For the masses who have no idea what MUTINY is, can you give a little history?

- The band consists of the following members :
Zervanos Alexis : Lead and back Vocals
Feidakis Michael : Electric bass
Krimpenis Agis : Lead and Rhythm electric and classic guitars
Frantzis George : Lead and Rhythm electric guitars
Zaxos George : Drums
Feidakis and Zaxos started playing together at 1993. Then in 1995 Frantzis joined the band to add the electric sound. It was the time that the band played covers from groups such as AC/DC, BLACK SABBATH, MOTORHEAD.  At March 1996 Krimpenis joined the band, carrying guitaristic influences from groups like SAVATAGE, Yngwie Malmsteen’s RISING FORCE, MEGADETH, influences that took form in writing lyrics and music with the rest of the band. At March 1998 the first demo-CD “Faded Pages” was out. Due to the lack of permanent lead singer at that time, MUTINY could use some help. The help came from the singers of SWAN CHRISTY (Kostas Makris) and SPITFIRE (Alexis Balakakis). The demo did quite well, selling over 350 copies (the band still receives letters about the first demo). However, the lack of lead singer was consistent, many vocalists tried out, but didn’t work out. Finally, Zervanos filled in the gap at November 1998. The band worked on new material and recorded a promo-CD “Guilty As Charged” which was out in July 1999 and started looking for record deal. Currently (May 2000) the band is working on new songs that will be finished soon and will take form in a full CD. It will be out most probably by September 2000 by a new greek label.

Track Lists
“Faded Pages” demo-CD (March ’98):
1) Intro – Aegean Sea
2) Dark Soldiers Of Death
3) Changing Seasons
4) Speed Monster
5) Inner Mirror

“Guilty As Charged” promo-CD (July ’99):
1) The Cross-Bone Flag
2) Guilty As Charged

"Guilty As Charged", a newest promo CD of yours, looks extremely appealing in terms of appearance! Seems like you’ve put much effort into it (I mean the visual side).

- Since all things in the band were going to be more professional, we thought it would fit the band’s name a professional package, at least as far as the artwork is concerned besides the music and the recordings. Keeping that in mind, we recruited a friend of ours, Tilemaxos Tsoubris (a Byzantine art painter in profession and metal die-hard in the same time), to paint the cover of our promo-CD “Guilty As Charged”. It turned out more than good! We are most pleased by the outcome and so the cooperation with Tilemaxos still is going on for the artworks to come.

What would you like to name as the principal differences between "Guilty As Charged" and former work of yours?

- I believe that the differences are more than apparent between “Guilty As Charged” and “Faded Pages”. First of all, the music itself is far maturer and better arranged. The new songs give the feeling that we have grown up both as players and personalities. Next thing is the studio we used for the recordings of the promo-CD : all recordings, mix and remastering were now digital in a highly professional studio (Studio Mythos) in contradiction to the semi-professional Studio 5 of “Faded Pages”.

What about giving us an insight of "Faded Pages", the recording you’ve made your debut with (I believe so)? Furthermore, that "Inner Mirror" track... isn’t it someone’s cover?

- Yes, indeed, “Faded Pages” is our first recording. It was our first attempt to enter the music world with a relatively high standard demo-CD, at least for the time being. The lack of a permanent lead singer was apparent, but in the long run it has helped us to evolve as musicians and songwriters. We had to base our songs mainly on our music and not so much on the vocal lines. We believe that we met satisfactory results, taking in mind the lack of experience and limited playing and recording abilities of that time. "Inner Mirror" is in fact one of our songs, although it seems that of another band. Anyway, it was a song that was written a long time ago (around ‘94-’95), when the band was still experimented with the heavy music in general. It’s a quite nice song, but our style is a bit different nowadays.

Could you please get us acquainted with the personality of Ilias, the one who’s responsible for performing keyboards on "Guilty As Charged"? Where is he from ("which band", I mean)?

- Ilias Hatzigeorgiou is again one of our friends, kind enough to lent us his music and recording knowledge, so that we could place more melody to our songs, as far as the keyboards and sounds are concerned. Unfortunately, his taste in music is different from ours and he couldn’t be in the band due to this and to the fact that was up to the neck with his personal endeavors. He is more interested in Greek music and music sounding like soundtracks for movies. In fact we like his music, but it has very few common elements with our own music.

Where have you performed your music for live audiences? What's the usual audience response like when you play live? Do you mind if the people in the audience are just standing there, or do you prefer to see a more physical reaction?

- So far we have played only one gig. In the early years it was the lack of a permanent singer. Now it is the fact that 2 of our members (Michael Feidakis- our bass player - and George Zaxos -our drummer -) are doing their obligatory army service. What we can do right now is patience for things to get better and more stable about our band. We played a gig February 1999 in a local bar “Rock House” in Aigaleo, Athens. The place was crowded and the response of the audience great. We like it a lot people letting go when they hear our music and travel along with it to spheres of emotion and thought. Just being themselves, released from the everyday life commitments and obligations.

