First, please, could you make a description of Cydonia's playing style and influences?

You can find some speed influenced with Trash: if you listen to "Legend In Time" or "Confused Future" the voice is melodic and fiercy. I listen: Steve Vai, Rainbow, Deep Purple, R.J.Dio, Iron Maiden, Helloween, Gamma Ray, Symphony X, Kiss, Pantera, Jethro Tull, Frank Zappa, Dream Theater, Raimmstein, AC/DC.. etc... For what about the vocals, my idols are: Ian Gillan, R.J.Dio, Michael Kiske, Bruce Dickinson, Jeff Scott Soto, Davin Townsend (in Steve Vai's "Sex & Religion"), Freddy Mercury, Ralph Scheepers...

How did everyone in the current line-up meet? Could you give some information about each member?

Everything occurred by case: we were walking down the street, and we were all going in the same place, when all of a sudden BOOOOM!!! we had a head crash!!! And there we found that we were all musicians. In 1998 I started to call up Trevor, while he was playing with his Big Brother Shaquille O'Neal, Steve and Lee (just landed with their Shuttle), and I kidnapped Mat during a Labyrinth show. About me, I'm on this planet since 20000 years. In the end we will all return to Cydonia.

For those who don't know, "Cydonia" is a region of Mars where a martian landform that looked like a human face was found some years ago... Some people believed this to be the work of intelligent martians... Is this the concept related to the band's name? If so, what is your position about this?

Yes, it is so! I selected such a story because it's many years that I'm interested in Ufology. I believe that there was intelligence life on Mars and that during the milleniums big negative events led to the end of planet Mars.

The lyrics form a story... right? Could you give some details about the storyline?

The concept tells about an ancient story which started on Mars, it is not a fantasy story, but what I do believe and that I try to explain to myself since many years. On Mars there was life, water, flora and fauna, but most of all there were us. Before the Red Planet exhauted its resources, human beings colonized, during the centuries, Earth with an aid from the Masters of Stars, an extraterrestrial elected popolation, the same that very probably spreaded on the whole Earth many mystical/religious belief, then forgotten. The concept is based on the Empire of CYDONIA: I tried to represent it on the cover, to try to let understand the Grandeur, designing the Logo on scolpited planets (the one in the middle, is Mars), and the subject is the Sphynx, builted in honor of the Emperor.

What things inspire you to write the lyrics?

Something from my past that is emerging, a link with extraterrestrial presence. That is the truth, my dreams are always full with real facts, that I can't recollect.

How would you describe your initial process when writing a song? What's coming first: the words or the melody?

It depends from my inspiration. Both words and melodies are equally important.

Which songs would you say are your favorite ones on the CD?

"Legend In Time", "Last Prayers", "Masters Of Stars", "Land Of Life".

Olaf Thörsen has been your producer... how was working with him?

As producer he has been really professional, also with the rest of the band, me and Trevor really appreciate him, we also enjoyed each others in many situations, either in studios either outside, a beautiful experience. I'm surely satisfact of his work.

What bands were you in before you formed Cydonia?

Sorry, my past is full of bad situations.

What are your personal hobbies besides music?

Ufology and Archeoastronomy.

Any plans for live shows to support the album?

Yes. It's all still to define.

What are your hopes for Cydonia in the future?

I really hope to succeded in completing the huge puzzle of the five concept albums. I want that the world knows what governments hide.

Finally, anything you wish to add?

Hope to see you all somewhere throughout in Europe... ;-)

Thank you Dan for taking the time. Ciao & wish you good luck!!!!!

Ciao a ti baby!! ;-)

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