"A lot of the new bands are struggling to find their own sound, because everything has been there already."

Arch Enemy's vociferous fronlady Angela Gossow presents the Swedish band's brand-new live DVD "Tyrants of the Rising Sun", due out in Europe on November 24 via Century Media...

Vassil Varbanov: Hello Angela! Where are you at the moment?

Angela Gossow: In Sweden.

V. V.: Two years ago we spoke with Mike Amott about Arch Enemy's "Live Apocalypse" DVD. Now you're going to release another live DVD - "Tyrants of the Rising Sun". What's new about it?

A. G.: It's completely different. "Live Apocalypse" showed the band in action in London, some backstage stuff, interviews, showing us more as personalities. "Tyrants of the Rising Sun" is just very targeted on the Japanese market. It shows the secrets why Arch Enemy is so big in Japan and how Japan is like for us and how the people are there. Japan is a huge part of Arch Enemy's history and a lot of people are wondering why is that, so we just kind of tried to capture that in this DVD.

V. V.: Why are the Japanese fans so different? What's your explanation?

A. G.: I think the Japanese people take music more personally. It's not so much about showcasing, a certain style or having a certain image, but a very personal choice. They listen to their music on those little i-pod headphones - they don't really show it off so much. It's for them. Music is their little private moment, that's why I think they identify with the bands they like very much. I think it's because Japan is so overpopulated - they have no real space, so their space is the head space. Music is like their world for them - you can go in there.

V. V.: Do you feel at home in Japan?

A. G.: I do feel at home there now, but in the beginning I was very much lost in this strange, futuristic world they have there. I felt like lost in translation in the beginning, because I was overwhelmed by all those impressions and sounds... I've been there over ten times now, so I have my place in that whole world - with all the shops, bars and my friends... It has changed a lot, and I feel I know Japan now.

V. V.: Having in mind that Japan is synonymous for high technologies, I guess this new double DVD of yours should also be a hi-tech thing...

A. G.: Japanese people are very modern, but they are also very traditional. It's both worlds in one. There are very modern high towering buildings in Tokyo, and next there's a very old temple, as you can see in our DVD as well. Regarding the concert, we filmed it with 12 cameras and a crane, and we did it the good old way. We used the same people that we used on "Live Apocalypse" - Paul Smith and Andy Sneap. I think that's what they like - a traditional concert with good sound and picture quality.

V. V.: Have you asked yourself why you're so successful in Japan? Is it because the Japanese traditionally like guitar virtuosos, and Mike Amott is one of the greatest guitarists of today?

A. G.: I think that's what I said - when it comes to music, as well as to certain aspects of life, Japanese people are very traditional. They love Scorpions a lot there, as well as Dio, Van Halen, Yngwie Malmsteen... all this guitar driven music. I think these are the elements they like in general. Also the combination of melody and speed, like Paul GIlbert and Racer X. They're totally into melodic stuff, but it has to be extreme as well. I think they've found that combination in Arch Enemy.

V. V.: And did you find any Japanese bands for yourself?

A. G.: I like the band Shadow - they have a female singer as well and I think she kicks ass. I also like Cocobat - that's an experimental grindcore band. I like Loudness as well. There are a lot of cool bands in Japan, but most of them try to sound American...

V. V.: Mentioning female singers - do you know Sabina Classen of Holy Moses?

A. G.: Of course. We both come from Germany, we've met quite a lot on festivals... She's been around a lot longer than I have.

V. V.: Our current Band of the Week is Trivium. Do you like this new wave of extreme metal?

A. G.: No. Ha-ha, it depends... I think Matt Heafy is extremely nice and super talented, but sometimes I think this music just misses a bit of soul and identity. A lot of the new bands are struggling to find their own sound, because everything has been there already. I have to say there's not a single young band that has totally excited me so far.

V. V.: OK, so what's next for Arch Enemy?

A. G.: We're not gonna do anything until December, as we have to wait for Carcass to stop their grindcore blitzkrieg over the world - you know, Michael plays in Carcass as well and he can't deal with Arch Enemy at the same time, so we're talking a bit of time off. We'll make little tour in December and then we'll be looking forward to play South America in the beginning of 2009.

Copyright: Tangra Mega Rock