First of all congratulations on your excellent latest release. Please tell us a few words about the band's story so far and your musical vision you had back then.

Thanks a lot! Regarding the story, it starts back in 1999, when Vince Benaim (guitarist) decided to create a progressive metal band. John Drai (bass player) and Fred Colombo (keyboardist) joined him a few months later, we started covering progmetal classics under the name of Amnesya, and then, for some reason, we left this band in order to end with covers and start actually writing music and compositions of our own. Spheric Universe Experience was born in 2002. Franck Garcia (singer) and Ranko Muller (drummer) joined the band later. We composed our debut album "Mental Torments" in 2003/2004. It's been released in 2005 under Replica Records and Nightmare Records. We've had several live concerts, especially the big opening for the Scorpions in 2005, and then we started writing the songs of our second album "Anima", which has been released a few months ago. Regarding our musical vision then, it was very clear: progressive atmospheric heavy metal. It hasn't much changed. We're still composing in that style, even if we know it's not the most best-selling musical style in the world!

Are you satisfied with the sales and the feedback you receive worldwide on "Anima" so far?

We still don't have sales report so we can't tell, but the feedback from media, magazines, websites and fans has been good so far. This was a huge fear for us, but it finally went ok.

What are your influences and if you had the chance to play live with a big band, which would that be?

Our influences are wide - we listen to everything from extreme death metal to latin jazz rock and electronic music. So we would be glad to play with any good band that enjoys our music. Obviously the most profitable acts for us would be those in relation with our style (Symphony X, Dream Theater, Vanden Plas, Evergrey, etc.). They've influenced our music a lot and it would be a true honour playing with them.

Compared with your first album "Mental Torments", I'd say that "Anima" is more technical and finished to the fingernail. Do you agree on that and why did you follow this direction?

Yes we agree! Even though "Mental Torments" included extremely complex instrumental sections that cannot be found in Anima. Actually, when we started brainstorming about the way we should compose our second album, we decided that it had to be just MORE. "Mental Torments" was progressive metal, well, "Anima" had to be more progressive, and more metal. So basically this is the main difference. In addition, production is way better, colours are more varied. We tried to keep the atmospheric melodies from "Mental Torments" and make them more heavy-progressive.

One strange thing I noticed about your songs is that you've included lyrics in French, Spanish even Chinese if I'm not mistaken. How's that?

Well, we have inserted spoken sections within the songs in various languages because, you know, even if we need to sing in English in order to reach as many people as possible, we wanted to pay a tribute to other languages, because all languages are beautiful, like Italian, Japanese (not Chinese!), Spanish and of course, French. So basically, that's about it.

The songs "Questions" is full of questions that personally prey on my mind for a long time now, without finding any answers. Tell us a few words about the meaning of this song.

Oh you're lucky - I'm the one who wrote the lyrics of "Questions" so I'll be able to explain them to you! Actually, I had this idea of composing a song based on questions about human feelings and questions about life and death and love, since a few years, after I experienced a tragic event in my family. Then, years after years, other harsh or strange experiences affected me (like heartaches, loss of loved relatives, etc.) and led me to pile up all those questions. I decided to list them, in no particluar order, one after the other, with a deep intimate requiem music. This song comes from my own life experiences but I'm not the only one asking myself such questions -what you've written proves it- so this song, like all of our lyrics, may be appropriated by anyone. Every individual may recognize their own life experiences and questions. It's the song of every living soul, not only me.

The cover of the album is quite attractive and fits perfectly your music style. Give us some more details on that. Was it difficult for you to come to a decision on that aspect?

This artwork was made by Björn Goosses from Killustrations (www.killustrations.com). His style is so dark, and so different. He can create a whole world with only one small image. It's amazing. When he came up with this cover, we felt it was the right one for "Anima". You know, our lyrics often mention hard psychological times, sad feelings, doubts, etc. However, hope is always there, in both our lyrics and music, with some major-chord themes, and this oasis that's emerging and spreading within chaos in the cover is the illustration of this immortal bright magical side of life that always comes back after sorrow. And yes, it is always difficult to get five "okays" when creating an artwork. We know it's the image that people will see forever when listening to the album, so it's pretty important!

Are there any plans for some gigs or even touring?

No tour booked yet but separate gigs here and there. The most exciting one is ProgPower Scandinavia in Copenhagen on November 9th. We'll share the stage with bands like Andromeda or Threshold which we've been listening to for many years. It's an honour to be playing there.

I must say that I can't wait for your next release which I'd like to believe that it will be even better. Have you started working on that yet? Will you change something in your musical style and approach?

Hey one sale is guaranteed! Haha! Yes we've started composing basic riffs and themes. Actually, we never stop writing material. Composing is our life. Music is our food. We never say "ok the new album's out, now let's have a break, let's not compose anything, we'll start again in 3 months". It's just impossible! I don't think we'll change much things. At least the concept of S.U.E. - progressive atmospheric heavy metal - will remain, perhaps some details in arrangements and songwriting will be more accessible to as many metal fans as possible.

What is your biggest dream as musicians?

Oh, just being able to keep composing and playing live as long as possible. This job is a dream in itself. Then of course I could anwser that we'd like to sell millions of discs and be universal stars. And I would lie if I denied it! But sincerely, composing, distributing our albums and playing them live is our goal. Bigger ambitions will perhaps appear along with success! Hehe!

Assuming that you had 24 hours left before the planet's demise what would you choose to do?

Oh what an original question! It's pleasant to have original questions like this one. Ok let me think... I would sit down and play the piano for several hours, then I would have a meal with traditional local dishes of my region, and then I'd make love to my girlfriend, chat with her for several hours and kiss her goodbye. It'd be HORRIBLE. Hum... this question is acutally horrible. I feel bad now!

On your spare time do you listen to some music and if yes what's the genre you prefer?

As far as I am concerned, I'm a MUSICIAN, so I'm into everything that's MUSICAL. From electronic jazz to melodic metal and classical music. I love so many genres that it's quite impossible to list'em all here. I just love music.

Thank you so much for honoring our webzine. I leave the closing to you.

Oh you're honouring us by interviewing us as well. The last words for me? Oh well... I just want to say thank you to you for interviewing us, and to our fans. We hope "Anima" will bring pleasure and emotions to as many people as possible and we can't wait to play it live for people around this whole world! Merci et à bientôt !