Guitarist Michael Amott (ARCH ENEMY, CARCASS) from SPIRITUAL BEGGARS talked to Taka Okuno at Japan's leading metal magazine, Burrn!, recently and offered some insight on the new album, revealing some song titles and the album title! Amott also talked about the split with previous singer ‘J.B’ and finding new singer Apollo Papathanasio. An English translation of the interview below:

Burrn!: Why did JB leave the band?

Amott: "In recent years it has always been quite difficult to gather all members of Spiritual Beggars, due to the members commitments to other groups (Arch Enemy, Carcass, OPETH, GRAND MAGUS, FIREBIRD). Whenever we could found the time, myself and Ludwig (Witt, Drums) would meet and try out my new ideas for Spiritual Beggars songs. I had been planning to make a new Spiritual Beggars album for a couple of years now and JB was always positive about it when we discussed it. But when we finally booked the studio time and became more serious about creating the follow up to Demons (2005) JB had become increasingly concerned with clashing schedules with his own band Grand Magus. Of course we were saddened by JB's decision to leave Spiritual Beggars, but we understand his position. The rest of us felt the new songs deserved to be recorded and heard by our fans, so we agreed that we wanted to make a new record and create the next chapter in the Spiritual Beggars story! So our search for a new singer begun... The rest of the line up remains same since since the Demons record."

Burrn!: Are the Spiritual Beggars camp and JB are getting along with each other? Are you guys still good friends, no fight, no quarrel at all?

Amott: "No, no fighting! We remain on very friendly terms with JB and and I personally count JB as one one my closest friends."

Burrn!: Please introduce your new singer.

Amott: "Our new singer is Apollo Papathanasio. He is local singer from the area that myself and Ludwig live in. I have known Apollo for a few years and we actually worked together briefly before when he recorded some backing vocals on Arch Enemy's Doomsday Machine album in 2005. Apollo is mostly know for his work with the Greek metal band FIREWIND. Our drummer Ludwig Witt has played for many years in bar bands doing covers with Apollo and Ludwig suggested Apollo for Spiritual Beggars."

Burrn!: Tell us about his musical influences/inspirations. Is he a fan of old hard rock music like SABBATH, PURPLE, ZEPPELIN, MOUNTAIN, URIAH HEEP etc etc...?

Amott: "Yes, Apollo's influences are very much rooted in the classic Rock and Metal of the '70's and '80's. He is the same age as the rest of us in Spiritual Beggars so we instantly shared a lot of common ground musically, and he really connected with the songs and delivered emotional vocals that really impressed us all."

Burrn!: Is his voice/tone/singing similar to previous singers?

Amott: "Apollo does share some similarities with our previous singers, a rough and raw style based in blues and hard rock, he also has influences from the classic metal of the eighties. I was always aware of the fact that he is great singer. However, even I was surprised how well his voice fit Spiritual Beggars, in the new and the old songs. Apollo is showing a range and depth on this album that I believe will both surprise and please the Spiritual Beggars fans!"

Burrn!: Please tell me the progress of the new record. I remember you wrote it's almost finished in your column. (Note: Michael Amott writes a monthly column in Burrn! Magazine since 2003)

Amott: "Yes, that's right! After a few months of hard work in the studio, I'm very pleased to say that the recording is completed and the album is currently being mixed by our producer Rickard Bengtsson at his new Sweetspot Studio facilities in the South of Sweden. We are putting the artwork together now and it's looking spectacular!"

Burrn!: If possible, please name song titles, album title. And how does it sound compared to previous Spiritual Beggars records?

Amott: "We are calling the new album Return To Zero, and some of the songs are 'Star Born', 'Lost In Yesterday', 'The Chaos Of Rebirth', 'We Are Free', 'Concrete Horizon' - to name a few! The new album has a lot of the typical Spiritual Beggars trademarks, it's heavy rock with a 70's atmosphere - but I also hear a definite progression and a deeper sense of melody in the songwriting and performances. It's exactly the kind of record I wanted to make with Spiritual Beggars in 2010!"

Burrn!: Do you have a message for the Spiritual Beggars fans in Japan?

Amott: "I'd like to thank our Japanese fans for all the supportive messages and for being so patient in waiting for new Spiritual Beggars music! We are very proud and excited about the new music we have created together and we can't wait for you to hear it and play live in Japan again soon!

The new July 2010 issue of Burrn! magazine is on news-stands now in Japan.