Band page - AnoxiA

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What is your name and your current position in the band?
 
Claus S. Nielsen, Guitarist
 
How would you categorize the style of the band? And did you ever consider or try playing other styles of music than the one(s) you are playing now?
 
The style is Thrashy Heavy Metal, based on the old school but added modern elements as well as rock n roll. All members of the band played in a variety of other bands before AnoxiA. Altogether these bands covered a wide span of genres, all from classic rock to death metal.
 
What is your latest album and why should people buy it?
 
Our upcoming release "A Lapdance for the Devil" is out on Mighty Music/Target distribution on February 1st 2010. The album contains 10 tracks, all bearing a different sound than you will usually hear. The album is for lovers of heavy metal who also like a thrashy and aggressive twist. The good melody is a main ingredient in all of the songs, other spices include the twinkle and the rock n roll approach.
 
Tell us about the history of the band. More specifically, when was the band formed, how did you meet, and have there been any particular highlights or low points in your career, any crucial events that have taken you where you are today?
 
The idea of ANOXIA was created in Nyborg, Denmark in 1996. After a couple of demos and lineup-changes the band recorded the promo "Kept In Sin" in 2005, which was warmly received in the press and spun off several concerts. The line-up and sound of AnoxiA has been stable since 2004.
 
Was there ever a time when you wondered if your band would remain just a local outfit and never make it in the industry?
 
Every band has an initial time where they wonder whether the quality of the music is good enough. AnoxiA has accomplished to establish a name in Denmark by playing around 50 shows around the country since 2000.
 
Can you share with us one or two of your favourite moments with the band?
 
The general favourite moments are being on the road, playing different cities and meeting different people and fans.
 
To pick out a single event, it was a big moment when the band was selected to play the international music festival Bilbo Rocks, Bilbao, Spain. The jury of the festival had agreed that we had a cool and different sound, and flew us in to play a show. However we came close to cancelling the show on the very day, due to sudden airline strike. Hell bent for performing and after more than 10 hours airborne above Europe, we did succeed in landing in Bilbao 1½ hours prior to showtime! The concert was a great experience, and a major pad on the back for ANOXIA.
 
How is the writing process in the band?
 
Usually someone brings in a riff or an idea for a drum pattern into the rehearsal room. From there it is a collective process, where we jam on the bit, discuss which overall feeling and sound that we want the new song to have. More parts are created, and eventually a rough track is born! The lyrics are written after the song is finished, when the mood of the song is fixed. 
 
What brought you on the path to becoming a musician? Did you ever consider or take any other paths through life besides music?
 
Every member of AnoxiA has his dayjob. But being musicians besides our dayjobs was  originally fueled by an everlasting love for rock n roll and metal. Alltogether in the band we have 75 years of experience playing music.
 
Do you have any idols? If yes, who?
 
"Idols" is a term that gives associations to teenage bedrooms with posters on the wall that you kiss goodnight every night. However we, of course, have a lot of music that we worship and adore. A lot of different music, but every member of the band loves AC/DC, Iron Maiden, DIO and Slayer, just to name a few.
 
Do you have any regrets looking back at your career? For example any songs or even full albums that you regret recording?  If so, what made you regret it?
 
Since we are about to release our debut album, this is fortunately not the case.
 
Are there particular songs in your catalogue that the fans love but you're not particular fond of yourself?
 
In certain cities, the crowds always cheer for stuff from the early demo-days, which has become too outdated, and would not fit into our current setlists. Fortunately, in other cities, they cheer for stuff that we love playing ourselves!
 
How important do you rate the lyrical side of your albums?
 
 The vocal melodies are in reality very important, since they are the first "catches" when a new listener hears an AnoxiA-song. We do put a lot of work into creating perfect melodies. The lyrics are important too. Lyrically "A Lapdance For The Devil" is founded on a broad base, and the lyrics are not fixed to one specific theme. The lyrics handle meaningful topics, and insist on making a stand and making a difference!
 
What do you think about the state of the music industry today?
 
Basically there are quite a few parallels from the scene of today to the Do-It-Yourself heyday of punk rock. Since anybody can produce an album with a decent quality and release it, the competition has become tougher, and the odds of making it have become worse. Of course it is healthy for the scene with a lot of bands, and the scene really IS thriving.
 
What do you think is the best way to fight music piracy?
 
Basically the current form of music piracy came into the scene overnight. Going from the fairly harmless tape-trading, which I am convinced was very, very healthy for the industry, that had been going on for 20 years, the industry was not prepared for this digital piracy, that all of a sudden appeared. The concept of digital piracy came in overnight, the solution for the industry to handle it apparently did not! As with the tape trading I do however think that piracy has some positive side effects as the music will be exposed to more people.
 
Do you have a life philosophy? If yes, what is it?
 
A part of my life philosophy is pretty much stated in the title track of our upcoming debut album: "A Lapdance For The Devil" is a homage to flirting with danger, facing yourself and bursting the frames of a standardized 9-17 life. Catching given chances, even if it requires you to get off solid and safe ground. Living your own life and nobody else's.
 
Can you describe a typical day in your life?
 
Going to work, going home and playing guitar or going to band rehearsal.
 
What do you like to spend your time with besides music?
 
I'm a fan myself, so I go to a lot of concerts. Besides from that? Parties and women!
 
What's the craziest thing that has ever happened on a tour?
 
A lot of weird stuff has happened over the years. A moment of glory was when our former bass-player once puked over his pants in the tourbus, and subsequently removed them. The last we ever saw of him was him running -bare-assed, mind you- out of the bus and down the streets of the city in this freezing January night!
 
You're heading off to live on a deserted island for a couple of years with your portable entertainment system... Which albums, movies or books would you bring? (Max. 3 of each)
 
Albums:
AnoxiA: A Lapdance for The Devil (of course!)
Iron Maiden: Somewhere in Time
Black Sabbath: Headless Cross
 
Movies:
Rock Star
This is Spinal Tap
The Big Lebowski
 
Books:
The Dirt (Mötley Crüe autobiography)
Slash (autobiography)
White Line Fever (Lemmy autobiography)
 
Because I pretty much would want to turn it into a rock n roll island!
 
What is your favourite joke?
 
Steel Panther! (the band)
 
Can you tell us about any future plans for you and your band?
 
2010 will be the year of touring in support of "A Lapdance for The Devil". Amongst other shows we will hopefully be supporting Artillery on their spring 2009-dates. Besides from that the never-ceasing AnoxiA-metal creating machine will be running!
 
Thanks for answering these questions. Now you are free to write a few lines to our readers.
 
If you like Heavy Metal with real vocals, check out our new album, "A Lapdance for the Devil". Songs for streaming are available at www.myspace.com/anoxiadk.
 
 
 
 
 


Added by Steen - 1/5/2010


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