Project Description

Interview with

COLIN H. VAN EECKHOUT

from

AMENRA

by Vicky Hebbs

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There are not enough words to describe the sheer magnificence of AMENRA, a band whose powerful and unorthodox music has created waves in the metal world for almost two decades. Hailing from the eerie depths of Kortrijk, Belgium,  AMENRA will bring forth the fierce, pulsating sounds of their music to consume Australia for the very first time. Known for their soul-crushing and electrifying live performances, there is no doubt of the band’s genre-defying style and dynamic, combining the best of sludge, doom and post-hardcore to create music that will consume you completely..Prepare for the most blistering, raw and hypnotic live music experience of the year for with Amenra, you can expect nothing less!

Vicky Hebbs caught up with Colin H. Van Eeckhout recently and asked him a few questions.

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How did you first get into music? When did it become a serious concern?
Through skateboarding I reckon. Hardcore – Punk. And before that the occasional Guns n Roses and Bon Jovi, through a friends older sister.
But the skateboarding brought me into the HC scene in Belgium when I was around 16, thats when the spark really was there. and we realised we could actually do it ourselves too. You didn’t really need to know what you were doing. You just needed to believe in yourself, and go full throttle. 

What kind of music did you grow up on? What artists inspired you and which do you still look to now for ideas?
I think bands like 16 horsepower, Tool, Crowbar, Bolt Thrower, Neurosis, Converge definitely paved the road for us. As for growing up, it was mainly Belgian Hc shows every weekend. With the occasional US Hc bands on tour, like Catharsis or Integrity and so forth.
Nowadays I don’t really go look for inspiration in the metal or HC scene anymore, we go look for it in arts in general. Even Opera, or contemporary dance. Ballet. All very inspiring when it comes to live play. Performance art, Hermann Nitsch. Body Modification.. and so forth.

How would you describe your music for anyone who has not heard it yet? 
Different.

Has metal music always been a part of your lives? Can you remember the first metal you heard? 
Define metal. To some of us more than others. I’d have to go for Metallica, Megadeth or Sepultura.
I don’t really consider myself a metalhead.

How did you decide to start writing your own music? 
Hence question One. Making your own music is the only thing that makes sense. Playing covers is mainly crowd pleasing.

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You have some intense live shows! Can you describe what a typical Amenra show is like, for anyone who has not seen you live yet? 
Not really. If you open up for it, it’s a whole different experience. At least thats what I hear from time to time.

You are coming to Australia soon! What are you most looking forward to on tour in Australia? 
Australia!
Everything man. Seeing it all. or as much as we can. We’re only 5 days on ground so I am not having high standards everything we can do we will do.

Who are your current music influences? 
Djivan Gasparyan, Pavle Aksentijevic,  things like that..

Who are you listening to at the moment? Do you have any good metal recommendations? 
I mainly listen to the music I am working on. I don’t allow much interference. 
Metal, No sorry. Might want to ask the others :)

Do you feel the metal scene has changed a lot over your career? If so, in what ways? 
Probably, there is not much that doesn’t change over the course of 20 years. We have, thats a fact. We are grown ups now. some of us are fathers. We have come full circle, from son to father. Life slowly unravels its mysteries.

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What are your plans for the next year or two in your music career?
Celebrate our 20 years of existence next year and organise some memorable gatherings. Co-operations with other artists, different new projects, write music, release it, live it.

If someone had never listened to Amenra before, what song of yours would you recommend if they could only listen to one?
Am Kreuz or Razoreater. 
A Solitary Reign maybe.

If you could pick anyone to bring on tour with you, whom would you pick and why? (Dead or Alive)
My father. Because I miss him.

What are your major goals or milestones for the longer-term future?
Continue what we are doing. 
Maintaining our friendship. 
Keep the flame going.

Finally, this is a paragraph dedicated to some quick discovery. Really corny, but for the fans, can you tell me your favorite album, artist, movie, place, drink, meal and person (living or dead) and some brief reasons why? Answer some or all please?
I don’t think what I drink or eat has anything to do with what we do. It doesn’t really matter at all. I will leave it at that. Come and ask me in person when you meet us. 

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AMENRA, YLVA and LO!

performing at:

Nov 15th – Brisbane, Crowbar

Nov 16th – Sydney, The Factory Theatre

Nov 17th – Melbourne, Max Watt’s

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TICKETS ON SALE NOW from:

BRISBANE & MELBOURNE– HERE and HERE 

SYDNEY – HERE and HERE

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