THIS ENDING Leo Pignon

Metalzone.gr: First of all I’d like to thank you for taking the time for this interview.
\r\nLeo Pignon: My pleasure
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\r\nMetalzone.gr: Since you have just released your second full length album under the name This Ending, let’s begin by saying a few things about your background for those who don’t know much about This Ending.
\r\nLeo Pignon:It’s a long story really, but I’ll try to make is short. The band originally started out in 1992 and the line-up you see today was established in 1994. Back then we were called A Canorous Quintet. We released a mini-cd and two full-length albums. In 1998 the band went separate ways. Most of us did music with other bands and projects like Guidance of Sin, Amon Amarth and Sins of Omission to name a few. In 2005 however we all felt the need to re-unite the band that started it all and recorded a demo. We sent the demo only to Metal Blade Records and signed a deal a few weeks later. Our first album Inside The Machine was well received by both fans and critics. Now our second album is out, called Dead Harvest. It also has been critically acclaimed and I think we are starting to develop in peoples minds as a force to be reckoned with.
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\r\nMetalzone.gr: Dead Harvest is your second album; tell us a few things about the music and lyrics in the album are there particular themes, music directions you follow?
\r\nLeo Pignon:The lyrical concept is as always the darker side of human nature, we delve into parts of the human psyche that seldom see the light of day. The theme is that of a sinister present and future at the hands of man. A soundtrack of the apocalypse so to speak. The music follows no real direction except what we feel This Ending should sound like. We just know on an intuitive level if a piece of music sounds like This Ending should or not.
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\r\nMetalzone.gr: What feedback have you been getting for the album so far?
\r\nLeo Pignon: Overall I’d say the feedback from both fans an critics has been very good. The most promising is that a lot of people find that our music has layers, it’s not just what you hear the first time, you discover depth to it later on, giving the music a whole new perspective. I think this is our forte and what makes us stand out.
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\r\nMetalzone.gr: Are you satisfied with the result? Is it everything your expected it to be?
\r\nLeo Pignon: I think we achieved what we set out to do, although it took a lot longer than expected due to a lot of technical problems. We also decided to re-mix it because the first mix was not satisfactory. Music is difficult to control and I think it looses some of it’s magic when you control it too much. Recording an album is a journey where the destination is not utterly clear.
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\r\nMetalzone.gr: Are you touring in support of the new album? Will you be appearing in any summer festivals?
\r\nLeo Pignon: We are talking to some festivals, we’ll see how that pans out. We haven’t been offered any tours yet unfortunately.
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\r\nMetalzone.gr: What makes your music stand out in the genre you play and how exactly would you define your style?
\r\nLeo Pignon: I think our strength is our diversity and depth. There’s a lot more to This Ending that what you get at first glance. We offer the listener something more every time they listen to the music. I really can’t define it further, you just have to make up your own mind when you listen to it.
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\r\nMetalzone.gr: Is there any distinctive characteristic that is your trademark?
\r\nLeo Pignon: I think our sound as a whole and the concept we bring is our trademark.
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\r\nMetalzone.gr: Do are your influences into writing music? Are you trying to carry a message through?
\r\nLeo Pignon: We have been doing this for so long that most of our influence comes from our selves and the sound we have developed over the years.
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\r\nMetalzone.gr: Is there anything more you would like to add?
\r\nLeo Pignon: Yes: if you want to see us on the road – support the band!
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\r\nMetalzone.gr: Thank you very much for your time and I wish you all the best in your upcoming plans.
\r\nLeo Pignon: Thank you!
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\r\nInterview Elena Mihailidou\r\n