Category Archives: Interviews

Interview – Peter “Peavy” Wagner (Rage)

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Let’s fly higher than the sky in this exclusive interview with Mr. Peter “Peavy” Wagner, the mastermind behind German Power Metal institution Rage, where he talks about his first-ever tour in Canada, the band’s 40 years on the road, their upcoming new album, and more.

Peter “Peavy” Wagner (Rage)

The Headbanging Moose: Thanks a lot for your time, Peavy! My first question will be very straightforward, and I bet it’s exactly what every Rage fan in Canada wants to know. How excited was the band to visit Canada for the first time ever, how was the planning of this mini-tour, and why did the band take so long to come to Canada? Also, why didn’t you play in the US this time?

Peter “Peavy” Wagner: Well, we liked it very much, thanx to the fans for a great time. I don´t know why it took so long to do that, that’s a question for our bookers and the Canadian promoters. Touring the US is very difficult and immensely expensive nowadays, just the working permissions cost a fortune, that makes businesswise not really sense for us…

THM: It’s always a pleasure seeing an amazing band like Rage celebrating 40 years on the road, and of course your setlist during your current festive tour is beyond fantastic. You mentioned during your show in Toronto that you had to choose the setlist from over 100 songs, so what was the process or idea behind the final setlist on this tour?

Peavy: We simply tried to bring material from the different time Eras and from the most popular albums. Of course its hard to satisfy everyone, I just hope we found a good mix…

THM: Since the band’s inception in 1984, Rage have got used to playing in giant European festivals like Hellfest and Wacken Open Air, but also in smaller venues like Lee’s Palace in Toronto. How does it feel to play in small venues as compared to festivals? What are the things you love the most about those more intimate places?

Peavy: The most important thing about gigs is the exchange of that amazing energy, no matter what situation you play. It felt great to have such enthusiastic fans, they gave us a fantastic time!

Rage @ Lee’s Palace

THM: You also mentioned during the show in Toronto you’ve known your amazing drummer Vassilios “Lucky” Maniatopoulos since he was a little kid. Could you tell us more about that friendship, and how he finally ended up becoming the drummer for Rage?

Peavy: Lucky was 15 when he started to take drum lessons with Rage’s drummer Chris Efthimiadis in 1988, later he became his drum technician, he toured with us through the world for some years, we always kept our friendship alive. When I needed help to rebuild the band in 2015 I asked him, firstly for management support, later also to be the band’s drummer.

THM: I honestly can’t wait to listen to your upcoming album Afterlifelines, which as far as I know is going to be a double album where the first half is made up of more direct metal songs, while the second half has some orchestrations involved. What details could you tell us about the album, and once it’s released, are you going to replace any songs from your current setlist with new ones like you replaced From the Cradle to the Grave with Under a Black Crown this year?

Peavy: Yes, it´s 21 new titles in about 94 minutes of music, we span a line between heavy stuff to some epic and orchestrated longtrack, finding a climax to the end of the album. Surely we will integrate more new stuff to our future setlists.

Rage Afterlifelines BandCamp

THM: I love the fact that the lyrics to all Rage songs have a deeper meaning, like for example End of All Days and Back in Time. What can we expect in the lyrics from Afterlifelines? Are you going to talk about any specific topics in the album, will there be a concept behind any of the parts of the album, or is it going to be a more straightforward Rage release this time?

Peavy: There’s a red line going through all the songs. On our last release “Resurrection Day” I told the story of mankind’s cultural evolution from stone age to now, causing several problems we have to face today. On “Afterlifelines” I continue the story as a fictional, dystopic view in the future of the next hundred years. Still I believe that man has the abilities to solve those problems, so it must not come like in that story.

THM: What are your best memories from this short but sweet Canadian tour? Are there any new Canadian bands and artists you just got to know, and what are your top Canadian bands of all time?

Peavy: Yes, we had really good supporting bands this time! Thanx to all. My all time faves from Canada are of course Rush, I love their music since my teenage days. Also there’s of course a lot of other great bands, like for example Annihilator…

THM: You’ve been playing with only one guitarist for quite some time, maybe since Unity was released back in 2002. Why have you decided to “get rid” of a second guitar in the band’s formation, and do you think one day you’ll get back to having four band members with a second guitarist added to the band?

Peavy: Actually Stefan Weber is not really out of the band. Due to some serious personal problems he is taking a break from working with us for some time. The door is open for him to join in again, as soon as he’s ready…

THM: What does the future hold for Rage? I mean, you have a killer new album out soon, you’ve been kicking ass on stages worldwide for the past 40 years and so on, but what’s next for the band after reaching such an important milestone in your career?

Peavy: Besides of continuous touring an Festival Appearances this year we will release a band biography, that´s planned for October this year.

Rage

THM: Let’s play a fun game before the end of the interview called “The Time Capsule”. Please list 10 songs from 10 different bands or artists to be saved in a time capsule for all future generations, and let us know why you selected those.

Peavy: 1. Toccata and Fugue in D minor/J.S.Bach, 2. Free Will/Rush, 3. I Saw Her Standing There/The Beatles, 4. Ace of Spades/Motörhead, 5. Temple of the King/Rainbow, 6. You Really Got Me/The Kinks, 7. Prophet´s Song/Queen, 8. Blue Suede Shoes/Elvis Presley, 9. Ballad of Easy Rider/The Byrds, 10. Speed King/Deep Purple. Because I like those!

THM: Thank you very, very much again for the interview, Peavy! Please feel free to send your final thoughts and considerations to our readers, and of course, your final message to all Canadian fans who attended your concerts in Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City!

Peavy: Thanx to all of the fans for their true support! See you again, Metal forever!

Links
Rage Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | Spotify | BandCamp | Linktree

Interview – Denis (A Dark Reborn)

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Let’s join guitarist Denis from A Dark Reborn somewhere out in space to talk about their new album Last Echo, his passion for heavy music, and much more in this futuristic interview to The Headbanging Moose.

Denis (A Dark Reborn)

The Headbanging Moose: Hello from Canada! How are you doing? Thanks for your time for this interview. Let’s start with an intro to the band for the ones who know nothing about A Dark Reborn, how about that? Could you please let us know more about the band, when you started, and any other details worth mentioning?

Denis: Hello, nice to meet you! I’m Denis, rhythm guitar of the band. First of all, thank you for your interest and desire to get to know us, it is a pleasure that you want to get to know us from so far away!! So I’ll tell you a little about us. The band began to weave Lur around 2019, perhaps a little before, preparing things at home, while looking for people to accompany them in this madness. First Ivan (the bassist) appeared, shortly after Thomas (lead guitar) came in and later I, Denis came in as rhythm guitar along with the first drummer. However, there have been a couple of drummer changes, until today’s definitive lineup, with Saül becoming part of this family. We are a band with a good mix of influences that range from the most extreme metal, prog, hardcore,… through the classics and I could even say that some connotations of pop, blues,…

THM: Now let’s talk about your brand new album Last Echo and the concept behind it. You mentioned that the album is “about a space trip to a new life”. Can you tell us more about that? And what are the main differences from your 2022 album The Light?

