The Lodge @ Desire Interview

Desire
an interview with Flame

Tell me about the band's current status and your aims in the medium run.
What happened recently (and it was already known to several people) was that we have rescinded the contract that linked us to Skyfall, due to several problems we had with them (which were more armful than beneficial to the band) and now we don't have a record label; but we're working on new songs to find a new contract in the short, medium-run. There are some labels interested, but from our side we want to create something of great quality and a dignifying successor to our debut Infinity... a Timeless Journey through an Emotional Dream, seeing that Pentacrow - like some of you might know - was more like a mini-CD.
Regarding the changes in the line-up, we thought we had found the right person, but that didn't happen, as there were some details that made us think about it again... And contrarily to what happened throughout Desire's history, people aren't what they seem to be. Initially, it always exists an identity that is shined by the musicians' side when they belong to the Desire's line-up and thereafter, that personality is the total opposite to what we pretend to achieve. In the long-run, they end up unmasking and that's been revealed by the bassist we thought we've recruited a while ago. He's no longer involved with the band, much like the female vocalist, which had a certain relationship with him and once more, Desire keeps going without a bassist. Once in a while we recruit some bassists to perform the live duties on our shows, but in reality we don't have what you can call a "real" bass-player. Regarding the keyboardist, Dawn has regretfully abandoned the band for professional reasons, but it's a leave that can be faced in the long-run, seeing that it's highly complicated to find a worthy successor of Dawn to fill the key duties. It is not our goal either to find a person that can play all the stuff he executed at the composition level, but at least a person who's able to transmit the main ambiances. Like I said, Dawn keeps working with us, but at the level of an invited musician in some concerts, when his availableness is visible; and as such, we have three persons interested to play the synth for Desire and we have already started some sessions with them. We are more or less playing new songs with a keyboardist (which is not his vocation) and he's showing his abilities really well. We putted aside our old material to dedicate completely to our new songs and that person. At this moment we're satisfied with him, but that doesn't mean he has entered the band, as we are merely working at an experimental level.

After the successful Infinity... a Timeless Journey through an Emotional Dream, you have recently released Pentacrow; why this name and, according to you, does it faithfully describe the entire EP? Tell me also about the new songs, lyrics and the way you approached things this time.
After the release of our debut (and because we are used to be in long periods of composition without releasing any record), we thought it would be a good timing to edit a work that could resume, above all, general traces of everything we have been doing so far, more to say to people that Desire keep on going and because Infinity... was released in 96. It's more to say that the band is still alive and (according to some) in a fine good health.
Regarding Pentacrow, what I can say about the title was that we tried to conciliate several factors in only one word and that's the sole reason to appear the name of Pentacrow; why? Because it represented five years of the band's existence, five years we tried to approach things in a way that we included our first ever song Death Blessed by a God, recorded from the promo-track. We also tried to comprise the album Infinity... to the persons who weren't aware of it and in that way they could have a first contact with Pentacrow with the original track Ride in a Dream Crow. And then we have that other recent phase of Desire, with the song When Sorrow Embraces My Heart and with our homage to Candlemass (Solitude). And that is perhaps the explanation of the section Penta. Regarding Crow, we gathered to it the symbol of the band (the crow) and the designation of why we describe ourselves as crow-lovers.
As far as the topics of the new songs are concerned (especially When Sorrow Embraces My Heart, which is the one that is properly the new song included), we tried to explore even further the tragic-negativist and highly emotional line with some romantic assertions of Desire's lyrics, which has been a voyage initiated with Infinity... and that is our intuit to evolve even more in a poetic manner; hence, the inclusion of Solitude came to make the band offer its own homage to the great men of the worldwide Metal (Candlemass), a band we all grow listening and maybe the album from which that song was taken (Epicus Doomicus Metallicus), is an album that maybe woken us to the way our music is presented like it is: melancholic. And it was also the best way we could be aware of Doom Metal. Solitude wasn't chose merely at random, seeing that the song in itself and its own lyrical component has a lot to do with Desire's universe, so we think we accomplished that quite well.

