Good evening, Chris. INTERNAL BLEEDING is the band we're going to talk about further, however let's better start from AUTUMN REIGN, the one which gave birth to the group you're playing in at the moment…

- Hey Kai, how the hell are you? Well, when I was in AUTUMN REIGN, I got into deathmetal big-time. When the music I was writing was progressing more towards deathmetal, some of the bandmembers didn't like it. Needless to say the band ended up falling apart, and I went on to give birth to INTERNAL BLEEDING. It was really a natural progression for me and everything seemed to work out just perfectly. Its been a long haul, but it has been worth it all the way.

Are you still selling that “One Dollar Demo”? Seems like you consider it to be ‘for boon companions only’ stuff, eh?

- No fucking way! That one dollar demo was something we rushed out so people can get an idea of what we sound like. Looking back at it, the release served its purpose, but it was also sloppy, unfocused and poorly produced. I am actually a bit embarrassed about it. I try to look at it as it being the first thing IB really ever did and I should just leave it at that. I know most of the people who have it - thats how few of them we managed to give away or sell (about 300 I think), and I think it was mostly at local shows here on Long Island. Its pretty funny when you hear it -  there are a few songs on there that never made it onto an official release, plus there are some "sketches" of songs that appeared on "Invocation Of Evil". I guess
that makes it pretty cool.

“Invocation Of Evil” featured tortured and slow as hell stuff, however something happened and you started to produce thousand times more fast-paced music – at least when it comes to “Driven To Conquer”… What caused this kind of metamorphosis?

- I cannot put my finger on it precisely. I think we explored the ultra-heavy punishing concept to its fullest with "The Extinction Of
Benevolence", so we made an effort to change things around a bit to keep things interesting for us and our fans. We also had the desire to challenge our technical abilities even further than before. You cannot keep playing the same shit over and over, because people will get bored. You have to progress, change things up and stay fresh in order to survive not only in the music scene, but as individuals as well (not always, though. Just recall MOTORHEAD... - ED). Its like weightlifting. The more you challenge yourself, the more you grow both physically and mentally. We all pushed eachother hard as hell on this album, and we've all grown as musicians because of it.

How would you explain those numerous lineup changes? Don't you think that current lineup will stay stable only for a while…?

- Absolutely. The way morale is, I can see this going on for a long time. You know, I think its been a giant "process of weeding" out for the band. I think it was an eventuality that this was going to be the "ultimate" IB lineup. Everything just fits perfectly ya know? Guy fits in, both personality wise and music wise, Ray's vocal approach is what we were trying to get Frank to do, but he refused - so I see all these member changes as a vision come true. I know you think its strange but It seemed as though this was already planned for the band.
 
By the way, what if you'll stay the only in INTERNAL BLEEDING? Other guys have left the band, and no one's willing to join it… Of course, its only my imagination, but… what if we'll conceive such a situation?

- That would never happen, I cannot even imagine it. If Brian or Bill  left the band I think I would fold it all up. Those two have stuck it out with me since the beginning and I don't think I'd be able to carry on without them. We just have that kind of bond. We've been through so much shit together - you couldn't even imagine. They have shared a vision with me since the beginning, I couldn't stand to loose that. Getting rid of Anthony almost killed me, I barely survived it - another incident like that I wouldn't be able to handle.

What about the new album’s concept and differences between it and the
former efforts by INTERNAL BLEEDING?

- Well conceptually I think we have a very strong album. Most of the
songs revolve around one main theme - power. Whether it be seizing power, abusing power, empowering yourself or just analyzing the effects that power has on people - the main theme of power runs through every song. The title track of the album sums up the way I felt at the time of writing the lyrics. I felt as though IB was on a mission to conquer all and let nothing stop us from getting in our way. Compared to the other albums, both musically and conceptually, "Driven To Conquer" is the most focused, intense and quite frankly best IB to date.

Any plans for a “Driven To Conquer’s” promotional support in the shape of European tour?

