Interviews: Exessus

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the  Metal band, Exessus from Spain. 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?

Iván: We could say that the name itself was planned, but the meaning of it kind of evolved with time.

We were searching for a short name, easy to remember and with strength. We finally stumbled upon this Latin term ‘excessus’, which holds the meaning of ‘death’ and similar concepts related to it. We really liked it since we believe that death is a part of our nature and it has the strength we were looking for. Nevertheless, we erased that ‘c’ letter from the Latin term since we thought ‘exessus’ was easier to read and pronounce.

Later in time, Ferran discovered that it can also mean ‘barbarian-like’ or something ‘brutal’, which I guess fits pretty well with a Metal band.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

All members: We believe it wasn’t something planned. Playing Metal music is just something natural because your instinct tells you to do so. Of course, the bands one listens to play a role in this, but in the end, we just want to compose music we feel it’s really ours with no limitations or boundaries.

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

Iván: Ferran and I founded the band and we did not know Gerard and Victor at that time. Sometime later we met Gerard and asked him to join the band and it was a perfect match. Still, it wasn’t until 2018-2019 that we got to meet Victor and asked him to join the band for our second record.

4. Each band member's favorite band?

Iván: I am a strong Progressive nerd, so I gotta go for Haken, Leprous, Meshuggah, Tesseract, Symphony X… But if I have to choose just one, I guess it would be Haken. If I have to pick a favorite band outside Prog, that would be Pantera. 

Gerard: Nightwish 

Ferran: I don’t really have a favorite band, but if I have to pick one that moves me, I would say Darkest Hour 

Victor: Although I like many other bands, Metallica will always hold a special place in my heart

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs? 

Iván: There are two sides to this answer, one being static and the other being shifting.

The static aspect is the reason why we started creating music in the first place. We want to transfer and communicate ideas and feelings to people, and we feel that music is the best way we can do such a thing. On a more personal note, I have always been obsessed with leaving a legacy behind that can improve the world, or at least that can help some people, even if it’s just a little bit. Even though I’m achieving this objective on a smaller scale being an English for secondary education students (high school), I think that music is the tool to achieve such a goal on a bigger scale.

The shifting aspect is related to maturity and growth as a human being, which ultimately has a huge effect on the music we compose. Just in the same way what you think when you’re 12 is not the same as what you think when you’re 20, the things you care about or want to express tend to change as well. Fortunately, this is something that can be seen in our music, which makes it evolve and different at the same time that the essence (the static aspect) remains untouched.

All this can be seen both in the music and the lyrics, and you will see that it is pretty obvious when comparing our first record to our second new album.

6. Where was your last gig? 

Iván: Barcelona, 2019.

7. Where would you like to act?

Gerard and Victor: There are some obvious answers like big festivals such as Hellfest, Wacken, and the like, but in a more short-term scenario, anywhere where musicians are treated well and the crowd is ready to give us their love.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

Iván and Ferran: Trivium. I think that based on our music style, it’d be a nice combination. 

Gerard: There are lots of national bands that we respect since it’s not easy to grow in a world where things don’t turn out as planned on the first try, so it would be a pleasure to feature with them. Sepultura would be amazing as well. 

Victor: Bands like Havok, Amon Amarth, Crisix… Although we have a really nice feeling of companionship with our friends in Blaze Out, so it would be a very nice option as well.

9. Whom not?

Iván: Dethklok. I wouldn’t be sure if we’d make it back alive. Maybe it would be an amazing option for the last concert of our career when the moment comes (joke).

10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tips for beginners on how to beat that? 

Victor: In the beginning, I suffered from stage fright, I was really nervous. I think it’s something normal if you’re not a very charismatic and sociable person, and even if you are, I think it’s not easy to play in front of people since you have a job to do and everyone is looking at you. My tip would be to practice and perform as much as you possibly can and little by little you will get used to it.

11. What bands have inspired you the most? 

Iván: Pantera, Mastodon, Meshuggah, Tesseract, Trivium, Haken, Slayer, Metallica, and AC/DC. There are other bands and genres, but these I believe would be the strongest influences. 

Victor: Metallica, Iron Maiden, Slayer, Dream Theater, Rammstein, and Arch Enemy would be some of them, together with other genres like Hip-Hop. 

Ferran: Thrash Metal bands from Bay Area and Europe have been strong influences. Different USA and European groove and Death Metal bands as well. I have also been influenced by solo musicians like Andy James, Marco Sfogli, Angel Vivaldi, and Nick Johnston among others.

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

Iván: He didn’t really ask for anything, but the weirdest experience I have had with a fan so far has been online. This guy would send me extremely weird videos to my personal Facebook account. The first time he did so was just a really weird random compilation of violent images. I respectfully asked him to never send something like that to me again since I’m not into that type of thing. Some days later he sent something much worse that I cannot even explain here, so I ended up blocking him.

13. What do you think of your fans? 

Gerard: They are amazing. There is nothing like seeing someone that comes to your show not knowing who you are and then seeing that same person at your next concert. I can only say that I’m really grateful for everything they do for us. Without them we are nothing.

14. What do you think of our site? 

Iván: Cool website. It looks like you are making a great contribution to the Metal community.

15. Something to add? 

All members: Thank you very much for the interview. It has been a pleasure to answer all these questions for Breathing the Core. Stay authentic, pure, and raw!