Back in the spring you performed a very successful show in a Lisbon's amphitheatre, with a very unusual choreography as well; how are your feelings on it today and who's the new female vocalist and bass player (who have actually left the band pretty quick).
Indeed, we tried to make a very special concert, entwined with the release party of our mini-CD Pentacrow; we had some difficulties and delays concerning the place where we wanted to play (a different kind of room, which would be different than a mere Metal venue). Without any doubt, I think the chosen place had a great intimacy between the band and the public and I think that was extremely well accomplished. Talking about the concert and in behalf of all Desire members, we understood quite well the event's responsibility, because it was, for us, a big surprise to see a complete full room with approximately 400 people to watch us. Maybe this was due to our attitude towards the national scene (I could apply the word modesty), because as people have previously told us, maybe we don't realise what Desire are at an international level and maybe because of that, we had a big surprise seeing so many people; plus we didn't have any support act, so that leads to erase any doubts that people might had, as they knew it was only Desire that was playing. One week before the show we played in Covilhã; we had a tremendous gig and our relation between the audience and the band was great. It was one of those concerts where we were most relaxed and it was really like truly madness there! That same concert was good for us, because we took the time to prepare for the release-party a week after. But that didn't come to happen as we thought, because we were very withdrawn of that human moulding. Concerning the reaction of the crowd, it was excellent, as the receptivity to our songs and our capacity to perform our studio's sound on stage was great (a lot more superior than we thought). We have a great concern about the scenic level, trying to transpose a great ambiance theatricality that perhaps we only have achieved on this concert at the amphitheatre, because we were more close to reach our goals, but as it's easy to recognise, the theatricality of the scenic effects demands a lot of strength and will (plus a share of the budgets). Everything the audience has seen last April, at the amphitheatre, was all brought by the band itself, or in other words, it's a lot complicated - not only because of the money to carry the band upwards, as it is easy to comprehend what such a task evolves, but because we don't have the help of no one to help us with that; and all these things take many time from ourselves. But with the little we have, we always try to come up with things that people can relate to. I also think that when it comes to live shows, people have to face things in a different way than with any average band. Not that Desire distant ourselves from the Metal line, far from that (such thing will never happen), as Desire is in essence a Metal band, but people really appreciate Desire's sound and there's a huge intimacy between them and ourselves and we really want that to happen (that people can be evolved in a great ambiance and atmosphere, so that they can witness our sound live in a more demanding way than hearing safely the CD on their stereo and also being there mingling with the musicians).
As I previously told on the first answer, the female voice we used on the release party is no longer with us. It was more like a try (and well succeeded in this case), in order to join Desire onstage. For the future we have already some people in mind to entwine our sound on stage and in the studio and in that way we are really hoping to perform big shows in the future, but it's not always easy - mainly due to the conditions and the places on which we have to play in Portugal. But I think people were really happy with the concert and as usual, the more unhappy ones are always us, but it's a healthy reaction, as it makes us work more demandingly (and also as individuals).
Regarding Shadow, at the time we were looking for a bass player, he was introduced to us by the people at Skyfall, because he had recently left Fallen Seasons and he was with us (I assume) since the beginning of this year, so he must have entered the band during January. He played two concerts with us, rehearsed and fortunately didn't enter on the creative process of the band, because if we have a very negative thing with musicians, is that when we enter in a phase of composition, people think that by their own will they have to take the stuff they compose when they leave the band and that's a thing we haven't accepted very well, so that leads to discussions with those people. It's not our spirit, or ouur way of being, seeing that when a person enters to a band, he or she is working for the band and not at a personal level, and that was a thing that started to grow in Shadow's personality. It seemed to us that he was trying to reach a more personal acknowledgment than a recognition at a band's general level and that was proved by some of his attitudes. Sometimes we used to say this ironically, but perhaps Desire is a band that talks too much and it should do more and talk less, but normally the chats between us have been really productive and in some of those talks, we saw that such a personality like him didn't interest minimally to Desire, therefore his abandonment.

