Asterise is a multinational symphonic power metal band, ready to release their second full length album. On the occasion of their upcoming new release and after listening to their amazing first single ''Into Fantasy'' that was released last month and is included on the upcoming album, I asked Bartlomiej Mezynski, guitarist and co-founder of the band, for an interview.
— When was the band formed and by whom?
B: That's a really good question. I believe it was around 2018 when I met Dionysis Maniatakos—a great keyboard player from Greece—somewhere on the Internet. It might have been on a Power Metal forum or in a Facebook group; I'm not really sure. We had similar tastes in music and both listened a lot to Stratovarius and other Power Metal bands. I remember sending him the demo of our first single, 'Falling Stars,' from our debut album, 'Two Worlds,' and he wanted to join right away! After sharing some ideas and recording demos, we decided to move forward and work on our debut album, 'Two Worlds'.
— Why do you call yourself a multinational band? How many permanent members and who are you currently in the band?
B: Though we all live in different countries, we create and record everything online. Our project brings together guest appearances from around the world. Both Slawek and I are based in Poland, Dionysis is in Greece, Tristan is from Germany, and Arnaud is from France. On top of that, we worked with guest vocalists from the United States and Cyprus, adding even more international flair to our sound. I think this global collaboration is a big part of what makes our music unique.
When we worked on our first album it was only me and Dionysis being the permanent members, however after the release of the first album, we welcomed a drummer into the band because he did an amazing job bringing the rhythm and energy to life. Additionally, we believe the vocalists - Tristan Harders and Arnaud Menard - who contributed to the first album played a significant role in its success. Their unique voices gave the songs a distinct character and that's why they deserve recognition. Even though they may not be part of the core lineup, their influence on the album is huge and I can't imagine future albums without them even singing a small part.
— Does the name you gave the band mean anything to you or did you just choose it because you thought it was a really cool name for a symphonic power metal band?
B: It doesn't have any deep meaning. I remember back when Timo Tolkki released his 'Avalon' album, I thought the name was really cool. So, I discussed with Dionysis the idea of creating something similar, but with a different meaning for our project. After sharing some ideas for a while, we landed on the name 'Asterise,' which, in my opinion, sounds pretty awesome!
— Mostly the theme of a power meta band is mythical or mythological, why do you think that this particular theme is the most common?
B: I wouldn't say that it is the most common theme however I have to agree that there are a lot of "Adventure Metal" bands singing about dragons, mythical creatures and epic battles. Not many people care about the lyrics nowadays however I am sure there a lot of Power Metal fans who actually do :D If you play Power Metal music with a lot of positive energy, major scales, catchy melodies and at the top of that you sing about mythical stuff - This will probably allow you to better feel the atmosphere and emotions of the song.
— You say that you are an online project, is there any chance that the band will practically come together and play live, at festivals or even tour?
B: That would be awesome! However it is very unlikely. I would love to do it but without any external support it is currently impossible. I can't imagine paying for transportation and acommondation of around 10 people myself :). We are rather small band now and first we need to get some recognition. Maybe a crowdfunding campaign in future? Who knows :)
— How did the collaboration with the famous Inverse Records come about?
B: When the recording of our first album, 'Two Worlds,' came to an end, it was time to look for someone who could help us release the material—someone who could assist us with promotion and CDs. I remember that I sent around 20 emails and submissions to different labels. Unfortunately, most of them required a lot of money from me. They wanted to release a minimum of 500 physical copies, which is a crazy amount for an amateur project, especially considering that nowadays people simply don't buy CDs in general. I remember they asked for thousands of euros. Finally, Joni from Inverse Records answered my submission, and very quickly we were able to make a perfect deal for both sides. A deal that doesn't require investing a crazy amount of money. Since then, our communication regarding the band, albums, and promotion has been flawless. That's why I decided to reach out to them again to release our second album.
— The new album has many collaborations with musicians and singers, how did the decision for these collaborations come about?
B: If you are in a band, you are most likely part of a larger community—specifically, the Power Metal community. Engaging in this small world of amateur musicians who create Power Metal music allows you to meet many positive and energetic individuals, all open to new projects and collaborations.
When I was composing 'Two Worlds,' I didn't have anyone specific in mind yet; the only thing I knew was that I was writing it for two singers: one with high-pitched vocals and the other with a lower range, so they could complement each other. Now, after a few years of being involved in the Power Metal community and getting to know numerous vocalists and instrumentalists, I find that when I compose new songs, I can already envision the style and techniques specific vocalists might bring to the songs. Sometimes it's a recommendation from someone, and sometimes it’s just a coincidence that people want to join. At the end of the day, it’s all about having fun and creating unique music together!
— You have already released 2 singles and a full album in 2022, a new single on September 27th and you are ready to release the second album, when and in what form?
B: Before we release the second album, we plan to put out two more singles—one in October and another in November. The full album is scheduled for release on December 6, 2024. It will be available both physically on CDs and digitally on all major streaming platforms. The album artwork and booklet, which will now feature 16 pages, have been significantly enhanced, making the CD a must-have! :D
— Send your message to metal music fans.
B: I want to thank everyone who helped create and contribute to Asterise's music, as well as to every single fan who supports us. It wouldn’t be this amazing without you! By the way, I’m planning something new for 2025, but I won't reveal more at this time :)
*****
New album's info:
Asterise - Tale of a Wandering Soul (album 2024)
Track list:
01. Intro
02. Twisted Ferryman
03. Into Fantasy
04. Raven
05. Wicked Dream
06. Drifting into Darkness
07. Tale of a Wandering Soul
08. Golden Land
09. Call of Whispers
10. Awaken
11. Farewell
Label: Inverse Records
Album cover by Dream Visual Productions
Line-up on album:
Guitars: Bartlomiej Mezynski
Bass: Bartlomiej Mezynski
Keyboard: Dionysis Maniatakos
Orchestrations: Dionysis Maniatakos
Drums: Slawomir Siwak
Acoustic Guitar: Lukasz Wyspiarski
Guest Guitar Solo: Andi Kravljaca
Guest Bass Solo: Lubomyr Kosakovsky
Vocals: Sozos Michael
Vocals: Noah Edward Simmons
Vocals: Arnaud Menard
Vocals: Katharina Stahl
Vocals: Tristan Harders
Vocals: Garrett Campbell
Guest Choir: Aleksandra Mezynska
Guest Choir: Katarzyna Lewucha
Guest Choir: Kacper Stawski
****
Asterise social and streaming links:
Inverse Records
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Interview by Anastasia Tetoula
fot the All Time Metal
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