1. Hi guys. Your new album "ICON" is the first release at Osmose Productions. What were the reasons for changing to them?
Nicolas: Hi! In fact, our precedent album Adipocere Records met some problems and has been forced to stop all the production activities and still work only for distribution. So we’ve sent the new on the web that we were unsigned for the next albums and I’ve been contacted by phone by the boss of Osmose Productions the day just after! As we’ve lot of respect for this label, we immediately accepted to sign with them and the deal was made! We really hope to have a better promotion and distribution with this new label, because our precedent albums still are very difficult to find around the world.
Who had the idea to make it a concept album?
Nicolas: It’s my own idea. Each album can be called concept album during the Benighted’s existence because they explored in their own way a face of the psychiatric diseases. The difference with “Icon” is that’s the first time that all the songs talk about the same person, and each track represent flashbacks of his life and fragments of times explaining his story and his slow fall in sickness. I try to propose on each album something original and with a cruel dimension of reality. I work in a psychiatric hospital and all my inspiration comes from real cases.
 How was the work in Kohlekeller Studios like and how long did you take to get this album done?
Nicolas: “Icon” asked us 3 weeks of work. We know the Kohlekeller Studios very well because our two precedent albums “Identisick” and “Insane Cephalic Production” were recorded there. So we really know how to work to have the best result as possible. Kohle is a very friendly and professional man and it’s a friend for us now, so it’s easy and pleasant to work with him! The drums of “Icon” were recorded in a week in a first time and we’ve been back to the studio the month after to record the rest, making the mix and the mastering during two weeks. I’m very proud of the result of the production of the new album, better and more powerful than everything we did before!
I think that this is one of the best Death albums so far this year. What is the general feedback like? Are there many different opinions?
Nicolas: Thanks a lot for the compliment! The returns are really positive in general because stage stays our best way of expression and it’s the time when we really can become crazy and set all our energy free. The reaction of the fans id often to come with us on stage, slamming and jumping everywhere! Benighted gigs are always a big party with us and the public.
The tour you have starting this month, is it already the "ICON" tour?
Nicolas: Yes, that’s it. The album is available since a week now, and we start the French tour in 3 days. I’m really impatient to make our fans discover our new tracks live.
Will you visit other countries across europe aftercompleting france?
Nicolas: Of course, we’ll try to organize a European tour for the beginning of 2008 and be sure it will pass by Germany!
Benighted is almost 10 years old, what are the highlights of your career so far?
Nicolas: I think the things really got faster with the birth of “Insane Cephalic Production”, which received an amazing welcome from everywhere and made the band well-known. I think the signature with Osmose Productions is a big step in the career of the band and international things will really start now.
Is it still the same idea behind the band compared to the fist years when the band was formed?
Nicolas: If our music has evolved since the beginning, our mentality is the same; Benighted is an extreme band with friendly guys who try to propose the most effective music possible for themselves and every one who likes it!
 Was it hard to keep the band alive during the few changes in your line-up?
Nicolas: It’s always a bit difficult when you have to leave a member, the last one was Fred who played drums in the band since the birth of it, but the most important for us is to keep this entity alive and take all the pleasure we can with what Benighted gives us. Our new drummer Kevin is here for two years now, and it’s a real war machine! Everyone who saw him on stage understands what I’m talking about.
What are your plans for the future?
Nicolas: After the French tour, we’ll see for the organisation of a European tour, and we have the idea to realize a clip for a track of Icon, so we work on it.
Thanks for your time. I hope to see you guys in Germany soon! Stay Brutal!
Nicolas: Thanks a lot for this interview! I hope we’ll come soon to Germany to make you discover the new tracks on stage! Stay brutal too!!!
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