Can you remain to us the story of Mithras ?

By that time the band was back to a two piece (all our other members had quit) so we concentrated on working intensively on our follow up album 'Worlds Beyond The Veil' between 2002 and 2003. It was released (on Golden Lake again) in late 2003 to amazing acclaim across the world and really raised our profile. We did some more shows, then signed a deal with Candlelight Records.

On the back of the new deal we started writing our new album and recruited a permanent drummer, Sean Broster, who unfortunately left the band in the middle 2005. So i ended up back in the drum seat and we finished this new album off as a two piece once again.

What are your biggest musical influences ?

Rayner: We both listen to a massive array of different types of music, we don't really base Mithras around any one music type, we just write the music we like to hear and enjoy playing. I suppose we are influenced by all the music we hear in one way or another.

How would you describe your music in your own words ?

Leon: In short, fast, brutal, atmospheric extreme metal. A sea of super fast double kicks with strange eerie leads flowing over the top!

Can you tell us more about your new album called « Behind The Shadows Lie Madness » ?

Leon: Yeah sure, this is our third album, and our first new one for our label Candlelight. It's the culmination of nearly 4 years work and we're really happy with the results. The album continues the concepts and stories we started on our debut album 'Forever Advancing...... Legions' and brings them to a conclusion of sorts.

Can you speak to us about the recording sessions ?

Leon: We actually recorded this album completely in my own studio "Dreaming Studios" this time around. The recording went much smoother because of this although we were pushed for time and had a deadline to work to by when the album had to be completed. Lee du-Caine came in at the last minute and took over mixing duties from me which helped the final result immensely as i'd pretty much had as much as i could take by that point!

How did you proceed for the composition ?

Leon: Like all our albums, I composed and arranged the music on guitars on my own, then Rayner and me got together and rehearsed the songs, tweaking the arrangements and writing the drums, bass and vocal parts. It's a formula which works really well for us.

What are the lyrics talking about ? Where do you find inspiration ?

Rayner: All the Mithras albums have a concept running through them. The Story carries on from album to album. The lyrics tell a story of the human race against a creature from another world which comes and destroys the earth. Behind The Shadows Lie Madness is about one man running from the monsters that now exist in the darkness of this destroyed world.

Leon: I guess we find inspiration in lots of place, sci-fi on television, books, dreams, all sorts of places really.

Who created the artwork ?

Rayner: Dan Seagrave. He's done a lot of incredible covers for bands. We were very happy with the piece, it came out better than we could have hoped, Dan was great to work with, accepting our ideas and he managed to get a fantastic depiction of what we described to him.

What’s your favourite track on « Behind The Shadows Lie Madness » and why ?

Rayner: That's a hard question and probably one to which the answer will change every week. I'd say if I had to chose right now I'd say the title track, purely because my own parts came out so well on the track and I really enjoy playing it.

Leon: Yeah very hard to pick just one, maybe 'Awaken Man And Stone' atm as it's one of the slowest "fast" songs we've ever done and i'm really happy with the drum work.

What are your favourite bands and all times albums ?

Rayner: Another hard question. Bands: Dead Can Dance, Bal Sagoth, Entombed. If I had to chose a single album i'd say Metallica: Master of puppets. But I'll proabaly change my mind tomorrow.

Are there any plans for some gigs or an upcoming tour ?

Rayner: Well we haven't been offered anything as of yet, and we will have to get session musicans in to learn the setlist due to the fact that there's only Leon and me in the band, which takes a lot of time, but watch this space and check out our website for updates.

Do you have funny or strange stories about the band you can share with us?

Rayner: We have a history of having lots of line-up changes, mainly due to other peoples (lack of) commitments which is the reason that there is only the two of us in the band permanently. But we did have one member who said he had to leave the band due to his mother having cancer and getting close to dying, which of course would be tragic. Anyway, about 2 years later I then met his mother at his wedding very much alive and well. It turned out to have been the most ridiculous lie ever!

What are your projects for the future ?

Leon: Atm we're just rehearsing and seeing how things go, and thinking about a follow up to the new album.

And as a conclusion, can you say some words for my radio show called Metal Choc ?

Rayner: Yeah sure, get out there, buy 'Behind the Shadows Lie Madness' and both the other Mithras albums and check out the new Mithras T-Shirts on sale soon! Thanks for the interview and hi to all your listeners and supporters!