Sorry, but this is the question no young band can escape… The one which goes for IS PAIN’s years of progress and evolvement or, speaking plainer, the history of yours…

- IS PAIN was formed by Eduardo (bass), Paco (guitars) and Daniel (voice) in 1997, but we met in 1993 and have been working together since then. Our fisrt project was a trhash metal band and after a few years and several demos we decided to make other things by our own. Some months later we started working together again and we started an AOR project, with this band we recorded several demos and even a video clip. After several years together and with a good experience we decided to create a band  which featured our true likes and ideas, the we cretate IS PAIN. Shortly after, we recorded a five track demo which got a great acceptance and due to this things turned out very well for us. We supported STRATOVARIUS here in Madrid, and we contacted GOLDTRACK who supported us since the beginning.

“1999” has been brought forth the light on October 29th 1999, i.e. almost three months ago… May I wonder regarding the feedback you’ve received? Furthermore, how many copies have you managed to sell so far?

- The album was released in late 99 and we are receiving great reviews from everywhere, and regarding sales the reaction has been really unexpected and of course much better. The fisrt edition came with a very nice embossed slipcase.

I feel I should tell you that the sound on “1999” is simply fucking amazing! How did you manage to turn it out this way???

- Firstly we did a pre production so we knew excatly how we wanted to sound. Then Timo Tolkki offered himself to do the mixing at FinnVox, and the mastering was made by Mika Jussila at FinnVox too. Besides the studio where we recorded is a very professional one and we could use all the necessary equipment for a production of such magnitude.

The drum tracks strike as undoubtedly impressive, therefore I wonder why didn’t you make it the way so Javier could stay in the band? He seems to be an extremely talented musician to me… Furthermore, did you find a worthy replacement already?

- Javier (Lucky) didn’t want to stay in the band after the recording. This was a very serious decision and he knew what he was doing. It was due to hard personal problems and a hard loss for all of us since he gave a certain progressive touch to the project. We agree that he’s a great drummer, althoug he’s too young. Now we have a replacement, his name is Eduardo Meco and he’s a professional with long experience.

Why do you sing most parts in a husky voice? Wouldn’t it be better for you to use “clean” vocals only?

- Well, that’s my natural way of singing , but it doesn’t mean that I can only sing this way.

Goldtrack Records is a rather small (though seeming to be honest) label (“1999” is only the tenth release of theirs), therefore I wonder if you have ever thought of moving to a bigger company?

- We had a contact with Century Media in the past, but it wasn’t worthwhile. Anyway the idea of entering a very big company scared us in some way. When we contacted Goldtrack, we knew that they wanted to work with young bands and they will fight for them although they have not the money that a big label has. They speak our language, live in our city and Lucky (not our ex drummer) has been a musician for several years, so we have everything here and besides they understand us perfectly, as musicians and persons.

Any comments on your relations with Timo Tolkki? What is your attitude to  STRATOVARIUS; I mean, do you agree with those who claim this band to be one of the most stunning acts in the whole power metal scene and, basically, this genre’s leading star?

- Due to the STRATOVARIUS compromises we see Timo every certain time, but there’s a great friendship with him, he’s a great person. Personally and talking on behalf of the band, we don’t like STRATOVARIUS a lot. We have heard their works and there are some songs that we love but we cannot say that we are fans of their music. The truth is that they started something and now there’s a line between before and after STRATOVARIUS in Europe. You can like their music or not but they create a new style. And this is very hard to get and above all is very hard to stay in the same place once you are on the top, and they are doing it.

Would you like to tell us anything in regards to the lyrics featured on “1999”? Besides that, I’d like to know if anyone of the band supports any kind of religion and why if so…

- Lyrics are very sad and depressing, they reflect what it’s inside a person. They are very personal feelings, and everybody can feel them at any moment. Anyway there’s a positive message since one can learn a lot from bad times.  For example the tree last songs are a trilogy, in “Realice” a man suffers due to a disapoinment, in “Not From God” he asks god’s for help but he didn’t received anything, as a last recourse God send him to hell, and finally in “The Pain Is killing Me”·is the devil who send him to... Regarding religion, none of us is worried about that, not does any exceptional thing in order to defend it. I can tell you that if Jesus appears in our lyrics, he isn’t the God that the church adores, he’s my own God, the one I have inside and many people has inside too, no matter what religion he profess.

Do you know anything regarding Russia? What is your attitude to the country of mine as well as it’s people? Any Russian bands you’ve heard lately?

- The only reference we have abou Russia is the image of  along and cold country where people is very nice and due to the actual policy there’s a lot of poorness. The only russian band that we ever heard is GORKY PARK, and RUINATION although they are from Lithuania.

Well, I feel this question should have been asked first but anyway – why “Is Pain”? Does it have anything to do with the way your country of residement is called in English?

- IS PAIN has a double meaning. It’s due to the lyrics and cause it’s similar to Spain. We want people who name us that we are the first spanish band that is having a big success out of our country. We would like to open a door fro many good spanish bands, although it isn’t a goos moment here, the labels doesn’t bet for this kind of music. We hope this is a good moment for us. Thanks a lot for your interest and hopefully we see you on our next tour!!

Contact IS PAIN through Goldtrack Records –
Email: goldtrack@arrakis.es