1.. Hi Chris, first of all, could you do a brief introduction of the band, for those of the readers that have still to discover you?

Hi Beppe. Reflection was born back in 1991. We are still here after 11 years still playing Epic Metal. Our first attempts were two demo tapes back in 1992 and 1993 ("Before The End", 1992 and "When Immortals...Die!", 1993). It was the second demo tape that properly introduced us to the Hellenic Underground Scene. After that we recorded two songs for a 7'' EP Single called "The Sire Of The Storm" that was released by "Dark Side Records". That was a best seller for us, as it was a 3 times sold out vinyl! Unfortunately our label did not supported the band thus we left after our contract was over. A few months later the label gave up and closed. One year later we recorded 8 songs for our first album but no one was interested for Epic Metal back then thus after 2 more years without a label we decided to record 5 of the songs, include the 7'' EP and release it by ourselves. Thus in 1999 "The Fire Still Burns" was out. Two years later and after selling a little less than 1000 copies and after releasing a split CD Single (Realms Of The Night, 2001 NMC Music), Secret Port approached us and proposed a contract for the release of "The Fire Still Burns" album. But we decided to rerecord the whole album, plus some old songs, add a new and improved cover and booklet and give it as a present to our fans. Our line up is : Chris Kappas (vocals), Stathis Pavlandis (guitars), John Tolakis (bass) and the last 3 years John Psarakis (guitars) and George Pavlandis (drums).

2.. Well my friend, just one step behind to ask you how has the response for your first official release "The fire still burn", and what's the difference through the cd published by Secret Port record and the demo cd released by the band some time ago?

First of all "The Fire Still Burns" is not our first official release as back in 1995 "Dark Side Records" released "The Sire Of The Storm" 7'' EP Single and in 2001 "NMC Music" released split CD Single "Realm Of The Night''. The difference between "The Fire Still Burns" and "The Fire Still Burns, 2001 edition" is that the second has a better production and sound, more songs, a much better lay in and cover and you can still buy it!!!

3.. Are you totally satisfied for the Secret Port's working? Have you sell a satisfactory copies of cd? I know that Theodosis is a good label manager, and a guy full involved in the Hellenic's underground scene, is right?

We are 101% satisfied with "Secret Port Records". Theodosis believes in us and he is a very good friend. I know that there are bands that try to find the "big" deal with a bigger label but we are "down to earth" and we know that we are not going to be "Rock Stars" (unfortunately!!!) with the music we play. We only care to sell a satisfactory amount of copies (so that the label can still support us) and some people who believes to the band, like Theodosis.

4.. What you can say me about your new production "Odyssey"? If I'm not wrong you've planning to release this opera about four years, right?

The new album is a concept on Homer's Odyssey and "Secret Port Records" will release it in September. The musical style of the band is not changed and we still play Epic Metal. We started working for this album at 1995. But we wanted to be really ready for this great step. Thus now it is time to pay a tribute to the biggest Opus ever.

5.. Why you have decided to release a concept based on Homer's opera? Do you believe there's a connection through your epic metal and this popular writer?

Epic Metal is indeed connected with ancient history & mythology. Most of our songs have to do with Hellenic History or Mythology. "Fire" is about Prometheus the titan who gave the light from Gods to the humans. The Gods punished him by tied him in a mountain. "Children Of War" and "Fire And Steel" are based on the Battle Of Salamis between the Hellenic and Persian army. "The Wheel Of Fortune" is about the 3 Fates of the Hellenic Mythology. But we believe that Odyssey is the biggest Opus ever written.

6.. How many song the album will contain? What's really your lyrics deal to? What's the story behind the track "Return of the king"? and if you want, can you make a track by track?

There will be 12 songs plus some narration. "The Adventure Begins" is the first song. It deals with the departure from the ruins of Troy and the return to Ithaca. "The Forbidden Fruit" has to do with the island of lotus. The inhabitants of this island treated some of Ulysses' sailors the lotus, a very sweet fruit that made them forget about their land. The next song is "The Cyclops". This one is about one eyed giant Polyphemus , son of Poseidon. He ate some of Ulysses' friends and the hero took revenge by sticking a big stick in his eye and blinded him. "Giants" is about the land of Lestrygons, a tribe of giants that sunk all the ships of Ulysses except one. "The Sorceress" is dealing about Circa the Sorceress and the adventures of Ulysses in her island. The next song "Journey To The Other Side" has to do with the trip to Hades and the land of dead so that they could ask the dead prophet Teresias how they could return back to Ithaca. "Between The Bitch And The Charibdis" has to do with the 2 legendary monsters of the sea that Ulysses and the rest of his sailors faced, while "Slaughter In The Island Of The Sun" deals with the slaughter of the rest of the sailors of Ulysses because they ate the sacred cows and lamps of the God of Sun. The next song is "Kalypso" and talks about the 7 years of the hero in the island of the fairy Kalypso. "Beware Of The Night" is about the return to Ithaca and the meeting with his son Telemachus. "Who Will Dare To Bend The Bow" deals with the test, his wife Penelope gave to the claimants, and finally the last song "The Return Of The King" talks about the slaughter of the claimants by Ulysses and Telemachus. There are also narration for the war with Cicons, the island of Aeolus, the Sirens etc. But this is a very small part of the story. The whole story will be included in the booklet of the CD.

