Music: The twilight years
So you think you've got Symposium sussed. A bunch of overgrown skater boys just out of short trousers, masters of the three-minute punk pop soundblast and purveyors of some of the best live performances ever. Nothing more, nothing less, but quite good all the same. Or is there more to Symposium than meets the eye? "We're bringing a different vibe to the audience now, one that we've never done before, because the music's different now, so its a really exciting time," says talkative ladies-man-come-guitarist Hagop of the songs which the band have been preparing for their new album and which were previewed live on their recent UK tour. "Before it was just on one level most of the time, I think, but now the music is a lot more deep." According to bassist Wojtek, one song, Space Between Us, is "almost prog-rock, it's got so many sections. The crowd don't know quite what to make of it." The band have made no secrets of the alleged classical influences within their music, with song titles like Shostakovich, and Wojtek, very much the sensitive member of the band, has even composed a string quartet piece to be played at his brother's wedding in April.
So what's prompted this change of direction? The band have spent the last year and a half touring Britain and took part in the Vans Warped Tour all across America, playing with hardcore punk bands like NOFX. "Playing live like that gives you a different perspective," says Hagop, "and also just touring makes you think differently about things, as well as just growing up." Hopefully, he speaks of finally being able to shake off the Zitpop label which they've been dogged by since they began. Their infamous live performances are still as important as ever, though lead singer Ross admits, "We just started out playing live music together in a room because it was fun. We never really concentrated as much in the studio as we do now, and recording is becoming equally important now."
With this maturity comes a new-found freedom. The band split with their label, Mushroom Records, after its Rupert Murdoch takeover. New single Killing Position is released on their own label, Sympomania Recordings. "I think its probably the hardest thing, and the best thing at the same time, to make your own decisions, because you have to live with your own mistakes, but you still have the liberty of being able to do what you think is right."
"I think that everything we've done hasn't really turned out how we've hoped, but it's sort of served as a trial run, laying the foundations," concludes Ross. "Now with this second album, I think hopefully now we'll take off, and this'll be the real sort of spurt."