Hello! Please introduce ISOSPIN to our readers.
Hi there this is Ilias, thank you for this interview opportunity!
ISOSPIN was formed as a solo project back in 2011 in my hometown of Larisa, Greece. For lack of a better term, our music style is heavy metal with some progressive elements or as I saw it written in a blog, “straightforward prog”.
After releasing four albums as a solo project (mostly out of hobby), a migration to Australia and fast forward to 2021, I felt that ISOSPIN was stagnating and needed a change to perhaps something more professional sounding.
For that purpose I recruited Raphael Silva with the intent to slowly create a band and expand our musical horizons. This brings us to today and to the release of our latest album “Aftermath Chronicles” which is a major upgrade from everything I did as a solo artist in the past.
Can you tell us more about your latest album Aftermath Chronicles?
Certainly. Aftermath Chronicles is a landmark album for us as a band and we are very proud of the end result. It represents our pinnacle achievement thus far and it marks a fresh chapter in our musical evolution.
The album is infused with a post-apocalyptic essence and it delves deep (musically and lyrically ) into the human psyche amidst the backdrop of an unforgiving dystopia, exploring profound emotions and existential themes. Listeners can expect a captivating blend of melodic heavy metal compositions “sprinkled” with progressive elements and powerful vocals that create a unique atmosphere.
In my humble opinion, it is solid album that will hopefully satisfy the fans of the genre!
When did you start writing music and who were your early passions and influences?
My first (not so great) attempts at composing my own music were towards the end of the 90s when I was playing drums for a band called Fading Image.
My major influences were (and still are to a certain extent) the classics such as Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Faith No More, Dream Theater etc etc.
What are your main impulses for writing metal music?
I guess the main impulse for me is the satisfaction of creating something out of nothing. There is no better feeling than the joy of creation!
Through metal music I feel I can express my emotions in a certain unique way that I wouldn’t be able to do otherwise.
What do you personally consider to be the most significant moments and pieces in your musical work?
Interesting question! I believe the most significant moment for ISOSPIN was getting Raphael Silva on board as a permanent member. He is an amazing singer and perfectly fits the overall musical style and vision.
Musically, whilst I love all my past songs and albums, I can confidently say that our best piece of work by far is definitely “Aftermath Chronicles”. The addition of Raphael brought fresh new ideas as he is not only a singer but a great musician overall, so his contribution to the compositions has expanded our musical horizons.
Consider this album the start of a new era, an ISOSPIN v2.0, on the quality of which we desire to build upon and create even better music in the future.
How would you describe and rate the music scene of the city you are currently living in?
It would be unfair to rate the Brisbane local music scene as I don’t really go out much these days to watch local bands due to work and family obligations. As such, I cannot really express an opinion. But in saying that, I do suspect that it should be a very active and vibrant scene as it is a big city. What I can definitely rate, is the local music scene of my hometown in Greece, Larisa, which gets a 10/10 with so many renown bands such as Sunburst, Black Fate, Hidden In the Basement and so many others! A true cradle of metal and of music in general!
When it comes to being a musician, what are your criteria for quality? What are your main challenges and ambitions as a musician?
The most important criterion for me is writing interesting music that captivates the listener and trying to sound as original as possible by infusing our personal unique sound to our existing musical influences without sounding like copycats.
Obviously the production aspect is a massive criterion and the industry standards are very high these days, to the point that everybody gets drawn into this mentality of “production perfection”, often prioritizing the way an album sounds over the actual compositions aspect, from the musicians to the critics to the fans. So we try our best in that aspect given the limited resources of an indie band.
The biggest challenge for me personally as a musician is trying to fit music into my busy work and family schedule. I do not make a living out of music, my career is completely different. As such, I try to dedicate as much of my limited spare time as possible to drive the band forward. My ambition and goal has always been the same; I want to keep creating good music, and its as simple as that 😊
What do you usually start with when working on a new song or lyrics?
I usually start with a simple 4/4 or 6/8 drum pattern on a loop and I play guitar on top until I come up with an interesting riff. I try to create the basic structure of the song first and once that is done, I try to make it more interesting by adding more layers to the existing structure. Lyrics-wise, I usually need to think of a concept first that matches the music. I struggle with writing vague and abstract lyrics so I always need to have a concept about something. For instance the song “Seven Of Hearts” is lyrically inspired by the hit tv series “Alice in Borderland”.
