Allochiria Interview

 

1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording and release of the new album?

We have been pretty busy really! After the release of “Commotion” in April we headed on our third European tour in May, together with our good friends Their Methlab, playing 14 shows across the Balkans and central Europe. Afterwards we had two great shows at New Long Fest in Athens, Greece and Rockstadt Extreme Fest in Rasnov, Romania. At the moment we are planning another tour for October 2023 that will include shows in Belgium, Netherlands, Germany and France and we are pretty excited about it!

2.A few months back you had released a new album, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

Το be honest we believe that it's our most complete and straightforward record so far; we do not stretch the parts and we try to keep the listeners interested, by adding or removing small details. Also, there are much fewer clean parts and the more rough parts are much more aggressive. The vocals are a bit more aggressive as well. This is how we perceive it at least.

3.This is also your first release in 6 years, can you tell us a little bit more about what was going on during that time frame?

A lot of things actually, mostly in our personal lives; Stavros, our guitarist, moved to Switzerland for 5 years, had two kids, Irene was in Belgium and moved to London, and of course COVID hit. The tracks for Commotion were getting completed at a slower pace, and eventually when they were ready there was no easy way to record the album! At the moment we are completely focused on Allochiria, we are already composing new songs for our 4th album and we are planning many shows for the upcoming months. 

4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer music and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?

Our songs and lyrics revolve around the modern way of life, the fact that many people have lost their homes and lives because of war. About the loneliness a person might feel despite the fact that they are surrounded by millions of people with whom they never interact because of the nature of life in big metropolitan areas. With regards to songwriting, I believe our progress reflects on our personal lives and how we as human beings first and musicians later are evolving. All these changes that happened to each one of us individually reflected greatly on our songwriting.

5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?

The following quote is from Ultragrim, the artist that is responsible for the artwork of ‘Commotion’: “What matters most in our case is the feeling that’s born by the cover, and not its exact interpretation, as it is a work of non-representational [or even semi-representational] art. The first concept that comes to mind is tension. Hermetically closed teeth tied with threads that are ending in tangled masses on both sides. These masses could be something that we universally perceive as weight. Everyday life, pain, fear, existence itself. A "disturbance" that is. However, the teeth remain closed, indicating determination and stubbornness.

At the same time, the teeth symbolize a classic depiction of worry or anxiety in the dream realm. The dark blue - almost black - background could be just that, a dream field, or it could be the seabed, something familiar, imposing and potentially terrifying. A vast no-space in which one can get lost listening to the commotion.”

6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

We have played numerous gigs with many of the most influential bands of the genre, like Deafheaven, Amenra, Year of no Light, Harakiri for the Sky. Our stage performance is always passionate and honest, each show is different but we try to present our compositions as perfectly as possible. The feedback we get from our shows is consistent and we truly believe that our shows take our songs to a different level.

7.Do you have any touring or show plans for 2023?

Oh yes, we have had 19 shows in Europe and Greece so far this year, including New Long Fest in Greece and Rockstadt Extreme Fest in Romania a few days ago. We are planning a second tour in autumn together with Coltaine from Germany, we’ll announce it in the coming days and we’re really excited!

8.The new album was released on 'Venerate Industries', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

Venerate helped us a lot to organize the release, the video clips and the promotion of the album. Our collaboration is working really well for both parties so far. Their roster consists of many interesting bands of the Greek underground extreme music scene, which deserve more attention and produce so much with so little resources.

9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black, sludge, post and progressive metal?

So far the feedback has been great! To be honest, we were really happy with the result and we knew we had a good album in our hands. We have seen an increase in interest in the US and Central and Latin America, which we are truly humbled by. We think that fans of the genres you mention will definitely enjoy Commotion.

10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

Honestly, we don't know. Our compositions and style are being formed organically, so we can’t really “predict” something.

11.What are some of the bands or musical styles the band members are currently listening to nowadays?

Gojira, Liturgy, Zeal & Ardor, Idles, Leprous, Converge, Celeste, Birds in Row, Employed To Serve. We also  listen to different musical genres like jazz, electronic, classical, drum and bass, depending on the mood and the occasion we’re in.

12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

We would like to thank you for the interview and wish you all the best. We hope to see you in one of our shows in the future!

Website: https://allochiria.com/
Bandcamp: https://allochiria.bandcamp.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Allochiriatheband/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Allochiriatheband
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2PWwVHwBJwSIz5SJ7nkmtt
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allochiria.the.band/
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/allochiria