With:	Adrian [guitars]
Conducted by:	wrathchild
Published:	14.01.2005

- As Iraven is still barely known, especially outside the French territory, could you introduce the band briefly?

Hello, the band is distributed in South America and Japan. It was also broadcasted on a Swedish radio. Therefore, we are beginning to get known, especially in Argentina, Peru and Japan.

IRAVEN is composed of six musicians:
Ancien Might (vocals), Borg (bass guitar), Elenya (keyboards), Clement (guitar), Greg (drums) and me, Adrian (guitar).

This line up exists since May 2004. Previously, we experienced many problems with musicians, who failed to destroy the band.

But now, it's ok and the band is starting a new tour for 2005.






- Your music is an ambitious mix of metal genres, such as heavy metal and black metal. How do you define it?

Some said that we made symphonic dark/heavy/black metal; I like this definition. In fact, each one brings its personal key and our musical influences are very divergent.
It is a mix of heavy, death, thrash and still of black metal! Sometimes in only one song!
Then you will understand that it is quite difficult for us to qualify our music.
For us, we play Iraven metal.


- How is the response you get from black metal listeners in general? Do they welcome your music?

Ah well, difficult to say. I am not sure that we had opinions coming from black metal listeners, but rather from metal listeners in general! From what I know, the reviews are correct, especially with regard to our music. Certain people have concern with the production, which I however find very clean. As a whole, we have good echoes.


- Your music has evolved through years and line-up changes, but are you still thinking of introducing more elements to it?

No, I do not think. It was necessary to insert a second guitar and a keyboard in the group. The keyboard is used for to us to add an atmosphere to our music pieces, and to make it possible to fill the blanks left by the other instruments. The second guitar is very important to carry out musical harmonies.
As for adding new instruments, it is not in our minds, at least for the moment.


- What is the recipe to make an Iraven song? Who does what, who writes the lyrics, etc?

Well, most of the time, I write the main riffs and Borg writes the lyrics. But Elenya composes more and more. In general, I come up with riffs which are developed afterwards with the ideas of each member and the music takes shape.

As our musical tastes are very different, that makes it possible to give our music a great diversity, this is why, you can find in only one song, black metal, heavy metal and rock'n'roll. We know in advance the topic approached by the texts of Borg, therefore our music is always made up to stick to a certain state of mind. Borg develops a history around the made up music.


- Rumors have it that the French metal scene is increasing, providing quality bands. What do you think about this? What are your favourite bands from France?

I believe that these rumours are founded. During various concerts which we made in 2004, we discovered excellent groups. I am happy to see that the musical level of the underground rose. The public must support this scene which provides groups of quality, often better than certain groups signed on a label.

Our favorite French group? I do not know, I do not know the tastes of everyone, but I know that Manigance, Killers, Adagio and Anorexia Nervosa are among our favourites.


- You're part of a gathering of French bands called the "alliance", which is based on concert exchanges. When and how was it created, and has it been successful so far?

We created this system of exchange for concerts 3 years ago. But we set up this Alliance 6 months ago. I cannot really tell you if it works; for the moment, I would say yes. One proof is Malleus Maleficarum. They played in Toulouse and we played in La Rochelle.
The objective is to allow groups coming from other areas to get known elsewhere.


- What are the band's resolutions for this brand new year? What do you want to achieve?

Ah well, we returned in studio in December to record four new titles. We wish to release a musical project this year but we precisely do not know what we will put inside yet...
Moreover, on next 12 February we'll take part in the festival: Rock'n'roll in Tarn (81). We'll tour France during 2005, but the dates will be posted on the homepage of our Website.




- Besides music, what are the hobbies of the members of Iraven?

Elenya, Borg and Ancien love to play role playing games like Warhammer. Clement, Greg and me play more music and drink glasses in bars. But I can ensure you that the group represents the largest hobbies for each one.


- Thanks for your time, and for your music! Keep up the good work! To close this interview, you're free to say whatever you want to our readers:

First, thank you for having listened to our disc; we are happy that you liked it.
And to the readers, I would say, do not hesitate to come to see us if you're coming by our rehearsal room; do not hesitate to come to speak to us to deliver your opinion about a concert or our music, it is very important to us.

Thank you again for your support and see you soon I hope.


www.iraven.free.fr