Since 2013, composer Arkadius Antonik, known for his work with the melo-death metal band Suidakra, and illustrator Kris Verwimp, whose works andorn a lot of metal albums, have been working together to make REAKMS OF ODORIC a musical reality. We used their second soundtrack album „Second Age“ as an opportunity to ask them some questions like why they don’t use any vocals, how they happened to work with two orchstras and many guest musicians as well as what’s the best comic book up to this date.
In 2014 you released your self-titled debut, at the end of 2016 its sequel „Second Age“. However, the idea for REALMS OF ODORIC is based on „The Wall Of Doom“, the comic book by you, Kris, released in 1996. Why did you convert this into music so many years later?
K: While I was drawing “The Wall Of Doom”, I listened mainly to movie soundtracks for inspiration. It was a big influence on me and after a while I started dreaming about Odoric’s own soundtrack. At that time, I started doing a lot of CD covers and some local metal bands showed interest to help me with this project. A few songs were composed, but unfortunately all these bands broke up before anything was ready to be released. After more than ten years, it became clear to me that this dream was never going to happen and I stopped working on it. I had almost given up on Odoric completely when Arkadius started sending me some of his classical compositions. I was absolutely amazed and inspired by his tracks. After having worked with Suidakra for more than a decade, I got the idea that this could be the ideal opportunity to bring back the Odoric soundtrack project. I presented Arkadius with my thoughts and to my surprise he was very enthusiastic. That’s when REALMS OF ODORIC was born…
Why was it important to you to equally create music and artworks based on this comic book?
K: Because ”The Wall of Doom” was only an introduction to Odoric. I had developed an entire saga over the years, together with writer Filip Keunen. With REALMS OF ODORIC it was possible for me to tell all these untold stories. Not as a comic book, but as illustrations of key events like concept art for a film. That’s why the soundtrack is so important. If done right, it makes the art come to life. It’s the closest you can get to an actual movie.
What musicians served as inspiration for the music of REALMS OF ODORIC?
A: A lot of composers served as inspiriations for me. In the past there were only a few like Hans Zimmer and Brian Tyler, on „Second Age“, however, I was inspired by many more composers like John Barry, Alan Silvestri, but also lots of classical composers such as Gustav Mahler, Anton Bruckner or Tschaikowsky.
Why do you refrain from using vocals?
K: Because the initial idea was to create a musical landscape that could be enjoyed while reading the book. When you add lyrics and a vocalist, the songs immediately become a little more intrusive. Vocals also make the songs more defined and personal. We felt that it should also be possible to enjoy the music outside of the Odoric concept. While reading any other book, or doing anything else…
„Second Age“ directly continues with the story of the debut, but the general story still seems to be far from over. Do you already have in mind how the story will continue or how many albums are yet to come?
K: Yes, of course! There is a complete saga to be told. After more than 20 years of working on it, the Odoric world has become a very rich place. So even after we complete the main trilogy, there would still be enough story material left for more albums.
In 2016 Arkadius released an album with his melodic death metal band Suidakra named „Realms Of Odoric“ which channeled the concept. Was this album a continuation of the story and why didn’t you use the material directly for REALMS OF ODORIC?
K: It was not a continuation, but a retelling of the same story from the viewpoint of the characters. While the soundtrack album focused on the main events, the Suidakra album was meant to flesh out the more personal stories. It seemed like a perfect way to draw the listener into the emotions of the individual characters, their hopes, their dreams, their fears, etc… So both albums are complementary to each other, telling the same story in a different way.
Where do you spot the biggest differences between the debut and „Second Age“ (apart from the guest musicians)?
A: In my opinion would be that on the debut we didn’t really have a clear path yet. We just started working and didn’t even know if we could eventually release it. At that time I was composing rather intuitively. While creating „Second Age“ I was also studying „soundtrack composition“, which brought me onto a whole new level because I could instantly use that fort he new songs. Working on the new album was way more inspiring and intense. The same goes for Kris’ illustrations. I’m really amazed at how much he has evolved since our debut!
