HELLIXXIR is a fucking good Heavy Thrash Metal band from Grenoble, for sure Metal is still alive in France !
Why did you create a Thrash Metal band
and what are the bands that influenced you to write the early tunes of
HELLIXXIR ?
To be honest with you, that is the Music I have in my veins. As a kid
I started listening to Heavy Metal thanks to my brother. Today, as a guitarist
I enjoy playing heavy and thrash riffs, it is my way to feel free and
to claim to the world my art, my feelings, my rage, my fears, my love
….Of course, many Heavy and Thrash Metal bands influenced me a lot,
especially US bands such as Megadeth, Van Halen, Metallica, (it does not
sound original), Slayer, Exodus, Pantera, Death, Testament … Sepultura
but also bands like Iron Maiden, Gamma Ray, Scorpions, more recently Opeth
or Hypocrisy …
Your band name is a mix between Hell
and Elixir with the addition of "x" as Exxplorer did back in
the 80's for instance, how did you end with such a name ? I don't know
why but your band name reminds me of a kind of XIXth French philosophers
and as these writers who used Absinthe as elixir for their inspiration….
Perhaps, we should drink Absinthe for our inspiration, it could be a way
to improve and explore our art, why not?
Briefly, HELLIXXIR is a mix between “Hell” and “Elixir”,
it does sound Metal for me, and the double “x” is in reality
a way to be the only one with such a name, but also has to be read as
“XXI”, which means 21st century. The 21st century is a kind
of “elixir” that blindly brings us to Hell. It is a healthy
poison you cannot escape!
Your Metal
is pretty influenced by the 80's Thrash Metal Bay Area bands such as Metallica,
Megadeth, Exodus, Dark Angel and so on, but excepted me being wrong you
were rather young when all these bands were at their top in the 80's,
so how does it come you feel close to this part of Metal ? Which were
the early Thrash bands you discovered ?
Yes, you are right; I was pretty young when all that bands became famous
in the 80’s. I love powerful guitars and Metallica or Megadeth naturally
became my teenager’s passion! You know, it was what I felt and still
feel when I want to claim to the world my emotions, good or bad! Metal
is not only music; it is a philosophy.
What is your
background in the Metal scene, did you play in another band previous to
HELLIXXIR ? When and how did you get into Metal ?
When I was a teenage, I decided to play guitar in order to create my own
Heavy Metal band. I strongly desired to play music like the bands I contemplated
so much ! We firstly formed - with friends of mine from different musical
cultures - a rock band called “Daddy Long-Legs”, but it never
became a real band for so many reasons such as musical divergences, studies
or girlfriends ! After a year of studies in England and a long period
of training, I felt a strong desire to create a real Metal band with friends
of mine. HELLIXXIR came to birth in October 2001 but appeared in 2003
into the local metal scene.
You second full
length has been unleashed through the French label Brennus Records, could
you explain how you ended under their wings ? What is the deal about,
I mean did you sign for further album ? And were there any other labels
interested in HELLIXXIR ?
Alain Riccard from Brennus Music proposed us a distribution deal for our
new release, and maybe for our 2008 upcoming album. Another label was
interested in HELLIXXIR’s music but I cannot mention its name…
I’ll keep it secret !
Yes, I think this album is the rebirth of HELLIXXIR and the end of an era. In such a point, we can establish a parallel between the line up troubles we had in 2004 and the whole concept as following: "War Within" is a concept album that deals with the theme of Human Behaviour when sick. Immersion in a chaotic world where each individual is contaminated by a parasite, making them unpredictable, irrational and violent. Partially awake, Mankind questions its actions and its future, starting a true inner fight: WAR WITHIN.
What is the meaning behind "War
Within" cover album ? Is it a kind of burning foetus in the bubble
? Furthermore, there's a rising sun behind the bubble, which could be
interpreted as a kind of new hope or more brilliant future….
I think we can see so many things… but all deals with the WAR WITHIN
concept. The “burning foetus” symbolizes in fact the parasite
that made people sick. However I will let your imagination see what you
want to see, it is mainly the goal. The sun is clearly a new hope which
can be felt through the last track called “Adeu”.