Had any label or distro-company showed interest in your music?

- Yes, there are a few labels that showed interest in our music. Raspberry Records International (Spain) offered us a record deal, but we couldn’t live up to the terms of their contract. The next offer was made by Sound Riot Records (Portugal), which we also couldn’t sign. Currently we are discussing the terms of a contract with a new Greek label and it is most probable that we’ll sign a record deal with it. It is yet a little early to say more about it, but things are pretty confident and we are recording a full CD that will be probably out by September.

I keep on receiving power metal and alike stuff from Greece. And many bands among those I’ve received definitely appear as pure jewels in my collection. Therefore, don’t you consider Hellas as some kind of a new fatherland for power and heavy metal?

- Having heard a lot of good greek power / progressive / heavy metal bands from Greece, I can see that there is a promising future for the Greek scene. I am confident that in few years from now, Greece will be like Italy, meaning that a lot of bands will come out in the record label world. And this will happen, as long as the record companies around the world take greek scene more seriously. Greece has always been a fatherland for this kind of music, but unfortunately so far only black / death bands have been known to the wide world.

Are you well grounded in Hellenistic mythological epoch? I bet that telling few words regarding it (especially it’s darker sides) will be an exciting history lesson for us (of course only if your answer is yes)...

- The greek history and mythology goes a lot further than the Hellenistic years. In fact the Hellenistic years are the years of decadence of the Greek history and mythology. In Greece, we learn about the ancient history and mythology in school, so most of us know quite a great deal of it. As it may be apparent, this is an issue that is huge, so I cannot “quote” a small and mutilated part of it. For those interested, there are millions of books and essays written on thousands of subjects about the ancient Greek history and mythology.

Lately I’ve heard one of my pals saying that “violence is the only way to save this world”, and unfortunately I didn’t have a chance of asking him to give me a further explanation on this subject... Perhaps, you have any suggestions?

- Personally, I believe that peace is the force that can bring true change of the things, because violence only causes violence and its effects don’t last for long. Of course, peace doesn’t mean that we will sit back and blind our own eyes towards the bad things that happen all around us. I can agree with this opinion only if the word violence means dynamism and taking action. In my mind the word violence brings me recollections of war, death and mutilation of bodies, hopes and dreams, something that no sane person can go with.

What can you tell me concerning the feeling of hate? Is it of value to you and what (or whom) provoke it inside of you? Do you consider hatred an important part of human nature and what is your opinion on the “theory of opposites” (e.g. nothing can exist without it’s opponent)?

- Hatred is an emotion that I cannot feel, even towards people that have done me serious harm. However, I can feel anger, even fury against evil actions around me and I try to fight them with all my heart, soul and body. And this is even if these actions don’t concern me directly or indirectly. I can understand this emotion and I can see the results of it. But it simply doesn’t guide my actions blindly. Socially, I understand the theory of opposites, I just can’t understand why the world can’t work without the evil side of things. It’s a question that always appears to me, even in times when I behave or just think in such a manner. I seem to believe in the “law of nature”, meaning that when someone does something (good or evil) there will be times when the opposite will strike him for an unexplained reason. Besides, one man’s truth is another man’s lie. All are subjected to the law of relativity (not the one Einstein talked about).

What about the new recordings? Have you already prepared anything for the eyes (ears?) of the world?

- As I mentioned before, we are currently recording new tracks that are going to be in our first full CD. So far, we have not yet mixed anything. We are waiting to finish recording all of our tracks first.

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?

- I must admit I know very few regarding Russia. The only things I know is that recently the people in Russia have suffered a lot before and since the fall of Communism and the demolition of the USSR. But, I don’t know the reason for this. I also know that you have some great athletes, people of science and arts. Maybe you could fill me and others like me in with this knowledge. Unfortunately, I haven’t heard any Russian metal bands. Could you suggest some to me?

Does your lifestyle differ anyhow from the common behavior standards? Any life motto you have?

- I don’t know how much my life style differs from the common standards and, to tell you the truth, I am not interested in knowing how much I differ. I try to lead my life in truth, sincerity and peace and not to mess up with other people’s lives. To live and to feel as much is possible, to love and to care for the people that do the same to me and to get to know and taste as many things in my life as possible.

Would you like to add anything?

- Thanks a lot for the opportunity you’ve given us to present our band and our point of view. I hope things turn out for the best for everyone. Keep on trying and fighting for things in life that have meaning and dispose all of the worthless. “… when a mutiny occurs on a ship, you’ve got two choices: either to cast yourself into the sea or to take part.”

MUTINY contact -
Email: mc95042@central.ntua.gr