As you probably know, The Metal Resource is a webzine based in the Netherlands, we support known bands but also less known bands [in and outside the Netherlands]. We are glad to do an interview with The Opponent Process, a metal band from Holland, the band consist of 6 young metalheads. In Januari the band has released its first single “Failure” [listen below]. Let’s have a chat with vocalist Yorick and the other members of The Opponent Process.
TMR: Hello guys this is´The Metal Resource’ how are things going there ?
All well, Thank you!
TMR: Will you introduce yourself and the line-up please [name and instrument]
We are The Opponent Process, a metal band from Rijssen (Netherlands) our members are: Yorick (vocals), Ahmad (bass), Samuel (drums), Tobias (keys), Rick (guitar), Richard (guitar)
TMR: Tell us the brief history of ‘The Opponent Process’.
Richard and Samuel started the band in 2006, we started jamming at Samuels home. Not much later we got the other members of our band and started practicing together. This was the beginning of The Opponent Process. By now we have recorded our first single and are looking to go and preform now and then.
TMR: Are you guys full time musicians? If not what kind of job or school do you do beside the band ?
No we are not full time musicians, at first we are a band because we like to make music together as friends. Our full time “jobs” are as follows: Samuel study’s art and technology he also plays the drums at Beyond the Doom. Richard is a full time IT Specialist, Yorick Study’s Theology, Tobias Study’s photography, Ahmad study’s to become process operator and Rick has studied health and fitness.
TMR: What is your musical background? [for everyone personal]
Richard: to be honest I never had any lessons in guitar whatsoever, I used to listen to bands like linkin park and P.O.D. at one day I decided to go on and learn to play the guitar (by myself….) at this point I started to listen to heavy metal and metalcore which I now try to use in my own guitar style.
Samuel: I also started with bands like Linkin Park and P.O.D. then later on bands like Norma Jean and Living Sacrifice. I started playing drums when I was 18 but I was always trying to airdrum to live clips and such.
Tobias: I started with stretch arm strong, Flatfoot 56 and Ayreon. I started playing keyboard when I was 6 years old, followed lessons until I was 18, since then I learn most things by myself. I try to make the songs and things I play more melodic.
Yorick: I started listening to Haste The Day around my 14th, that was my start of listening to metal then followed by bands like Demon Hunter, As I Lay Dying and more emo/screamo kinds of bands. I started with screaming along at concerts just for fun, then Rick our gitarist said well if you can scream and yell here then you must learn to grunt and join our band. That was when i was 17.
Rick: When I was about 12 years old I started to develop my taste for harder music and started out with bands like Papa Roach, Nirvana and CKY. I met Richard in high school and he introduced me to P.O.D. and Demon Hunter and from there on out I developed a taste for metalcore/deathcore. I started playing the guitar when I was about 15 years old. Richard taught me the first steps on acoustic guitar and later gave me his old electric guitar and I started out playing cliché songs from bands like Nirvana and Metallica and later down the road I started to cover metalcore songs and also write my own riffs!
Ahmad: Punk, Rock, Hiphop, Rnb.
TMR: Why the name ‘The Opponent Process’? Is there a story behind it?
We chose the name ‘The Opponent Process’ because of the following reasons:
A) We like the name.
B) We like the meaning of the term: The Opponent Process which stands for: getting happy of scary things, getting scared of happy things. Those kinds of sociologic matters.
TMR: Who writes the music/lyrics in ‘The Opponent Process’ ? .. how do you get in the mood for writing music? And which bands/situations have influenced you for writing music and lyrics?
Yorick writes the lyrics, Yorick mostly writes several text concepts, so that we can choose or combine elements from those concepts. The inspiration to write lyrics or the theme’s for the lyrics can come from many things. Some are inspired by the Bible or our personal faith, others are about things that bother us, some are about struggle. the rest of the band combines their ideas to write the music for the songs. This way we always get a complete composition witch we all like and share feelings with.
TMR: How do you describe the music of ‘The Opponent Process’ the best?
Something like Symphonic Death Metalcore.
TMR: How does ‘The Opponent Process’ stands in life till events in the world, religion and politics and in which proportion stands that till your music and lyrics?
Politically we all differ, we do not write political songs. We are all Christians and try to put our religion in our band, as well as in lyrics as in our music. We do not want to preach or something like that but we do keep our religion in mind while writing our songs.
TMR: For a lot of bands the lyrics are just a accidental circumstance, but for some bands they use them to communicate! ..can you tell us how that is for ‘The Opponent Process’ ?
This really differs per song we write. Sometimes we want to tell a story with our songs, sometimes we put our feelings into the songs, at this point we do not really tell a story and you could say the lyrics are an accidental circumstance. We do think over our lyrics at all times though.
TMR: Is there already highlight you will always remember, since the beginning of ‘The Opponent Process’?
The recording of our Demo and the recording of our single! The humor and fellowship we have together.
TMR: And the worst thing were? [if there is one]
We cannot think of a really bad thing at this point.
TMR: The last album you bought? [for everyone personal]
Yorick: Gideon – Costs
Tobias: Hope for the Dying – Aletheia
Samuel: Grave Declaration – When Dying Souls Scream Praise.
Richard: Volbeat – Beyond Hell, Above Heaven.
