Interview with LIGHTFOLD

Metal Invader seized the opportunity and exchanged a few words with the aspiring band Lightfold, which is based in Athens. We talked with Theodore Martin (vocals) for Lightfold’s record “Time to Believe”, the thoughts of the band about the future and much more… Here’s what they said…

Good evening and welcome to Metal Invader! So, what’s the deal? Is everything ok?

Good evening Metal Invader… After a successful year for us in all aspects, we are preparing for the new season one step at a time, with the preparation of our new album and we are in search for a new bassist for those interested… Lightfold today is: Thanassis Lambrakis / Guitar, Helen Nota / Drums, Theodore Martinis / Vocals and Harry Polimeneas / keys. The group was created in 2012 by me and Lambrakis Thanasis / guitar and became a full band in mid-2013 and in December 2015 we will be officially active for two years in the Greek metal scene. Within almost 1.5 years we have managed to release an official album, perform 11 live gigs and shot 3 video clips. For a new group, that’s a great deal. We’re still learning and searching with great hunger new things for our music.

From what we know, you’re a progressive band from Athens, with some power and heavy elements. Would you like to set a few things straight and create a more complete profile? What are your influences? To whom you owe your existence?

Yes we’ve got a blend of Progressive, Power and Heavy elements, although each member of the group has completely different musical tastes and influences from the other… Nevertheless, in our music, that’s what comes out. We owe our existence to the perseverance and the effort Lambrakis Thanassis has shown, our guitarist, and then mine as we’ve managed to transform a two-member band into a full-band one.

Up until now you’ve released a full length album, entitled “Time to Believe”. What was your source of inspiration? What did you have in mind when you wrote the album?

The inspiration for our first album came from the everyday life and our concerns but also by fantastic stories, like “Kingdom’s Fall” who has something to say and declares an attitude of life… our own thoughts of life, that is.

The recording and production process, was is a smooth one or did you encounter difficulties. If so, what caused that?

We’ve encountered many difficulties, since the album is created at all levels by two people, me and our guitarist and a very good friend of mine, Lambrakis Thanasis. When Lightfold became a full band, the material was already in the final mixing / mastering process and the other members embraced all this as if it was their own. It is no coincidence that those who have seen us live reflect that our live musical performance is much better than the studio one. As a fresh group, we’ve made mistakes and learned from them during the recording and mixing / mastering process. Things we did and experienced for the first time will be evident in our next album.

Listening to the songs, the taste they left me with was both sweet and bitter at the same time. I mean that many of your lyrics refer to personal problems and internal conflicts. Do those lyrics come out of your daily routine or are they fictional? What is the message you want to convey with your lyrics? Who do you want to spiritually touch and why?

80% of the lyrics are from our daily lives and 20% are fictional. There is no song that doesn’t want to pass a message… All our songs have something to say and the crowd will understand what I’m saying by buying our record and reading our lyrics. Of course, combined with our music. Our music is for everyone and for all tastes, since all the nine songs of the album cover many different things.

“Time to Believe” was released by Metal Breed Records. How did this collaboration happen? Was it your original intention to release your album with this American company?

Metal Breed Records has several Greek groups in its roster and some of them are pretty well known in the Greek metal scene… We sent out our material; there was a keen interest right from the start and then we discussed and agreed to collaborate. We made an agreement for three years and our second album will also be released via Metal Breed Records, when we’re ready of course.

Recently, there was an acoustic cover of Queensryche’s “Anybody Listening” released. Was it was just a tribute or did you intend to set acoustic gig in general?

We really like Queensryche, but the song was chosen just because we like it for an acoustic set, where we played as ightfold for Botox Radio, today known as THNX Radio… “Anybody Listening” and “Don’t Talk To Strangers” were the only two cover tracks we presented unplugged at the station that day, along with some pieces from our first album.

What are your plans for the future? Is there any new material at hand? Are there any thoughts about releasing a new album?

Yes, as I mentioned above, there is enough material for the second album and all I can reveal is that it will be a concept album. From September we will officially begin the groundwork, since it’s the group’s priority for 2016, and then we’ll think about booking some live gigs.

If you have already done it and hide it just to surprise us, with whom would you like to work on your next record and why?

We haven’t made up our minds about that yet or whether the new album is gonna bear any surprises… The only sure thing however is that the result will be more mature and evolved at all levels in relation to our first album.

Where can we enjoy live? Have you booked any live appearances in the near future?

There are discussions and proposals for some gigs, but we’re not in a hurry to discuss or to announce anything yet, because as I said earlier, this year the burden will fall on the creation of the second Lightfold’s child.

End this interview as you please! Send a message to our readers!

I wish for a nice music season, health for each and every one and the rest, when we meet again in the near future! Stay Heavy Metal Brothers and Sisters \m/