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How was the band born and how was the name designed?
Philippe Reinhalter (vocal, guitar, programming):
In 1998, Frederic FIEVEZ and I created DIVISION ALPHA to
develop our musical ambition made of metal, indus and
electro. The urge to combine these nuances, in priori
opposed, brought us to several things: on one hand, to
have our own studio was essential; on the other hand: to
compose until we obtain all the elements of DIVISION
ALPHA's music. We compose by working on the production
of our albums because our music is composed of
electronics parts. By necessity, we produce our music.
From the beginning, musical and textual symbiosis seemed
essential. After some weeks of thought, Psykron's
history was born at the same time as “Fazium One”, the
first album. History is cut into chapters because it
possesses too many details to be contained in a single
album. The name of the group is an element of this
history. To reveal the meaning would be premature
because the conclusion (the fourth album) has not been
released yet!!!
The music you guys make is very unique. How was this
style born?
Philippe: I don't think our music is really
unique. All the musics are linked to each other. We are
like anybody, and we are influenced. I think our music
looks like us, not in the shape, but in the substance.
We love music and all that makes it progress. We take
pleasure to compose pieces which don't look like any
other music. It's our way to be fair with our public.
You like it or not. Anyway, we hope that somebody will
think "Wow, DIVISION ALPHA make the effort to innovate;
they don’t take me for a ride". Concerning the musical
style, I would say that it is a hybrid between metal,
indus and electro. We manage to size up these elements
to serve the story. I think about the electro side for
example. We always keep a room for manoeuvre as the
albums go by. On "The Dekta release", the second album,
the listener is placed in the heart of the machine. All
the production is about this notion: guitars extremely
saturated with fuzz, omnipresence of keyboards and
samples, transformed voices... On "Replika", it's the
raw and the organic side which shapes the titles.
When I listen to the Replika album, I think I hear
some influences by bands like Samael (specially the
Eternal record). What are your influences?
Philippe: I think we have the same influences (laughter!).
We love music in its generality: metal, electro, pop,
Indus, classical music...
Holy Records has got pretty much of the talent
signing original bands (Garwall, Division Alpha, Elend,
...). How Division Alpha did become in touch with Holy
Records?
Philippe: After having worked during some months
to shape our style, we released our first 4 tracks cd
called Division Alpha. Holy Records contacted us to
publish our music. Our music grabbed immediately their
attention. Powerful, ambient, tense, dark, conceptual...
Holy Records always published non-standard albums of
gifted and varied artists. It is rare for a label of
touch so many different audiences. That's why we signed
with Holy Records. They are true passionate persons.
Moreover, we are in touch with Rajna, a group signed by
Holy Records, for whom we have recently remixed «Buried
Filae ". Their style is quite unlike DIVISION ALPHA, and
the mixture is very interesting: between World and
Electro, and sometimes sounds like Wumpscut.
The Replika album received 88 / 100 points from
IndustrializedMetal.tk. What do you guys think about it
yourself?
Philippe: It's formidable and it is an honour.
I unfortunately never got the chance to see Division
Alpha live, but I have got some live videos and the
first thing I noticed is that the music is more powerful
live. Do you think this as well and is there an
explanation for?
Philippe: Absolutely. The music of DIVISION ALPHA
in live is much more powerful than on album. We work a
lot in our studio and our music feels the effects of it.
Concerning our concerts, we adapted the pieces to the
scene to elaborate a true show. We look after the visual
aspect of concerts (lights, make-up, costumes...) in
order that the public dives within the universe of
DIVISION ALPHA.
What can we expect from Division Alpha in the (near)
future?
Philippe: We currently work on the next album. A
live DVD of the Holy Records Festival which took place
in Paris in January 2005 is planned to be released. This
DVD will gather the concert of every group which played
this evening there: Trepalium, Division Alpha, Garwall,
Supuration, and Misanthrope.
Thanks a lot. Some final words?
Philippe: Thank you for this interesting
interview, and see you soon for the next album of
DIVISION ALPHA (end of 2005).
Interview by: Gerardo (May 2005) |
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