Denis: Well, I’ll start with the differences between My Light and Last Echo. Mainly, the first album was a download of ideas, sensations, thoughts, influences… we reached a very beautiful symbiosis as a band and we were able to mix everything in a way that worked very well, in our opinion. The Last Echo album, as you say, is a journey escaping an apocalypse or whatever you want to call it. We are the last habitants of the earth, and we go out in search of a new home, and this album explains a little how we feel about each other, internal, personal conflicts, between us, while we arrive at the destination… or not, hahahaha

THM: You also had a few words about the futuristic artwork by renowned artist Gustavo Sazes, saying that “it reflects that new world to discover, decadent, desolate and dark, but still harbors hope.” How easy was it to work with such great artist, and how long did it take for you to reach the final artwork?

Denis: Well, the truth is that it was relatively easy to reach the final work. By making this album in a block of three parts and each of them with a different cover, it was easy to evolve each part until reaching the last one. We also knew that Sazes likes this type of theme, so it was quite easy to share ideas and understand each other.

THM: What were the biggest challenges faced by the band during the recordings of Last Echo? Is there anything that is not exactly like you planned in the final version of the album?

Denis: To tell the truth, the biggest challenge in recording this album was the time we had. We all know that record labels give you release dates and things like that, and perhaps that was the biggest challenge. It should be said that every time we go to the studio with Raúl Abellán, he always gives us a little twist to always look for a little more of ourselves and help us evolve both as musicians and as people. But yes, the biggest handicap was combining time together with wanting to make a concept album of this type. If I’m honest, I think we wouldn’t change anything on the album, since if we changed something, it wouldn’t be the same, no matter how little difference there was, it would be something else, and the truth is we are very proud of how it turned out.

Album Review – A Dark Reborn / Last Echo (2023)

THM: What would be favorite songs from Last Echo? You can’t say you love them all because I already know that, but if you had to choose maybe two or three songs that truly represent the band in the album, which ones would you pick?

Denis: Hahaha good question! Well, look, one of them is definitely Last Echo, for me it is a song that I listen to today in my headphones, in the car… and I can’t quite believe that we are the ones who played that song, it seems like any other song to me, another international band or I don’t know, hahahaha. Another one that I really like to play live is The Flight, I think it has a lot of strength, and it retains that part with evolved prog atmospheres from the first album and to finish with a third I would say Delirium, it has that tapping part that takes me to I don’t know where, for my rhythmic music it’s really fun to play.

THM: I saw that you just played in the beginning of November on the first edition of Bloody Fest in Spain, and that you have another bunch of live concerts scheduled between January and May all over Spain. How excited are you for those shows, and can we expect to see A Dark Reborn playing outside of Spain, maybe for example at some European festivals during the summer next year (or even here in Canada)?

Denis: Indeed, the first presentation concert of Last Echo was at Bloody Fest, and the truth is that it was very fun, and the response from the people who came to see us was spectacular. Well, we are eager to get back into the van and put in the miles. We really want to present the new album to the world and our show. We have dates until the month of May, but we are waiting to see if we close any more, to see if there are any festivals, and we really want to cross the border to Europe, and be able to get to Canada… oh my god!! That would be wonderful, I hope!! Although we know from listening to Spotify, for example, that we are being listened to a lot in the USA, so who knows.

THM: How’s the underground scene in Spain right now in your opinion? I mean, I’m always reviewing new albums by several amazing Spanish bands from Black and Death Metal to Metalcore and Hard Rock, but as you’re living and breathing the scene you might have some special comments about it. Also, apart from A Dark Reborn, which other Spanish bands should we keep an eye on?

Denis: Well, I will tell you that Spain is still a Latin country, which is why the underground scene, whether metal or hiphop or things like that, is difficult to stand out. You have to play the key very well, and be in the right place, with the right people and at the right time. That doesn’t mean that there are BRUTAL bands, with a lot of talent at the starting gate waiting for their turn, really! I could suggest to you friend bands such as Ankor, Violblast, Erio, We Exist Even Dead… and I left many out. I’m telling you, there is an impressive level of underground bands in this country!

THM: There’s this game I like to play sometimes with the bands interviewed here called “The Time Capsule”, where I ask the bands to list 10 songs from 10 different bands or artists to be saved in a time capsule for all future generations. Would you like to play that? And please, tell us the reason for selecting each song, of course.

Denis: Hahaha very good, let’s get to it then. You make it difficult but we are going to propose some!

1. Heaven Shall Burn – Endzeit
2. Mastodon – More Than I Could Chew
3. Get The Shot – Ultimate Warfare
4. Upon A Burning Body – The Island Of Lost Dreams
5. Jinjer – I Speak Astronomy
6. Amorphis – Brother And Sister
7. Soziedad Alkoholika – Tiempos Oscuros
8. Memento Mori Hardcore – Lleida Hardcore
9. Septicflesh – The Collector
10. Orbit Culture – North Star Of Nija

Well look, for future generations, we are going to wait for the future, hahahaha. At least me, I am a person who is guided a lot by sensations and moods, and that is what my playlists are based on. I don’t usually listen to individual songs. I prefer to listen to a band’s entire album. It seems to me that they have that way. meaning all the songs. Therefore, let’s wait until next year if you feel like it and look at this question again and talk about it, what do you think?

A Dark Reborn

THM: You have an amazing new album, a very exciting tour coming in 2024, you’re always working hard on your videos, and so on. Having said that, what’s next for A Dark Reborn? What else can we expect from the band in the coming months and years?

Denis: Thanks a lot for your comment on the album!!!! You can expect a lot of work and dedication from the band, we want to take great care of that, to always be able to transmit and get as close as possible to the person listening to us. We want to make it easy to reach each one of you. We hope to go as far as possible; we want to take on the world, we really want to go out and share with you everything we have. And above all you can expect effort and a lot of passion, which is a fundamental piece of this band, the passion for what we do. Well, we are fulfilling our dreams, what else could I say?

THM: Thanks again for your time! Feel free to send a final message to our readers, where to buy your music, and anything else you would like to say here!

