This interview was taken from Macedonian magazine, CorCordis and published in May 2002.

1. You have recently released your first full length album titled "Restoration". What's this album about and is it possible for you to describe the music that is included in it?

We didn’t plan to make the album ‘about’ anything in particular. I wrote lyrics that were based upon stories, ideas and feelings. JK, our guitar player comes up with the majority of melodies and riffs, Dave will build basslines around that, and Ad will create the drums patterns. The final curve in the spiral is when I hear the music and try to phrase how it relates to me. The themes we cover range from self-healing, through to the inability to make change, right through to what it means to be a human. I guess it’s pretty Zen type stuff. The music itself is interesting – we have elements of hardcore and metal – yet we go for a drop tuning with the guitar’s bottom E string dropped lower than usual. JK (guitars) uses this to create some unusual chord patterns. The tendency in HC/Metal is for musicians to play fifths, sevenths and bar power chords to the standard EADGBE string tuning with the bass pretty much following the guitar. Dave (bass) tunes his guitar differently to JK and therefore plays hooks and riffs that are far more versatile than your average one-keynote bass player – if you watch him on the fretboard his fingers do a lot of travelling. He’s had to adapt (and done an amazing job in the process) to JK’s original style.

2. Would you like to describe the begginings of Spine as a band and the main inspiration behind your songs?

We all take inspiration from a variety of sources, We share a lot of common interests but we each have our quirks. I really like the story telling in the Japanese medium. Lone Wolf & Cub, Shenmue, Ghost In The Shell blow me away and I wish I had that type of creativity. JK really enjoys powerful films and very emotional music, ranging from Tool, through to Lamb, through to Gorecki. Dave likes humorous films particularly by Kevin Smith, music from Grade and By A Thread and Ennis/Dillon graphic novels from Preacher, through to Punisher. Adam likes Spider-Man, Smokey and the Bandit and AC/DC. We’ve all been into metal for years – when I was ten years old I saw the video to ‘Can I Play With Madness’ by Iron Maiden, and by the time I was fifteen I had travelled from metal, to thrash, to hip-hop, to hardcore. All the others had very similar beginnings.

3. In what way has the creative process of making music changed your personalities since you have started this band?

I don’t think it has changed our personalities. Growing up does that, and having to deal with your parent’s divorce, your friend’s suicide, abortion, drugs, crime, whatever. With me, the fact I’m in a band has simply been a rock, something to rely on throughout the time I’ve been growing up.

4. I know that music labeling sucks, but how would you define the music you play and what does it mean to you?

It’s very important to me as I’ve touched upon in the previous question. People call us quite a lot of things and if that helps them enjoy our music then that’s fine. The current media-trend is ‘post-hardcore’, although I’m not aware of Hardcore ever dying out. I don’t know. I can’t really define it. Part metal, part hardcore, all rad.

5. Do you have any specific goal that you want to achieve with your music and lyrics?

I like telling stories, if someone enjoys the tales then that’s great. I’m very pragmatic and know that I won’t change anyone’s life or the world with this band, but if someone recognises what I’m saying in the lyrics, and the music makes them reflect upon that then I’m happy.

6. I've read your lyrics and I must say that they are pretty emotional and honest. Who writes them and what is in their essence?

I do, and most of my answers so far have alluded to this. You’re right, they are honest. Some real, some made up. You could think of it as a personal catharsis – getting some things straight. In songs such as Ice Walk I’m telling a story, in a song like Inert I’m taking a real-life situation to the extreme, and in Rising to My Reflection I’m telling you what I feel.

7. What's your opinion on today's rock/metal/hardcore/punk music and can you name the bands that meant something during the last decade of the previous century?

Probably the strongest that it has been for years – although it could be reaching a saturation point. The majors have got what they wanted – something new to sell to the average 10 – 16 year old age range but these bubbles can quickly burst without real talent and innovation arriving on the scene.

At one point throughout the nineties I thought metal had had it’s day. For me the bands that meant something metal-wise were Suicidal Tendencies, Infectious Grooves, Anthrax, Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Helmet, Metallica, Slayer, Deftones, Down, Sick Of It All, Handsome, Quicksand, Madball, Life Of Agony, Stampin’ Ground, Knuckledust, Vision of Disorder…the list goes on.

8. In what way do you see your music...as a form of art or just a way of emptying your negative and positive emotions?

I don’t believe in ‘emptying emotions’. You feel them. If I feel aggressive, I use that aggression to help me cycle up a huge hill, or perfect my kickboxing techniques. I use emotions to help me write lyrics – and after that process, the emotions still remain and are felt when playing.

9. What's it like to live in Britain these days, especially after the events that happened on the 11th of September?

In some quarters, there’s an air of suspicion between European, and Asian cultures living side by side. In others, we have extremist idiots stirring trouble between the communities, such as northern, industrial towns like Bradford and Leeds – even prior to the 11/9. On the other side of the coin, my friends who live on the same council estate as my Dad who are Muslim still help him with his car, and moan at me when our dog escapes into their garden! Just because some idiots use Islam to justify murder doesn’t mean that we would break that friendship overnight. It’s only where there is ignorance there is hatred. Unfortunately, on both sides of the fence, people just don’t make the effort.

