Unexpect

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Though they were predated by a straightforward thrash metal band, Unexpect have quickly evolved into one of the prog world's most forward thinking outfits. Combing operatic elements and shades of classical music with nearly every style of metal imaginable (from death through to gothic metal) and topping it off with an extremely challenging avant-garde approach, their sound must be heard to be believed. 
They have just released their new album Fables of the Sleepless Empire and I got in touch with them. Chaoth answered my questions.
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Your
biography has been covered in your ProgArchives profile so let's
bypass the biography details. But which bands were you influenced by
and why did you choose that name ?
The
name... the name......... The name was chosen I believe in 1996 when
the band was formed with the original members (Artagoth and Syriak)
so... Why ?..... I couldn't tell you exactly what was racing in their
heads when they found that name but it's been sticking to the band
ever since and always was very representative of the music and
concepts in the way that it gives us a total ''carte blanche''
creatively because, no matter what we put out next, no matter how the
band evolves and what direction we choose... it will always be
justified as it is the very name, the very first concept of the band.
Not to ''intentionally'' throw people off but to do as we do and
change direction and evolve as we want to do without sticking to any
genre. If people listen to some new material and go: ''Wow, I didn't
see that coming...'' well.... they got it. 

The
influences, as we mentioned in many interviews, are way too wide to
enumerate so I don't think I'll even start. We are 6 (7 at the moment
of composing and recording ''Fables of the Sleepless Empire'') very
strong minded individual with very different taste in music and we
are all pushing in every direction possible so that everybody has his
say in a piece. To break it down as simply as I could, I would say
that ''UNEXPECT'' was mainly a European Melodic Metal influenced band
in its early stage but then with the 2003 and on line-up everybody
poured in their culture into the band and evolved as musicians to
give you today ''FABLES OF THE SLEEPLESS EMPIRE''. I could only say
that I am very fortunate to play in such an unlikely gathering of
extremely talented and open minded musicians. 

Over
to your two albums. Your debut album Utopia was released in 1999.
Please tell us more about this album.
Again,
there is only 2 of the original UTOPIA line-up in the band... Syriak
and Artagoth, who gives the foundation of these weird and colorful
guitar parts. Utopia was very well received here in Quebec and was
also an all independent record. This album amazes me sometimes when I
think of the fact that they were 17-18 when they wrote it! Pretty
mature sound for that age if you ask me. I couldn't say much more, I
came in the band at the end of 2001. I was a fan of the band back
then so, let's say I was very glad to join the ranks.  
And
then there was a seven years long break. What were you doing during
this break ?
Well,
that is not exactly correct. You know... Google is your friend
:)..... don't be shy....
After Utopia (1999) the band got known
mainly in the Quebec area and then there was a major shift in line-up
that forged the UNEXPECT that you know today. I (ChaotH) joined the
march in 2001 (the very day of the twin tower collapse... isn't it
strange ?) and then Lei in 2002 after which we released ''We,
Invaders...'' (2003) on Galy Records. The 4 songs EP that was the
first draft of the ''new'' UNEXPECT sound. Then Landryx joined in
2003. Some shows, some parties and some nights of shredding later...
we got signed to The End records in 2004, recorded our clusterf**k
album IAFA in 2005 and it was released in 2006. Now... isn't that
vulgar ? To sum up 7 individual lives over 7 years... with these 7
lines ? Of course, there is no way I can really communicate to you
what we lived and what we are so.... that will have to do. I do
realize though that... written interviews are easier when I drink.
Shame on you Belgian Pils !

Your
second album In a Flesh Aquarium was released in 2006. Please tell us
more about this album.

It's
f**king weird.

Fables
of the Sleepless Empire has just been released. Please tell us more
about this album.

We're
	really happy and excited that it's finally out. It's been 2 years in
	the making and was only sleeping on our ipods for the longest time
	but now it's out in the world and the comments are amazing so far.
	You don't make music for the critics of course but, after 2 years of
	listening to it on our side, I mean... it's almost old material for
	us now... it's nice to have an outside perspective. 

It's
	been produced by Jeff Fortin at BadAss studio.. thanks for his
	patience. I think that a producer that starts to work with UneXpecT
	never really knows what he's in for but he took it reallyy well and
	made the best of it.

How
would you describe you music and which bands would you compare
yourself with ?
As
comparison is limitation, I wouldn't compare. That said.... well....
I really don't see anything I could say here. You know... i've seen a
quote from a jazzman who nailed it right.... He said: ''Writing
(talking) about music is like dancing on architecture...'' Now....
with that in mind.... how could I possibly describe our music ? And
to be honest... it's really not my part of the game to describe it.
Music exists because there is ears to listen to it and feel it, and
THEY are the people that are gonna make it whatever they want it to
be. So... we have been called Prog, Symphonic, Black Cabaret,
Skyzophrenic, Avant-Garde, Circus and many other but, the word that
always ends this loooong list of styles is always, of course, metal.
Y'know.... Djju Djju... I would like to think of us as contemporary
musicians that take everything they know to make the best music
possible with the knowledge that they have and the technical skills
that they have. If it's good or not.... that's you to Deicide....
(pun intended).

What
have you been up to since 2006 and what is your latest update ? What
is your plans for this year and beyond ?
Now
that the monster ''Fables of the Sleepless Empire'' is out, what we
want to focus on is playing shows and make this album live on stage.
So... if you read this.... BOOK US. Period. We need to fill that
calendar. 

We
are scheduled to play on the BRUTAL ASSAULT festival in Czech
Republic on August 11^th which will be our first big
European festival. Looking. Forward. To that. Yup. Yup.
To
wrap up this interview, is there anything you want to add to this
interview ?
Well,
I happen to still have that fire that we naively all bath in in our
teenage years, you know what I'm talking about... the fire. The will
to change the world. And I'm now 29 years old so... better get
started, right ? I'm not the main lyricist of the band and I am not
making a statement that UneXpecT is about THAT specific topic but we
do have one song that is about that specific topic and I would like
to stress how, in our modern world that is now spinning pointlessly,
how important it is that we start aknowledging the fact that we are
not alone in the universe and everything it means. At the very least
I want to open peoples eyes so that they can talk about that subject
seriously without it being automaticly discredited with its usual
overwhelming glow of ridicule. The implications of this are
absolutely staggering for our world. It is the biggest story ever told and the most important subject to start a new world on 
new grounds... yeah... just that. Just as with any other subject, people are 
often skeptical for the wrong reasons. Not skeptical because it is not 
true. I could go one for hours but... hey...

Thank you to Chaoth for this interview

Their PA profile is here & homepage is here

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