ANTIMATTER's MOSS Discusses Renewed Collaboration With DUNCAN PATTERSON

In the wake of the recent union tours of ANTIMATTER and ÍON, Mick Moss and Duncan Patterson will record new versions of select ANTIMATTER tracks for the forthcoming retrospective compilation "Alternative Matter", a planned 2CD/1DVD set. They will be joined by drummer/percussionist Colin Fromont (AVERSE, CINNAMON SCREEN). Also planned are some new remixes by both Moss and Patterson, as well as an in-depth interview/documentary for the DVD. A mid-to-late 2009 release is expected.

ANTIMATTER is the UK project whose recording/touring lineup has included current and former members of ANATHEMA. The group's fourth album, "Leaving Eden", was released in April 2007.

After Duncan Patterson left the band in 2005, Mick Moss gathered a number of guest musicians around him — among others Danny Cavanagh (ANATHEMA) — to record the most depressive and heaviest album of ANTIMATTER's discography. This is attested by the dynamics of "Leaving Eden", the increased use of electric guitars and forceful drumming.

Metalhead.ro recently conducted an interview with Mick Moss about his renewed collaboration with Patterson and their future plans. An excerpt from the question-and-answer session follows below.

Metalhead.ro: I would like to talk to you about this news that came as a surprise for fans, friends and press: You and Duncan playing a couple of shows in Europe, where you will perform acoustic versions of ANTIMATTER, ÍON and ANATHEMA. I guess everyone wants to know what the story is behind this surprising event.

Moss: Me and Duncan have kept in contact since he left ANTIMATTER, as he is one of my friends and our relationship wasn't based purely on music. During a talk one day in 2007, I suggested to him that we could form an alliance of our music, and perform kind of a masterworks tour of ANTIMATTER, ÍON and ANATHEMA material, but heading the bill as ourselves rather than a particular project name to avoid confusion. He agreed that it was a good idea, and we then put a set together and looked out for concert organizers who were willing to put it on, hence a tour in September and one later in November.

Metalhead.ro: Should we think of a permanent reunion? I know that Duncan is deeply involved in ÍON, his most personal project until now.

Moss: I don't think anything in the music scene is permanent, but for the time being it is rewarding both for ourselves and the audience for us to do this, so there is no reason why it shouldn't continue in the immediate future. Of course, ÍON is Duncan's project, and I am continuing to write and release under the ANTIMATTER name. Just because we're touring together doesn't mean we're in bed together as far as recording and writing is concerned, that's all separate.

Read the entire interview at Metalhead.ro.