French Silent Dawn is a really good deathmetal group which sings in french and in english. I really like when groups like these sings in the native language. This interview was done in october-2020

Please tell me a little bit history of the group?

-Everything started in 2005 in our Finisterian region with the simple idea ofprogressing together in our instrumental practice and having fun playing the music thatmakes us vibrate.Several studio recordings were made:"La chute de l'ange" (Album 8 tracks - 2007),"The new beginning" (4 track EP - 2009)"Kleptocracy" (Album 15 tracks - 2014).“J’ai vu les Hommes” (promo CD 2 tracks - 2016)"Asylum" (Album 9 tracks 2020)Different members followed one another, the motivations of each one evolving, the onlyremaining founding member of the band is Nuts drummer, composer, keyboardist and producer of the albums "kleptocracy" and "Asylum" of the band in his recording studio (YProd Studio).The band's second wind was given by Nyx, guitarist who joined the band in 2012 andassists Nuts during the band's studio recordings, then by Nicolas (Bass). Our originalsinger Ronan left the ship as well as Lionel, the founding guitarist of the band, while we were starting to write the new album "Asylum".2018 the band was reborn with the arrival of Brendan, the current singer of the band, then Azrok, guitarist.

Please tell me a little about every member in the group right now, age, family, work,interests and something bad about everyone? Earlier bands? Other bands on the side?

-At the moment we have Brendan, singer, 25 years old, singing teacher in life and atease in different styles of music.Azrok, 25 years old, guitarist at ease in different styles,  driver-driver in life. Brendanand Azrok had a band together "As a broken  fame"(Hardcore).Nicolas, bassist of the band, 38 years old, self builder in the building  industry in life,Drummer of the band "Mud and Dust"(Dusty US Folk). Nyx, 38 years old, guitarist, Breton language teacher in life, former band : Morphée(Rock), guitarist/singer of  the band "Mud and Dust" (Dusty US Folk), Bassist of "BeyondThe Artefact" (Black/Death  metal).Nuts drummer, founder of the band, 35 years old, sound engineer at "Y Prod  Studio"and piano teacher in life. Former band "Nothing To Hide"(Rock Celtic). Other projects:Bassist/Singer at "Mud and Dust" (Dusty US Folk), Guitarist/Singer at "Beyond  TheArtefact" (Black/Death metal), Live Drummer at "Beyond The Popitron Age"(Grunge/Rock).

I can hear much different influences but mostly death metal and maybe some thrash? Favorites from the past?

-We all have very varied influences and not necessarily metal (rap, rock, jazz,progressive, folk, heavy metal, black metal, death metal, trash metal, indus, etc....) Past favourites ? ... Lamb of God, Emperor, At The Gates, Gojira, Hypocrisy, Chimaira, IronMaiden, Dark Tranquility, Devil Driver,Avatar, Periphery.

Silent Dawn are you satisfied with the name? How did it came up? You weren’t afraid that some other band would be named like this? Which is the best band name you know?

-Of course we are satisfied with our band name, I don't remember how we found itbut probably in a drunk party :-) and it doesn't matter if another band is named  like us.The best band name is Slayer !

What ́s the best thing with playing live? Have you done some gigs on streams orsomething like that durid covid-time?

-The best thing on stage is to scream on people ears, and they like it ! We didn't stream a concert during this time but we can't wait to get back on stage and with thepublic as soon as possible!

And where is best to play? And the worst place?

-The best place to play is at festivals, the atmosphere is always there. Maybe theworst would be the Bars.

How is to play this sort of music in France right now? Which types of bands do youh ave concerts together with?

-At the moment it's rather complicated to play on stage in France no matter what thestyle of music is...We've already played in the past  with One Way Mirror, Volker, Totter Fish,Deficiency, Misanthrope, Malkavian, Pictured and Voight Kampff for  example.

How would you describe your music in three words?

-Power, Groove, Headbangue

What does punk mean to you, is it only a word or is it a lifestyle? I know that you don  ́t play punk or hardcore but I think this sort of music always have stains from punk?

-Punk is a bit of both I think, a lifestyle and a music. Of course you can find shades of punk in metal and vice versa.

Which song/album or group was it who took you into music and to be playing yourself in a band?

-It seems to me (Nuts) that it was Iron Maiden, Dream Theater that motivated me to play drums on stage and make music. Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia by Dimmu Borgir have motivated me to play metal on drums, and started a high school metal band called"Silence", the beginnings of the future Silent Dawn.

What shall a young guy do today to shock their parents as the way we did when wewere young? They have already seen everything ;-)?

-Doing the opposite of what one thinks shocks by the past ? Take off your mask .... or your pants? :-P

How is it to live in France right now? Politically? Fascists? Covid?I

-n France? Maybe ....mass media manipulation ? Kleptocratic puppets ingovernment ? individual liberties diminishing, pressure on the people growing.... But it's alittle bit, or even worse, the same thing all over the planet, isn't it ? hihi ;) To each his owntruth. Let's  keep hope!