7.. How is change the process of composing a song, respect your debut album? Is born firstly the music, or the lyrics?

There is no process. Sometimes we have the lyrics and we then compose the music and sometimes we have the music and we then write the lyrics. It's all matter of inspiration.

8.. In your opinion, what's the reaction that you think can do an opera like "Odyssey"?

It is still Epic Metal. It's not commercial music therefore we only want our fans to like it and get some more fans. There are not many people that listen to Epic Metal and we know that there is no way to get the attention of the younger audience because they are like modern stuff like Pantera, Fear Factory and more extreme kind of music. But we hope that we will get some attention because it is a really good album.

9.. Chris let me tell you that your debut cd in my country is very hard to find, which do you think is the most ideal to represent your music from all the songs you've composed and why?

I know that there are countries that our CD is very hard to find. But we hope that our next album will be easier to find. The ideal song is "When Immortals ...Die!". This song is like a hit for us and we it is still the last song at our concerts.

10.. What's the main goal you want to reach with the band and why did you choose to play epic-metal?

There is not a main goal behind our band. We are some friends who like playing that kind of music. We do it for 11 years and we will continue as long as we like. As for the second part of the question we grown up with bands like the mighty "Warlord", "Candlemass", "Solitude Aeturnus", "Memento Mori", thus it is very normal to play music based on these bands.

11.. Can you tell me your opinion about this band: Battleroar, Domine, Doomsword, Candlemass.

Battleroar is a very promising band. They are the future of Hellenic Epic Metal. You should listen to their 7'' vinyl which is killer!!! Domine and Doomsword are legendary bands but I prefer the more romantic and mysterious kind of Epic Metal (Warlord, Candlemass, Magnum etc). Candlemass is one of our biggest influences. We saw their last live in Athens a few months ago and it was one of the best moments in our lives! Black Stone Wielder is born...

12.. I know that some people compare you to US metal legend Warlord, and the great master Bill Tsamis has shown very interest in your music, what's your reply? Can you tell me your opinion on last Warlord's album?

That is the best thing that someone can say about our music. "Warlord" is THE BAND and of course the biggest influence of Reflection. We have sent all of our albums to William Tsamis and He said that He really liked our music. He also made some very positive comments in an interview. This is the best thing that can happen to us! Our biggest idol saying good thinks about our music! I bought the new Warlord album and it is absolutely perfect! All the songs are really breathtaking. The Lordian Guard songs are truly amazing and all the new songs are astonishing!!! They are all Warlord!!! Bill and Mark are better than ever. They were, are and will be forever, the BEST Band. THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC. THE HAMMER WILL FALL ON YOU...WHEN THE WARLORD WILL RISE OUT OF THE ASHES!

13.. Do you think that epic metal is the classic music of the new millennium? And what's your personal opinion about the words "true metal" and "false metal"?

I do not believe that Epic Metal is the classical music of the new millenium. Heavy Metal is Heavy Metal and nothing more. It is passionate music from the heart. It is composed in a very different way than the classic music. I agree that some of the artists in our music have some influences from classical composers (like the one and only Malmsteen) but that doesn't mean that it is the same thing. Our music has a unique personality and it is different to other kinds of music. As long as true and false metal what can I say? I only believe that there is true and false music. You can not say that a band is true or false. For example, there could be a pop band that plays this music from the heart. This is good music even if we do not like that.

14.. I personally think that the Greek people are the very supporters of true metal, I believe that many historic bands, especially from USA, will not be alive without the Greek fans, but what's the reaction of this metal kids to the Reflection's music?

There is support but it is still...underground! I mean that there some people that they support Heavy Metal bands but they are few. Not many people buy CDs from less known bands. Most of them like black and atmospheric/gothic or progressive bands and they "obey" to big magazines like "Metal Hammer". These magazines believe that traditional Heavy Metal is old fashioned and that we should listen to modern stuff. We are here to say a big... F... YOU. Heavy Metal is eternal and is never going to die.

15.. What bands have you toured with and what ones did you feel you fit in best with? And what people should expect from a Reflection live show?

We performed live with all the old generation of Hellenic Heavy Metal bands like Powercrue, Marauder, Inner Wish, and also with the new blood and bands like Raging Storm, Lost Fate, Sacred Outcry, etc. Finally we played with the legendary Wotan to their concert in Athens. People should expect an old style Heavy Metal live show with a lot of head banging, singing and fun.

16.. Chris thanx for your precious time, the end is your, send a special message to our readers..

I thank you for this very interesting interview and your support. I would like to say to all of your readers to keep on supporting the underground Heavy Metal bands and buying fanzines because they do not obey trends and support bands that really need support. Heavy Metal Is Our Faith...Immortals Never Die!