Denis: Well, first of all, I would like to thank you again for wanting to meet us from so far away, for us it is an honor. I hope I can get to that side of the world soon and be able to say hello and share some beers!!!! For those who want to listen, know that we are on all digital reproduction platforms, be it Spotify, YouTube… and if you would like to support us with some merchandising, we have an online store on the Art Gates Records label, or if you prefer, you can write to us a DM on Instagram, Facebook, and we will be happy to chat with all of you and help you with everything you need! I repeat, thank you very much for the attention and the opportunity!!

Links
A Dark Reborn Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify | Linktree

Interview – Moloch (ZØRORMR)

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Enter the Stygian realm of Moloch and his ZØRORMR in this exclusive interview where we talk about his latest offer The Monolith and a lot more.

Moloch (ZØRORMR)

The Headbanging Moose: Thanks a lot for taking time to answer some of our questions, Moloch. Could you please start by introducing yourself and ZØRORMR to our readers?

Moloch: As Fernando Pessoa would put it: “I am nothing. I’ll never be anything. I couldn’t want to be something. Apart from that, I have in me all the dreams in the world.”

THM: I read in another one of your interviews that ZØRORMR means “The Serpent of the South”, a play on the Old Norse words sør (south) and ormr (serpent). How relevant do you think the name ZØRORMR still is compared to when you started the band back in 2010?

M:  That’s a good question. A lot has changed since I started Zorormr around 2010, and I think the “Norwegian vibes” are not so much present on the new record. Zorormr has outgrown its initial influences and is an abomination in its own right. I would have thought of a different name for the project now, but I don’t know if it would make a difference to the music.

THM: Now let’s talk about your awesome new album The Monolith. What are the main differences you see in your new album versus your previous releases, and do you think the album is exactly how you were expecting it to be, or is there something that still bothers you in it? I personally think the sound in it is a step forward from The Aftermath.

M: I think that “The Monolith” sounds the way it should. It’s a different album than “Corpus Hermeticum“. It has more darkness in it, and the sound design reflects that. Arek Jablonski (the sound engineer) has done a terrific job on the record. His mixing corresponds with my older recording and “Corpus…” so the result is very aggressive but still has all the qualities of contemporary production. Everything is in place, and in a way, it’s like a monolith.

THM: Although ZØRORMR is considered a one-man project, you’ve been working with guest or session musicians since your 2010 debut album Kval, more specifically with guitarist Quazarre and drummer Icanraz. What’s your relationship or connection with those two musicians, and why have you selected them to be a regular part of ZØRORMR?

M: We’ve known each other for twenty years. We’ve collaborated artistically on so many levels that it’s hard to mention here all our ventures. We’re also good friends. Quazarre has been helping me out with every Zorormr record. He is a skilled guitarist and vocalist. You could say that he helped me become a better artist myself. As for Icanraz, he’s an excellent drummer whose style fits perfectly into what you can hear in Zorormr. So far, every time we’ve worked together, we had something special going on. They’re both “regular members” of Zorormr, even if they don’t admit it. (laugh)

Album Review – ZØRORMR / The Monolith (2023)

THM: How were the recordings of The Monolith? Did everything occur as planned, or did you have to change the way you were doing things due to an unforeseen situation?

M: Frankly, it was a long and painful process. I had the music written back in 2016. I started recording in 2017 and finished it at the end of 2021. Meanwhile, I had many “tough times” along the way, so I couldn’t focus on recording “The Monolith”. I thought about ending Zororormr, and not only that… But I fought for myself. I started making darksynth, performing live, and slowly wanting to return to the latest Zorormr album. I owed that to myself, my friends, and those few fans that follow my musical journey. I’m glad I went through with it because the end result is something I can be proud of. Maybe one of the most important records of my life…

THM: Now that The Monolith has already seen the light of day, what’s next for ZØRORMR? Are you going to take the music from The Monolith to the stages anywhere, or will the focus be on creating more music in the coming months or years?

M: After “Corpus Hermeticum” I was ready to hit the road. I even looked for musicians to accompany me. But I couldn’t find the right people whose commitment to the band would allow us to perform Zorormr’s music. In 2016 I was on a downward spiral, and I stopped looking for musicians for Zorormr. Two years later, I was already performing with my darksynth project. I could have used some hired musicians, but it didn’t feel right. Nowadays, I’m focusing on different things. But I think that “The Monolith” is not the last thing you’ve heard from Zorormr…

THM: Who are your biggest idols and influences in music and in life in general? Although the music by ZØRORMR is Black Metal, do you draw inspiration from any non-metal artists to compose your music?

M: This a tricky question to answer since, in postmodernity, the influences create an endless whirlpool from which we can choose. It would be easier to answer this question when I was younger. Nowadays, I think it’s better to leave it to the listener to try and find the sources of inspiration for Zorormr. If you listen carefully, you will find some of them. And there are some hints in the lyrics too!

Album Review – ZØRORMR / The Aftermath EP (2016)

THM: I’m a huge fan of the Polish underground. There are so many amazing bands there from different styles including Sarmat, Hellfuck, Hyl, Chimera, Chainsword and Odraza, just to name a few, but all amazing. Are you proud of the current metal scene in Poland, or do you think it could be even better?

M: I wouldn’t consider myself an expert on the scene. Nor do I find pleasure in reviewing other bands’ work. But objectively, Polish extreme metal bands have a lot to offer, and I’m glad that we have so many great bands around here.

THM: Do you have any hobbies you would like to share with us, like collecting anything specific, playing a sport, anything that’s outside of music but that helps you relax and focus on your work as a musician?

M: There is never enough time to do what I want to do. I try to focus on making music as my main activity. But I do read, for example, Bukowski or Ellis, or some fantasy novels. I have a passion for B-movies. I bought a bunch of VHS tapes recently, so I suppose I’m starting to collect these. I’m an escapist. So whatever allows me to escape from the problems of this dreadful world is good enough for me. Sometimes it’s just a hike in the mountains or sitting by the seaside. Watching Star Trek TNG is also a comforting experience… I also like going to the forest. It always makes my demons go away (laugh).

THM: Once again, thank you very much for your time! Please feel free to send your final message to our readers, and any other comments you would like to make!

M: Thanks for having me! Stay heavy my friends!

Links
ZØRORMR Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify | BandCamp

Interview – Konstantin Shepes (Lifetaker)

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Lifetaker

***Interview by Luke Hayhurst, writer for Morbid Wings (Print) Zine, VM Underground Fanzine and Doom-Metal.com***

Luke Hayhurst: Greetings Konstantin and to all of Lifetaker. How is life right now in Germany?

Konstantin Shepes (Lifetaker): Hey Luke, thanks for having us! Since we can not speak for every soul living in this country. Indeed; to us life seems quite bearable at the moment because we are stoked about our new record that came out on Friday!

LH: I won’t lie, until you messaged me about your new album I had not heard of Lifetaker. With that in mind, can you tell me about the genesis of the band? How you came into existence, and how you came to choose the provocative name, Lifetaker?