Everyone in the band uses aliases; why this particular decision and don't you feel that a fraction of your supporters might draw an association of the band with Black Metal?
Our choice of heteronyms owes to the fact that it mirrors into Desire our hidden personalities and is only through the music we make that we can reveal certain feelings and emotions that we can't reveal during a usual day and also can't share with people from our world. And so, all the elements decided to choose certain aliases that could have something to do with nature and above all, a bit of each other's personality. This also makes us shine ourselves into the truly essence of the word and it also allows us to express certain emotions that the baptism name can't let, therefore the use of the nick of Tear on vocals, Mist on the guitar, Eclipse on the other guitar and myself on the drums. I chose this heteronym because it allows me to express certain feelings within my actions, therefore my vast changes of personality during certain places and situations. I have a certain attraction by the fire, but the choice of the flame owes itself to the duality that it can awaken, some good feelings and some bad feelings regarding the most diverse situations.
Talking about the connection with Black Metal, we have seldom been appointed as such because of that, but automatically in there, we have a thing that distance ourselves from Black Metal bands and that is, the heteronyms we use have really something to do with each one's personality and its respective elements are really concrete and known things to most of the people (unlike many individuals who have really complex and funny names, most of the times). But no, our aliases don't have really anything to do with Black Metal's ideology, since they're the mirror of our personalities and our true entity that we can't express with our baptism names. By choosing our heteronyms, we feel really fulfilled, that's for sure.

Your moniker has progressively changed over the years, from Putrid Cadaver to Incarnated and ultimately to Desire; why these alterations and do you think you've accomplished your definitive band name?
The band has progressively changed its moniker, not really because of the current trend, but because it has always been in search for perfection. Our first name, Putrid Cadaver, is a moniker that we practically ignore these days, because it was a name chosen by the two founders of the band, myself and Tear and it was really inspired from Death Metal. We have always been - and still are - unconditional fans of Death Metal and as I said, the choice for that name doesn't really mean anything for us now, as we never really recorded anything under that name. Our first and only real name that awoken us for the national Metal was Incarnated, when we altered it in 1993, a little bit before the release of the promo-track Death Blessed by a God, but we soon realised that abroad, there were too many bands under the same moniker and as always, we have constantly searched for distinction - not only at a musical level, but also in everything! Therefore, the choice of the name Desire, as we think it reflects itself really well in the lyrical and musical contents that the band has been developing and pretends to reach in the future and I think it's a name that means very much to us, so it's not in any way a name to change. When we reach a day that Desire changes its moniker, that day will be the day that the band will die with it, has our name will never be altered again, because we have been building a career with it and nothing will make us change the name again. Desire will always be Desire, no matter the events that will occur.

I think it's notable to behold the recognition the national scene has been gaining over the last couple of years (not only from abroad but also inside its circle); but would you agree that there are still plenty of acts centred around the Death and Doom Metal factions and that only a small minority of bands are serving other Metal subgenres (like Black Metal or even the pure Heavy Metal style)?
Without any doubt, there is a major recognition from the worldwide scene in relation to our Metal. We can't forget that the fact that some bands have signed with foreign labels has launched Portugal to a higher status on the worldwide scene and I think that there exists some talented bands, but it's sad to see that those bands of real talent are the ones more occult within our environment, maybe because of though break, or some misfortune throughout their lives, but I think it's mainly because the scene gives more space to untalented bands than to the original ones and I think that reflects on that bad luck I was mentioning. I also think that Portugal is a very influential country by the music that comes from abroad, as people have always an urge to make something similar and I think that's totally wrong, because there are lots of good music in Portugal; pity is that much of those bands aren't still recognised yet.
In connection with the Black Metal trend over the last years, I think that Portugal has also followed that wave (though not quality-wise), because the Black Metal bands that arose during the last few years, with the exception of 2 or 3, are the ones that can be really pointed as true marks on national Black Metal. Besides that, there were some projects from Black Metal some years ago, but they died at the time of their birth. On our scene, I think we have to point out Decayed, by their coherence throughout the years, as they haven't been influenced by the trend. Also Firstborn Evil are a good example of Portuguese Black Metal. Apart from that, little more, besides some projects who want to play Black Metal, but end up in a fusion of Death Metal with Black Metal voices, like In Darkness...; but I really think that the only two bands worth of mentioning are probably Decayed, because of their historical past in the scene, as well as Firstborn Evil, that I think will probably have the recognition they deserve in a short term. I think that Portugal can be proud of itself, by having an elite of 2, 3 bands within each musical genre, bands with quality and I speak from the traditional Heavy Metal to the most extreme Black Metal. I think that Portugal has good bands in these fields and it's also important to refer that as the years go by, people have an urge to do more and better and it's not only good for them as musicians, but also for the scene in general. But I really don't like the fact that the Portuguese musicians have been adapting themselves towards the trend, as I am remembering now of the Gothic Metal trend, a thing that I really can't understand, because it is either Gothic or Metal, as simple as that. The fusion of both styles I really can't comprehend. And I think that because of this, people are trying to ruin a Metal concept that is deeply restricted. I hope people understood what I tried to say in these lines...

