«Ashes Of Forever» costs only $10(for US residents)- how could you  manage to make the price so low?
 
Allan: We had a budget for «Ashes», a very small budget that we had collected from playing out.  The recording of that album used up most of  our funds so we had to skimp on the cover and get it done at a printing place here in town.  It's still in color but not the kind of quality that labels put out.  We didn't feel the need to make a lot of money off of «Ashes», we just needed to make enough to cover the recording and printing costs.  We also thought that if the CD was priced low that people might take a chance on an up and coming band.
 
Why did you decide to release EDENROT's debut CD on your own?  Weren't there any serious offers or what?
 
Allan: No one knew about us until «Ashes» came out. EDENROT never did a demo so no one could offer us anything.  When we went in to record, we had every intention of recording at a good studio and putting out a CD. We didn't want to screw around with a shitty demo or tapes.  We felt quality was needed in order for people to take us seriously.
 
The sound on «Ashes» is far above average, it's almost perfect!  Hence, tell me more about Holland Sound Studios...
 
Allan: We learned about Holland Sound from a magazine called Pennsylvania Musician.  Holland Sound runs a ad in it every time it comes out.  Totally pro studio with 24 track ADAT digital recording equipment(48 lock up), isolation booths, acoustically designed tracking room, all the best gear, and a nice Baldwin Baby Grand piano.  They even had this great engineer who we still worship every Tuesday and Friday.
 
Who did the sound-eningeering work, by the way?
 
Allan: Paul Sinclair.
 
Now I'd like to hear something regarding your upcoming EP on Twilight Records...
 
Allan: The EP, entitled «The Land Where The Crow Starves» will feature four new songs which we feel are a step above our old material. It will hopefully be out this summer and shows us expanding on everything from the music and our writing to vocals.  We even added clean vocals to enhance the slower parts of our songs.  Two of the titles will be «...Where Anger Breathes» and «Crosses Of Ice».  The EP also features our new bassist, Rose Mraz.
 
«...‘Ashes of Forever’ is accessible to any metal fan, whether he / she likes OBITUARY,METALLCA or something in between» - that's a statement from your bio, which I find rather strange since I couldn't notice any influences by aforementioned bands!
 
Allan: OBITUARY and METALLICA didn't influence but they are bands that we like.  We just felt that since we liked them, other people who liked them might share a common interest and like us too.
 
You call yourselves a «death metal band» and there's definitely some truth in these words, however the whole material on «Ashes...» sounds more in the black metal vein, don't you think so?
 
Allan: I think the only thing on «Ashes» that is black metal is my voice.  We do blast at times and speed pick on occation, but all in all I think we write mostly death metal.
 
Your bio names PANTERA as one of EDENROT's influences, which is a bit strange, especially taking into account that most metalheads disdain
this band due to some unknown reasons...
 
Allan: I won't sit here and deny that I like PANTERA.  I think «Cowboys From Hell» and «Vulgar Display Of Power» are two great albums. I'm not really sure why people don't like them.  Maybe it's just the fact that they got popular so fast.  I guess some metalheads feel that the only way to stay true to yourself is to stay underground.  Now that DIMMU BORGIR signed to Nuclear Blast, some of their long time fans think they're selling out.  But is there anything wrong with getting your music out?  Their music will now reach many more fans because of this deal, more than their old label could reach.  At least PANTERA isn't wussing out like other bands, every album they come out with is heavier than the last.
 
Your «list of influences» also include PARADISE LOST, right?  I believe, it would be interesting for you to know that these English dudes have been in Moscow and performed a gig on the 6th of March this year... I visited this show and was completely knocked down by the fact that all of them (except singer) WEREN'T PLAYING LIVE!!!  What do you think of such a sad event?  Does any metal band have a right to deceive their fans that way?!
 
Allan: That is really sad and it's not right. We have been huge PARADISE LOST fans ever since the «Gothic» album.  Now that they have lept into this pussy metal (can it still be called metal?), they have lost all their old fans including us.  I do want to say this; even though we added clean vocals to our music, we will always be writing death metal.  I get a real thrill out of playing live so rest assured, we will never be lip sinking either, as long as I'm in the band anyway.
 
There're two singers in EDENROT, you and Scott, although vocals seem to be done mostly by one man...
 
Allan: The vocal trade offs are 50 / 50 on «Ashes».  The reason why it seems like one person does most of them is because Scott's and my vocals still weren't developed enough.  At the end of recording our vocals kind of ran together because our throat's were numb.  On the new EP you can definitely tell who is singing what.
 
You plan to feature clean vocals in your futher compositions - but does anyone of you really possess a good-sounding "clean" voice to determine on this step?
 