KS: Lifetaker was formed back in 2018, and we’ve known each other for years. However, we played in different bands up until this point. So, forming Lifetaker became a lucky twist of fate in a way. The band turned out to subjectively fulfill every aspect of being in a band that each member was missing at some point in the past. So, the genesis of Lifetaker lies in the fact that four dudes who share the same vision on art and musical direction happened by mere accident.

You are right! The name itself may appear kind of provocative but so does the music!

LH: You are about to unleash an absolute colossal panzer attack of a second album entitled ‘Der Letzte Raum’ which translates into English as The Last Room. What can you tell me about the concept behind the album name?

KS: We went with “Der letzte Raum” because we thought it’s a decent allegory for the word “crypt” and at the same time the title is not over-explaining things to the listener. On the other hand, it made sense to choose a German title since the songs are performed in German. This is an idea we finally decided to do on this record because it allows us to put lyrics to songs that the songs deserve. Overall, the record is not meant to follow a specific concept. Every song stands on its own.

LH: I’m intrigued by the artwork for the new album. Who designed the piece and what instructions did you give them? How happy are you with the final piece?

KS: The artwork for “Der letzte Raum” is an actual painting by the Russian artist Veronika Polonskaya. We loved it at first sight and worked things out so no instructions were needed.

LH: I mentioned in my review that I’m not massively well versed in the style you play. You combine the very best elements of Grind, Sludge and Hardcore. Which bands would you say are direct influences to the Lifetaker sound?

KS: To be honest, and by saying this I am really honest… We are not influenced by any band out there. We love music to the fullest, of course we do, and we listen to a lot of stuff out there for sure. But, over the years we figured out that being influenced by other artists leads to nothing but the past. We record all the time and besides the records we have already put out, there is an uncountable amount of b-sides on our hard drives that never made it on a record. What drives us is vaguely motivated by music. It is more likely that we let things happen naturally based on our experiences as artists, as musicians, as human beings…true to the motto: If it feels right, it is right. By saying this, I mean that there is not a lot of overthinking going on and we do not plan everything down to the last detail. When you think of a Lifetaker record, and everything that lies beyond, you can think of a car crash. Things happen when you do not expect them to happen!

LH: I saw on your social media that you describe yourself as an anti-fascist band. Do you consider yourself a politically influenced band and how does that channel into your work?

KS: To our understanding anti-facism, or identifying as an anti-facist band, means that you are embracing the future with a healthy mindset and respect for your environment. And the people you are surrounded by, no matter who they are and where they come from. Lifetaker is not meant to be a political band because we prefer the subject of art over the subject of politics. In my opinion, there is no such thing as political art. It is always art, or politics, never both. The moment you try to inject your political taste into art, you are a politician and not an artist. This is what propaganda means. As a band, we really don’t feel like betraying the potential of art because of propaganda that is based on nothing but personal taste. Overall, political views are never channeled into our work.

Album Review – Lifetaker / Der letzte Raum (2022)

LH: Have you had any dealing with bands of a fascist nature? How prevalent in Germany would you say National Socialist ideals are within the music scene?

KS: No, we never had to deal with artists or bands of fascist nature and never will. We do not deal with facism, we smash it!

Concerning National Socalist ideologies within the German music scene. I would say there are people who do not make a secret out of it and are proud to carry these ideals. And there are people who flirt with these ideals but would never admit it in public.

In both cases, the only thing we as a band can say is fuck them!

LH: Getting back to your music. You released your debut album ‘Night Intruder’ back in 2020. How do you feel your sound has progressed since your first album going into your second?

KS: The sound has progressed in a way that we have managed to let go and get rid of certain aspects that are not necessary. The overall statement of a song/record is based on how we have pictured it before recording. Compared to our debut, the new record is straight to the core madness! Both in sound and songwriting, you will find a more punk and noise inspired approach to it.

LH: You have released the new opus on a great looking LP through Black Omega Recordings, who also released your first album. How did this collaboration come about? Why did you decide to stay with the same label?

KS: John who runs Black Omega Recordings used to be the vocalist for a band that I am friends with. At the time, Lifetaker was looking for a label when it came to the release of Night Intruder. We asked John if he would be interested in releasing the record. Since John is a really cool guy, who shares the same views and beliefs, plus the fact that he obviously must have enjoyed the record, it came to the collaboration that lasts until today.

The fact that we stay with the same label is based on the principle that we only work with people who share the same vision and who are truly dedicated towards what they do. We like authenticity, that is why we go with Black Omega Recordings and Lower Class Kids Records.

Lifetaker

LH: Do you take much notice of your local music scene? Are there any bands local to you that you feel people should be paying more attention to?

KS: Sure, we always keep an eye open for what is going on right now! We would love to shout out our friends in Isocult. Check them out, they definitely deserve more attention. It is your way to go if you are into cold post/wavy electronic tunes!

LH: What are the upcoming plans for Lifetaker once the album is unleashed? Will you be touring the new album? How hard is touring right now in Germany, what with the current energy crisis?

KS: We have already started working on new material for future releases. Hopefully we’ll be able to properly tour the new album since COVID-19 made it nearly impossible to play live for the past two years. Furthermore, we hope that the energy crisis will not get us in too much trouble. We are constantly working on things so that we can do what we love most, play live! Let’s see what the future holds for us.

LH: That is all I have for you. Thanks again for taking the time to answer my questions. I shall leave the final words for you.

KS: All the best to you and everyone out there! Stay safe!

Links
Lifetaker Facebook | Instagram | Linktree | Spotify | BandCamp | YouTube

Interview – Jaume Antuñano (Eonian)

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It’s time for The Headbanging Moose to chat with guitarist, composer and lyricist Jaume Antuñano about his awesome solo project Eonian and his debut EP The Nomad, among other fun topics.

jaume-antunano-eonian

Jaume Antuñano (Eonian)

The Headbanging Moose: Hi, Jaume! Welcome to The Headbanging Moose, and thanks for joining us for this interview! Can you please begin by introducing yourself to our readers and talk a little about your new project Eonian? How would you label your music?

Jaume Antuñano: Hi Gus! Thank you so much for having me. Eonian is a symphonic black/death metal solo project that I started in early 2020. The pandemic had just hit NYC and we were stuck at home, so I began writing music to keep my mind busy. Originally, this was going to be an instrumental project, but as I started composing and recording, I decided to write lyrics and to incorporate vocals too.

THM: You have just released a fantastic debut EP entitled The Nomad, which I highly recommend for fans of bands like Cradle of Filth and Dimmu Borgir. What’s the main idea or concept behind the album, and how long did it take for you to finalize the entire process until the release of the album?