Many guest musicians from all over the globe can be heard on some of the tracks of your new album. How did you get in touch with all of them?
A: That was partly due to big coincidences. I already knew some of our guests from the many tours I did with Suidakra, but most of them I just got to know while recording the album. I stumbled across many of them by word-to-mouth or by recommendations from friends. I’m super happy and grateful for our cooperation and I’m looking forward to keep working together in the future.
Two compositions were even contributed by real orchestras: „Odoric Overture“ by the Brandenburgischen Staatsorchester and „The Last Embrace“ by the Budapest Scoring Symphonic Orchestra. Why were these two tracks recorded with different orchestras?
A: The reason is simple. I wrote „Odoric Overture“ for the orchestra and payed for the recording myelf. The company providing these recording sessions was at that time working with the Brandenburgischen Staatorchester. When we finished planning the second session with MDD Records and financing it, the recording would take plac in Budapest with the Scoring Orchestra. So it was all just a matter of timing…
Why didn’t you record the whole album with an orchestra? Would that have been financially impossible?
A: You got that right. Even being able to record just two tracks with a symphonic orchestra was a miracle. More was simply not possible seen from a financial standpoint.
Would you like to do a whole album with an orchestra in the future?
A: That would of course be a dream, but honestly, now that I know how much that costs, I think it will stay only a dream. But that’s not too bad as long as we’ll be able to do at least a few recordings with a real orchestra.
As already mentioned, the fantastic artworks are just as important in REALMS OF ODORIC as the music. Which works of fantasy and sci-fi had the most influence on you, Kris?
K: Without a doubt, the biggest influence on me was the „Conan The Barbarian“ movie by John Milius. It is still unsurpassed. Of course, there are too many other influences to name them all. I’m an avid movie collector. I still love a lot of the 80’s movies like Dune, Highlander, Predator, etc… But I also collect art books and comics. A lot of my inspiration comes from music, though…
The artbook is way more extensive than the one of the debut. Why is that so?
K: It was mainly thanks to Markus from MDD Records who came up with the idea to do an extended booklet after we sent him some of the new illustrations. Of course, this gave us the opportunity to tell the „Second Age“ story in a much more detailed way and to show more of the world of Odoric. It was supposed to be an A5 sized booklet at first, but it ended up being a large A4 hardcover book. I’m still extremely grateful that Markus believed in us so much to release the album in such a great way!
Would you like to one day see the stories about Odoric turned into a movie?
K: Yes, of course! A movie would be the ultimate dream. The Odoric saga once started as a movie that existed only in my own imagination. However, I don’t think that will ever happen. I’m sure it would end up in development hell for all eternity. The next best thing would be to do it as a motion comic or something like that. But at this point it’s still just wishful thinking.
What are your next plans for the near future of REALMS OF ODORIC?
K: A mini album called “The Cimbric Age” is already in development. It’s sort of a prelude to the “Third Age” album and it’s also the basis for the next Suidakra album “Cimbric Yarns”, which will be an acoustic album this time.
Well, this interview is slowly coming to an end. At last, I would like to ask you to participate in our traditional Metal1.info-Brainstorming. What do you think of while reading the following terms:
Best fantasy/sci-fi movie in 2016: K: „Arrival“ for sci-fi and „Star Wars: Rogue One“ for fantasy.
Odoric: K: I’m still amazed that I’m finally able to tell Odoric’s saga in such a great way, thanks to Arkadius and MDD Records!
Favorite comic: K: My favorite comics are still the Conan comics adapted from Robert E Howard’s original stories by Roy Thomas and drawn by John Buscema.
Dungeons and Dragons: K: The amazing cover art by Keith Parkinson and Larry Elmore.
Metal: K: Inspiration.
Movie soundtrack: K: „Conan The Barbarian“ by Basil Poledouris is still the ultimate movie soundtrack for me.
Alright, thanks once again for doing this interview with us. Is there still something you want to tell our readers?
A: Thanks to all those who support REALMS OF ODORIC in any way! This december, our new mini album „The Cimbric Age“ wll be released… Check it out!
17. Juli 2017 Stephan Rajchl