Congratulations George for your excellent new effort. Since you're a new band and this is the first time we get to talk I'd like you to give us a short biographical note.

First of all we want to thank you for your flattering terms to our work. FALLEN WITHIN created in 2003 by George Satlanis. We belong to the genre of melodic Swedish death metal, with thrash and progressive elements. We began as a 3-membered band, but now FALLEN WITHIN have 6 full members: George Satlanis (guitars, clear vocals), Kostas Vattis (vocals), Christos Pantos (guitars), Diana Schneider (bass, backing vocals), Myrto Toumpa (keyboards) and Antonis "the end" (drums). November of 2003 was the month when we recorded our first demo-cd "The Conqueror Worm", which included 2 songs. We faced many difficulties then. Last summer (July of 2005) we decided to record a new promo-cd of 3 songs (A Shade of Eternal, Everfall, The Rotten Wheel) taking much care to orchestration and especially the production in order to succeed a deal with a company. For now, we have filled our "roster" and we 're working on new material.

For the Greek standards the production on this promo is almost perfect. Please give us some more details on this subject.

Thanks a lot! Unfortunately, it's true that the highest number of Greek bands is still back at the section of production. Our target is to escape from this situation if we want to do something serious. We feel very lucky because we co-operate, in my point of view, with one of the greatest producers worldwide who is Mark Adrian. The production of this cd is a work of himself. We have to mention George Xindas who also helped us in production.Recordings, mixes and the mastering lasted about a month and a half (totally 45-50 hours) and took place at Mark Adrian's studio.

Do you have other songs ready in order to "frame" these 3 promo track and go for a full-length release?

Yes, we have about 10-12 new songs and we will choose 6-7 of them to border the 3-ones of the promo for a full-length job as you mention. This moment I'm at the process of orchestration and we will begin recordings very soon. All these new songs follow the steps of the cd you hold now. There are songs where aggressiveness meets the melody. Sometimes, some progressive elements give more cerebral character on them. That's one reason why we use double voices (death and clear vocals). Our purpose is to present songs that will have something to offer and make people pay attention to our music. That sound ideal, doesn't it?

Is there a standard procedure you follow during the songwriting?

No, we haven't got a specific one, but usually we start with composing the guitar riffs (me or Christos) on which the songs will be based. Then I begin to orchestrate them by choosing the correct bass lines and finding bridges and the way the drums wll be played. Then I like to add the lead sections on guitars and at the end I compose the solos. After that I try to fill our songs (with Myrto and our second producer George Xindas) with pads and lead subjects for keyboards in order to enrich our sound. Finally, I try to find the way how the death and clear vocals will interpret each song.

Bob Katsionis has also contributed in this new effort of yours. Would you like to give us some more details?

Oh, God! He is really a wizard! Well, we have to say first of all that it was a great honour for us to have the chance to co-operate with such a musician. It is fact that we record in the same studio, so it was easy to find him. Bob listened to our songs and he told us that he had no problem to record with FALLEN WITHIN. He helped us a lot and we thank him for that.

As a guitar player name your favorite guitarists and explain to us why do you believe they are so special?

There are so many!! Guitar players like Ritchie Blackmore, Joe Satriani, Yngwie Malmsteen and Randy Rhoads are legends and part of our music. I have to say that I'm fan of brothers Amott, Jeff Waters, Kai Hansen, Timo Tolki, Jeff Loomis and Alexi Laiho. I left for the end a guitarist who is admirable for his technique and sometimes I wonder how a human brain can grasp such "out-earth" ideas. Words seem poor to describe John Petrucci!

What are you listening to lately? Do you follow the metal scene in general and which new bands do you pick out?

I'm still impressed with "Death Cult Armageddon" of Dimmu Borgir. Really amazing! There are so many other bands which can "make my day" like Dark Dark Tranquility, Arch Enemy, Children Of Bodom, Nevermore, Therion and Haggard. I don't forget to refresh my memory by listening the monuments of Iron Maiden, Metallica, Judas Priest and Deep Purple. I have to say that last months I've been really "shocked" by a new super band. It's Biomechanical. They are innovators I think and they offer something special!

Have you ever considered the possibility of covering a well-known or one of your favorite songs? Which songs are your first choices?

We want to arrange 2 songs, but only for live performances. Orgasmatron is the first one. The reason? What else? Headbanging till the end... The second is the song "Therein" of Dark Tranquility. We have many ideas. We want to arrange it a little bit differently than the way Dark Tranquility recorded it. That demands a lot of thought.

I'd like to ask you your opinion concerning the new kind of DVD disc format that is entering our lives (meaning DVD-DUAL DISC). Can you imagine how the future releases will be?

It's true that technology goes on day after day. I think that it's important to be close to new technological achievements. DVD or DUAL DISC format are a part of them. I'm not gonna say that I cope well with technology, but I try to be informed whenever that's necessary.

Well, we've reached the end of your first interview on Metal Perspective. Before closing I'd like to wish you all the best for the future. The last words belong to you.

Thank you for the great support! It's very important for our beginning. Our first full-length album won't be late. So, I hope to talk again soon.