10. Can you tell me your opinion on the process of globalisation?

I like the idea of cultures sharing resources, technology and ideas to advance humanity. I don’t like the idea that it is only where profit can be made that this actually happens.

11. There is a "war against terrorism" that is curently under way. There were large protests against it in your country. Were you participating in any of them and what's your opinion on this so called "war"?

I don’t agree with war – but when someone brings the fight to you in such a way – you have to act. This whole ‘war on terrorism’ sloganeering is a way of justifying an indefinite period of campaigns – and as for the motives behind these campaigns it’s a good bet that there will be other interests at stake. I can’t wait until it’s over and there’s no more terrorism.

12. Do you participate in any kind of political or social activism and do you think that music can bring any change in the society you live in?

I don’t take part in any kind of political or social activism. I don’t know enough about politics, and to be honest with you, after talking to some activists I’m not convinced that their knowledge of politics is any better than mine. To me, it comes down to self-education and listening to as many sides of the story as you can. I found that my knowledge of the problems in the Middle East was lacking and therefore took steps to fill the gaps. The problem then is of course the reliability of the ino you’re seeking. I hooked up with a couple of Arabic translation websites that provide english translations of news websites in the Middle East such as Al-Jazeera and Al Hayat. This I compared with the usual CNN/BBC type coverage. I recommend anybody else do the same – I won’t fill you in with what I’ve learned throughout this time of self-study as it would fill up an entire page and I’d rather people discover for themselves. In all areas of political negotiation it comes down to the ability to compromise. Israeli and Palestinian leaders refuse to compromise with each other and the outcome we are seeing now.

Music change society? No. People do that, and there aren’t many songs that have the power to change a personality.

13. I've read on your website that you consider Tool as lords. What does their music mean to you and what do you think about their last album "Lateralus"?

I think they’re a great band because they play inventive and intelligent music. I like the vocalist, his lyrics are really well thought out and as far as I’m concerned, if a band has played on stage for two hours and I don’t want them to stop then they are the Lords. Most live acts I see usually don’t sustain my interest for much more than half an hour.

14. In the biographies of the band members I've seen that you listen a wide range of music styles. Does this diversity cause any problems during the writing process?

Not at all. Our writing style is pretty laid back. JK will start us off with some riffs and we build and contribute to the flavour. We never shy away from a great song because ‘it sounds like so-and-so’, or ‘it’s too metal’ or ‘it’s too rock’.

15. I see that some of your favorite albums are those from LTJ Bukem and DJ Krush. Why are you a part of a rock band and what do think about the situation in the electronic music these days?

Why I am a part of a rock band? That’s a good question, probably because I like rock music. I’ve never let anyone else’s pre-conceived ideas about what I’m into influence what I say or do. As for the situation in electronic music these days I’m afraid I can’t really answer that as I don’t know. I buy Drum and Bass, or Trip-Hop for the same reasons I’d buy a Herbie Hancock or Philip Glass album – because the music says something I want to hear.

16. Can you make a comparison between the current underground music scene in USA and Britain with the one that is considered more mainstream?

Both scenes, mainstream and underground are the strongest they’ve ever been. I like certain bands from both sides – but the rot sets in when a new band comes along with the same sound and image as another band and the public picks up on this. I think if you took Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park and Slipknot you see a diverse range of styles. Likewise in the UK if you took Lost Prophets, Raging Speedhorn, and Vacant Stare you get a diverse range. It needs to stay that way. I do get concerned when a new band turns up trying very hard to sound and look like another.

17. Would you like to sign a deal with a big record company and if this happens will it influence your music?

I doubt it would influence our music. I wouldn’t have the patience to play someone else’s idea of what I should be playing.

18. Do you think that independent labels give more creative freedom and if they do, then in what way?

Any decent indie label will pick you up if they see something they can work with. If a band won’t develop, or try too hard to be another band then it will not work. With Blackfish and Loudspeaker we’ve never been told to ‘make your sound like this band’ or ‘sing like this vocalist’ or ‘wear crash helmets’. Creatively, Blackfish and Loudspeaker have both encouraged us to keep doing what we do. Other indie labels may not care about certain bands - Household Name and Copro in the UK aren’t particularly interested in us, which is fine. Those two labels have some great bands that are very different to us. In the spirit of evolution the gene pool is kept diverse, and therefore stronger.

19. What are you future plans?

Develop as musicians – all of us. We feel that Restoration says a lot of things we’ve wanted to say – but there’s much more below the surface and some of the stuff we play in rehearsal now suggests the second album which we may begin recording mid – late 2003 will bring new, hidden lights to the surface.

20. Anything to add...