Author: Rok Klemše
Interview date: 20.09.2008
With the release of their new, third album, Chronicles of Men, Prospect guitarist and band leader Roman Fileš sat down with us.
RockLine: You recently put out your new, third album, Chronicles of Men, after about five years. How come so much time passed since your previous album, Moments?
Roman: Yeah, it’s been about five years. It took that long mainly because our previous vocalist Simon left and we spent a while looking for a new one. Then we started recording, and just as we wrapped it up, two other members left, so it took us a while again to find new people. The album itself was actually recorded about a year ago.
RockLine: Was it hard to find the new members?
Roman: Yeah, finding a singer was the hardest part, and we ended up with Robi, who’s been with us for a few years now. We’d already played with the guitarist and the bassist before.
RockLine: Is there a common idea behind Chronicles of Men? Judging by the lyrics, it almost feels like a concept album.
Roman: Yeah, true. Simon helped us a lot with the lyrics too. We gave him ideas and keywords. The lyrics are ambiguous again, a bit harder to get your head around, and they’re mostly about human life and human development. It all fit together nicely when the guy who did artwork for Paradise Lost made our cover.
RockLine: How do you write your music? Is it mostly you?
Roman: Nope, we write music as a band. I might bring in a riff, which then grows into a song. Somebody shows up with an idea, we start grooving, and usually the songs just kind of write themselves.
RockLine: So what’s the difference between the new lineup and the old one?
Roman: The new crew is great!
RockLine: And how would you compare Chronicles of Men with Moments?
Roman: The difference is pretty big. No doubt CoM is a harder, more metal record, the music isn’t as progressive anymore and is moving more into thrash waters. In my opinion there’s definitely a big step forward. There are more heavy and thrash metal influences, less progressive stuff, which I think is better. Robi also brought his own influences into the band, which we maybe missed with Simon.
RockLine: What do you think of Simon’s project Unspoken?
Roman: What I heard years ago sounded excellent to me, and Simon’s a huge talent anyway, both vocally and on several instruments.
RockLine: Simon also played with you at the album launch, right?
Roman: Yeah, he played Crossing Over, Running Away… with us.
RockLine: How does it feel to be one of the few progressive metal bands in Slovenia?
Roman: Doesn’t feel like anything special to us. If you dig playing something, you play it, and that’s that.
RockLine: In the past, Prospect have opened for some pretty big metal bands. Which ones hold the best memories for you?
Roman: Yeah, there’ve been loads of gigs. Playing before Queensryche was without a doubt the biggest honor for me.
RockLine: So what’s next for Prospect?
Roman: First, more album promotion, and we’re working out a few things abroad. The promo and gigs here at home are already rolling. We’re also aiming to release the album on a bigger label. There’ve already been a few offers.
RockLine: Thanks a lot for the quick chat!
Roman: Thank you!
Photos: Aleš Podbrežnik
Interviewer: Rok Klemše
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