EMQ’s With Eternal Closure
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with Canadian Progressive Metalcore band, Eternal Closure. Huge thanks to their Guitarist/ Vocalist, Oliver, for taking part.
What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
Hi! I’m Olivier, I play guitar and sing for the band. We have been active in the Montreal scene since 2012. It started as a group of friends wanting to make some good heavy tunes and play some shows, but nothing extremely serious. We’ve been through quite a lot of member changes throughout our history, taking the project more and more seriously as time goes by. Jo and I are the only ones that are here since the beginning. Our latest new member Kat has brought new possibilities to our music that I think will impress a lot of people. It hasn’t always been easy, but we feel like the music is worth it, and that one day all the effort we’ve put into it will get back to us. It’s hard work, but it’s fun work!
How did you come up with your band name?
It really doesn’t mean that much to be perfectly honest with you ha ha!. I just threw a few random ideas together with words that were somewhat of a paradox. Eternal Closure was the one that stuck out of what everyone brought to the table in terms of ideas. It can mean different things to many people and it sounds cool, it really isn’t that deep.
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
We are from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. I feel like our sound is something that is slightly different than what everyone else is doing here. We blend a more old-school Melodic Metalcore vibe with Modern Progressive Metal ideas, while most bands we play with tend to be in a more Hardcore / Deathcore vibe. We end up being the softest band in most shows we play which is kinda fun haha!
What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)
We released our new album “At The Center of it All – Chapter 1” on September 23rd. The three singles we’ve released so far are “Practice What You Preach”, “Exiled” and “Dimensions Apart”. They all show different sides of our new sound, which is a bit heavier and darker in nature.
Who have been your greatest influences?
We blend the sound from Metalcore legends like Killswitch Engage, As I Lay Dying and Modern Metal like Periphery, Currents and ERRA. Other influences include Protest The Hero, August Burns Red, Dream Theater, Architects and Haken.
What first got you into music?
My dad is a huge music fan. He was a drummer in many bands through the years which led to Philippe and I wanting to play music too. I was pretty much born with drumsticks in my hands and let’s say that I haven’t let go of them ever since. Eventually, I wanted to actually write music so that’s when I slowly started picking up the guitar.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
Good question. Two musicians I’d love to feature in one of our songs would be Spencer Sotelo for vocals with a guitar solo from John Petrucci. That would be pretty badass.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Being a headliner in a fest like Heavy MTL would be awesome just because that’s where we come from. Hellfest would also be a dream of ours. The crowds there are just incredible, we want to experience that.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
I’d love to tell you but either it hasn’t really happened yet or I’m blanking really really hard. I guess once we had a pretty weird show where a drunk girl flirted with pretty much everyone in the band and kept doing it even after we told her we weren’t interested. She didn’t try anything really, but the vibe was kinda awkward and in the end pretty hilarious. So, I guess it counts as a gift just cause it’s a fun memory.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Open your mind, but at the same time don’t be afraid to stay true to yourselves. Others can help you grow but it all starts with you. It’s one of the recurring themes on “At The Center of It All”.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Neil Peart. He’s not the typical “rockstar”, but we all miss him. Such a great mind and musician. Seems like everyone loved him to some degree.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
Writing music and hearing the final recorded version. I’m really all about the music. I guess the part I “hate” the most is having to talk with strangers. I get uncomfortable really quickly. It’s nothing personal, it’s just how I am ha ha. If you wanna come talk to me go ahead, but prepare things to talk about in advance cause I am terrible at small talk.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
The fact that being rich and having connections gives you such a head start. It’s pretty much how the whole world works I guess haha. It’s easier to get noticed now though with streaming services and social media which is nice.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
“Fortress” by Protest the Hero. The level of intensity, variety and musicianship is just incredible. I’m pretty sure it’s the album I listened to the most in high school. I’m not as technically proficient as their guitarists are, but they’ve been a huge influence on me.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CDs or Downloads?
I quite like streaming music on Tidal with the high sound quality and how much they give back to artists. I’ll always have a place in my heart for CDs though. I still buy some from time to time for bands I love. Makes it more special in a way. I don’t really listen to them though it’s more of a collection kinda thing, and I do it less and less. Streaming is the way to go now.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
Our first album release for “Screaming In Silence” in 2016 felt really special. We gave a memorable performance, and the place was packed. It was our biggest show yet and I’ll always remember it.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
Probably something having to do with video games or movies. I think I’d be a pretty good screenwriter; I just don’t have the time to fully invest myself into it.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
My bandmates. It may sound cheesy but it’s true haha. I don’t put celebrities on some kind of pedestal. With our schedules, spending time all of us together is rare. Also Neil Peart for sure, but he wouldn’t want to be there anyway haha.
What’s next for the band?
Focusing on our album release right now. We’re also starting to plan for “At the Center of it All – Chapter II” which will most likely release in the second half of 2023.
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
www.facebook.com/EternalClosure
www.instagram.com/eternalclosure/
www.eternalclosure.com/
www.eternalclosure.bandcamp.com/music
Time for a very British question now. As an alternative to the humble sandwich, is the correct name for a round piece of bread common in the UK either a Bap, a Barm (or Barm Cake), a Batch, a Bun, a Cob, a Muffin, a Roll or a Tea Cake?
It’s a trick question and it’s all of them? I have seriously no clue.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Don’t forget to check out the singles we’ve released so far and then the rest of the album! Also, pet your cats. Thank you!
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