Dendura is a dark melodic progressive metal band with a middle eastern/Egyptian infused sound and image.  They are from Michigan and their live stage show sometimes includes a belly dancer, which in itself is quite unique! Intrigued, Angel Of Metal thought it was time to take a look. 

Dendura is:
Steve Wethy – Guitar
Aziza Poggi – Vocals/Keys
Paul Stein- Guitar
Jason Stevens – Bass

Justin Lee Dixon - Drums

Q
Please give me a little background on the band. How long has the Dendura been going, how did you all meet etc.
A
PAUL  The band has existed for over 4 years.  I met up with Aziza and Steve about 2 years ago when they were looking to add an additional guitarist and a new drummer.  About a year after that our drummer had some medical issues that does not allow him to play metal drums, and that is how Justin started playing with Dendura.  After a while Justin officially joined and introduced us to Jason, who also ended up joining the band.
Q
Were you all interested in the Egyptian theme before you met Aziza?
A

PAUL  I have always been interested in the more exotic sounds in metal, whether it be a Japanese scale, Diminished sound, Egyptian sound, etc.  So although I was not really ‘into’ the Egyptian type sound the idea was not foreign to me and I enjoy playing that style.  

STEVE  I didn't start playing this way until Aziza played something on the keys that sounded Egyptian.  I figured out the scale and loved the sound.  I don't think any of us were thinking about it before we met Aziza.
Q
Did any of you study music or are you self taught?
A

PAUL  I had lessons in elementary school, learning church songs.  After that I taught myself via classic rock tab books.  I  have had a few lessons by a jazz teacher, and I received a 5 hour consultation by a jazz/classical guitarist in Washington DC, Ney Mello.

STEVE  I know Justin has studied music theory in college and studied jazz for 4 years.  I know Jason has had some training on bass and with theory.  Aziza has been taught by many vocal teachers and currently by Melissa Ferlaak-Koch formerly of Visions of Atlantis and Aesma Daeva.  I'm self taught from books.
Q
What have been the live highlights so far for the band and who ideally would you like to tour with & why?
A
PAUL  For me our biggest highlight was playing at the Orbit Room in Grand Rapids in front of a huge crowd to promote the compilation CD we were on, the Bootleg VII CD issued in West Michigan.  Ideally I would love to tour with Opeth or Nevermore because I think those two bands are as good as it gets in metal today.
Q
If you could organize your own festival, what bands would be on it?
A
PAUL  I would book Echoes of Eternity and After Forever as good female fronted bands, and also Opeth and Nevermore.
Q
Who does most of the writing for the band?
A

PAUL  Aziza and Steve write most of the lyrics, the music is pretty evenly split between myself, Steve, Justin, and Jason. 

STEVE  Sometimes Aziza will sing something and we'll write music to fit that. 

Q
Tell me more about your debut album “New Life”.
A
STEVE  I'll tell you, that New Life was done on a very tight budget in about four days, I think.  And everyone tried to produce their own damn instrument.  We did not use a metronome, due to our drummer's (drummer at that time)  inability to play in time and a lot of the arrangements were changed for that same reason just weeks before we started recording.  I think the only thing that sounds good is Aziza's voice.  But our real debut will be the album we're doing now.  I mean, we're a very different band with a whole new rhythm section and second guitar  and we have a hell of a lot better sound.
Q
How did you hook up with Grammy Award Winning Producer Neil Kernon (Nile/Dokken/Nevermore/Queensryche) as your producer and what was it like working with him?
A
PAUL  Neil has worked with Killzone in the past, and once we signed our deal with Killzone they recommended us to Neil and he agreed to work with us.  So far it has been really awesome working with someone with the experience and the ear like Neil.  He seems to really know how to bring out exactly what we are looking for in each song, and he’s pretty easy going and really keeps you feeling comfortable.
Q
Last summer, you decided to go with Killzone Records as your label. What made you decide on them and how have they been treating you so far?
A
PAUL  Killzone not only gave us the best deal we had seen, but a deal that was to the standards we were looking for.  So far they have been great and we are looking forward to the release of our album and continuing our relationship with Killzone.
Q
What do you feel is the biggest difference between the European metal scene and the metal scene in the U.S.?
A
PAUL  The European scene seems to be more underground styles, where the U.S. metal scene is more straight up rock based and radio friendly.  I find the European metal scene interesting because the bands sound very unique and the fans there are just crazy.
Q
What do you like doing with your spare time outside of music?
A
PAUL  Watching football, and anything related to Michigan State. 
Q
For fun, which Egyptian God(dess) are you?
A
STEVE  I took a quiz online and it said I was closest to the Goddess Sekhmet, but I always thought I'd be Horus.

 

To check out more about Dendura, visit
http://www.myspace.com/denduraband

 

I would like to thank Dendura for this interview.

Keep It Loud!
 

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