Is there any good bands from France right now? Is the punkscene/metalscene/hardcorescene big? How is it in your hometown?

-The last cool French band I saw on stage was "Dead Bones Bunny".

What do you know about Sweden? Have you been here sometime? What does people say about our covid-strategy? Have you heard any good bands from Sweden?

-Personally (Nuts), I loveSweden, I mainly discovered death metal with swedes, I love At  the gates, The Haunted, Hypocrisy, In Flames (their beginning),Ssoilwork, Pain, Naglfar, Devin Townsend, Freak Kitchen, Amon Amarth and many others.... Peter Tägtgren, for example, has always been my model as a musician and studio album producer.  I alsohad the opportunity to visit Stockholm for only 1 day 10 years ago. I had made a  eturntrip on a Viking Line between Stockholm and Helsinki during a trip to Helsinki.

Your lyrics, who does them and what influences you? Both in french and in english?

-For the last 2 albums of the band, we determine the general themes of the lyrics,then the singer proposed a text and we remake the text all together. Our influences arehistory and society in general. On this album "Asylum" we come back to our beginnings,to the French language, a complicated, risky but exciting exercise!

Is there any subject that you never will write anything about?

-We'll never write a text on our genitals... apparently nobody else is interested in it :-)

Politic and music, does it goes hand in hand? Which is your most political song? Is it important to get out your opinions in music?

-Politics and music have historically always been a bit linked, minstrels are the perfect example. But I don't think it's important to always give one's opinion in music. If some artists want to express an opinion in music, it may simply be that society no longer allows them to be heard, or maybe the democratic/media apparatus no longer works?

Sometimes certain facts of society can touch us and we put them into music as a kind oftestimony of the time we have lived. The song "J'ai Vu" is perhaps an example of this.

Best political band/artist?

-No idea....

Do you think that music (lyrics and so on) can change anyone's life, I mean people who listens to music?

-Yes of course music is about emotions so it can be a weapon when used with particular intentions. Commercials and subliminal messages are one example amongmany.

Your favorite record cover all time? Who does your record covers? And do you have any good record stores in your hometown?

-Iron Maiden covers can be ? It was Anne-emmanuel of AEK Horizon Graphik who beautifully produced the band's visuals. We still have a few good record shops around here.

Is it important to get out physical records of your stuff? Why or why not? Vinyl, CD,cassette, what do you prefer if you could choose whatever ?

-I don't know today if it's important but we still prefer to release a physical CD, to have a visual object to propose in addition to the music.

Please tell me a funny thing which have happened during your career and under some gig?

-We had a lot of good moments but funny stories?​​ One day we made fun of our singer because he paid the entrance fee to one of our concerts!

How does your audience look like? Which people do you miss on your concerts? Which is the biggest band you ever have played together with?

-Our audience is quite varied at the moment and comes from all walks of life. The biggest band can be Misanthrope.

Please rank your five favorite records, five favorite concerts and five most important things in life?

-5 albums: Iron Maiden - Fear of The dark. Emperor - Anthem to the welkin at dusk.At The Gates - At War with Realiy. Dream Theater - Metropolis. Slayer - God Hates Us All.Lamb of God Sacrament.

5 concerts: Slayer Hellfest, Emperor Hellfest, Hatebreed Hellfest, Amon amarth+DissectionFuryfest 2005, Gojira+Freak kitchen Rennes.

First, last and most expensive record ever bought?

-The first cd: Live after Death Iron Maiden. the last and most expensive CD:Metallica -Death Magnetic.

Is it boring with interviews? Is it much interviews?

-No but it's very long and I write the answers in French before using an automatic translator.... I'm afraid of translation so it's going to take even longer to check the sentences, sorry if some sentences don't have enough meaning or nuance.

Do you care about reviews? Which is the most peculiar you ever had, with this band or any other band you have been to?

-All critics, when they are constructive, are interesting, it sometimes allows you to improve, or to question yourself.

Which bands do people compare you to, is it boring that people compare you toother bands or is it understandable?

-We are not known enough to be tired of comparisons :)

If you could choose five bands from the past and the history and nowadays and both dead and living bands to have a concert together with your band. Which five have you been chosen?

-Motorhead - Queen - Hypocrisy - Lamb of God – Slayer

Is music a good way to get out frustration and become a nicer person outside themusic?

-It's possible for some people indeed, I don't think we're on our side in this case.

Which is the most odd question you ever have got in an interview?

-Your question on the subject on which we will never write

Which is the question you want to have but you never get. Please ask it and answerit?

-The question is: When do you come to play in Sweden? Answer: Whenever you want ! :)

Futureplans for the band?

-Our goal is to find concerts despite the situation in order to show our new album on stage. And we start composing new songs in the meantime!

For yourself?

-For me, to find the time to produce several studio projects whose albums arealready  composed and maquetted : Gang of Puppets (triphop rock) / Project Y( all stylemetal) /  Menèstrel (rap piano/bass)

Wisdomword?

-A word? Scream!

Something to add?

-Scream!