The band has recently finished up their new album, set for worldwide release in January.  Panos G. answered a few questions for us regarding this noteworthy act…

What can you tell me about the music on Traumaticon compared to your previous work?
This time we wanted to create a powerful album, on contrary with other bands, which have forgotten what they were playing the past few years, commercializing themselves...  On this album, we succeeded to entwine our music with new ideas without losing our identity.  Traumaticon is the comeback to our roots, clearly inspired by the classic heavy and thrash metal music of the '80s, which still runs in our blood.  So, we added atmosphere and a few psychedelic lines, which have been embodied in our music.

How did you come up with the title 'Traumaticon'?
I believe that was the best choice as an album-title because we wanted a word that could express many different thoughts of the human mind. 

Can you tell me a little about some of the lyrics on the new album?
As always, Exhumation's lyrics want to touch the unsought side of life, dark secret events, which are unfortunately building our personalities without us even realizing.  Reflections which will always be grave in the subconscious. We are all trying to transcend the wounds of guilt but they always surface...

What is the breakdown of who writes what in the band (music/lyrics)? Is there a typical songwriting process you go through each time or not?
The band members are John who's mostly writing the lyrics, Pantelis on drums, Marios is the lead guitarist and me on rhythm guitars.  There is no logical explanation or an intentional effort to create an album. It is just a matter of expressing our feelings through music.  We are never planning our steps; we move forward, as our personal needs dictate to us.

How did you meet up with Fredrik Nordstrom? How has it been working with him?
We came in touch with Fredrik once, when we were about to record our previous album titled Dance Across The Past.  After we listened to some of his works, we believed that Fredrik is the most applicable person to produce a Death Metal album.  We improved to be true listening the outcome, which was perfect!  Recording with Fredrik is, of course, a great experience.  Besides this, he is a very cool guy and we became really close friends so it's difficult for us to go to another studio to record an album.

I've heard that Exhumation has done really well in Japan. Is that true? What do you account for that? 
This was something we really didn't expect because we were the newcomers on the label.  Right after Dance Across The Past was out on the market, Japanese Marquee Inc. licensed the album and in a short period of time we were Holy Record's top selling band in Japan.  I hope things will be even better after the circulation of our new release!

Have you toured Japan? 
No, not yet, but I hope we will, soon! 

Have you toured much in general? Do you like playing live?
Unfortunately, we haven't played outside of Greece that much, although we want to.  Now we have the chance as Holy Records asked us to tour around Europe, mostly countries like France, Belgium and Holland.

Are there other countries where the band has done particularly well?
Yes, as far as I know Japan, France, U.K. and Greece are some of the countries in which Exhumation did really well.  I have quite a long time to get a new statement so it's crazy to know further details.

How did you pick the name Exhumation? 
It was about ten years ago when we chose this name.  It was a friend's idea who is still helping the band out on many matters.  We like the name because somehow it means the way we express our feelings through music.

How did you first meet up with Dan Swano? Did you enjoy working with him?
That was back in late '96 when we were looking for a studio to record our debut album, Seas Of Eternal Silence.  We came in touch with him saying that we were interested in recording the album at Unisound studio. So we traveled all the way to Sweden for the recordings. Dan is also a great guy and a multitalented person and as it was the first time for us recording an album, those days will have always a place in our heart and mind. 

The cover art for Dance Across the Past has almost more of a progressive feel to it. Were you happy with it? 
I won't agree with you - the front cover artwork has a mood of affliction through the times. Years have given us shit in the lives of each one of us, situations we really don't want to speak about because of the pain they cause. This fact is reflected directly and without intention in our music as well as in the front cover artwork.

Have you got the artwork completed for Traumaticon yet? Is the first album still available? If not, will it be re-issued any time? How does it differ from Dance Across the Past?
The artwork is ready and it's a style followed by the sense that the lyrical concept of the album dictates and fits on the album.  It's a complex of emotions and thoughts of the human mind and, according to the choice of colors, gives a pessimistic way of life.  As for our debut album, it is still available, as it is in the active catalogue of Diehard Music. 

How did the deal with Holy Records come about? Are you still happy with them?
After we finished the recordings of Dance Across The Past, we got in touch with some record labels.  All the team at Holy Records was full of enthusiasm for Exhumation's new material, so they offered us a record contract under very good conditions.  We are really satisfied from the way they are working and especially for the promotion.  All things are positive so our cooperation is going really well.

You seem to be really good about keeping in touch with people via e-mail. Are you really into computers and/or the Internet?
Yes, I think I am or at least, I'm trying to do my best...

How is the local scene? Are you on good terms with the other bands?
The Greek scene is in a good way.  I guess everyone knows some of the Greek acts like Rotting Christ, Nightfall or Septic Flesh and there are still a few good bands which are about to release their debuts.

What first got you interested in music (in general)?  What about metal?
It was about 15 years ago when I saw the front-cover artwork of Saxon's Crusader, I got impressed and that was the reason I listened to the album.  From that time, I became a Metal fanatic!  Without doubt, Metal music is what we live for.  We will support it in every way, as it expresses our overall entities.

According to your bio, the band split for a couple years after the first demo due to mandatory military service. Was there ever a time when you weren't sure if Exhumation would continue? 
You are right, after we finished the recordings of our debut demo, we were forced to join the army, so there was no Exhumation to be seen or heard from.  That was a real drawback, it held us back for almost two years, but we never stopped thinking of the band.  So, after we finished our obligations in the militia, we formed the band once again and we started working on a more proficient level.

Since Greece is so close to Yugoslavia, what is your take on the situation there over the past few years and how it is has been handled?
The fact that Greece is close to Yugoslavia doesn't mean that the Greeks have the knowledge of the situation over there.  It is true, there were some kind of warfare between minority and government and it had to be solved, but I don't think we can enforce peace by bombing civilians. 

Do you have any long-term goals for Exhumation?
There are lots of plans for the near future.  A few gigs in our country will be scheduled soon, and we will also tour around Europe at the right time.  One of our further expectations is to taste of a really big European Metal Fest.  More over, we want to shoot our first video clip, which could be also released along with some new songs as a new Exhumation release.