Interview with Duncan Patterson (Ion, ex-Antimatter, ex-Anathema)

What are you doing now? You left Antimatter last summer... please tell me about your current projects.

DP: I've been keeping very busy with various projects, playing live a lot and recording. My primary band is called íon (gaelic word meaning "pure") which is a mixture of classical, folk, ethnic influences. I'm using instruments that I have never used before, like harp, mandoline, flutes, clarinets. So its fresh for me, and a new thing to get into. Musically it touches on the darkest moments I have ever written, and lyrically it is the most positive message that I have ever written. The album "Madre, Protegenos" will be released sometime after summer through Equilibrium Music. Aside from íon, I have been working a lot with Johnny Cronin & The Aftermath, which is like alternative rock. Ive enjoyed playing live again with a full band, so its been a good experience for me. Im not in the band full time but I have played many times with them, and I played on their forthcoming single and album release. Also I have been helping other people out with recording, pre-production, mastering, all kinds of things. So its been a very busy time for me, which is great.

How do you explain the fact that music you make now is extremely different from what you did 14 years ago? It's a juge difference between Anathema's Serenades and Antimatter's Planetary confinement..

DP: Evolution maybe? Moving on, using different ideas, keeping myself fresh and interested in what Im writing/recording. Saying that though, I dont think theres a 'huge' difference in anything that I have written myself, aside from sounds and energy, all my music has a very similar vibe to it.

Where are the rest of 21 Eternity's?

DP: 1, 2 and 3 are on Anathemas 'Eternity' album. Part 4 was a written piece, and part 24 is on the 'Planetary Confinement' album. The others are floating about somewhere, maybe they will come back to me someday.

Where do you find the grief to write all these sad songs?

DP: Life, basically. Its a reflection of life, not at all fiction.

How are the things going with Strangelight Records?

DP: Its been a quiet year for me. The Breaklose album is finally released now, and the band are handling that themselves. My next release will be the Leafblade album, so I'm just waiting for that to be finished and we'll start working on a release date and start to promote it. I have a few other things in mind, but I must concentrate on my own music first and foremost.

Here comes the classic : how do see the metal scene now?

DP: I dont see it. I cant bear to look at it. As far as I see, it has become as superficial and tedious as any other plastic scene. There are very few bands making decent albums these days, nevermind classics. Its way more media driven than ever now, and I just see and hear a glut of nicely polished produced bands with a safe 'metal' image to attract a safe audience. On the otherside there'll always be a strong underground scene in metal, and I believe thats where the magic will come from again.

Any new albums that you like?

DP: Not really.

What do you think about Star Wars?

DP: I like Empire Strikes Back, I dont like anything after that.

Can you describe an usual day?

DP: Wake up. Eat Breakfast. Go to gym. Work on PC for some hours. Do some writing, if I have the mood. Worry about money. Eat. Sleep. Sometimes get a bath.

When are you coming back to Romania? You said that you liked it here...

DP: I'd love to go back. I've always said that. I just havent had any offers to play there again. Im waiting, really.

Do you know anything about the metal scene here?

DP: Not really.

Any words for the fans here?

DP: "Ma ustura ochii de la monitor. Mi-e pofta de mancare romaneasca!" haha Wink

Do you fancy a pint?

DP: No thanks, I dont drink beer. But I'll have a large whiskey, cheers!