"An Extreme Experience"

Interview with the members of this great Argentinean Progressive Metal band

 


By Alejandro Allo

How and when was Acid Rain born?
Ezequiel Giménez: Acid Rain was born approximately in 2002, through an advertisemt I published with the aim of getting in touch with musicians who wanted to face a project of Progressive Metal Rock. The first one to join this project was our former guitarist Ariel Mascia (who left the group two years later for personal reasons). Martín Magliano (drummer) appeared who, for his part, cantacted Andrés Blanco (keyboard player). Later, Mariano Revilla replaced Ariel Mascia, and almost at the same time Sebastián Fernández, who up to that moment sang together with Martín Magliano in the band Staccato, was invited.

Sebastián accepted the proposal and then, the present band was consolidated halfway through 2004, being this year the one we consider as the band’s official birth.

Who are the present members of the band?
Andrés Blanco: Sebastián Fernández is the singer, Ezequiel Giménez the bass-guitarist, Mariano Revilla the guitarist, Martín Magliano the drummer and I in keyboards.

What or who are the band influences?
Martín Magliano: Luckily, the band’s influences are very varied, depending on each member in particular. That is great at the moment of composing and getting the themes ready since each one of us contributes with his personal touch. If I have to give you a general answer as a band, I will tell you that Acid Rain, because of its style, is very much influenced by Symphonic-Progressive bands such as Dream Theater, Pink Floyd, Rush, Yes, King Crimson, Camel and even by more Rock-Pop bands such as Deep Purple, The Police or very The Beatles.

What is your edited material?
Ezequiel: Our edited material so far is the E.P. “One Night Of Reflections”, which was released halfway through this year and which had its corresponding presentation in October at Cendas Auditorium. It is an unforgettable date for all of us.

Let’s talk about “One Night Of Reflections”: What was its make-up like?
Andrés: “One Night Of Reflections” had a very particular make-up: its structure and main basis had already been composed by Ezequiel and Ariel before Martín, Sebastían, Mariano and me entered the band. The aim of “One Night Of Reflections”  was to compose a conceptual theme, divided into several parts. When I entered the band, the theme was almost finished and only the keyboard parts remained to be done. After a long time, Sebastián and Mariano gave it their personal touches changing some melodies, intentions in reference to the voice, and solos and arrangements related to the guitars.

And what about the process of recording?
Martín: It was both hard and rewarding. It was done in a moment when all of us were busy with our jobs and studies, but the experience was very good because it was the first time we recorded the band’s material in a professional way and it was very useful to learn and know each other not only musically but personally as well.

Could you describe the themes that make up this EP?
Ezequiel: The EP is made up of six themes, of which the first five correspond to “One Night Of Reflections”. This is a conceptual theme of approximately fifteen minutes length. The sixth and last theme is a remastered version of the theme “Shadows”, which was the first we recorded in demo format.

What are you doing nowadays?
Andrés: We have been presenting this EP in several places in the Buenos Aires city. Our idea is to close the year finishing this phase of “One Night Of Reflections”. We have also been involved in spreading the material: sending CD’s to radios stations, magazines and websites of Argentina as a whole.

What is an Acid Rain show like?
Martín: Acid Rain’s shows are very particular because the diversity of climates and moments predominate. We are not a pigeonholed band and we like to show what we know. He people who come to our shows witness lots of musical varieties and find a Metal Progressive badn which perform both conceptual and different themes without missing the Metal Rock basis that characterizes us.

Your future plans?
Ezequiel: We are finishing the make-up of our first LP this summer, of which 70 % is already componed, with the aim of starting to record in the first months of 2007. We are also willing to perform outside the Buenos Aires city, and if possible, to visit some provinces. Close to the end of the year, we will probably give the presentation date of the LP.

Many thanks friends. Some farewell Message?
Andrés: Kind regards to the people from La Plata, we will surely be meeting over there as we are really willing to go. I tell you that we are in contact with a lot of bands from La Plata, so there are great possibilities of meeting next year! Thanks a lot and see you soon!
 

www.acid-rain.com.ar

Nucleus interview: 05/01/07