Symphorce – German Dark Power Metallers

Germany's Symphorce have been releasing quality albums since 1998, yet their first albums failed to impress me in the past. It was around the time that their third album – Phorcefullahead came out that I began to understand the band had something going. With a solid line up of strong musicians and one of Germany's best metal vocalists – Andy B. Franck (also of Brainstorm fame) it seemed I misjudged them before. The band's new album – Become Death, combines the rather progressive power metal they created before with some heavier, and more modern elements, Cedric, the band's guitarist, was kind enough to fill us in on the rest.

Hey guys, first, congratulations on the new album, I was very impressed by it, are you happy with how it turned out?

Yeah we are damn happy about it, and I just think it’s sounds absolutely great (for my taste).

What's the idea behind the cover artwork and the album's name?

When we started writing the songs, we thought it sounds heavier than what we have done so far, so it was clear that it’s going to be a dark-atmosphere album, so the cover art work and lyrics just reflect what we were surrounded emotionally by that time.

Musically the album is probably the most diverse you ever put out, was that something you were aiming for?

Not really, I mean it’s a natural process you go through as a songwriter, I can’t even tell you what that is, but it just is, haha, we weren’t thinking too much about where we wanna go with "Become Death", it just came out like that ya know…but I ‘m glad we did once more.

The first track is probably your heaviest yet, why did you choose to go in an almost death-metal like style with it?

Markus wrote that song, I first had my doubts with it, but in the end it reflects the Symphorce Style and I think it’s a kick ass opener for a new album, although I have to confess that it might be weird for people who already know us.

The band started out much closer to traditional heavy metal, and this release takes it into a much more modern and sophisticated direction, is that something you're going to pursue in the future as well?

Probably, you know, we’re always looking for new edges and limits, and we’re not stopping letting new influences come to our sounds as long as it still sounds like Symphorce in a way. I think it’s boring to just do the same thing over and over again, you have to develop!

This is your second release with Dennis Ward on board, in what ways do you think he changed, or helped the band's sound?

I’m really happy with his productions and it helped us to take another step forward soundwise, I just think that’s the way we should sound, and it rocks. If you think about how low our budget was, and how much time we had to record it (2 weeks), I think we did an amazing job together with Dennis.

I remember having a problem with the guitar sound on your debut album, what is your take on it?

On Truth to Promises it was not really kicking ass, and on Sinctuary, my first Symphorce album, I think it’s too crunchy, but I have met people who really dig it, I’d say it’s always a matter of taste in the end, ..but I think we had the best guitarsound on "Godspeed".

Your very much known to be Andy B. Franck's second band, along with Brainstorm, first, how would you describe the musical difference between the two bands, with Andy's voice certainly creating some similarities?

BS is more traditional, and SP is more modern and open what concerns the styles we let come to our music.

How is it possible for him to maneuver the live dates with the two bands?

I don’t know, we rarely play live, maybe that does answer it.

I understand the limited edition of the album also has a bonus DVD, what does it include?

It’s a show we recorded while playing in Holland in 2005 on the Sonata Arctica tour, it was recorded by the guys at the venue, they always do. And it’s been such a great vibe so we thought it could be a great bonus for the fans.

Did you consider the future of the band when creating this album? Are you going to continue doing such heavy material for your next release? Or is it more of an experiment for the band?

We’re always doing new experiments, it’s something I love in Symphorce, ….it’s just never boring, there are always new surprises and aspects, so I can’t tell you how it’s going to continue. Probably we’re doing HipHop or Trance music on the next one, hahahaha, ok, THAT was joke.

What now? Are you going to tour with the album?

I don’t think we can afford another tour, because the label support would not allow it. but I hope we can play some more single shows and festivals this year.