Doomed Confessionary: Julien Prat (Ixion)
Ixion is an atmospheric doom metal project from Brittany, France.
Four years after their critically acclaimed »L’Adieu aux Etoiles«, Ixion returns with »Evolution«, a three-part concept album, released as individual EPs. The album explores the evolution of mankind, its interactions with androids, and the rise of post-humanism.
Ixion’s new concept album »Evolution« was released on October 25th, 2024 via Finisterian Dead End. Fans of Dream Unending, Forlesen, Anathema, Katatonia, and the like, pay heed.
Can you say a few words about your band?
Hello! IXION is an atmospheric doom metal project born in 2004, with the particularity to include lots of ambient-electronic sounds. We have a kind of progressive approach, using an important array of sounds and vocals. Our music is also very linked to science-fiction.
Following our demo in 2007 we have released 5 albums, including the new one, »Evolution«. This is our longest opus, divided in three parts, each one with its own musical identity and theme, about humanity, androids and post-humanism.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
I would say to find the right way to produce our albums. As our music includes numerous layers, with guitars, synth pads, basses, strings, sequences… it was a challenge to find the right overall sound so that each instrument is respected and at the same time the whole music is breathing. Since »L’Adieu aux Etoiles« (our previous album) I think we are close to that goal, with the recording, engineering and mixing in my own studio, and then the mastering by Tony Lindgren at the well-known Fascination Street Studios! Even if we can still improve our sound of course!
What can you be most proud of so far?
To have traced our own path and, according to the reviews, built a quite unique identity, something at the same time recognizable and evolving. Our discography is a kind of musical journey through the future and universe, which reflects the different genres that influence me, combined in our own way.
What was your biggest regret?
It is still not to play live, clearly! Perhaps it will happen, but for the moment we are too far away with Yannick, and it would be too complicated to get a line-up. And there is also a question about the means needed to correctly stage our music: I think a concert has to enhance the music – so for a spatial music I would like a kind of ‘spatial staging’ – not easy for an underground band!
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
Well, one of the best metal concert I attended was a few weeks ago, with Moonspell and Dark Tranquillity in Paris! The location, sound, audience, setlist, staging… everything was really cool!
And outside the metal scene the last tour of Sigur Ros was so wonderful! I saw them in Paris – it was a magical evening!
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
I remember in 2002 when I discovered on a CD sampler Paradise Lost’s »Erased« and Lacuna Coil’s »Daylight Dancer«. At that time I was already fan of ambient electronic music, of melancholic rock (Radiohead…), Pink Floyd, Depeche Mode, and metal was already growing on me (classic albums of Metallica for example)… I started to listen to some prog/symphonic metal… and then I discovered those songs and albums, I was amazed! A music combining what I loved! From this point, I quickly extended my musical world to gothic & doom metal!
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
During the last two weeks I listened to the following albums: Cemetery Skyline’s »Nordic Gothic«, Dark Tranquillity’s »Endtime Signals«, Katatonia’s »Sky Void Of Stars«, Esoteric’s »The Maniacal Vale«, Shape Of Despair’s »Monotony Fields«, Swallow The Sun’s »Moonflowers«, HOST…
Beside those albums I regularly listen to my “bedside” bands: Paradise Lost, Draconian, My Dying Bride, Amorphis, Dark Tranquillity, Swallow The Sun, Katatonia…
And there is all the ‘non-heavy’ stuff: lots of ambient, electronic, prog and post-rock bands and artists!
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
To follow my path, making music for myself first… this I a way to keep the soul, heart and identity in your work, and it finally touches collaborators and of course listeners!
What are your guilty pleasures?
Perhaps some entertaining SF films like Pacific Rim ? 😉 Even if I totally assume haha.
Can you say something more about current music scene in western France?
I live in Brittany. There is a lively scene around traditional celtic music here. Some really traditional, some cross-overs… for example Denez Prigent, who has notably worked with Lisa Geraard – love his work!
Lots of rock local bands also – Yannick, who is singing in IXION, has different projects!
To attend metal concerts (including international bands) I can go to Nantes and Rennes, 2 hours drive from my home, thanks to Garmonbozia, a booking agency who organizes concerts in France, including Paris, and west France!
What are your plans for the future as a band?
Right now there are 4 albums/EP’s in project ! So luckily I don’t worry about ‘blank page syndrome’ ! We’ll have to choose where to begin…
And about playing live, well, we have spoken about that problematic above, but yet I often think about that.
Do you have any special plans for New Year’s Eve?
Just a cool evening with friends, but not planned yet !
How can people best support your band?
Listening to us, simply, and let know what you think about our albums 🙂
And of course, if you’re interested, you can purchase our physical albums and some goodies: our Bandcamp is the perfect way!
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Thanks for your support and interest! We hope that our music is as an escape, a journey, a soundscape for you!
If you don’t know well IXION or our latest album, and depending on your tastes beside doom, if you’re more into orchestral atmospheric music, or ambient electronic, you can give a try specifically to »Extinction«, »Restriction« or »Regeneration« from our latest album »Evolution«. Of course the album is best grasped as a whole, but we have also conceived each part for itself, with its own musical identity!
Links:
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well