JA: The Nomad is a concept EP. All five songs tell the story of this mysterious, once powerful character who is condemned by the gods to wander for eternity after falling from grace. Trying to tie all the songs together both musically and through the lyrics made it a little harder, but overall it was a pretty quick process. It took about ten months for the EP to be completed.

THM: I personally enjoyed all five songs from the EP, especially Winter Wanderer and Cleansing Fire. What about you? What’s your favorite song of the EP and why? And you can’t say all five, of course! 😉

JA: This is like choosing between mom and dad! But okay, I’ll go ahead and say Cleansing Fire too.

THM: The main band that plays with you in The Nomad is formed by French vocalist DM, Italian bassist Francesco Loconte, Swedish drummer Freddy Ortscheid and Argentinian musician Diego Soldi. How difficult was it to put together such distinct international project, and how did you get to know each one of your band members?

JA: They all did such an amazing job and I’m so glad I got in touch with them. I can compose parts for different instruments, but I can only play the guitar, so I went on Fiverr and contacted these great musicians to record everything else. After I wrote the songs, I sent them a first demo and midi files, and we went from there. This was entirely done via the Internet and we actually never met in person, but despite all that, this was a very easy process and they knocked it out of the park.

THM: There are also seven other guest musicians on the album, as for example Russian violinist Margarita Chernova and Ukrainian pianist Polina Chornaya. Why did you decide to have so many guests on the album, how did you recruit each one of them, and how happy are you with the final result?

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Album Review – Eonian / The Nomad EP (2021)

JA: The reason behind having all these guest musicians is because I wanted to include musicians from different backgrounds. Some of them are used to playing metal, but some others are not, and I think that added some depth to my original ideas. Each one of them brought something to the table that I wouldn’t have been able to come up with myself, and I’m absolutely stoked with the results.

THM: What’s next for Eonian? Can we expect a full-length album from you in the near future? And as you’re basically a virtual band (at least for now), do you have any plans for a tour either with the same musicians featured on the album or with new local ones from the New York area?

JA:   I already have some ideas for new songs, but it is too early to know if the next release will be an EP or a full-length album. As for a future tour, I would really like it if Eonian became a band, so NYC folks, hit me up if you are interested.

THM: How has this never-ending pandemic impacted your work as a musician? And do you see a light at the end of the tunnel for metal bands now that the vaccination is picking up almost everywhere and concerts and festivals are starting to be scheduled again?

JA: Like many other musicians, new and consolidated, being stuck at home for so long really pushed me to start writing new stuff. Luckily, it looks like things are improving rapidly and that many bands are going to be presenting their new material live soon. I can’t wait and I already marked down a few concerts I don’t want to miss, including your fellow Canadians Unleash the Archers at Le Poisson Rouge here in NYC.

THM: When and why did you decide to move from Spain to the United States? Did it have anything to do with your career as a musician, or was it due to a completely different reason?

JA: I moved to the U.S. in 2011 to complete a Master’s degree in Literature. My plan was to stay for two years and go back to Spain, but I met my now-wife and… never left.

eonian-logoTHM: How different is the metal scene in your home country Spain compared to where you are now in The United States? Any local underground bands from both countries you would recommend to our readers?

JA: There is so many different styles and so much talent out there that I find it difficult to come up with major differences between the current metal scenes of Spain and the U.S. Maybe ten, fifteen years ago the difference was more defined, as European metalheads in general were very into the wave of Power Metal bands and also the Gothenburg sound was huge over there. The elitists will probably correct me, but I think that today there is quite an overlap regarding the genres that metalheads from both countries listen to. As for your second question, I’ll start by giving a shout-out to a couple of bands from my hometown of Valencia: In Mute (Melodic Death Metal) and Retribution (Symphonic Black/Death). And as for New York bands, I’m going to go with Valcata, which is another Internet-produced project that features many different musicians and vocalists from all over the world. Check them out!

THM: Thanks again for your time, and congratulations for your amazing debut EP! Please feel free to send your final message and considerations to our readers, and keep up with the excellent work with Eonian!

JA: Thank you for the interview and for your positive review of The Nomad! I would also like to thank all of the session musicians that recorded in this EP, and Fernán Nebiros, from Peruvian death metal legends Mortem, who was involved in the early stages of this project and whose valuable input helped me immensely. And to the readers, I encourage you to follow Eonian on Instagram and Facebook and to let me know what you think of the EP!

Links
Eonian Facebook | Instagram | Linktree | Spotify | BandCamp | DistroKid

Interview – Alex Mancini (Unknown Refuge)

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Do you know what it is to grow up in the digital age of expression? Let’s have a chat with Alex Mancini, the talented vocalist and bassist for UK rockers Unknown Refuge, where he talks about that, the band’s debut album From The Darkness, and a lot more.

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Alex Mancini (Unknown Refuge)

The Headbanging Moose: Thank you for your time in chatting with us today! Could you please introduce yourselves to our readers and talk a little about the idea behind Unknown Refuge?

Alex Mancini: Hi I’m Alex, I’m the lead singer from Unknown refuge, we originally formed in 2016. The idea Unknown Refuge really came from us needing a band name for our first gig, we looked around where we were rehearsing and I saw a sign that said refuge point which made me wonder where mine was and that’s where the idea Unknown Refuge came from.

THM: You guys have just released your debut album From The Darkness. How difficult was it for the band to record it, and what inspired each band member to write the songs from the album?

AM:   It wasn’t too difficult for the band to record it, it was just difficult in terms of organizing a time where we were all available to pit aside a few weeks. The songs primarily stem from things I come across in my own life and I reflect these themes through use of ideas such as mythology, wars and some of my own personal experiences.

THM: I had a very good time enjoying each and every track from the album, but of course everyone has a favorite song and in my case it’s I’m Not A Bad Guy. I just love the pace, the punch and the lyrics from this specific song. What about you guys? Which song or songs from the album are your favorite ones and why?

Alex: My favourite is Journey because it depicts a lot of my life and I really enjoy playing it.

Morgan Deveney (drums): I’d say Battle Hymn  is my favorite I just love the energy behind the riff and the drums.

Jack Tracey (lead guitar): I really like playing Palace Walls, I quite like the breakdown and think it gives it a really good feel.

Harry Skinner (rhythm guitar): I’d say my favorite is To The Light,  I just really enjoy that opening riff.

THM: Who are your main idols in music and in life in general, and how much do they influence the band’s style and lyrical content?

AM:   I’d say we take a lot of influence from old metal bands such as Metallica, Iron Maiden, Slash and we try and incorporate that with new ideas to form what we believe is a new style of Hard Rock/Metal.