- I certainly hope so. Pavement now has a good European office opened up, so hopefully we will be getting out asses on the road over in Europe. It would be a dream come true for me.

Seems like “Six Shots In Dallas” is devoted to John Kennedy’s murder, right? What are your feelings towards it? As far as I know, it's still uncertain if Oswald was the one who shot him… By the way, there's one truly weird thing regarding this song: on June the 27th I had a dream with Kennedy as one of it's participants, and on June the 28th I've got the “Driven To Conquer” CD from Pavement… Sounds bizarre, eh?

- Wow, that is a bizarre dream! I hate when weird shit like that happens. It is so damn strange. Anyway, yes, "Six Shots In Dallas" is about the Kennedy murder. My thoughts? Well, they are explained pretty well in the song. The military-Industrial complex was pretty upset that Kennedy wanted to pull out of Vietnam. Johnson probably promised those people that he would escalate Vietnam in order to keep the military machine running and keep companies like Bell, Huey, Dow and others in business. Well, that's just one theory - there are other theories that I have too. Will we ever know the truth? I just do not know. I hope one day we will.

What about the so-called ‘American dream’?

- Its something attained by the very few. Many of us work hard to make our way in life, and we end up with barely a pot to piss in. Others, through privilege or sheer blind luck get to experience what we all dream about - having no financial worries whatsoever. They call it a dream because it rarely comes true.

Any comments on your motherland? Is there was a chance of choosing the place for you to live, would it be USA?

- Well, there are many things wrong with this country that need to be fixed, but I think it is still the best country in the world to live. I want to live here and I will die here. I would fight to defend it against all foreign invaders who try to take over the country and I will gladly give my life in its defense providing the cause is just. I am proud of my Greek heritage, but there is nowhere I'd rather be than in the USA. I think the DEAD KENNEDYS summed it up pretty well "My land I love it to, I think I love it more than you - I care enough to fight the stars and stripes of corruption."

Each day, each goddamn day, I see people discussing freedom of speech, however it seems like most of them don't even fairly conceive what it's all about… In my view, it is almost impossible to attain perfect freedom in anything nowadays… However, was it ever possible? Humans need certain kind of limitations, otherwise we shall witness nothing but an utter chaos…

- I agree totally. Unfortunately, most human beings are not responsible enough to take full control of their lives- and because of that we need restrictions of all kinds. Its truly sad. In reality we talk about having a lot of freedom of speech, etc in the USA but in fact America is a highly censored country compared to many countries in Europe and Asia. I think this has to do with Americans being hung up on things like sex, violent lyrics, etc. If people could be more responsible for themselves, we would have much
more freedom.

As far as I know, police has arrested your photographer, Mike Z., five years ago… What happened?

- We were caught trespassing in a construction site, and the police locked our asses up for a little while, issued us summonses and let us go. We went to court but attained retroactive permission from the property owner to be on his property, and the case was thrown out.

Seems like you guys are friends with DYING FETUS?

- Yeah, DYING FETUS is a great band. We've been friends with them as long as we can remember. I still remember trading our Invocation demo for their bathe demo...jesus that was almost 7 years ago! Where the hell does the time go? We've played tons of shows with DF, drank lots of beer with em and had some great times on the road with them-like when we almost died in a blizzard in Canada...that was sick.

What do you know (and think) about Russia? Any Russian metal bands you’ve heard lately?

- I know a lot about Russia, especially in the World War II department. The battle of Stalingrad, Kursk, etc. Sick stuff. I used to know of some really great Russian bands, but I seem to have lost correspondence with them. It is sad. My parents visited Russia when it was still under communist rule.

Thanks, Chris… I hope, the next CD from INTERNAL BLEEDING will crush “Driven To Conquer”! End this with anything you consider to be appropriate…

- Thanks a lot for the interview! Thank you also for the support, we really appreciate it! Everyone check out our website at:
http://home.earthlink.net/~ibldng or email us at: ibldng@aol or
guyfromib@aol.com stay sick and most of all stay metal!