Albums of Purgatory interview Gholes

Firstly, whats the band up to right now?
Since 1995, we have composed many songs, recorded 2 demotapes, and a mini-album called "Fleur de Soufre" (in 2000). We've played lives (not very much, but we hope for more in the future) and we are now nearly ready for a second album...

How would you describe the Gholes sound?
Gholes is a kind of melodic Death metal : mixing death drumming and vocals with atmospheric keyboards and melodic guitars.
We try to not play in a pre-definite style, but only the music we feel.

How did you get involved with the band?
I was at the origin of the band : i created it. And i searched for (and found) good musicians, which involved themselves in the band and in the music.

Can you remember your first gig (how did it go)?
It was in 1998, at the "Nuclear Festival IV" with Krabathor, Your Shapeless Beauty, Fairlight... That was great, (lot of people, good atmosphere...) but we made some musical progress since this show.

Are you involved in any other projects and if so how do they compare to Gholes?
Yes, i play in another metal band, but it's a secret because that's really different from Gholes.

What are your favourite Gholes tracks?
For the moment, that's "Same" but, with the next album, i think it will change.

What are your favourite all time songs?
Arcturus : Fall of men
Morbid Angel : Hatework / God of emptiness
Death : Together as one / Nothing is everything
Septic Flesh : Mystic places of dawn
Opeth : April ethereal
Coroner : Grin
My Dying Bride : The crown of sympathy
and many, many, many others...

What the first record you ever bought?
"Maya the bee" a long long time ago...

Which album was it that got you into metal and can you explain why?
Iron Maiden "Seventh son of a seventh son", because that was both melodic and agressive. I still think that's the best Maiden's album. But i don't listen to Iron Maiden a lot today...

What would be your dream band line-up?
Vocals : Mikael Akerfeldt (Opeth)
Guitars : Eric Rutan (Morbid Angel) and Blackheim (Katatonia, Diabolical Masquerade)
Bass and back vocals : ICS Vortex (Dimmu Borgir, Borknagar)
Keyboards : Sverd (Arcturus)
Drums : Gene Hoglan (Death...)
But i'm not sure that would be a good mixture!

If you could do a cover for a tribute album to any band, which song of which
band would you pick and why?
I think that may be a song from the Death's album "Human", in memory of Chuck Schuldiner.

What do you think of the position of metal and music in general today?
What a vast question! For me, i can say that music is primordial in my life. But in general, people don't really listen to music but hear only what is given to them, (radio, tv...) without searching for what they really enjoy, the music which fit them.

Which other bands stand out for you at the moment?
Opeth, Arcturus, katatonia, Septic Flesh, Muse, The Kovenant, Tiamat, Summoning, Vader...

Do you have any funny stories about the band you can share with us?
Our last gig, for the opening song : One of the bass strings snaped, the low-tom fell down on the drummer's leg (not easy to play the bassdrum !!!) and no sound for the guitars... Well, now that's funny, but, we weren't laughing at that moment!!!

and finally, what do you see in the future for Gholes?
In the next future, we are going to record our new album, a concept about the conscious work towards realization of a being, captive and exploited, in a world of illusion.