A significant level of egocentrism is clearly seen these days, either in live events, or in attitudes. What's your view on this?
I think that the majority of the people behave themselves above all by their level of egocentrism, as you refer here very well, as they have a tendency to think that the world evolves and turns around them, when in fact that doesn't really happen. There exists many people and many bands that instead of helping each other in a venue try to ruin everything towards one another and I'm totally against that, I don't have the minimum doubt to refer it. I really can't find any explanation towards that, in order to explain what is really happening and why do those bands have that attitude. In what concerns us, we have already been target of people that thought we could actually have those same attitudes, but it is not of our kind. Maybe we could be in a position to react of that same way, but as I told you, that has nothing to do with us and when people deal with us personally, they get a totally different idea of us, but we have already been target of posers, etc. I myself haven't done anything towards that, really, as well as the other band members. But seldom there happens to be some rumours about Desire being something we aren't, when in fact we have been proving totally the opposite, as we never were, are or will be Rock stars, because we simply do what we want to do and don't really grab this or that, or pretend to be something we aren't.

As a matter of fact, why are you and Tear the only members answering interviews - is it due to the fact that you both created the band and are its creative core?
In all the interviews to the radios stations and the press, it's only me and Tear who do the task, simply because, as you refer very well, we're the ones who composed the band. I really don't have any problem by saying that we're the ones who have done more to make the band what it is nowadays and thus I think it's a bit contradictory to see the new elements answering interviews, that for some reason they don't know one or other question the interviewer can put to them, so I think that's the main reason why me and Tear do all the interviews.

Tell me about your personal construal of the "misanthropic tragedy" reference and your description of Desire's spectrum in conjunction with your musical and lyrical inspirations.
As I previously referred, the world of Desire is very personal and highly individualistic, thus Desire have been pointed out as a really different band on the national scene. We have our own universe, which bases itself in very depressive, misanthropic and tragic-negativist feelings. On Pentacrow, which celebrates 5 years of the band's existence - no, actually at the time we're making this interview we celebrate 6, not 5 - we decided to opt for that axiom "misanthropic tragedy", because at the same time we aren't forgetting about our origins and, as much as Desire changes, we will always keep this way, no matter what's the trend of the moment. The "tragedy" symbolises that whole universe we feel familiar with and no matter what people might think of us because of a cover, or a symbol, we will never change. First of all we always say that all the things concerning Desire must be released the way we want, be it lyrically, musically, or even aesthetically, because we're the first consumers of our own product. It's a very negativist world, indeed, as we're the kind of persons who always see things with a different approach, seeing that from our first day onto this quest we haven't really been welcomed by luck and maybe that owes itself to the fact that things have been really difficult for Desire - and only through music we can channel such feelings of utter misanthropy. And above all, those are our main influences (both musically and lyrically). I could also refer that this can be applied to our personal and professional lives, because in one way or another, Desire reflects all of this. I think that the best track that can really mirrors this duality must be When Sorrow Embraces My Heart - not only because it was initialised with the concept of Infinity..., but because it means a lot to me and Tear, as it deals within a very poetic form of something that we've been through throughout our lives, or some experience we lived previously and, as I referred, only through music are we capable to reflect such feelings. I myself couldn't be comfortable with my person if I spoke with somebody on a daily basis about my personal life, which has been really negative.

