An eclectic metal band

Spanish dark metal band Dawn Of Tears have been around for over a century, but presented their debut demo only in 2005, a couple of years later followed by a full length album 'Descent', which was well received by the metal community. After line-up hassle, they returned last year with new EP 'Dark Chamber Litanies'. Let's read about this all a bit more closely as the guitarist J.L. Trebol provided the answers.

AM: Hail from wintry Finland! How are things in Spain and the band?

J.L. Trebol: Everything's ok for the moment, thanks.

J.L.T.: I'll answer as main composer of the band, Since Dawn Of Tears was born, we tried to make some kind of symphonic death metal with many influences. We dont like to close doors to our compositions; melodeath, gothic metal and classic metal are our main influences, but on the other hand, classical music or soundtracks represents an important inspitation for me. I used to say that we are an eclectic metal band.

AM: Can you tell about the lyrical side of the EP?

J.L.T.: We try to tell a different story in each song, influenced by literature, role playing games, movies, gothic fantasy... But sometimes we like to imagine original short stories. We take inspiration from 19th century world, medieval times... And we give personal contribution from feelings or emotions from our own lives. We try to treat the lyrics in a poetry way in each song.

AM: Can you shed some light over the band's history, please?

J.L.T.: The project was born on 1999, but it didnt become a reallity until J. Alonso joined the band as vocalist at the end of 2001. We recorded two demos and won a few metal band contests. Since the recording of our debut album 'Descent' (nominated on International Metal Storm awards 07 as best melodeath album) we have been working hardly to promote the band and make as much gigs as possible, in three years we have played with Dimmu Borgir, Dark Tranquillity, Amon Amarth, Charon, Moonsorrow, Dew-Scented, Cynic... Now we are doing a worldwide extensive promotion for our new EP 'Dark Chamber Litanies', and I have to say that it's been very succesfull so far.

AM: You've had quite a lot of line-up changes thus far. Has it been easy to find suitable members to the band? How have these changes affected the music?

J.L.T.: At the end of 'Descent' tour, the relationship between us was quite deteriorated, in a professional and personal way. Obviously, you cannot work that way. I use to compare it with a cancer. I mean, if you don't exterminate it, sooner or later it will kill you. Three members were "invited to leave the band", and, although it was a sad decision, I think it is one of the best we've ever taken, cause now we feel like a real band.

J.L.T.: The response of metalheads and media has been amazing. Honestly, much better than we expected. We receive mails from all the world with kind words and encourage-messages and that makes us stronger to keep on that way. The popularity of Dawn Of Tears grows every day, I think, we have reached more that 35000 oficial downloads from our website. That make us stronger to keep on working hard. We have send the first promo packages for labels a few weeks ago, let's be patient...

AM: Good luck for label hunting, then! So, can you tell the other latest news and future plans?

J.L.T.: Well, we are finishing the composition of the new album, soon we'll star the recording sessions of the demos and maybe in October, we'll keep ourselves in the studio to make it real. But this time, we want to release it with a good label (we hope so...).

AM: Have you played any shows lately? In the past, you've shared the stage with Dark Tranquillity, Dimmu Borgir, Amon Amarth, Moonsorrow and such big names. Any cool road tales to tell about those?

J.L.T.: The most friendly band of those ones is Dark Tranquillity, really kind guys. We have a great time together and they offered us their beers when we drunk all our catering... Not all the bands do this.

AM: Let's perform The Proust Questionnaire. Just answer how you really feel. Here we go with...

Metal music.

J.L.T.: A way of life.

AM: Your idea of misery.

J.L.T.: No money, no love, no health...

AM: Your favorite composers?

J.L.T.: J.S. Bach, Vivaldi, Hansi Kürsch, Niklas Sundin, Kai Hansen (Helloween times)...

AM: Your favorite prose authors (writers, poets etc.)?

J.L.T.: Miguel de Cervantes, Stephen King, E.A. Poe, Katherine Neville, Gabriel García Márquez...

AM: Religions.

J.L.T.: Medieval way of thinking.

AM: Vampires.

J.L.T.: Great inspiration for us.

AM: Favourite time of day.

J.L.T.: Saturday.

AM: Favorite intoxicant.

J.L.T.: Maybe my mother will read this interview...

AM: What is your present state of mind?

J.L.T.: Pacefully, creative.

AM: Your goal.

J.L.T.: Make Dawn Of Tears become a world succesful band, but for the moment, keep on doing a good work...

AM: Thank you for interesting answers, it's tim to wrap up this interview. Good luck to Dawn Of Tears in the future and you too.

J.L.T.: THANKS A LOT!