Please tell us a bit about the selection process for deciding what to write about. What sources do you draw from for research purposes, and how much time do you generally spend on research and gathering material?
Great question! I am usually influenced by random life events or stories (fictitious or not) that might catch my interest. If I discover an intriguing concept or story I usually spend a lot of hours on the internet making a more in-depth research and trying to gather as much material as possible. If it’s just a very generic idea, then I try to write my own lyrical story based on that original generic concept.
As a band, we always try to put a lot of effort into the lyrics. We want the stories we sing about to be meaningful, thought-provoking and fit our musical soundscape.
As more and more people produce and release music, there has been an exponential growth in promotion agencies. What's your perspective on the promotional system? To what extent do you feel it possibly undermines musical freedom?
The growth of promotion agencies in the music industry certainly reflects the increasing accessibility of music production and distribution platforms. On one hand, these agencies can offer valuable services in terms of helping artists reach wider audiences, gain exposure, and potentially achieve commercial success. They can provide resources, expertise, and connections that independent artists might not have on their own ( well, not all of them of course, there are many money-sucking scum businesses out there).
However, the concerns you raise about how the promotional system might impact musical freedom are indeed valid. Promotion agencies prioritize commercial viability over artistic innovation and this has led to a homogenization of music. In pursuit of mass appeal, unique or unconventional bands or artists are frequently overshadowed or discouraged in favour of more mainstream, marketable sounds.
Additionally, the reliance on promotion agencies can create a barrier to entry for artists who don't necessarily have the resources to access these services. This in my opinion perpetuates inequalities within the industry, favouring artists with financial backing or industry connections over those who rely solely on their talent and creativity.
The metal scene has changed considerably over the past century. What, in your opinion, could or should be new forms and formats for music? Should we preserve the old-school spirit or move forward together with musical "evolution" (or "degradation")?
I believe that the key is to strike a balance between preserving the core elements that make metal distinctive, while also embracing new ideas and approaches. This allows the genre to remain vibrant and relevant, appealing to both long-time fans and newcomers alike. The traditional elements should provide the solid foundation upon which new musical innovations can be built.
It's natural for artists to experiment with new sounds, techniques, and themes as they seek to push boundaries and express themselves in fresh ways. Just as bands like Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden pushed the boundaries of their time, today's artists should feel encouraged to explore new music pathways. Naturally, this process will unfortunately produce some music that can be perceived as potentially degrading to the genre but this again is a very subjective matter.
Music-sharing sites, blogs, and a flood of releases in general are said to be killing music. What's your view on this topic?
In my opinion the rise of music-sharing sites and blogs has made music more accessible. Fans can discover new artists, genres, and sounds with just a few clicks. This “democratization” of music distribution has empowered independent artists and enabled niche genres to thrive. However, the sheer volume of music being released has led to oversaturation, making it challenging for artists to stand out and for fans to sift through the noise to find what resonates with them. It’s the so-called “choice paralysis”.
I also feel that while music-sharing sites have expanded the reach of artists, they have also transformed (or degraded) the music industry's business model. Streaming services like Spotify provide very low royalty rates, and this fact makes it really difficult for artists to earn a sustainable income. This is what’s really killing music.
Furthermore, the flood of releases has had a severe impact on the quality of music being produced and consumed because at times the emphasis is put on quantity over quality and this in turn incentivizes artists to prioritize quantity and trend-chasing, easily digestible music over artistic integrity and innovation.
So as you can understand, the impact is multifaceted and has pros and cons.
Please recommend two bands to our readers that you feel deserve their attention.
I recommend PSYCRENCE, a Greek heavy prog metal band that has released an amazing album some years ago called “A Frail Deception”. I hope to see them back soon with a new release.
Obviously my friends SUNBURST, spearheaded by Gus Drax and Vasilis Georgiou are releasing their new album very soon so this is something that the fans of the prog genre won’t want to miss out on!
What are your plans for the near future? Thank you and see you next time!
We have slowly started writing some new riffs but it’s very early stages and we do not want to force anything. Inspiration needs to flow naturally so we take it as it comes.
Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to talk about ISOSPIN!
Our album “Aftermath Chronicles” has been released in physical format on 30th April by Sliptrick Records and we hope the fans will support us by buying a copy!
Keep up the great work guys! Cheers, Ilias