
1- I think the first is an obligated question: How it is To be the Only death metal band in Dubai?
Barney: Pretty cool man, there are a few others around but we have been the only ones who have stuck around for this long (10 years), released albums and most importantly toured extensively. So yeah it is a great honor for us to represent death metal not only for Dubai but the entire Middle East I would say.
2- Why is it so strange to find extreme metal bands in Dubai and around?
Rami: There used to be a bunch of metal bands in Dubai, but I guess none were comitted to keep their music going. The truth is its not the easiest thing to keep a metal band in Dubai because this sort of music is not really supported or common like other sorts of music in Dubai. There’s a very small rock/metal music scene here.
3- As far as I know you are not UAE nationals, how it tended up you all living and forming a death metal band there then?
Barney: That is typically how Dubai is, we have a lot of people from all parts of the World living here. We all met at university and at some local underground gigs that used to take place back in the days, since metal heads were hard to find it was very easy to stick together and form the band once we found the right members!
4- “Preaching Venom”, band’s debut LP have been in the streets since 2008, being very well received by both the fans and the media. How it was to make this first LP for Nervecell?
Rami: Writing and producing Preaching Venom was a great experience really. We put lots of time and effort onto the music, lyrics and production. We enjoyed working with different people on the production - mixing, mastering and artwork. Preaching Venom was mixed at Hertz Studio (VADER, DECAPITATED, HATE) in Poland by Wieslawscy Bros. and was mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music (SEPULTURA, SUFFOCATION, UNEARTH) in New Windsor, New York. We are very happy with the results and with the feedback from our fans and metal media.
5- The album was releases via Lifeforce Records. The label is one of the most respected ones in the extreme metal scene, being the home for bands like RAUNCHY, THE FACELESS or DEADLOCK and having work in the past with other very well known artist such as Between The Buried And Me, All That Remains, Heaven Shall Burn or Trivium. How it is to work with them? Do you feel the preassure of mantaining the label’s quality standards?
Barney: Honestly we were quite happy to know LIFEFORCE RECORDS were interested in us, they were the only label I remember who immediately contacted us once they heard the album and showed interest in the band right from the begining. It was not your typical situation where we were negoiating on terms and such for months and months. They simply enjoyed the music we played and wanted to sign us based on that and our determination as a Middle East based band who has gone above and beyond the ordinary borders to reach where we were at that point. So we were pretty comfortable and excited knowing that we were going to sign with Lifeforce Records for the release of “Preaching Venom” in Europe.
6- One of the most interesting things for me in Preaching Venom is that you show a very personal style, more considering is your debut album as a band. Although I can figure out some influences as Unleashed, where do you find your inspiration for creating music?
Barney: I dont really know when and how inspiration hits man but we generally write what we feel is honest and original to ourselves. We always try and keep our style with the riffs in the songs and not try to follow any recent trends that a lot of bands unfortunately do lately. We all in the band are certainly old school fans of both thrash and death metal so we try our best to re-create old school metal with a modern touch also Keeling the NERVECELL groove and melody throughout our songs. We come from a city where metal is not really accepted very well so to be able to stand this far into our career and not stop is something that inspires me to keep going regardless of all the restrictions and limitations we have been through in the past.
7- “For Every Victim Fallen”, “Ratios” and “Existance Ceased” are my favourite tracks in the album, do you have any?
Barney: Thats really cool to know, in fact “Ratios” is one of my favourites too, as well as “Vicous Circle of Bloodshed” and “Existence Ceased”.
8- Your lyrics talk about society, humanity issues, etc, Would you like Nervecell to be seen as a social/political concerned band?
Rami: No not at all. We are just describing whats going on in the world today in general. Its just obvious what the world has come to now and we are just bringing out our frustrations towards it.
9- Two years time is enought to wonder if the band is working on new material, so when will we be able to listen a new effort from Nervecell?
Barney: We have just finished writing the music for the next album which is scheduled for release early next year 2011! So keep definitely keep an eye out for it.
10- What can you tell us about the new stuff?
Rami: Well we have completed the majority of the new álbum and now working on finalizing it as we speak. The new songs are sounding thrashy, brutal, goovey and atmospheric. That’s all I can say for now haha! its a bit early to give out lots of details. Hope you can check it out for yourself once its out.
11- How is a normal writting session for Nervecell?
