Hello! This is Stathis from Karmic Link (est. 2006). First of all, thank you for this karmic interview! After some years of creative silence (been producing our 3rd studio album) we signed a global deal with Italy's Rockshots Records. ''Dark Metropolis'' album was released October 19 and we are already receiving great reviews from the press around the world. We have 2 official audio tracks out (''Random Phantom'' and ''Dark Metropolis'' title track) and we will soon release a video-art clip for the song ''Your Fire Will Burn for Centuries'' which is dedicated to the philosopher Giordano Bruno.
2.Recently you have released a new album, what are some of the things the band has done different musically with this recording that you have not been able to do on your previous releases?
I would say that one of the main differences that the band is doing differently in our new album is NOT featuring female soprano vocals anymore like we did with our two previous albums ''No light but rather darkness visible'' and ''Esoterica''. This is a new karmic path we are following serving our music art and have conscientiously chosen to record/perform darker, gothic male vocals with a punk attitude and touch, even some guest - brutal - vocals to dress the music and our mystical lyrics. The keyboards do not have a leading role anymore, the keyboard orchestrations have moved in the background of the whole production creating a dystopian atmosphere while we have boosted the rhythm / lead guitars and drums more to provide a heavier sounding experience to our fans.
3.While there has been a good amount of singles released over the years this is your first full length since 2010, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time span?
Me and Evan Hensley (our guitarist, bassist) were members of Greece's Nightfall and we were working a lot on releasing two Nightfall albums with Metal Blade records. At the same time we were also laying down ideas for the new Karmic Link album. Last but not least, I had to pause my music activities in 2015 when my daughter Jenny came into this world and decided to focus on family for some time.
4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?
We have always been intrigued by how the great minds of the past like philosophers, scientists, writers, whose ideas and theories are eternal can approach and explain the events in our modern global chaotic world. The first track ''Random Phantom'' is inspired by the sci-fi writer Robert Anton Wilson and the trilogy of novels '' Schrödinger's Cat'' where every-day characters strive with quantum probability events that they can't control, just like in real life. ''Dark Metropolis'' is inspired by dystopian theories about our future where advanced technology will be merged with our biological structures creating a dark society ruled by Artificial Intelligence (the Singularity). ''Your Fire Will burn for Centuries'' is dedicated to the life of the dark philosopher Giordano Bruno who was burned at the stake for his heretic theories by the Roman Inquisition. In our first album we explored the post 9/11 global series of conflicts between the powers of the West and the East using metaphysics (a branch of philosophy, not ghost stories...) and ''Esoterica'' album was a concept story about a female protagonist whose life dramatically changes working as a new anchor in a big TV network. Don't get me wrong, we also have some simple rock songs about personal love stories...hehe
5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Karmic Link"?
At some point a book about Dalai Lama fell in my hands and by reading the whole book I was totally awed with the story of a British journalist who ended up meeting Dalai Lama in Tibet without ever having this meeting in his initial plans. He even went through hell, imprisoned or abducted in some Asian country before embarking on the right path. Sometimes you have a definite plan and life throws you in the opposite or alternative direction without asking. Was this fate? A higher invisible hand? Or just life is random? You name it. I named my band Karmic Link!
6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the album cover?
The artwork depicts the Devil in female form and she is coming to get you...haha...no. I prefer to spur different explanations and meaning with our audio and visual art. The female form could be an advanced AI robot that is plotting a rebellion against its creators and humanity, our dark future metropolis where humans and the machines have merged. Another meaning could be a symbol for a new role for women in the 21st century, a power role in our societies or a dark symbol of the new birth of ideas, technology and science leading humankind to space exploration and other breakthrough innovations that will evolve our species.
7.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?
100% multi-cultural performance experience. I remember one of our past gigs in Linkoping in Sweden where people that did not know about Karmic Link before where thrilled to attend our gig because a Greek, an American and some Swedish metalheads were part of the live gang sending karmic echoes across the venue...nice times! We have been more of a studio band than a live band to be honest because everybody lives in a different country, but you never know what the dark future holds...
8.Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?
We are preparing an official press release to be launched early 2019 with plans for the next 4th album and some live shows...stay tuned!
9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your newer music by fans of progressive and goth metal?
Our new album was released less than a month ago, it's a bit early for final conclusions but the early feedback has been great. I think our past fans were intrigued and challenged with the new overall music direction (male vocals for example) and production but I am sure we will gain new fans who appreciate what we tried to express and achieve with ''Dark Metropolis''.
10.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that some of the band members are a part of?
You should check out Dark Hound, the Nashville (USA) based pure heavy metal band of our guitarist and good friend, Evan Hensley.
11.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Our future will be marked by our past: I think that Karmic Link have a personal sound and experimental artistic identity even if we have been changing our production from album to album. We like being influenced by different music styles and creating intense dramatic emotions with our music. Imagine a tree with a strong stable root consisting of Mediterranean passion, Scandinavian coldness and American aggressiveness in sound, all blended under the vision of Karmic Link which generates versatile fruits and branches.
12.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
Very influenced and always listening to the OST of ''Twin Peaks'' TV series, Blade Runner OST, Barry Lyndon and other Kubrick movies OST, Nine Inch Nails, Radiohead, drum n' bass music, Giovanni Batista Pergolesi, Dead Can Dance, Chet Baker, underground black metal bands, and so many other great fuc*ing artists worldwide!
13.What are some of your non musical interests?
Exploring forests, a bit of gambling, travelling, reading, smoking hookah with friends, cooking, drinking rum, the usual good stuff in life!
14.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
I would like to dedicate our new album ''Dark Metropolis'' to my 3-year old daughter, Jenny Kassios. She is the biggest influence and all the light of the universe to me. She's also slowly becoming a good musician.
Thank you very much for this interview!
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