INTERVIEW WITH FRAGMENT SOUL
INTERVIEW WITH FRAGMENT SOUL
By Rick Tilley
Hi Everyone
I first heard about Greek Progressive/Doom/Melancholic Metal band Fragment Soul back in April of this year, when they released the video for their track ‘A Choice Between Two Evils’ (which you can see below) and it is an absolutely beautiful piece of music. It may be mournful and sombre but also strangely uplifting and it connected with me deeply. It also helped that the wonderfully cinematic video, by Natalia Drepina, is beautifully made.
On May 7th, 2021, Fragment Soul released their debut album “Axiom Of Choice” and if you love any of the genres mentioned then it comes highly recommended.
We were recently able to do a quick Q&A with the band which I am very grateful for. As an introduction to them it is perfect and I hope that we can have a more in depth chat with them in the near future.
Enjoy
Rick
Q: To start with, can you please explain why you chose the name “Fragment Soul”. And what does it mean?
A: Hello there! First of all, we would like to thank you for this interview.
Fragment Soul meaning in a free translation is “all of the pieces of a splintered soul, viewed together as one”. It’s a band name that we believe fits with the music we create.
Q: Do you believe that being from Greece has helped your career?
A: Greece, especially Corfu, where most of us are, is a place that we grew up in and the inspiration is huge. On the other hand, for sure, a bigger town could help us decrease the costs we have as a band, especially now, that is our start.
Q: Tell us about your new work.
A: “Axiom Of Choice” is based on a concept written by Spiros Georgiou The album is a 42 minute full length album of Prog/Dark-Melancholic metal. Progressive Metal from a sorrowful world, I like to say a sweet melancholy with a glimpse of hope inside a horror reality.
Q: Before you started Fragment Soul, were you experienced with other bands?
A: Jimmy Louvros (guitar) and I were working on a previous band we had for a couple of years. Kostas is also in a band called ‘Sunburst’ and Vangelis has his own band ‘Sedate Illusion’. Nick, as the youngest, had a band in his hometown for a few years.
Q: Can you tell us who your musical influences are?
A: Personally, my tastes are around bands like Opeth, Katatonia, Draconian, Swallow The Sun, Anathema, Karnivool, King Crimson, Rush, Pink Floyd and many more.
Q Regarding your songwriting, tell us about your lyrics. What they are about?
“Axiom Of Choice” is a concept album that represents a journey through romance, torment, fear and, at the end of it, an unexpected tranquility that drives the main characters into despair and deliverance alike.
Q: Why did you decide to sing in English and not in Greek?
A: Mainly because of our influences!
Where did you record the album?
A: The recordings happened in Corfu at Tube Studio, except for the drums that were written at Kostas home Studio.
The mixing and mastering happened at Fascination Street Studios. Mixing was by Linus Corneliusson and Mastering by Tony Lindgren.
Q: Speaking about live performances, do you have a lot of experience? What was your best gig up until now?
A: All of us have experience of live shows. As Fragment Soul, with our debut album released less than two months, we haven’t done any yet. The pandemic has had its role delaying live shows. Let’s see how things are going to be in the next few months.
Q: There are a lot of Hard Rock/Metal bands in Greece. Why do you think that is?
A: Greece is one of the biggest scenes in Europe for Rock/Metal. I can’t explain why, but it seems our interest in those genres, as a country, is huge.
Q: Do you believe that passion is important being in a Rock/Metal band?
A: Passion is important in any aspect of life, especially when you refer to any kind of art. Rock and Metal are genres that demand huge amounts of emotion to compose and execute.
Q: The last lines are yours…Thank you so much for this interview!
A: I would like to thank you again about this interview and to everyone that is reading, also a huge thank you. We are looking forward to meeting each one of you!
Fragment Soul are:
Spiros Georgiou – Bass
Dimitris Louvros – Guitar
Vangelis Kakarougas – Piano, Keyboards
Nick Argyriou – Vocals
Kostas Mylonas – Drums, Percussion
Album Guest Appearances:
Special Member: Heike Langhans (Draconian) – (Vocals)
Guest: Egan O’Rourke (Daylight Dies) – (Vocals)
CONNECT WITH THE BAND:
‘A Choice Between Two Evils’ feat. Heike Langhans(Official Video)
Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Richard Tilley and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this interview, unless you have the strict permission of said party. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
