1. Greetings to the sunny Greece! I am glad that we can do an interview with you because all of us from the editorial staff think that people will talk about you a lot now that you have released "Cendres et Sang". So how're you doing in these days?

Hello Mister, thank you very much for your kind words, I hope your expectations about Aenaon will come true, but honestly this is the last thing that we have in mind when we talk about music! Anyway, things are going fine, we are trying to do some vacations at the same time that we are still in work.... Funny and strange thing but necessary.

2. Demo, EP, split album, and now the debut. Before we start speaking about the debut album, could you sum up everything that preceded? What affect had these recordings upon you?

The journey started back in 2007, when we released a promo cd. In 2009 our first official work, “Phenomenon” mcd was finally out and after that we had a split 7’ named “A Parallel Zoetrope” with the Romanian guys, Satanochio. All these releases were and still are important for us. We learned a lot of things about the scene and how does it work. Year by year our experience is growing up and this helps the band to do more mature moves than the past.

3. EP "Phenomenon" was released by canadian Bleak Art Record. In my opinion, that's a big success. And the new album is released by Code666. That itself indicates certain qualities. How did you managed to cooperate with Code666?

Joseph from Bleak Art Records is really a crazy guy! He helped Aenaon as he could and I have shared with him a lot of hours talking about music and sometimes about silly things... hehe. On the other hand, we had to move on and try for something more closed to the band tastes. Emi and the rest guys on Code666/ Aural Music, are doing a great job. Considering that a band like Aenaon is part of a label like Code666, I think that is for sure a good match. We talked with some other labels too, but Emi was straightforward and comprehensive with us. I think that being part of this label is a success from itself.

4. How do you feel amongst bands such as Fen, TAOP, TMK, and Control Human Delete? Do you know any of them in person? What's the atmosphere like under the Code666 team?

It’s pretty cool to share the same label with the bands you mentioned. All of them are well-respected in the “weird” black metal society and we are listeners of them too. Everything is running so fast for Aenaon and we didn't get in contact with any of them yet, but we will, in the near future.

5. Let's talk about "Cendres Et Sang". In my opinion, it's a huge suprise. I was very pleased by the saxophone which is not commonly used in the black metal genre. So why did you use it? I guess you are jazz fans, am I wrong?

Yeah, we like jazz among other genres but it wasn’t something scheduled. It just happened... We are open minded individuals and we like to explore our options in music. I hate some persons that still are talking about “true black metal”. Saxophone is a unique organ that produces very special sound, full of feelings and atmosphere but in the same time could create aggressiveness and darkness. Something like Aenaon music.

6. I didn't mention jazz by accident. I noticed it in a lot of moments of your album. Twists, methods, and most importantly a huge sense of every single instrument and composition. What can you tell me about that?

We gave a lot of attention in the composition level. As you, we are fans of music, especially of black metal and the latest years most of bands invest in everything else except their own sound... Great productions, wonderful photos, excellent promotion and spaming but what about music? Very few bands deserves trully the attention and this is something that really makes me sad. I really love when I listen a new good album and makes me feel like a 15 years old child. When we started to compose “Cendres et Sang” our only goal was to make good and unique music… I hope that some guys will feel this, if yes, partly our goal is achieved…


7. "Cendres Et Sang" means "Blood and Dust". Why did you go for French and why did you choose this title?

Well, I think the best translation is “Ashes and Blood”. The title symbolizes our organic origin... death and life, ashes and blood… We thought that these two words are representing 100% the songs in music and lyrical level, but to tell you the truth, in English this title was sounding in our ears a little bit childish. So we tried to translate it in Greek, German and French. Finally French language won because has the privilege to sound at the same time elegant and cruel.

8. I am interested in the title of the opening instrumental track – "Kafkaesque". The question is then absolutely obvious. Why Kafka?

