Interviews: Nemesis Alpha

In this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the  Metal band Nemesis Alpha from the USA. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

For the first album, it was a one-man band where I wrote and recorded all the music, so I wanted something that fit that theme. I chose the name Nemesis Alpha because, to me, it conveyed the idea that although there may not be a full band, the music is just as technical, melodic, and heavy as any full band with multiple members.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

We are heavily influenced by older melodic death metal like In Flames, Soilwork, Dark Tranquility, and At the Gates, but we also get a lot of inspiration from newer technical bands like Obscura and Allegaeon. The idea is to make music that’s both very technical, yet still have those heavy melodic elements in it. We really pushed ourselves with this last album, especially guitar-wise. The way we think about it is... if it’s not hard to play, we’re not trying hard enough.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

So, I’ve known Marcos for well over a decade now because of our time together in Shattered Sun. Those random short tours and playing shows to just 5 people some shows, then to thousands of people a few shows later are still some of the best times of my life. We learned way back then that it takes a lot of work to be successful whatsoever in the music world, much less the metal world. I met Bjorn at shows over the years but he’s a busy man juggling his two main bands, Soilwork and Night Flight Orchestra. I asked and gauged his interest in this project and luckily, he liked it and came on board for the first album, and again for the second. Shattered Sun also had the opportunity to tour with Soilwork, so Bjorn has been friends with Marcos for a few years also now. Joseph and I met while I’ve been here stationed in North Carolina for the military. He’s a phenomenal guitar player and musician, so we immediately meshed our styles and started writing/recording, giving us the new album that we have now.

4. Each band member favorite band?

None of us can name just one so in no order:

Rudy: I’m the more traditional melodeath fan so: In Flames, Soilwork, Allegaeon, and Dark Tranquility.

Joseph: more into the modern progressive/technical so: Animals as Leaders, Periphery, and Dethklok.

Marcos: a traditional metal roots type so: Metallica, Machine head and Ill Nino.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

I love to write music, from acoustic to extreme metal and everything in between. The inspiration comes from that constant yearning to hear a certain type of song or style. Itʼs amazing when you can put a song together that’s technical, heavy, melodic, djenty, yet still shreds and really just has a little of everything. That’s one of the reasons the songs on this album are averaging 5-6 min because we’re not worried about getting it on the radio. We don’t limit ourselves to trying to stay in a genre, time signature, time limit or tuning. We just write and refine until it sounds right to us.

6. Where was your last gig?

It’s been quite some time; I’ve been deployed off and on for the last few years so gigging is hard at this point, but the last show must have been playing locally in Fayetteville or Raleigh, NC. Overall for Joseph and me, it’s been a few years, but Marcos and Bjorn are literally on the road nonstop with their main bands. We’re currently trying to finalize a drummer and bass player for live shows though, so we might be playing again and more often very soon.

7. Where would you like to act?

For now, we will more than likely start local again and start traveling out from there. We’ve all played in multiple states and cities so once we get back up and running, we’ll see where the road takes us.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

We’re not in a major rush to tour, but it would still be great to tour with Soilwork or Shattered Sun, but it’d also be rough for either of those guys to hit doubleheaders every night. Other than that, we’d be open to any metal bands.

9. Whom not?

I have been lucky not to have any bands that were a nightmare to work or play with. You sometimes hear horror stories from bands on tour, but then again, if bands or members are really that bad, word will get around quickly and they won’t be around for long.

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

I don’t want to sound cocky, but I’ve never had it. I literally can’t even remember my first show either but I’m sure I walked up and just straight up jammed. If I could give one tip though, it would be to have fun, drink a beer or two and if you make mistakes, just remember that metal is noisy so more than likely no one will notice.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

For me I think In Flames and Soilwork really had the most influence in my overall style. When I first heard the earlier albums, I was amazed by the guitar work and knew that’s the sound I wanted to play. Over the years I’ve deviated from the traditional melodeath/Gothenburg sound, but on this album, Joseph and I really made it our own and created a unique take on the style. Joseph convinced me to take the leap up from 7 string and bring in the 8 string guitars. So we have a few songs where it’s brutal traditional melodic death metal, then moments later, it switches to those modern super low and heavy grooves that are all the rage now, while still keeping the melodic elements. Really can’t wait for everyone to hear it!

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

Honestly, I can’t remember anything super weird or crazy except maybe someone asking to smell Marcos’s sweaty hair after a show, and the occasional boob autograph.

13. What do you think of your fans?

We’d be nothing without them! It’s a little different since we’re more of a recording band at this point, but we truly appreciate all the support they give. We make this music because it’s what we love and want to hear, and we’re just glad that other people like it also!

14. What do you think of our site http://www.breathingthecore.com?

It’s well organized and covers a lot! I really like the track by track and behind the artwork sections where it gives the bands an opportunity to explain them more in detail. Look forward to exploring more of the site soon and we truly appreciate having us on!