VASS/KATSIONIS (Prog/Power Metal – Greece) – Interview for KICKASS FOREVER via Angels PR Worldwide Music Promotion #VassKatsionis – Thank you!!!!

Answered by BILL VASS

Hi Billy! Congrats for brand new album “Cynical Silence”!

You released two albums in a period of one year, something that isn’t very usual in nowadays. I guess this collaboration with Bob Katsionis can be described as creative enough? How did you decide to collaborate with Bob at first place?

I would like to start off by thanking you for taking the time for this interview. Yes. My collaboration with Bob spans over a 10-year period. We started working together when I approached him to produce my band Terra 1nc0gnita’s 2nd album. His ideas and direction for a solid heavy metal album coincided with my vision for the bands’ album. After having a great result, I understood that he and I make a great duo. As far as putting out 2 albums, with only a year apart, well I think that proves how well we work together, and how much creativity we have as a songwriting pair.

As I know, he is responsible for music, while you are for lyrics and vocal lines. Bob is also responsible for production. Are you both happy with the final result?

We were so happy with the result of our 1st album, “Ethical Dilemma”, that we jumped right into the studio, and wrote the 2nd, “Cynical Silence” shortly thereafter!!!Like I said, our atomic songwriting approach, syncs well when we collaborate. It’s evident in both albums. The production of the album is mind-blowing. We’ve been getting feedback that the sound is at a very high-quality level.

Your first album had a certain influence in my opinion, and that was Fates Warning. I think that in “Cynical Silence” you managed to achieve a more personal sound, am I right?

Yes. Absolutely. With Ethical Dilemma, our goal was definitely geared towards getting that 90’s FW, quality progressive metal songwriting factor, out to the public. That, yes, there are still musicians that can write and produce that kind of music. With Cynical Silence, that factor is still very evident, but the songs were not “trapped” in that box. We wanted to prove that although we are heavily influenced by what resulted in Ethical Dilemma, that we are not one dimensional. We didn’t want to produce Ethical Dilemma part 2. It is an album with a much more in-depth, personal, sound.

Except from Fates Warning what other bands have influenced your sound?

Well, what brought Bob and me together, songwriting-wise, was our love for Dream Theater, Queensryche and of course Fates Warning. We believe Cynical Silence has some “brush strokes” from bands like, Pain of Salvation and Conception.

“Vass/Katsionis” is described as a project. Will it remain as a studio project? Is there any chance to play these songs live with a full band?

Vass/Katsionis is in fact, at this point, a project. With that said, we never say never. If we get the right kind of opportunity/agreement, for us to play our material, live, we will most definitely consider it.

The album will be out in a couple of weeks through Symmetric Records (Bob’s label). Are you happy with “Ethical Dilemma” promotion? Have you got any idea of how many copies it has sold?

If we weren’t satisfied with how well Ethical Dilemma was received by the public, we wouldn’t have released Cynical Silence a year after. We took our 1st albums’ success as a sign that our effort was not in vain. Of course, we would love for our albums to be renowned worldwide, but that’s not to say that we are not satisfied with the attention that our work is getting.

How do you see progressive metal these days? And mostly this kind of melodic prog you are into?

Progressive metal wouldn’t be exactly that, if it didn’t evolve. Prog metal nowadays, is its own “thing” in my eyes. I believe that Tool first broke the standard mold that prog bands had to sound a certain way, to be considered progressive. As did bands of the 80’s, when they didn’t follow the exact “recipe” that the 70’s prog-rock bands had laid down. So, yea, progressive metal must evolve, in order for it to be considered progressive.

Billy thanks a lot for this interview. Last words are yours.

Thanks so much for the opportunity to spend this time on discussing “Cynical Silence.”See ya on the flip side!!!

Band Links:

https://vass-katsionis.bandcamp.com/album/cynical-silence 

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085379689804 

https://vass-katsionis.bandcamp.com/ 

https://www.facebook.com/symmetricrecords/