Lyrics from "Mr Hide" some
kind of reminding me Mercyful Fate even though your lyrics are not as
evolved as the Danish mastermind, do you agree with me and are you influenced
by his lyrics when creating yours ?
This question should be answered by my singer (Julien), given that he
wrote the lyrics of M. Hyde. Sorry.
Let's
keep on the "Mr Hide" lyrics, the end of the song mentioned
grave desecration and a lost man in a graveyard. These images brought
me in mind 90's Scandinavian grave desecration from B.M. scene, is there
any connection to them ? By the way what is your view on religions as
a whole and on Satanism ?
No, there is no connection at all with. About religions and Satanism,
I cannot argue a lot, it is not a point that really matters as regards
my band. I do respect religions, but it does not interfere with HELLIXXIR’s
music. Satanism, well, it is the same issue as religions, don’t
you think it belongs to the whole of the religious ideology ?
themes ?
To my mind, you are right: this song seems to be useless and doesn’t reflect well Hellixxir’s music now. You probably know that playing in a band sometimes means to do compromises and choices. This was the case and it reflects Hellixxir’s difficulties trough the past. You are right, maybe this song could have been more personal… nothing is perfect. But I want to thank Pascal TOURNOUD for playing guitar with me on that song.
One of
your song is rather humanist as you point the violence through war and
suffering people from these events through "Of Rage And Violence",
so do you consider as lover of mankind ? I noticed that back in the 80's
even though many Thrash Metal acts were pretty aggressive through their
lyrics they wrote many songs against war and chemical warfare (i.e. Whiplash,
Toxic, Exodus, Nuclear Assault, Kreator, Sodom and so on…), is that
the same from HELLIXXIR…?
It is true that war often appears in Metal songs, it is an issue that
does represent this music from the beginning, especially in Thrash Metal
bands. Any kind of Music is a way to express feelings, claims or doubts
to the world. So to conclude with your topic, yes it is the same for HELLIXXIR
on “War Within. Not only it is about war and violence, but it is
mainly focus on a more global theme: the human inner fight ! I do not
consider myself as a lover of Mankind; I just simply criticize what is
wrong and devilish in the world.
“Kill the Parasite” should have featured on War Within, but this song was not completely achieved at the recording session in terms of lyrics, rhythm, melodies and arrangements. We only put the middle part of the song on the web because we thought this was really great !
How do you write a HELLIXXIR's tune
? Who come in first with his musical part ? Many of the impressing artists
being from musical field, literatures, painting used drugs and hard addiction
substances to get the best of themselves. I mean they needed to go beyond
their everyday mind to get the worst of themselves and create something
unique. Do you believe that you need this kind of state of mind to compose
your tunes, have you ever tried to explore this unknown part of your brain
this way ?
Very often what comes first is the guitar with different riffs. Secondly,
I work on the melody with a second guitar (solo, arrangements …)
to get an overview of the music. Thirdly, I do work with my drummer, and
that is here that the music really creates. The Lyrics often come after,
but the main idea is here in my head or my singer’s head from the
beginning. Words come later. However, what is great in HELLIXXIR is the
mix between all the musicians, everybody bring their ideas.
I don’t need any drugs or substances to get more inspire, I think
my guitar is enough a drug!
You have only played gigs in your hometown
so far, are there plans for a national tour since you're signed now ?
Of course in a first time, we especially played in our hometown and through
the Rhône-Alpes region, but it seems that a new landscape is going
on for us. I cannot say more now, but we are going to play gigs over France
and probably in few European countries.
What is your religion with religions
? Do you think that all Metal bands must deal with religions ? Do you
consider yourself as antireligious ?
My religion is to respect people when they do respect me and my friends.
I am not antireligious at all, I do believe in something, but I don’t
know what. I don’t mind if some Metal bands deal with religions,
if they do respect the others. Religion as a concept is a good manner
to get inspiration for Lyrics as War or Peace, Death or Life, Drugs, Girls
are.
Thanks for the answers, end
this int' as you wish…
Thank you Eric for this interview, it was hard to correctly answer to
all the questions, I did my best. I hope it remains understandable. See
you soon in our pubs. Stay BrutalJ !