Rami: The guitar work comes first. Barney and I write all the guitar riffs first and bring them together to form each song. We keep everything natural and based on feel which works best for us. While writing the guitar work we also create ideas and concepts for each song to help us in writing the lyrics once the music is all complete. James (vocals/bass) writes all the lyrics once we’re done with a song. Then I lay down all the lead/solo guitar parts for the songs while the drums is being written, which is pretty much the last part of the writing process.
12- The band has been touring for a while, but unfortunetly it wasn’t possible to see you in Spain, is there any chance for this to happen any time soon?
Rami: I always thought we would come across Spain on one of our past European tours, unfortuantily we didn’t. Of course we would be happy to perform in Spain sometime soon. We know there’s lots of crazy metal fans over there! maybe in our next European tour.
13- People use to think that all the bands around are able to live from their music, but the truth many times is different. Do Nervecell members have “normal” jobs for a living?
Barney: I used to work a full time media job for 3 years alter I graduated from university but things got really hard to balance with the band’s schedule and a full time position at work, so now Im basically doing music full time and when ever the band is not out on tour I try to free lance for work. Rami has just recently started his own music store so thats keeping him busy when we are home and James is pursuing a PHD currently so yeah you can say we do normal jobs and keep ourselves busy too! The music industry is so difficult and hard for bands to make a living out of now days. Its definitely a lot of sacrifice but its all worth it when you get on stage and share your music to thousands of fans in different countries all around the world.
14- The Internet is very present in the music industry nowadays, how does it affect a band like Nervecell?
Rami: The internet is definitely key in helping the band succeed in spreading its music to the world. We are the first band from Dubai to create a full website promoting ourselves with our songs, downloads, media, photos, bio etc. When we released our debut EP “Human Chaos” in 2004 our website really helped metal fans to know more about us especially those who are outside the Middle East and we continue doing till this day. Of course we never depend fully on the internet to promote ourselves and prefered to go on the road and tour to show our music live which is the best promotion really. Like most bands around the world we use Myspace, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube mainly to keep our fans updated with our news and music which is very important.
15- I think that was my last question, now I only would like you to send some words to your fans in Spain and it’s over:
Barney: Thank you very much for taking the time and for checking us out. We certainly look forward to playing a show or more there in Spain for all the fans! Unfortunately we havent been there just yet but we will surely try and make it down there next year to support the new album and party with you all! It is only a matter of time my friends.
Barney: Pretty cool man, there are a few others around but we have been the only ones who have stuck around for this long (10 years), released albums and most importantly toured extensively. So yeah it is a great honor for us to represent death metal not only for Dubai but the entire Middle East I would say.
2- Why is it so strange to find extreme metal bands in Dubai and around?
Rami: There used to be a bunch of metal bands in Dubai, but I guess none were comitted to keep their music going. The truth is its not the easiest thing to keep a metal band in Dubai because this sort of music is not really supported or common like other sorts of music in Dubai. There’s a very small rock/metal music scene here.
3- As far as I know you are not UAE nationals, how it tended up you all living and forming a death metal band there then?
Barney: That is typically how Dubai is, we have a lot of people from all parts of the World living here. We all met at university and at some local underground gigs that used to take place back in the days, since metal heads were hard to find it was very easy to stick together and form the band once we found the right members!
4- “Preaching Venom”, band’s debut LP have been in the streets since 2008, being very well received by both the fans and the media. How it was to make this first LP for Nervecell?
Rami: Writing and producing Preaching Venom was a great experience really. We put lots of time and effort onto the music, lyrics and production. We enjoyed working with different people on the production - mixing, mastering and artwork. Preaching Venom was mixed at Hertz Studio (VADER, DECAPITATED, HATE) in Poland by Wieslawscy Bros. and was mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music (SEPULTURA, SUFFOCATION, UNEARTH) in New Windsor, New York. We are very happy with the results and with the feedback from our fans and metal media.
5- The album was releases via Lifeforce Records. The label is one of the most respected ones in the extreme metal scene, being the home for bands like RAUNCHY, THE FACELESS or DEADLOCK and having work in the past with other very well known artist such as Between The Buried And Me, All That Remains, Heaven Shall Burn or Trivium. How it is to work with them? Do you feel the preassure of mantaining the label’s quality standards?
Barney: Honestly we were quite happy to know LIFEFORCE RECORDS were interested in us, they were the only label I remember who immediately contacted us once they heard the album and showed interest in the band right from the begining. It was not your typical situation where we were negoiating on terms and such for months and months. They simply enjoyed the music we played and wanted to sign us based on that and our determination as a Middle East based band who has gone above and beyond the ordinary borders to reach where we were at that point. So we were pretty comfortable and excited knowing that we were going to sign with Lifeforce Records for the release of “Preaching Venom” in Europe.