Franz Kafka is one of my favorite writers. The term Kafkaesque is used to describe works with surreal distortion and often a sense of impending danger. I thought that was perfect to name our intro with this term. It is like to unlock the whole album with the title of the first track and gives the listener the right perspective about what's coming next.

9. I have been listening to your album for a long time and for the whole time it is still able to surprise me. It's unbelievable how much you put into those fifty minutes. Every track has its own status and it is more than a pleasure to figure them out. Many passages sound very spontaneous, but on the other hand look very coherent. What does your composing look like?

All the process of composition and recording was quite painful because all the members of Aenaon at this period are living in different cities. So as you can understand this situation had enough difficulties from itself. The good thing is that we are leaving in the century of internet and this makes our lifes much more easier. Achilleas C. is the composer of the songs. He presents us songs or riffs and all together we decide about their structure etc. It's a little bit strange way to create a whole album, but I think that this was one of the reasons that some passages, as you mentioned, are sounding spontaneous and some others coherent. I am also responsible for the lyrics section.

10. Music is full of emotions and all kinds of moods that influence the atmosphere of your record. A part is caused by the music complexity. Technique vs. Atmosphere – it's often difficult but many bands show the importance of both and they're even successful. What are your priorities?

Hm.. We don't create priorities... We let the riffs and songs guide us. I think that this is the reason some parts of the album are atmospheric and some others more technical or prog. The basic line that we are following is very simple, we don't want to listen our songs and getting bored. So that's why the songs have a lot of different rythms, solos, different kind of vocals, slow and fast parts...

11. What's the story of "Cendres Et Sang"? What is the message of your record?

Jesus loves you! haha. Seriously now, "Cendres et Sang" isn't a concept album, but all the songs have common ideas. This time I gave my attention to psychotic surrealism, the human nature and everything that defines it... self destruction, addictions, religion are a small example about what you can deal.

12. Besides of music you care about the visual side. Why did you change your logo after the debut?

This is a strange story and maybe a spicy one. Our old logo was designed by our old guitarist, Draugen. When the "Phenomenon" mcd was released, after some months we received an e-mail (a little bit threatening) from Vinterriket band, telling us that we had stole their logo. The truth is that if you reversed the old Aenaon logo you will see a lot of similarities. But searching about trademarks and copyrights, this wasn't a problem, because the logos wasn't the same neither we were trying to use the "name" or the "recognition" of Vinterriket. Regardless of that we had no legal problem, we didn't want to see our name linked with another bands and people claimming that our logos look alike. For that we decide to change it. This period the line-up had some changes (Draugen also was out of band) so it was the right time for this change. Asking me now, I don't know if Draugen had in his mind the Vinterriket logo when he was drawing the Aenaon logo. Finally I talk with Christoph of Vinterriket and explain our position. The problem was solved and we trade some cds too.


13. You are posing on the junkyard in your promo pictures. Why the junkyard? :)

Obviously because we think that the photos in forests are a little bit chliche! It's a little bit opposite... black metal and junkyard, but if you will think it, the junkyard is the place that humans hate... they rid of anything useless and hateful to them. But I must admit that we took some shots in a castle too. Some times we are really close minded persons, hehe!

14. And from the junkyard to the stage, I mean, what about your live shows?

We hate live shows. We are misanthropes and the only reason to be on stage is for money. When someone will pay us a lot of money for a live apperance, we will do it. Now, I guess I should also tell you the truth, heh! We want to do live shows and we believe that this is really important for Aenaon. Unfortunately, some months before our drumer left the band and now we are searching again for a new one that can perform right our music and be also a person that fits us. This of course is not easy for Greek standards but it's the first big step to get back to the stage again.

15. Well this is the end of my questions and the word is now yours. You have a free space to tell our readers anything you want to.

Sometimes I love laconism... so I hope you'll enjoy our new album and don't forget, live your addictions!

16. Thank you for the interview. I wish you a successful future and hope some day we'll see each other in the Czech Republic.

Thank you very much for the intersting questions and your support. It's much appreciated. All the best for you and Mortem zine!