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Album Review – Unknown Refuge / From The Darkness (2021)

THM: You might be tired already of answering questions about the effect of COVID-19 to the music scene worldwide, with of course a huge negative impact on the shows and events industry. How has this pandemic been to you guys? As you’re a fairly new band, do you think you’re suffering more or less than established bands out there?

AM: We’ve definitely been suffering less than bands that completely rely on that income. Fortunately we have jobs on the side as this isn’t our full time career; however it has presented its own struggles with trying to produce new music and get people interested whilst no gigs are available.

THM: When Unknown Refuge was formed back in 2016, you were still teenagers in your 15’s. How have you guys managed the balance between Unknown Refuge and your studies since the band’s inception? Apart from touring, of course, what else in your student’s life is let’s say hampering your work with the band?

AM: Music is something that we all love deeply and I believe that no matter what we’re doing outside of that we’ll always try and make the time to progress our musical careers as much as we can.

THM: All band members are really young and were pretty much born already in the digital era. However, I would like to know your opinion on illegal downloads, on streaming services such as Spotify versus buying the physical copy of an album, and so on. And taking all that into account, how do you envision the future of the music industry in the coming years?

AM: That’s a tough one, I personally love physical copies of music, I do not agree with illegal streaming or downloading and I think places such as Spotify and streaming services like that are slowly killing the music industry. I know that that’s how people consume content nowadays, I can’t see that changing, but for me personally I think physical copies will always hold a place in my heart as that’s what I was around whilst growing up with rocker parents.

THM: Let’s have some fun now and talk about what could be considered a “dream tour” for Unknown Refuge. If you could choose 2 or 3 bands to tour with for one year, who would those be and why?

AM: I’d say Alter Bridge, Volbeat and Iron Maiden would be absolutely amazing. We are all huge fans of these and to play with bands that we admire so much would be a dream come true.

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Unknown Refuge

THM: What’s next for Unknown Refuge? Now that you have already released your first album, which is the most important milestone for any band, what else do you have planned for the band in the short and long term?

AM: As soon as we are able we are going to get out and gig as much as possible, beyond that hopefully we will have new material written and be looking at recording a second album soon.

THM: Once again, thanks a lot for your time and for letting us know a little more about Unknown Refuge! Keep on rockin’, and please feel free to send any final messages you want to our readers.

AM: Thank you for having us, I’d just like to say thank you to everyone who has supported us so far, and if you haven’t then please checkout our website and Facebook for updates as to what we have coming up!

Links
Unknown Refuge Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify | BandCamp | Big Cartel

Interview – Tommaso “Tommy” Monticelli (Genus Ordinis Dei)

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Join us in this awesome interview with Genus Ordinis Dei guitarist and producer Tommaso “Tommy” Monticelli where he discusses about the band’s new opus Glare of Deliverance, the series of videos from the album, and what’s next for those talented Italian metallers.

Tommaso “Tommy” Monticelli (Genus Ordinis Dei)

The Headbanging Moose: Thanks for taking the time to talk to us about the music by Genus Ordinis Dei. Can you please start by introducing yourself to our readers? Who are the guys from Genus Ordinis Dei, and what are your goals with the band?

Tommy: Hi, I’m Tommy and I’m the guitarist and producer of Genus Ordinis Dei. We’re 4 metalheads: Me, Nick (Guitars and Vocals), Steven (Bass) and Richard (Drums). The band was formed in 2008 in Crema, our hometown. We were just a bunch of long-time friends who shared the passion for metal music and we decided to start to play together. We were 20 years old and none of us ever played in a real band before Genus Ordinis Dei (and I personally still never played in other bands). Richard came later in 2012 after changing two other drummers. Our goal is simple: become the most important Italian metal band ever.

THM: Now let’s begin talking about your 2020 album Glare of Deliverance. It’s known that the album tells the story of a young woman named Eleanor, who is persecuted by the Holy Inquisition, bringing the concept art of American author Tom Roberts to life. Can you explain in more detail this concept behind the album? How did you guys come up with such distinct theme?

Tommy: The idea of the story was born years ago too, actually, I still remember us writing down on a notebook the plot of the chapters while hanging out in a pub in our hometown. Then, almost two years ago, we thought it was good enough and we decided it was time to try to make it real. Glare Of Deliverance tells the story of Eleanor in 10 episodes with 10 videos and 10 songs, describing all the steps that bring Eleanor in the grasp of the Holy Inquisition. More in detail, the Hunters of the Holy Inquisition chase after her interrupting a mysterious ritual. The ritual involves a powerful item, a black stone that she calls “The Heart Of Stone”. The stone goes lost during the chase and she is captured and brought to the citadel where the Inquisitor awaits. She’s examined, tortured and finally judged guilty of witchcraft by the Bishop who gives her the possibility to abjure and be forgiven. But the night before the abjuration, a mysterious entity, The Fallen, appears in her dreams and foresees her fate. The story will continue in the next episode 🙂

THM: Also, each one of the ten songs from the album are combined in sequence like a short film or television series to tell that story. How difficult was it to put together those ten songs in the correct order without having any major breaks or interruptions to the flow of the storyline?

Tommy: It’s been tough! We had to deal with the construction of the video series of this story, a totally new thing for us (and also for the fans) that led us to face a lot of difficulties and uncertainty moments, especially in the middle of this pandemic. We enjoyed it and we’re so proud of the final result, both visually and musically speaking. It took a lot of time, considering that we had to create a crowdfunding campaign that fortunately went well. We wanted to create something that mixes a concept album with a tv series, and I think we did pretty well.

THM: Can you tell us how hard was it to produce the album yourself instead of hiring an external person or company to do it? What are some things you wish you could have done in a different way?

Tommy: After all I have to say that it’s been easier than ever. Having the complete control of any single detail at any step of the production is much better than telling someone else what to do and hoping to share the same vision. Obviously you need the right amount of experience and skill to do it yourself and achieve a professional result. We can’t be happier than this!

THM: How has been the whole experience of shooting a special video for each one of the songs from Glare of Deliverance? How are you guys managing all production, costume designing, extras and so on? And which member of the band has the strongest film-making vein, taking the lead in this bold endeavor?

Tommy: Nick is definitely the video guy of the band. Even if we shot a lot of videos during these years, this was a totally new experience for us. We spent months planning the production of audio and video before shooting the first episode. Creating the storyboards, hiring pro artists to draw the concept and create the costumes and the masks, finding the main actress, finding the locations, hiring the videomaker and planning all the logistics and budget took almost a year, considering that we funded everything with a crowdfunding campaign. We were almost beginners about this and finishing this crazy puzzle on our own makes us extremely proud.

