "Purely based on time listened and longevity of my appreciation of everything they've done, it's The Mountain Goats."

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Andrew: "For me, many different aspects of life and its vibes. The biggest thing I want to contribute as a composer is music that tells a story. Whether that involves writing an experimental interpretation of our version of prog metal, I want it to stick to people as if it were to be applied to a movie, video game, or any other story landscape with its own soundtrack. Not only do I want to do this as a musician but as someone that's a passionate fan of music as well. My biggest concern is serving the song rather than trying to be the most flashy despite some of the tech nature of the music." 

Michael: "I want to go somewhere personal with my lyrics. I'm very inspired by the human condition and the problems we have to overcome to actualize ourselves, how necessary they are to have to deal with, and also the reality of just how painful and dark it can be. It's things I have to tell myself to keep going, as well, from my own traumas and bullshit I've had to figure out, so that's a big part of why I want to reflect something I think everyone can learn from in the lyrics. Not from any soapbox, more from a place of my own reflection for someone else's interpretation." 

Kyle: "I really do not write complete songs, but I feed off the other musicians I am with and get inspired by their parts and work that energy into the bass line I play. When I am in the songwriting process with a band, I view my bass part as complementary to the other parts, but also as a piece that could stand on its own if needed."

Kris: "It's just one way to channel emotion into a tangible thing to me. There are other ways to do that, like cooking someone a meal, but songwriting is a skill that can benefit anyone who's around to listen."

6. Where was your last gig?

*as of this interview, we have not done shows as Apeiron Bound yet. We have experience with other projects throughout the years if you want that info* - 

Andrew: "The last show I did (along with Phil) was with my old band The Mourning back in February 2020 right before everything turned upside down. We were playing a battle of the band's contest for a chance to play at the Wacken Open Air festival in Europe. We played alongside some fantastic bands that night and got one of the runner-up positions. 

Michael: "My last band called "Archangel". Really good guys, but it was pre-Covid and a LONG time ago now so I don't remember where, but I remember lots of fun and beer. 

Kris: "I'd say the gig was at The Brass Mug." 7. Where would you like to act? - 

Andrew: "Progpower USA and Europe. 70,000 Tons of Metal. Wacken Open Air. All the major music festivals that'll give us the opportunity to share our organized chaos noise with amazing stage props, lights, and the like with as many people as possible." 

Michael: "All over the fucking world, man." 

Kris: "Music festivals are always my favorite. At these events, you can often see some of the bands you have been influenced for years, but at the same time, see new bands that you have never heard of and become lifelong fans after that."

8. Whom would you like to feature with? 

Andrew: "Would love to do a tour with the likes of Devin Townsend, Opeth, Periphery, Dream Theater, Metallica, Leprous, Head With Wings, Threads of Fate, Seven Spires,.... there are countless others I could name but then we'd be here all day." 

Kyle: "Head With Wings, Victor Wooten, too many to count."

Kris: "Michale Graves. I respect this dude like you wouldn't believe."

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

Andrew: "Definitely! I'm guilty of being a major perfectionist when it comes to my playing. I used to be so upset with myself if I missed a note on my instrument. My biggest fear was that the audience would notice the hiccups. As I've grown as a musician and gained experience, I learned that the majority of the audience is empathetic as long as you don't have too many hiccups. The biggest priority is putting on a great show people pay money to see. They can tell if you're feeling it or if you're a nervous wreck. People can feel energy a lot more than we tend to give credit. To take inspiration from advice Angel Vivaldi had given, give the articulation of your instrument 85% and the performance aspect 100% and you'll have a helluva performance."

Michael: "Yes, and a way that helps me is to imagine the audience as a single entity that you're addressing rather than just all these eyeballs on you. It lightens the load a bit at least for me, everyone will have different methods that help though." 

Phil: "Yes and I used to be like a statue on stage and forget half of what to play but I just think to myself if the audience is getting pumped up and excited about our music, then I should too." 

Kyle: "I did in my early days of playing live, but I had really long hair and I would literally hide behind my locks in order to not have to see the crowd. These days it is more of adrenaline mixed with butterflies in the stomach, excitement and high before, during, and after performing." 

Kris: "No. I actually revel in it and enjoy the pressure of being on the edge of disaster during a set and being stressed out about if I'm embarrassing myself, or if my bandmates are playing the right thing at the right time. And no, I can't teach beginners how to be mentally ill."

10. What bands have inspired you the most?

Andrew: "Devin Townsend, Opeth, Gojira, Metallica, Kamelot, Animals as Leaders, Chimp Spanner, Periphery, and David Maxim Micic to name a few influences." 

Michael: "Certainly bands such as Talking Heads, Queen, as Leprous just to name a few."

Phil: "Cant decide but a few of my favorites are Fallujah, Intervals, Rivers Of Nihil, Shadow Of Intent, Lamb Of God, Enterprise Earth".

Kyle: "Mainly bass players have inspired me… These include Victor Wooten, Steve Bailey, the late Roger Patterson (Atheist), Steve DiGiorgio (Death, Testament, Sadus), Stu Hamm, Anthony Wellington, Geddy Lee, Jaco Pastorius, Steve Harris, and Ryan Martinie." 

Kris: "It's too many to name, and I don't want to forget anyone, but a few that I haven't mentioned yet are Misfits, 40 Watt Sun, King Crimson, and Songs: Ohia." 

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

Andrew: "Not so much a request but I've had people that think they could get way too personal with me just because they liked me. Like, it's one thing to look up to someone as a role model, but thinking that you owe someone your livelihood just because you're a performer is quite entitled. Ironic considering how some of these same people claim to HATE self-entitled ass hats and that sort of narcissistic behavior." 

Phil: "Someone asked me if I ever had a girl queef in my mouth." 

Kyle: "I had a fan ask for a bass string off my bass after a performance. I actually did give him one, and the guy was ecstatic." 

Kris: "I heard someone talking about shooting cum from their dick. Quite weird and a cause for concern."

12. What do you think of your fans? 

Andrew: "So far, from what we've conjured up, we're eternally grateful for the amount of support we've gotten so far. Fans are the bloodstream of any fandom, especially industries such as the music industry. Without them, there is no industry life support and certainly would make it difficult to turn this into a career, even for a small aspect of monetary gain."

Michael: "I hope we get as many as humanly possible. Despite us just getting our foot in the door, we've got some enormous support and couldn't be more grateful."

Kyle: "Fans are something that should never be taken for granted. Anyone that wants to talk to you about your band, buy a piece of merchandise, etc. is there to support you. I try and take the time to talk to everyone who is there appreciating what the band is doing. Some of the best memories I have is meeting other bands/musicians and remembering them being so appreciative that this skinny kid (me) was obsessed with their music, and they actually took the time to talk with me when they really didn’t have to. On the flip side, I have a lot of stories where bands I looked up to were total assholes and didn’t want to be bothered by my excitement. This changed my perspective for life on these bands and could have easily gone the opposite direction if just a minute of their time was spent to appreciate their fans."

13. What do you think of our site? 

Andrew: We appreciate what you're doing for the music community and sharing the latest music news, interviews, and everything in between with all sorts of bands whether novices or veterans to the game.

14. Something to add? 

Andrew: "We hope your readers enjoy the content we put out. We look forward to sharing more of our creativity with the world and hope you find something to connect with from our music. Be on the look out for our debut album 'Multiplicity' coming out August 26th along with some singles leading up to the release."