Terence Holler

AM : First question, how was the feedback and sales of “Portrait of the Abyss within” ?

Terence : WELL, THE FEEDBACK AND THE SALES WERE GREAT!!! IT WAS A SORT OF A COMEBACK FOR US AFTER 3 YEARS OF SILENCE. OF COURSE, WE COULD HAVE SOLD MORE, BUT IN THE END, IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US TO RE-CONQUER THE FANS AND SOME PART OF THE MEDIAS…

AM : The new album, the sixth one, is a very good follow-up to “Portrait of the Abyss within”, you seem to have found your sound... how would you describe the evolution in “Neighbourhell” ?

Terence : I THINK THIS ALBUM IS A BIG STEP FORWARD!! THE PRODUCTION IS MUCH MORE BIGGER AND THICKER AND THE SONG/QUALITY IS FOR SURE OUR BEST IN CARREER!!! THE VOCAL MELODIES ARE EASY TO SING-A-LONG AND THE DRUMMING AND RIFFING ARE POWERFUL AND CATCHY AS NEVER DONE BEFORE!!! WE’RE PROUD OF THIS NEW WORK, IT’S ELDRITCH’S BEST AND MOST PROFESSIONAL ALBUM EVER….

AM : Terence, you have done some experiments with your singing, using nearly rap vocals on “Save me” that remind me Clawfinger, do you think you’ll use more of this later ?

Terence : WELL, THIS IS MY WAY OF THINKING ABOUT VOCALS. IF THE SONG IS GROOVY, AND I FEEL LIKE RAPPING, WHY NOT?? WHO KNOWS ELDRITCH, KNOWS THAT WE ARE AN OUT-OF-TREND BAND!!! WE DON’T CARE ABOUT BEING POWER METAL, CLASS METAL OR PROG METAL. WE JUST DO WHAT COMES OUT NATURALLY!! THIS IS WHY THIS ALBUM IS A MIXTURE OF THRASH, POWER, PROG, ROCK AND MANY OTHER GENRES. WE WRITE MUSIC WITH THE HEART AND NOT WITH THE BRAIN!!!!

AM : You have placed comments on each song, this is a great idea, so we can share your visions better and this makes Eldritch closer to the fans...

Terence : YES, IT’S A GOOD IDEA THAT LIMB (OUR BOSS) GAVE TO US… THIS WAY, FANS COULD UNDERSTAND WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT AND UNDERSTAND MORE THE LYRICS….

AM : Terence, the lyrics are again very autobiographic (what many singers do, but in a more indirect way), a way to exorcise your demons ? Does the title mean that hell is in our lives ?

Terence : YEAH MAN!!!! THE LYRICS ARE ALL ABOUT ME, MY LIFE AND MY FEELINGS, BUT TOLD IN AN INDIRECT WAY, SO THAT EVERYBODY COULD FIT IN THE SONGS. MY LIFE IS LIKE LIVING VERY CLOSE TO HELL!!! I’M HELL’S NEIGHBOUR……..BUT I THINK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE GO THROUGH A LOT OF SHIT IN THEIR LIVES, LIKE ME, SO THIS IS WHY MANY PEOPLE TELL ME THAT THE LYRICS SEEM WRITTEN FOR THEM!!!!!! I’M ALWAYS LIVING THROUGH SHIT, SO I EXORCISE IT SHARING MY FEELINGS WITH THE WORLD!!!!

AM : The production is huge and still done in your hometown Livorno, and the guitars were even done in your own homestudio. Even if the result is fantastic, don’t you want to try working with a renown producer ?

Terence : TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, A RENOWN PRODUCER WILL SURELY TRY TO PUSH US INTO A TREND!!! WE DON’T WANT THIS!!! WE JUST WANT TO KEEP OUR DIMENSION AND BE RECOGNIZED AS ELDRITCH WITH ELDRITCH SOUND!! I KNOW IT MIGHT SOUND STUPID, BUT EUGENE AND ME ARE PRODUCERS. NOBODY KNOWS BETTER THAN US WHAT OUR MUSIC SHOULD SOUND LIKE!!!! OUR WILL IS “OR BOB ROCK, OR NOBODY ELSE!!” THE ONLY MAN I’LL LET TO PUT HIS HANDS ON THE MIXER IS HIM!!!!!

AM : The second bonus track is a superb coverversion of the excellent “From out of nowhere” from Faith No More, are you fans of this band are they of one your influences ?

Terence : OH YEAH!!! WE GREW UP WITH THESE GENIUSES!!! THIS BAND IS ONE OF THE MOST ORIGINAL AND UNDERVALUED ROCK BANDS ON EARTH!!! WE ARE INFLUENCED BY THEM AND OTHERS LIKE; FATES WARNING, METALLICA, QUEENSRYCHE, SLAYER, ANNIHILATOR AND MORE…. MIKE PATTON IS A OUTSTANDING AND CRAZY VOCALIST!!!!

AM : What are Elritch’s plans now the album is released ? Tour, festivals, single releases, clips ? Last time we talked about a possible DVD ...

Terence : WELL, WE’LL PLAY AS HEADLINERS AT THE CHICAGO POWERFEST ON APRIL 7TH, THEN WE’LL BE AT THE EVOLUTIONFEST IN ITALY AND THE METALMUSIC FEST IN U.K. ON THE 15TH AND 16TH OF JULY. THEN WE HAVE OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS, BUT THEY’RE NOT CONFIRMED YET… YES, THERE’S A GREAT VIDEOCLIP OF THE SONG “SAVE ME” AND YOU’LL HAVE IT ALSO ON THE LIMITED DIGIPAK VERSION. NO DVD FOR NOW, THE MATERIAL WASN’T GOOD ENOUGH, BUT I’LL PROMISE YOU WE’LL MAKE A DVD SOONER OR LATER!!!! ANYWAY, GET READY FOR THE RE-RELEASES OF OUR FIRST 2 ALBUMS “SEEDS OF RAGE” AND “HEADQUAKE” ON MAY 19TH!!!! THESE CD’S WILL HAVE 4 BONUS TRACKS EACH WITH UNRELEASED EARLY DEMOS!!!! IT’S SOMETHING LIMITED FOR ALL OUR FANS….

AM : Thanks for the interview, and congratulations for this Neighbourhell !!!!

Terence : THANKS TO YOU MAN!!! HOPE TO SEE YOU ON TOUR!!! MILLION THANKS AND BEST WISHES, TERENCE.