Recently I've heard that Skyfall was in turmoil and later I found that its demise was finally cited; at what extent did this revert to the band and what is your current status as far as a label is concerned? In addition, tell me why did Lamelas (Skyfall's manager) left the band in the first place.
Our contract that linked us to Skyfall was automatically rescinded by ourselves, because of some past allegations. One thing we can never forget is that Skyfall was the one who released our first two records and maybe if it wasn't them, we could have never released the albums (or maybe we could, but in another label, we don't know), so all in all, we are grateful to Skyfall for their work. The band gave the best it could to the label, but maybe our demands as musicians were a bit too weird for them, because it's very common on ourselves one thing: if we are demanding to ourselves, we have the right to be it with others and the ones we made to Skyfall were according to them "weird" (although I don't think so). It seems that there wasn't any interest either from the label's part to resign with Desire, which makes me wonder a bit, as we were (according to figures) the best selling band on that label and. in my opinion, a label which doesn't want to resign with such a band makes us wonder what does it wants to do with its future.
Nowadays we have no label, nor any kind of contacts with labels (be them national or foreign ones). There exists some national labels who have reached us already, but sincerely we are not very interested to sign with another Portuguese label, because Skyfall showed us what it is to work with a record company in Portugal, which is a contradiction again, because Skyfall had the money and capability to bet on its bands, so I really don't know what went on in their heads. I am not saying either that we won't be in another Portuguese label in the future, but for now we are more interested in composing new material than anything else, as it's very common with Desire to be in long periods of time without releasing anything. But if we don't see a contract in our hands really shortly, maybe we'll go back to the demos again, in order to send our promo stuff to record labels. I guess this concerns also that light at the end of the tunnel that really doesn't shine, in a manner of speak, although we have our "dream label", so to say, a label that can give the best conditions to a band. We really don't have any problems in signing with a major label, because those are the ones who have more capability to bet on their bands and to promote them 100%, but we have already sent some promo packages to such labels and they all say the same, that they aren't signing any bands at the moment and also tell us to continue our work this way, blah, blah, blah. So this is really what's going on, regarding the label's attitude. Of course we would love to be on Music For Nations, for example. They have done a great job recently for Cradle of Filth, Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride (concerning big advertisement campaigns, tours, etc.) and all in all, this is what really lacks on Desire's camp.
Now concerning Luís Lamelas; he really played with Desire some years ago, till the recording of Infinity..., but at that time he went to the studio as a session musician already. But he was kicked-out of the band due to the same reasons why Shadow was as well, because both of them really had no belonging within Desire's universe and they really didn't agree with some of the aspects that characterised its world, so it was for the best to have them out. They were also trying to mould the band onto their way and that is really like stepping over the line, because both me and Tear are the creative core of the band, both musically and lyrically and not some fresh member that comes to join us a week ago. Meanwhile, Lamelas went to Skyfall and we never really had any bad feelings towards him (or vice-versa) from the moment he was running the label. He's a person we talk once in while, not much, because we all have stuff to do and we're busy all the time, but he is a person we have no hard feelings with and I hope he thinks that way as well, as there weren't any major reasons for that as well. All in all, it is very difficult to recruit new members, as one must be capable to enter Desire's universe at its full, otherwise, the door is at the end of the hall...