Album Review – Genus Ordinis Dei / Glare of Deliverance (2020)

THM: I want to personally ask about the closing song, the 16-minute aria Fire. How special is that song for you and the rest of the band, I mean, did you feel something different while writing and recording this specific song compared to the others, and can we expect to see you guys playing it live one day?

Tommy: If we’ll have enough time on the setlist we’re gonna play the whole album live. In particular Fire is a special song because the first 9 minutes contain all the main riffs and melodies of the previous 9 songs (revisited, rearranged), a sort of moment of reflection of the journey that took to the final act. It also explodes in a choral epic hook that we personally love. We had a great time recording the choir (in another studio, a bigger one :)), another new experience for us. We feel we’ve grown so much after making this album.

THM: As you guys are based in Italy, one of the countries that have suffered the most with COVID-19, how has this never-ending pandemic been impacting your work with Genus Ordinis Dei and your life in general? How are the other bands from your local scene surviving these years with no live concerts?

Tommy: We always wanted to stay positive and keep developing this idea despite all this crazy situation. Also, we knew that people still need music and entertainment, even if the whole damn world is turning upside down. We decided from the beginning that we’d have never stopped working and that Glare Of Deliverance would be released, a way or another. Every band is trying to do their best to keep creating new content but I understand that it’s a tough challenge.

THM: Can you tell us a little about your biggest idols in music, arts and life in general? And how has their music influenced you and the band in the writing process of Glare of Deliverance?

Tommy: Then there’s a lot of bands that inspired me through this journey but I can’t forget how it started: Blind Guardian, Kamelot, Manowar and Iron Maiden are my all-time favourite guys and they’ll ever be. In this exact moment, the most impressive band to me is Gojira, from the songs to the image to the performances: top band right now. They’re so inspiring. In general I love concept albums and artists that try to focus on creating epic and evocative atmospheres.

Genus Ordinis Dei

THM: Do you think the Italian underground scene is stronger than ever, or do you see it decaying somehow? And what are some bands from your region other than Genus Ordinis Dei that you would recommend to our readers?

Tommy: Italy is not famous for metal bands in general. I’m not into the underground scene so much but for what I’ve seen in the last years, it’s not so interesting. Excluding big bands like Lacuna Coil and Fleshgod Apocalypse, what I would recommend right now are DGM and Nightland. Check them out.

THM: What does the future hold for Genus Ordinis Dei? Can we expect to see more of your epic and atmospheric music in a not-so-distant future?

Tommy: Now we’re focused on the last video episode releases, Dream on March 22nd and the other 3 in the following months. There’s still so much to do before saying “ok, Glare Of Deliverance is done, let’s pass to next one” but I confess that I’m already collecting new melodies and riffs, and we started writing the next storyboard 🙂 But still, we have tons of new stuff regarding Glare Of Deliverance and a couple of great news to spread. We’re preparing for the next live shows, creating a new show from scratch.

THM: Thank you very much for the interview! Any final considerations or comments you would like to share with our readers?

Tommy: If you want something new, something that no one ever did before, follow the first Metal Music Series: Glare Of Deliverance.

Thank you guys for the interview.

Stay safe and stay metal!

Hail!

Links
Genus Ordinis Dei Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify

Interview – Andreas Nieratschker (Agony Atlas)

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Guitarist Andreas Nieratschker, from Germany-based act Agony Atlas, joins us for an exclusive interview about their new EP Retrogression Part I: Egomania, the metal scene in his homeland, the future of the band (and of the entire world), and more.

Andreas Nieratschker (Agony Atlas)

The Headbanging Moose: Thanks for taking the time to talk to us about the music by Agony Atlas. Can you please start by introducing yourself to our readers? Who Agony Atlas and what are your goals with the band?

Andreas Nieratschker: One could say, we are a four-person sonically chaotic gathering of people that is actually not that chaotic…

Christoph e.g., my companion on the guitar, is particularly good at collecting tattoos and being a caring father. He simply is our savior when it comes to organising whatsoever. Well actually, everyone is, except Liane and myself (laughter). Organisationally, I mean.

Markus plays like Thor’s hammer when he’s out on his drums. You can feel the concentrated power of the gods, although you hardly see it. – Absolutely smooth playing. Above all, he manages everything when it comes to texting and working towards our famosity.

Liane just has a brute voice, which has impressed me since the first rehearsal of our other band, where we used to play together. I just thought “THIS is the voice I want!”

Well, yeah and I am Andreas.

Together we decided to travel back in time to prevent humanity from its own extinction and to enlighten them about the fucked-up conditions the human kind exposes to our planet. At least, this is the short version behind our story.

THM: Your music is being labeled by fans and the media as “Progressive Metalcore”. Do you agree with that classification, and if so, how would you personally describe it? What other genres and styles can the listener expect to hear in your music?

AN: It’s almost always hard to pinpoint the band’s genre. But I think besides many different influences the term “Progressive Metalcore” describes our music best. Although the progressive part is not extremely present yet, but you will hear more of it in the future songs. Speaking in genres: you can find melodic death metal and metalcore, djent, electro, industrial and thrash metal and sometimes even a hint of black metal.

THM: You have just released your debut EP, titled Retrogression Part I: Egomania. Can you please give us more details about it? What’s the story behind the EP, and what can we expect to see in “the next chapter”, assuming this is just the first part of something bigger the band is planning?

AN: Actually, we don’t have a concrete concept for the EP. It is rather based on the general idea we are pursuing with Agony Atlas. The other publications will lead along this common thread and complement our story.

For a while now, environmental movements have been causing enormous discussions in society. The behavior of people towards one another, towards our living space and towards the world in its entirety has become an important and recurring topic. Now is the latest time for a final change to save our whole future. And that’s exactly what we want to tell with our background story: The time travel from the already destroyed future back to the here and now, to save what can be saved. “Retrogression” stands for the development that we want to prevent – from a future perspective, to a certain extent, for a regression. Therefore we chose the title. We are playing our part in not waking up in a dystopian world, like Mad Max, in the near future. So, we will continue our guiding idea and stick to the band concept.

THM: Let’s now talk about each one of the songs from the EP, starting with the opening track Economy Class, which carries a name that couldn’t be more relevant these days. Can you please elaborate a little more on the meaning of the song and why you’ve chosen such important topic as its main theme?

AN: As I said, the environmental issues are very important. In the EP, we address some of the current problems people have in this regard, such as consuming, digitally induced comfort and an egocentric worldview. The concrete events for the song “Economy Class” were the man-made rainforest fires at the beginning of 2019.

THM: What about Egomania, my favorite song of the EP? What was the process to write and compose this song, and what should the listener take from the music and the lyrics while listening to it?

