MM - Introduce the band members to us.
Alexander:The band is made up of 5
members...
Devon Chells (guitar)
Chris Villari (guitar)
George Cuttitto (bass)
Ronell Cedeno (drums)
and me, Alexander Kostas (vocals)
MM - Where in the world do the band call home?
Devon: We are all from New York City,
some of us from Manhattan and some the Bronx.
MM - Your music has been described as melodic extreme metal, this
seems a strange combination, please define for those music fans who
aren't familiar with your music.
Alexander: Well, our music is a
combination of many different styles, but yet it is still Metal.
Many of the ideas we incorporate range from J.S.Bach to such Jazz acts
as Thelonius Monk.
We use these notions in conjunction with harmonies and counterpunctal
passages. But yet we
never let the complexity overtake the true heart of the music, which is
simply emotion.
MM - Are you signed/unsigned at the moment?
Alexander: At the moment we are
unsigned.
MM -The band will shortly be playing at the Metal Mardi Gras on 18th
March 2001, how do you feel being asked to take part in such a popular
festival?
Alexander: We are, simply put, honored.
And the feedback we have gotten in regards to it is
amazing. We are looking very much forward to playing the show and to
seeing the rest of the
bands that are on the bill, such as Killswitch Engage and Cryptopsy.
MM - Do you prefer indoor or outdoor gigs generally?
Alexander: We have no preference at
all, we just enjoy playing!
MM - Do you consider yourself a fan orientated and accessible band?
Alexander: It is all about the fans! Devon: We love talking to anyone at anytime, I really can't
understand how a band could not talk to the people that enjoy their
music.
MM - What goes through your mind when you are playing live onstage?
Alexander: When I am onstage, what
usually goes through my mind is what was going through
my mind when I wrote the lyrics I am singing at the moment. Be it hate,
love, or sadness.... and
the women in the crowd = ) Devon: For me, before the show I see all the people that have
come to see us. And from that
moment on I put myself in the mindset of " I have to give these people a
show, they paid whatever amount of money to see us... so I'm gonna make
it worth it for them."
MM - Does the band hang out together often? Do you get along well
outside the band environment?
Alexander: This band is like family, we
are all like brothers. We go to bars and such together all the time and
have gone though bullshit together as well. Devon: We get along better as a family rather than a band. But
it's because of our dysfunctional family squabbles that our music is
what it is.
MM - Do you have any other gigs planned at present?
Alexander: After the Metal Mardi Gras
show at the Wetlands we are playing April 17th at the
Lions Den in the Village with a band called Mahavatar and then a show at
a club called Castle
Heights in Queens on either April 27th or 28th. The exact date is yet to
be announced.
MM - What bands/artists have influenced you the most over the years?
Alexander: The list is so vast, to name
a few... Kiss, Death, Carcass, Dream Theater, Motley
Crue, Slayer, Sebastian Bach, Sting... etc... the list is truly endless.
lol Devon: My influences come from not so much musical ability but
from performance. Such as
Pantera, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Guns N' Roses, and Primus. Any band who
has a member that can put on a show and inevitably have "all eyes on
him".
MM - What was the most memorable rock concert you have attended?
Alexander: I would have to say that one
of the most memorable shows I attended was a Morbid Angel show on their
Domination tour with Dissection opening. I remember Dissection playing
an amazing set, I'm just glad that I got to see them before they
disbanded. Devon: My most memorable show was a Deftones concert at the
Roseland Ballroom... I surfed from one side of the stage to the other
and got thrown into a 6 foot bouncer, the lead singer of the Deftones
stood face to face with Ronell (my drummer), and at the end of the night
I headed to the back of the club with some girl.
MM - How would you like to see rock music progress in the next couple of
years?
Alexander: I would really enjoy to see
people put more thought into their music. There are many great bands out
there that really don't get recognized, which is very shitty... Devon: But then again there are shitty bands that we have the
pleasure of listening to now that get all the recognition. Alexander: Yeah, I guess in some aspects to are right. But hey
man, if they are shitty... at least as far as I think... I'm not
listening to them. Devon: But you can't help not listening to them! They are all
over!
MM - What is your most treasured possession?
Alexander: My most treasured possession
at the moment is my new Sony Wega television ... but I'm sure that'll
change. Other than that, I'd say my CD collection, which is pushing
1000. Devon: My 1978 Squire Stratocaster, it's a piece of shit... but I
love it.
MM - When at home do you like to go clubbing, and is there any
particular clubs you prefer?
Alexander: I'm actually a home body,
but when I do go out, I frequent the Blue Note club in
Greenwich Village, there are always great acts playing. Devon: Hmmmm... I like to go where there is women and beer!!! lol
MM - What band(s) would you most like to tour or do a show with?
Alexander: I would love to tour with or
be put on a show with Opeth. They are an amazing band, and their fans I
feel would be a great audience for us. Other than Opeth, I would say
Sting. = ) Devon: I'd have to say any band that would get enough people
through the door. If their music is good, and they have a great
following... then it's all good in my book.
MM - Which Afflitus song is your personal favourite and why?
Alexander: Our latest song called "Out
Of Place" would be mine, I really dig the music and the
feeling the guys put behind it. The lyrics I wrote for it pertain to
something which has been on my mind lately and something that hits
close to home. I would explain the song, but I always fear to, cause it
may take away the meaning someone else gathers from it. Devon: A song called "Pass In The Water". Because it's just so
powerful to me... it's really the one that gives me the most energy on
stage.
MM - What's the most important thing to the band right now?
Alexander: Communication and being able
to work together. We feel to make anything happen in music it has to be
done together, as a band ... it's a joint venture. We are all trying to
manage our time responsibly, aside from the band we all have
professional obligations. And to sometimes find time for both is
difficult. Devon: But we always manage.
MM - Is your debut EP still available to your fans and how can it be
obtained?
Alexander: Our EP is still available,
but for how long I do not know. That EP was recorded in late '99 and I
must admit there are some things on there that I am not too proud of. We
may make more in the following 2 months or so, but then after that we
are hoping head into the studio to record a full length CD. If anyone
would like to obtain one, they can e-mail us at
Afflimetal@aol.com. Or if they would
like to listen to it on line, they can check out our mp3.com
site at
www.mp3.com/afflitus,
which has a band photo, bio, and calendar w/ show dates.
MM - How would you describe the band members and their mood right now?
Alexander: The band members are all in
great spirits right now, mostly due to the overwhelming response we
have been getting from fans. We are looking forward to playing the shows
we have scheduled and the ones that aren't! Hopefully we will be getting
out of N.Y. soon and playing across the U.S. and beyond.
MM - Lastly, is there anything you would like to say to the fans out
there?
Devon: Thank you and it's a great honor
for our fans to enjoy our music. And we would do
anything we can to make them happy and for them to continue being our
fans. Alexander: I just want to say thank you to everyone that has
supported us and has enjoyed the
music. Hope to see all of ya soon! I would really like to also thank
Linda and everyone at The
Mayfair Mall for caring and taking the time out to interview both Devon
and I. See ya!
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