AP: So for those unfamiliar with the band can you tell us a bit about the band and the music?

Anterior: Hi guys, well we have Luke on Vocals, Leon on Lead Guitar, Ross on Drums and currently in search of a bass player! We play melodic metal with many elements from different genres. Ball breaking metal with harmonies a plenty!

AP: The albums out, is the band happy with the release? From what I've heard it seems to have got good praise would you agree?

Anterior: Yes defiantly! We have had some fantastic reviews of the album so far that we are really pleased with. Obviously we have had some shit reviews but we expected that. Its just life! But the majority are really awesome! Its really encouraging to have great reviews and more importantly great feedback from fans!

AP: You are searching for a bass player at the moment, what happened to James? Was the departure expected?

Anterior: Yeah man, we have been searching for a while now. We have tried out some really excellent players and are grateful to them for taking the time to try out. But unfortunately we haven't found the right guy/girl yet. We have our fingers crossed though! In regards to James, no, it wasn't totally expected but he indicated that he wasn't happy playing in the band any longer and we accept that decision and wish him all the best for the future.

AP: Will this affect The Black Dahlia Murder tour in August?

Anterior: No we have a stand-in lined up for the tour who has learned all the songs. He is a top class player with plenty of experience and confidence and is like on of the boys already. We are grateful to him, otherwise we would of been fucked!!

AP: Let’s go into the history of the band, how did it start and did you ever imagine you'd end up signed one day to Metal Blade?

Anterior: Well we formed in 2003 after meeting each other in school and realizing that we all had very similar tastes and music and ironically played the instument that eventually meant that we could start a band together. We went on as a five piece doing local gigs but unfortunately parted ways with our vocalist. After an endless search for a replacement we all thought fuck it, lets all have a crack at it. Turned out Luke was the man for the job all along! We recorded a 4 track demo locally in the summer of 2005 which gained us many high profile gigs with bands such as Dragonforce, Himsa, 3 Inches of Blood, Black Dahlia Murder and Mendeed. We realized though that the demo had taken us as far as it could so we really knuckled down and wrote 4 new songs which we recorded with Tim Hamill at Sonic One Studio's in Llangennech, South Wales in August 2006. After completion, we uploaded two of those songs onto our myspace site and after three weeks we were picked up by a management company from the states called Desert Rock USA who shipped us to various labels. We were offered two deals and eventually signed with Metal Blade Records in November 2006. Well after that we quit all our jobs and university courses to concentrate solely on the band. We worked on our debut album until we recorded it, again at Sonic One, in February 2007.

So to really answer your question, no we never expected that we would get signed to a great label like Metal Blade. It was a fantastic time when we realized we could actually begin something solid and promising with our little local band! Its really a honor!

AP: Its been reported by many bands that Metal Blade are one the best labels you could work with, would you agree? Before you signed were there any other labels taking interest in Anterior?

Anterior: Totally agree. So far they have supported us from day one. Giving us what we needed and simply left us alone to carry on with things and learn for ourselves. We couldn't ask for more really! Yeah man, we also had interest from Magic Circle Music, Joey from Manowar's label, around the same time Metal Blade indicated their interest.

AP: Guitar work seems to be one of your strongest points, harmonies and lethal solos. Was this something that just appeared in the writing process or was it deliberate, i.e. were going to write songs and leave a space for great harmonies and solos?

Anterior: We always knew and wanted harmonies and solos to be a part of our music. So yeah it was deliberate. However, during the writing process things began to be assembled, structures became more complex and the solos and harmonies were not predetermined but simply emerged are we were like man, that really works!!

AP: In my opinion without that guitar work Anterior wouldn't even be half the band it is, would you agree?

Anterior: Yeah it is defiantly one of the strong points of the band. Leon our lead guitarist, how also writes and arranges the material, has so many classical guitarist influences that have helped him be inspired and push his playing to new boundaries. His determination and (he will kill me for saying this) but his stubbornness to be the best has been the driving force behind this band.

AP: I was looking at your myspace and noticed a list of influences, In Flames, Arch Enemy, Maiden, Yngwie Malmsteen etc. These are clear but are there any others?

Anterior: We all have slightly different tastes, other than the obvious, that's what I think has helped show individuality amongst the different members and their expressions on their instruments. But really as a band the influences that we listed are the definite main ones that have helped shape us as a band.

AP: Lastly what is the long term goal for Anterior, were do you want to go?

Anterior: The long term goal is to make this our living for years to come and keep recording/touring as much as we possibly can! We want this to be something that grows and grows. We believe we have the potential to do that but have a lot to learn yet!

AP: Thanks for your time would you like to close with a message for our readers?

Anterior: Thanks for your interest in Anterior metal heads!!! We will see you on the road soon for some metal and beer!!! Take it Easy guys!

Interviewed by Andrew Pennington