Scott: I did some clean vocal parts on three of the four songs included on the new EP, and some additional harmonies were provided by the Hammer, from DAWNBRINGER (also on Twilight records). I think everyone is pretty happy with the way the clean vocals came out, especially considering the fact that I learned to sing in the studio as we were recording the tracks! My voice is centered in the lower registers, so I'm no Bruce Dickinson, but I think the singing on «The Land Where The Crow Starves» holds its own against similar stuff that's out there.
 
You said that in the future EDENROT will place more emphasis on melody and dynamics... I hope it doesn't mean that your current sound will be replaced with more commercial way of doing things???
 
Scott: I don't think our new EP sounds 'commercial' at all - it simply sounds better than our old material. We're playing our instruments better, the songs are better arranged, and the tunes are just more solid, melodic, and memorable. Our future material will continue on this path, but it definitely won't sound commercial. There will still be a balance between the harsh and clean vocals, fast parts and slow. We just want to write good metal songs, because that's what matters in the long run: good songs; not 'brutality' or 'evil'.
 
With such a bandname, EDENROT, you seem to have something against chistianity...
 
Scott: Actually, our name has nothing to do with anti-christian views. It represents the idea that our world is not the paradise we would like it to be, and it falls further down the tubes everyday. The environment is dying because of man's foolishness; people kill each other without a second thought; money is valued over everything else.... the list goes on and on. As far as christianity goes, none of us sees any merit in organized religion, which is just mass mind control. I don't know the exact religious beliefs of the rest of the band, so I won't speak for them. As for myself, I haven't really made up my mind about 'god' or whatever you want to call it. I think there may be some force beyond human understanding that made things the way they are, but I don't worship it. I like heavy metal, which is probably the closest thing to faith in my life at the moment.
 
What kind of merchandise can you offer to the fans and what are the prices?
 
Scott: Right now we are out of T-shirts, but we will be getting more made sometime in the future (hopefully a new design). Until Twilight releases the new EP, «Ashes of Forever» is the only thing we have available.  We sell them for $10 in the U.S., and $12 world. Send orders to Allan Ginther, 327 Ford Rd., St. Marys, PA 15857
 
Does anything interest you in this world besides music?  Maybe philosophy, literature, art, or graphics?
 
Scott: I'm interested in lots of things: medieval history, culture, and warfare; the arts (realism); fantasy / science fiction, etc. But, I have a limited amount of time to pursue such interests because of school, life..  I really just try to focus on metal, because it's the single most important thing I'm involved with. The band and the music are worth my full attention - I wouldn't want it any other way.
 
Now please tell us a few words of your habitual life, i.e. if you work, study, where exactly, and suchlike things...
 
Scott: Right now, I'm attending a university in my home state and studying Advertising / Business, although I'm not sure I want to go into such a career. I find it interesting, but I would much rather play metal full-time. Rose (bass) and Jim (drums) are also in college at the moment, and Allan works in our hometown, so we're all pretty occupied most of the time. Rehearsal and writing sessions are few and far between as a result, so the summer months are the only time we really get to focus on EDENROT. When I'm not involved with school or the band, I try to relax with friends and listen to metal.
 
Damn it, this question is slowly becoming a «FAQ» for the bands I interview in my mag... Anyway, how are things going with getting a deal with serious label in order to promote EDENROT's name worldwide?
 
Scott: We consider out deal with Twilight an excellent arrangement at the moment, and we're happy to have it. Of course, we would like to be picked up by a larger label, but we'll just have to wait and see what the future holds. We have to get our new EP out, do more interviews like this one, play a lot more shows, and just flood the underground with our name. Hopefully, we'll gain enough fans that the bigger labels will have to take notice. Obviously, the best way to get their attention is to write great songs, and we're trying our best to do just that.
 
What do you know and think of Russia and my country's people?  Have you ever heard any Russian metal bands?
 
Scott: To tell you the truth, I know very little about Russia and the current social situation over in your part of the world. I probably know more about the former Soviet Union because of the Cold War and such. I do have a friend that spent a year of high school in your country, and she loved it (although she did have some frightening stories to tell). I've heard that albums cost a lot in your country, is this true? (no - ED) Can you find the albums you want? (yes - ED) I haven't heard any Russian metal bands except for MENTAL HOME, who sounded good, kind of like a less refined version of the Polish band SIRRAH.
 
Would you like to add anything?
 
Scott: Allan and I and the rest of EDENROT would just like to thank you for getting in touch with us and asking us to do this interview. We love to hear from distant places, such as Russia.  We'll get a copy of the EP to you when it comes out. Good luck with the 'zine! Heavy Metal is the Law!
 

EDENROT contact -
Email: edenrot@hotmail.com