IMR: Hello "SCEPTRE”! I finally managed to find you guys and I am really happy to be doing this interview with you because I found "NOW OR NEVER" to be very impressive. Let me start by congratulating you for the recent launch of your full-length album. So, tell us what does the name of the album "NOW OR NEVER" signifies and what types of comparisons are you guys hearing?
Teemeer: Thanx a lot for enjoying our music.. It sure was high time for us to come out with a full length album.. it was NOW OR NEVER… lol!!
Although on a serious note the title also suggests doing things sooner then later and standing up for your rights and fighting for what you feel is right and not getting suppressed or bogged down by authority or any power trying to curb down.. An ode to RDB (Rang de basanti) and also the anti-reservation stand by students all over the country against the educational system!!
Aniket : The album stands for not taking shit from people and act fast.
IMR: You guys must be quite happy to have finally released your first full-length album "NOW OR NEVER". Why did we have to wait for so many years in order to hear your band's latest musical proposal, even after spending time drastically in the studios?
Teemeer: In the last nine years the band has seen and undergone lots of line-up changes, personal problems, changes in music scene, shortage and lack of venues. We always had a problem with the second guitar player. Ajay, the first one left after 2 years when we just got set as a band. Vispy(ex-PDV) then filled in for almost another 1 and half year but we had to discontinue with him due to musical problems. Amar Negi stayed with us for almost 3 years and then we were on a cover playing spree and ended up covering almost all the top speed-thrash metal songs any metal band could dream of.
We released an EP a year after winning I-rock which was a huge accomplishment for the band. We parted ways amicably with Amar mostly due to musical differences. Then Gilroy (ex-Naked Earth and ex-Earthclan) came in and we got our rhythm back and that's when we got serious about writing stuff and started reworking on the old songs as well as some new ones.
We did wait for quite too long just to ensure that were in the right hands, with the right kind of producers and engineers who would do complete justice to what we wanted to achieve. Our expectations for a great sounding album were too high and we are quite content with the results that you shall hear in 'Now or Never'. Of course the fact that we worked with the topmost and busiest sound engineers Fali Damania ensured that the studio work though slow was steady and tight. The band did spend some time pondering over the Cd inlay work and lot of covers were scrapped and our cover artist Pratik Kamat (whose designed album cover arts for most metal albums in Mumbai) was hell busy with his new job so things did get quite difficult in the middle. A few months before Janus our bassy from day 1 quit the band and left for the US to handle his family business and for better prospects.. The album may have just been …..NEVER!! lol!!
IMR: When did you begin working on "NOW OR NEVER"? Did you have anything specific in mind prior before starting the process of composing your songs?
Teemeer: Considering the limited time we had at our disposal in the studios almost all the songs were properly well planned before we started recording. Though instrumental songs like Oceans of dreams and Circles of Silence were last minute inclusions.
IMR: Could you honestly claim that the songs on "NOW OR NEVER" represent that type of "SCEPTRE" for you personally that you have always wanted to do most as far as the songs musical ingredients are concerned? How does the process of writing new songs, or even a complete album, work for you? What can the fans expect from the songs in the new album?
Aniket : The album definitely represents the band’s aggression to the core. As one can see, it’s a perfect blend of different sounds.
Teemeer: Now or never is like a complete musical journey for a band that has seen the ups and downs and the highs and lows of the rock scene.. there are mixed emotions lyrically.. there is angst, sadness.. happiness.. a sense of celebration….pity.. sympathy… almost everything human and musically we’ve touched almost all sub-genres of heavy metal right from total acoustic to slow ballad to heavy thrash to speed!!!
I guess there is something for all kinds of listeners and rock fans in the album although the essence of a metal band at work is quite evident… there are lotsa riffs going around.. infact majority of the songs are riff based. That’s the kind of song writing we’ve always believed in.
IMR: Ok, let’s continue a bit seriously now. The album is officially released recently, what kind of expectations do you have about your album concerning how it will be received amongst "SCEPTRE" fans and are you satisfied wit the current results so far?
Teemeer: Considering the low-key launch and publicity for the album I guess its doing great and there is a great amount of word of mouth publicity happening for the album which is quite healthy. Everyone is talking highly of the production quality which we really worked hard upon.
In the coming days with the help of our fans and street team members and of course our producers and managers we hopefully get to play a lotta gigs around the country and help promote the album.
Guys do watch out for us at the next gig!!
Frank: I am also receiving calls from people from all over India namely from Hyderabad, Calcutta, Bangalore, Delhi to name a few wherein people want our album and they are eager to be part of the street team. That feels awesome.
IMR: Did you have to do any compromises for "NOW OR NEVER" as far as your music is concerned? What do you think about the album now from the objective point of view?
Teemeer: There were no compromises as far as the music is concerned.. There were no guidelines given to us from our producers as to what they expected from us. We sure had a free hand in the studio.
The whole band is pretty much satisfied from the outcome and I guess we all are very proud to be associated with NOW OR NEVER!!!
IMR::Now if we return back to "NOW OR NEVER", have you already possibly noticed that there are some song on this album which pleases you more compared to other songs, can you find any reasons why it is so?
Teemeer: I GUESS that is quite subjective… depending on person to person and different moods.. I meet different people who have different opinions about different songs.. Most people are quite fond of the CHARRED riff.. …. Some guys are drooling over the title track and surprisingly the ballad SEARCH and the acoustic song CIRCLES OF SILENCE is loved by one and all ( the people I’ve spoken to) considering we are an out and out thrash metal band.
Frank : Obviously Charred was the most favorite song of mine but since I Joined the band and since I heard the first riff of Revolution, it has become my favorite song. I crave to perform this song during live shows. Takes you down memory lane of old school thrash metal.
Aniket: For every band, once their album is out, every song holds a special place or memory in their heart. We’re no different! For me songs like ‘ Nuclear’, ‘Charred’, ‘Enemy’ will remain my all-time favs. And each of them has a special reason why.
IMR: It’s all about marketing process today; the more promotion a certain release gets, the more it gets focused among the listeners. How is your relationship with "Counter Culture Records”, are you still happy to be working with them? So, do you see this collaboration between "SCEPTRE" and "Counter Culture Records" continuing in the recent future?
Teemeer: As I said earlier we were given a free hand to record which any artist would love.. and I’m sure they have a lotta things planned up for the future to promote album sales.. since its off season and since regular rock joints like RAZZ ‘s been shut we sure had a problem to do a decent launch gig.
IMR: Do you feel that any of the songs that are featured in "NOW OR NEVER" have what it takes to be treated as "SCEPTRE" classics one day?
Teemeer: Of course.. We’ve worked our balls out for this production and most of the songs are catching up with the youth today.. but of course I leave it to the audience and our listeners to decide.. or we shall see @ the next SCEPTRE gig!!!
IMR: I want to thank you "SCEPTRE" for talking IMR, so thanks a lot again for this great chat. It was my pleasure to talk to you guys really!
Teemeer: The pleasure was ours… you guys doing a great job.. keep it up!!!
Do check our website for more details : http://www.sceptrezone.com/