6- One of the most interesting things for me in Preaching Venom is that you show a very personal style, more considering is your debut album as a band. Although I can figure out some influences as Unleashed, where do you find your inspiration for creating music?
Barney: I dont really know when and how inspiration hits man but we generally write what we feel is honest and original to ourselves. We always try and keep our style with the riffs in the songs and not try to follow any recent trends that a lot of bands unfortunately do lately. We all in the band are certainly old school fans of both thrash and death metal so we try our best to re-create old school metal with a modern touch also Keeling the NERVECELL groove and melody throughout our songs. We come from a city where metal is not really accepted very well so to be able to stand this far into our career and not stop is something that inspires me to keep going regardless of all the restrictions and limitations we have been through in the past.
7- “For Every Victim Fallen”, “Ratios” and “Existance Ceased” are my favourite tracks in the album, do you have any?
Barney: Thats really cool to know, in fact “Ratios” is one of my favourites too, as well as “Vicous Circle of Bloodshed” and “Existence Ceased”.
8- Your lyrics talk about society, humanity issues, etc, Would you like Nervecell to be seen as a social/political concerned band?
Rami: No not at all. We are just describing whats going on in the world today in general. Its just obvious what the world has come to now and we are just bringing out our frustrations towards it.
9- Two years time is enought to wonder if the band is working on new material, so when will we be able to listen a new effort from Nervecell?
Barney: We have just finished writing the music for the next album which is scheduled for release early next year 2011! So keep definitely keep an eye out for it.
10- What can you tell us about the new stuff?
Rami: Well we have completed the majority of the new álbum and now working on finalizing it as we speak. The new songs are sounding thrashy, brutal, goovey and atmospheric. That’s all I can say for now haha! its a bit early to give out lots of details. Hope you can check it out for yourself once its out.
11- How is a normal writting session for Nervecell?
Rami: The guitar work comes first. Barney and I write all the guitar riffs first and bring them together to form each song. We keep everything natural and based on feel which works best for us. While writing the guitar work we also create ideas and concepts for each song to help us in writing the lyrics once the music is all complete. James (vocals/bass) writes all the lyrics once we’re done with a song. Then I lay down all the lead/solo guitar parts for the songs while the drums is being written, which is pretty much the last part of the writing process.
12- The band has been touring for a while, but unfortunetly it wasn’t possible to see you in Spain, is there any chance for this to happen any time soon?
Rami: I always thought we would come across Spain on one of our past European tours, unfortuantily we didn’t. Of course we would be happy to perform in Spain sometime soon. We know there’s lots of crazy metal fans over there! maybe in our next European tour.
13- People use to think that all the bands around are able to live from their music, but the truth many times is different. Do Nervecell members have “normal” jobs for a living?
Barney: I used to work a full time media job for 3 years alter I graduated from university but things got really hard to balance with the band’s schedule and a full time position at work, so now Im basically doing music full time and when ever the band is not out on tour I try to free lance for work. Rami has just recently started his own music store so thats keeping him busy when we are home and James is pursuing a PHD currently so yeah you can say we do normal jobs and keep ourselves busy too! The music industry is so difficult and hard for bands to make a living out of now days. Its definitely a lot of sacrifice but its all worth it when you get on stage and share your music to thousands of fans in different countries all around the world.
14- The Internet is very present in the music industry nowadays, how does it affect a band like Nervecell?
Rami: The internet is definitely key in helping the band succeed in spreading its music to the world. We are the first band from Dubai to create a full website promoting ourselves with our songs, downloads, media, photos, bio etc. When we released our debut EP “Human Chaos” in 2004 our website really helped metal fans to know more about us especially those who are outside the Middle East and we continue doing till this day. Of course we never depend fully on the internet to promote ourselves and prefered to go on the road and tour to show our music live which is the best promotion really. Like most bands around the world we use Myspace, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube mainly to keep our fans updated with our news and music which is very important.
15- I think that was my last question, now I only would like you to send some words to your fans in Spain and it’s over:
Barney: Thank you very much for taking the time and for checking us out. We certainly look forward to playing a show or more there in Spain for all the fans! Unfortunately we havent been there just yet but we will surely try and make it down there next year to support the new album and party with you all! It is only a matter of time my friends.