Hopefully, Canadian band Aphasia, that has been fighting to play their music since 1996, will have a new album on the streets soon. Guitarist and vocalist Stéphane Houle spoke with us about the bands career, their new material and their problem with drummers.

Are you satisfied with "Beyond the Infinite Horizon"? Would you like to record again some parts of it?
This album was recorded 2 years ago (1998) but some on those song were composed in 96-97, we are proud on the CD but those songs sound very old for us, we have better stuff now and we hope to record a new CD in a few mouths

How important are melodies and atmospheres in your music?
Differentes melodies and atmospheres are the very best side of Aphasia... Our songs are very long (6min-10min) and the melodies and atmospheres change a lot. We don't use keyboard and we have only one guitar and one bass so we have to compose our best to get goods atmospheres

What do you think of "Stormbound" years later ?
Stormbound is our first studio song (1996)... Some people are want us to play this song again but we don't pratice this song very often, we prefer to spend our time in the new stuff.

Are you considering adding a new guitarist to the band or other musician?
Nope... 3 members are the best for a band (it's my opinion) and I think we'll stay like this until the band dies...

How is the new material compared to the mini CD? Are you recording it?
The new stuff sounds like our first CD but it's much more aggressive and melodic. We have a new drummer and a new bassman, so it gives a new breath to the band. I composed most of the stuff and we hope to record this new cd very soon. We've already got the money for the studio, we are waiting for the right moment.

How was your experience on the show in Montreal on July 27th at the Fouf with Destruction, Children Of Bodom, Kataklysm, Dying Foetus and Darkness Hour?
It was amazing... It was our first show with our new drummer and he was with us only 2 months before the show so we praticed a lot and I think we gave a very good show... Can't wait to do another show like this... ;-) People were very crazy when Children of Bodom arrived... very nice!!!

How do you ended working with Jean Francois Dagenais (Kataklysm) in the mini album?
We know him since a long time so we didn't spend a lot of time to chose our studio and guy... We spended one week with Jean Francois and it was very nice... For the next cd, we'll probably record with him again!!

What do you think of the canadian metal scene? It seems to be a big one...
Yes, the scene is growing and growing... We have a lot of good bands, zine, radio statio, label and producer so we can have some international bands for Europe (like Children Of Bodom, Cradle of Filth, Dimmu Borgir, Samael, etc). We are very involved in the metal scene and the scene reflects our works, every body works together since 2-3 years...

What are your lyrics about? Do you have one concept through the whole album or the concept is different on each song?
No, we didn't have a concept for this album, either for the new cd. I write my feeling throught the nature... So, if I'm hangry, I can write something with the lightnight so something like that... Everybody who read my lyric can have a different matter for them.

How different is Simon´s style from the style of the previous drummers? Do you think your music has improved since his addition?
Yes, of course, a great improvement... Ugo was good but Simon is faster than Ugo and I really enjoy that... Our songs are faster, even those on the first CD, we play them faster. Simon do a big difference with the current stuff you can hear...

Interviewed by Federico Marongiu

Beyond the infinite Horizon - MCD (1998)

Stéphane Houle - guitars, vocals

Jean François Girard - bass, vocals

Simon Chenier - drums