Rick: Haste the day – Pressure the Hinges
Ahmad: Coldplay – Parachutes
TMR: What makes you laugh? [for everyone personal]
Richard: A good practical joke.
Yorick: A good sadistic joke.
Tobias: Setting a fart on fire.
Samuel: Evert kwok.
Rick: Sarcastic “insults” XD
Ahmad: Skits Jokes and Scarepranks
TMR: What are your rehearsals generally like? Do you have a set time each week in which you practice or are rehearsals more spontaneous?
Every Monday night we have our rehearsals, we begin our rehearsal at 7 PM. And stop by 10 PM. During this time we try to write new songs and practice songs we already have written.
TMR: Where have you performed? What are your favorite and least favorite venues?
We have performed at Metal Front Twente, we did a performance at popfront Zwolle [pictures], by now we are looking to do more gigs.
TMR: How do you promote your band and shows?
Mostly we do this via social media. www.facebook.com/theopponentprocessband
TMR: How do you prepare for a show? [for everyone personal]
Richard: Practice, practice, practice, keep rest and try not to worry too much…
Tobias: Practice and keep myself calm.
Samuel: Take it easy and try to avoid drinks with bubbles.
Yorick: Try to relax and a short moment of prayer.
Rick: Practice, prayer and making sure my guitar is tuned right.
Ahmad: Repetition,Repetetion,Repetition. And have by sippin on a sigaret
TMR: Describe your show, visual and musically? And tell us about your next shows and why we should be there.
We are trying to play as much as we can to get more experienced on stage, when we are on stage we are trying to make one hell of a lot of fun, hoping the audience has the same amount of fun listening and moshing away. Nothing special visually, if you are interested in the music we do, please feel free to invite us, we ensure you a good show.
TMR: Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you ever play any covers? Do you have a set play list?
We do not play covers, we our building our own setlist to perform with. We hope to create a party and a good time for everyone.
TMR: Name some of your favorite bands to play with live [past and future] and tell us why ?
At this point we are feeling happy to play with bands that play in the same range of music, doesn’t really matter who they are as long as we can have a lot of fun together.
TMR: What is the dumbest question you have ever been asked? [for everyone personal]
Richard: Can I help you madam?
Yorick: Can I pet your dog madam?
Samuel: Are you dead man?
Tobias: Are you guys vampires?
Rick: Do you worship Satan?
Ahmad: Did you cut your hair? When I obviously had hair before and shaved my head bald.
TMR: Do you have a life philosophy / favorite quote? [for everyone personal]
Richard: God will do me justice.
Rick: Begriept je dat?
Yorick: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”
Tobias: Flawell flede weleld.
Samuel: Keep calm and question everything.
Rick: The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Ahmad: Don’t eat yellow snow!
TMR: Are you visiting many gigs and what do you listen to these days? [for everyone personal]
Richard: Due to a lack of time I do not visit many gigs, I listen to a lot of music while riding my car to my customers thou.
Samuel: Yes, the next gig will be Graspop metal meeting. Grave Geclaration, Altars, Spoken, Killswitch Engage and Benea Reach.
Tobias: Yes, the next gig will be allso Graspop metal meeting. I listen to wolves at the gate, the suit, flatfoot 56 and Machinae Supremacy.
Yorick: Not so often as in previous years, but next will be Graspop metal meeting, lately I listen to Fit For a King, For Today, Sólstafir, Soulfly, Woods of Ypres and Zao.
Rick: Not as much as I’d like but the next “gig” will be Graspop! I listen to a lot of bands, but 3 names that pop out are: Parkway Drive, Attila and All That Remains!
Ahmad: I am not visiting many gigs, lately I listen to Nickelback. Because it reminds me of the summer. and Theory of a deadman
TMR: Tell us about the hardrock/metal scene in your area please?
There are some local metalbands around here but not really big names. For example bands Maggie’s Bookshop, Chiraw, Deadbeat etc.
TMR: What’s your outlook on the record industry today?
As band we do not have a great idea about this, we love the comeback of vinyl though.
TMR: What can you tell us about your debut single ‘Failure’ [lyrics, recording proces etc].
The recording of the song was pretty intense. But everything worked out great. Also due the great work at Grandcore Music Productions. The lyrics are written for the biggest part by Rick, and it’s a personal story about how one can feel like the biggest failure in the universe by his/her own doing and crying out to God.
TMR: Do you have any upcoming shows?
We are searching for show right now so please contact us if you want to book us.
TMR: What are your plans for this year/near future ? [Shows, Demo, EP, Album ?]
We hope to play as much shows as we possibly can. We are thinking about recording another song and release it as second single.
TMR: What advice would you give to fellow bands?
Never forget to have a lot of fun and be there for one another. Also adjust to one another when necessary.
TMR: Guys thanks for your time and the interview, we wish ‘The Opponent Process’ all the best … Is there anything you want to say at last? [any final statement ?]
Goodgoan!
Band members:
Yorick -Vocals
Rick – Guitar
Richard – Guitar
Ahmad – Bass
Tobias – Keyboard
Samuel – Drums [Beyond The Doom]
Weblinks: Facebook / Twitter / Myspace
Song below ‘Failure’
[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/theopponentprocess/failure[/soundcloud]
Video below ‘Blackend Sight’ [live in the studio]