With:	Philippe Miralles [Vocals, guitars]
Conducted by:	Jeff
Published:	20.09.2004
Band profile:	Distress

-For all those who don't know Distress, could you introduce the band please ?

DISTRESS was born 8 years ago in Strasbourg, France. We play a unique mix of doom and death metal with also thrash and gothic influences. Our music is mostly based on dark and deep atmospheres and a huge variety of vocal styles and rhythms. Our creation is quite instinctive, and the result is very personal, both powerful and innovative. Much attention is paid to all the details that make our musical style both astonishing and immediately recognisable. The band members are Eric Lorentz on guitar, Thibaut Xhaard on bass, Laurent Haas on drums and myself, Philippe Miralles on guitars and vocals. Our 1st album, Close To Heaven, has been released in 2001 and now we are proud to present our new album called The Mourning Sign.


-So what does it feel like to release a first full length album, after your previous EP was highly rewarded by the Media? Not too much pressure?

That's very pleasant. We can't really talk about pressure. We mostly felt the will and even the need to improve our style and the way we express our feelings. The only pressure we've undergone was the one we put on our own shoulders. We are quite perfectionists and we can't wait to hear the reactions to The Mourning Sign, which we are very proud of.


-Tell us a bit about your new album The Mourning Sign?.

The Mourning Sign is a very dark and intense album. In my opinion, everything in it is better than in Close To Heaven. Each song has its place and there's no filling. The global atmosphere is deep and striking, the brutal parts are very cathartic and the more atmospheric and contrasted elements are the best we've ever done. The whole thing is coherent but varied, instinctive but constructed, pushed towards the extremes. Nevertheless, the spirit behind it all is not completely negative, and deals with the sane revolt which is necessary to overcome difficult situations. Non-conformism, proud and understanding also represent the corner-stones of this album.






-Where do you find your inspiration to write your music ?

The inspiration comes from the simple need to create. The lyrics are very personal and there's no real concept behind the music. We play and write until the result fulfils our expectations. Whatever, DISTRESS 's musical approach is inherited from bands like MY DYING BRIDE, ANATHEMA or OPETH, that possess a real creative force, a strong melodic sense and a need for introspection which I respect above all things. I think that the same artistic liberty fuels the world DISTRESS has created.


-You play Doom/Death Metal, a style which is not really present in France. Why did you chose to play such music anyway ?

We never listen to a band BECAUSE it is French. The origins are of no importance, only music matters. My favourite bands are English (old PARADISE LOST, MY DYING BRIDE, ANATHEMA) or Scandinavian (OPETH, DIMMU BORGIR, DARK TRANQUILLITY),I like SAMAEL or old MACHINE HEAD. And I must confess I've been very much influenced by bands like PINK FLOYD, THE BEATLES or ALICE IN CHAINS. The fact that the type of music we play is not very developped in France is no problem at all. It didn't influence us. Our actual style is shaped by our tastes and desires only.








-In your opinion, why Doom Metal is not really present in France?

I don't really know what the situation is like in other countries, but in France, I think that people prefer faster or simpler styles. I don't really know. I think that it is an outcast style anywhere, but things are evolving little by little.


- What's your opinion on the music market in France ? A label such as NTS for example couldn't resist to nowadays' trend, and had to close its doors. Isn't it discouraging and frustrating to see those "fabricated" atrists being launched by big record companies, through billions of dollars?

On one hand that's a bit disgusting, but on the other hand I really wouldn't like to play some shitty music only to have a contract with a big record company. In the best of all worlds, the best bands should have the best promotion, but we don't live in this kind of world. We only have to accept it, and progress in our own way. And Thundering Records makes a very good job with us, we can't complain.


-Your label, Thundering Records, is very active regarding young French bands [We can only bow at them for that]. How did you end up signing with them, and what are the good things in working with THE most increasing French label in my opinion?

In 2000, we were looking for a label to release Close To Heaven. I sent a copy to Laurent Bocquet, and he immediately loved the music, so we decided to work together. I've been very impressed by the promotion, which was done with very limited means indeed. When you love your music and you take it as seriously as we do, a good promotional work is vital. Thundering is doing its best to help the band to develop and I can only be grateful. We have an absolute artistic liberty, and that's what matters more than anything else. Moreover, Laurent Bocquet has supported us from the very beginning and still does. The history of DISTRESS will always be linked to Thundering in a way or another, and it makes me glad. The label is getting bigger and bigger all the time and it is obviously a big advantage in terms of promotion and distribution.






-Have you planned to do some gigs ? Maybe you could give us some dates ?

This point is quite difficult. I'll be honest : we don't have money enough to make a real tour, and that's problematic. But we'll do a series of isolated concerts whenever we can, as much as we can.


-What are your plans for the future of the band?

We'll promote The Mourning Sign as much as possible and organise concerts. And we are already working on our third album which will be quite different from The Mourning Sign. We want to go further and explore our more emotional and progressive side. I have no doubt we will progress in the right direction.


-Thanks a lot for your answers, and good luck with your band, if you have a message, feel free to say what you want? and Doom on !!!

I'd really like to thank all the people who trust in DISTRESS and French metal in general. This scene is very innovative and is getting more and more professional year after year. The best is to come. Thank you and " Hail to all English metal fans''.