Nowadays, it seems that every band has its 5-minutes of fame on television (either with videos, live shows or even small interviews); are you planning to do any of this for this particular medium? Additionally, tell me what made you gather efforts to create Velvet Castle and, since this is a video distribution service, what are your favourite items of all time.
It's a shame that there aren't almost any Metal shows in Portugal, comparing to abroad. I think there wouldn't be any lack of audience, nor bands. Concerning Desire, we always wanted to have a video-clip and we proposed this idea tons of times to Skyfall, but we never had any positive answer from their side, because as soon as the people at Skyfall saw that they had to spend some money on bands, they always remained neutral to that, not to say something else, without thinking first that they could earn a lot from that. And speaking about Skyfall again... When we released Infinity..., there was a proposal from a French organiser to include ourselves on a European tour with Marduk and Gehenna, but right from the start Skyfall refused that, because it involved great amounts of money from their side and such an action let ourselves completely dumb-fucked, to say the least, because when they spend some money on such an event, they will always earn some money with that, be with the promotion, merchandising, etc. All in all, that was the spirit of Skyfall that we met along these years. Just to mention another Skyfall incident; Adipocere from France wanted us to be part on a compilation album, that was supposed to be distributed freely with Metallian, with several known acts worldwide. And it was supposed that the label of each band should give a little money to see it there and you know what happened next, don't you? Nevertheless, as Adipocere were much more professional and possessed of a more adult attitude than Skyfall, they ended up including us on that compilation, with the epilogue of Infinity..., but such a song isn't the most faithful paradigm to our sound and I think that would be a great opportunity promotion-wise, as such a compilation included bands as Septic Flesh, Satyricon, Emperor, Nightfall, etc., etc., but as always, we ended up being fucked.
Speaking of the video, we had great ideas about it, as we were thinking of recording the track A Ride in a Dream Crow, but we never get to see any support from any sides and now the situation is bleaker, as we aren't connected to any label at the moment. But there's been an approach from some persons who were trying to conjugate efforts to broadcast a Metal show on Portuguese television, but it was something not really definitive, although TVI was at our release show in Lisbon this year and they interviewed us and also filmed some footage, but I haven't seen anything yet. I remember that there was a person who was very interested that we would record two videos in one day, but we weren't available to do that at the time, but I guess they were thinking on us to record the thing very primitively, you know, only getting to see the band playing and nothing else and I'm totally against that kind of concept, as it doesn't portray a real atmosphere or climate of the song in question. But the ideas still continue and we only hope that a real firm may reach us in a not so distant future.
Speaking also about Tears In Flames and for those who don't know yet, this is a parallel project of myself and Tear (and the name comes right from ourselves - Tear and Flame), that arose parallel to a distribution CD list, which has been drowning itself during the last couple of years, due to lack of budgets, but the main idea came because we have been collecting videos from some time now and we saw that there were many people interested in acquiring video material, not to mention the fact that there are many people who only heard the band directly from the record player and couldn't actually seen them live yet, as in Portugal we never get to see many bands playing here, but on the last couple of years that has been increasing, concert-wise. We have been getting good feedback and also good results from this area. Right now I'm also involved in the Velvet Castle project, which is a distribution mail-order service I work with my girlfriend and there will be an extensive list shortly released that derives from CD material, official videos and also some magazines. The first catalogue is supposed to be completed by the end of September and to receive it, just send an 80$ stamp (only for Portuguese territory) to Desire's address. I am thinking of making the catalogue really professional and will definitely include some pages talking about the national and international scenes and also a poster.
Speaking about my favourite videos, it is a bit complicated to speak about that, as there exists many good things, but I can say that the official live tape from Nuclear Blast, with Dimmu Borgir and Dissection really caught my attention, as well as Satyricon's Mother North, which I think is excellent. I was really unhappy with the way the Emperor video came out, because I had access to it before the EP was released and I think that they could choose another track to record, like With Strength I Burn, perhaps. I'm also of the opinion that if a person isn't familiar with an album already, he or she changes opinion with a good video-clip, you know, because it attracts people to buy the album. But that is only accomplished if the video is well produced, not if the video is too unsubstantial and standard. It happened to me with the Satyricon, Emperor and Immortal clips, because I didn't have the albums at the time and the videos made me go and buy the records, because they were very well conceived. Another favourite of mine was a tape released by an European label, whose name I don't recall, which incorporated Sabbat, Celtic Frost and Candlemass, I guess. That was a really good one and also the official tape from Running Wild, Death or Glory, which is to me a cult tape.

Tell me about your plans regarding a new album, future live activities and perhaps concerning another project you might have in mind in the short, medium-run.
I urge all the readers that feel identified with what was said above to write us, as your contacts are always welcomed. And I'm not saying only important people, but also fans and distributors as well, as they will be welcomed onto our nest.
Regarding future activities, Desire hopes to release a live-tape of about 90 minutes, which can portray at its best the band live during 97 and 98. Labels interested to release it, contact us soon, as we're thinking to release it ourselves, if a label doesn't show its interest.
In a short note, I must say that this interview was excellent, as it shows some knowledge on what Desire has been making throughout the years, which is good and extremely gratifying and more interviews like this are always welcome.

www.myspace.com/desireband

© 1998 The Lodge

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