AN: The irrepressible greed of the people has made them look for another “habitable” or, as I’d like to say, “exploitable” planet for years. Earth alone is apparently not enough. Although it is and was more than sufficient for the remaining living beings. However, because of our curiosity, which we take as a given condition of superiority and as unique selling point of the human kind, it seems that we want to take everything – regardless of the losses.

The song should not only serve through unbelievably good acoustic satisfaction, but also stimulate everyone to reflect one’s own behavior and to question society.

Album Review – Agony Atlas / Retrogression Part I: Egomania EP (2020)

THM: Lastly, the closing song in Retrogression Part I: Egomania, Hymn Of Hatred, is undoubtedly the heaviest and most obscure of all three songs. Why did you decide to end the EP with such dark composition?

AN: For us it’s the most forward moving song. It forges a smooth transition to what the listener can expect in the future. “Hymn Of Hatred” is the newest song on the EP and rather reflects our songwriting. Last but not least: the fact is that future doesn’t look bright, if we don’t act now.

THM: How is it to be fronted by such talented woman like Liane Walter, who certainly makes your music appeal to fans of bands like Arch Enemy and Jinjer? How do you see the importance of women in metal music nowadays, and do you see any type of rejection from fans for having a woman as your lead singer?

AN: The question could also be: What is it like to have such a good vocalist? It’s not about gender, but about skills, human interaction, commitment, creativeness and fun.

By now it should rather be normal to see and hear women in the metal genre. There are already a few more bands than Arch Enemy and Jinjer who sing gutturally in the low frequency range. I haven’t heard of any rejections for now. But in any case, I’m a huge fan of her singing, especially while being in the same band.

THM: Changing the topic a bit, what are your main influences in music and arts in general? And how do you incorporate those influences into the music by Agony Atlas?

AN: I can hardly say where all the inspiration comes from. Christoph, for example, takes part in local cultural associations, plays also in his alternative rock band Karabooza and is involved as guitar sub in a carnival rock band. Furthermore, Markus and I are involved in the jazz genre and beyond. And with Liane, I can only guess, but it seems like she started screaming since birth. Over the years of practicing she must be influenced by all kinds of stuff. But who can really tell? Maybe it can be compared with ideas which are formed by words to be explained. I assume, it’s the same with music. The inspiration comes from memories, visions and random synapse formations, which pop up in your mind. And if you listen closely, you can repeat them to write them down.

If you want to know what everybody of us is listening to, just take a look on our Spotify page. There you can find a playlist of each one of us.

Agony Atlas

THM: We all know the Germany metal scene is extremely vibrant with some of the best metal fans in the world, which probably means there’s more room for underground acts like Agony Atlas to play their music to live audiences there, right? Have you been able to start touring around Germany (and any other countries) with Agony Atlas already, or is the pandemic still impacting your touring plans?

AN: Standing in the starting blocks, we slipped straight into the corona pandemic and the light has not yet jumped from red to green. Well, we just recently formed up, therefore we use the unexpected waiting time to prepare ourselves sensibly with concentrated power to play in front of a trembling audience. At least now we will have an encore in petto.

THM: What does the future hold for Agony Atlas? Can we expect to see more of your heavy and melodic music in a not-so-distant future?

AN: Yes, definitely! We are already busy in the process for the next release. Five new songs are ready for recording and more are on the way. Hopefully, we’ll get them on the road in 2021.

THM: Thank you very much for the interview! Any final considerations or comments you would like to share with our readers?

AN: Thank you for the opportunity. Listen to our songs and start to change the world! Everybody has an impact to make a difference.

Links
Agony Atlas Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify

Interview – Angela Di Vincenzo (Secret Rule)

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Are you already tired and bored of staying home during this quarantine? Why not enjoying this exclusive interview with the multi-talented Angela Di Vincenzo, talking about her band Secret Rule and their brand new album Against?

Angela Di Vincenzo (Secret Rule)

The Headbanging Moose: First of all, thanks a lot for having time to chat with us, and let’s start with a very simple question: who are Secret Rule? When did the band start, how do you define the band’s sound, and what are your main goals in the world of heavy music?

Secret Rule: Hi and thank you for this space. Secret Rule is a female-fronted metal band from Italy. We have been active since 2014 and have released 5 albums. Our sound is modern metal with a lot of other influences (electronic, symphonic, etc.). Our goal is to find a space in the metal market, and at the moment we’re really satisfied.

THM: Although the band was formed only a few years ago, in 2014, your excellent new album Against is already the fifth studio album in your career. How do you manage to release such amazing amount of music in such a short period of time, what are the main differences between Against and your previous albums, and how do you see the evolution of your music through the years?

SR: It’s very simple for us. We play around 30/40 gigs per year, and the other 10 months, we are free to work on new material. I think that’s a good lapse of time to produce new songs. In addition, as you know, when you do something with passion nothing is boring or tiresome. About Against, I think it’s a more aggressive album than the other ones, and this is what we wanted. For sure, we don’t consider ourselves a symphonic metal band. It would be very limiting for us and not respectful to those who play that kind of music. No doubt there are some symphonic atmospheres in our music, but at the same time, there are a lot of electronic inserts. So in our future the sound will always have something new, and I have to say you that we like this more aggressive approach.

THM: Some of my favorite songs from the album, those being Rise Again, Digital Revolution and Outsiders, bring a high level of energy while at the same time sounding very melodic. How do you guys manage to reach that great balance in your music? Can you give us more details about your writing and recording process?

SR: Andy and I are the main composers of the band. Personally, I grew up with Italian melodic pop music and I met metal music only around my 20s, so all my catchy melodies come from this melting of styles.

Andy was born with metal music in his veins so the heavy aspects come from him! About the writing process, I record all my vocal ideas on my phone each time I have one, at whatever hour and wherever. Andy does the same on his PC when he has an idea for a riff. When we start on a new album, we actually already have a lot of stuff to analyze and in 2 months we work on it and record the album, more or less!

THM: What inspires Secret Rule to write and record heavy music? Do you avoid repeating the themes covered in each song and album, or is this something that’s “out of control” due to the way you create your music?

SR: We can say it’s “out of control” LOL Actually, we like to experiment with new influences and everything comes naturally. We like heavy music but as you can hear, you also can find electronic, symphonic, pop and rock influences in our music, because we are all these things together. For the variety you can find inside, our albums are like a playlist on Spotify instead of a single album.

Album Review – Secret Rule / Against (2020)

THM: As you guys are from Italy, it’s impossible not to ask you about the current COVID-19 crisis that’s having devastating effects on your beautiful country. How are you guys managing the band amidst all the chaos that’s going on there? Also, I hope all is well with you and your loved ones during such difficult times.

SR: Thank you for your question and interest. Here the situation is a little bit hard. At the moment we have been at home just over three weeks. We can go out only to get food or medicine. We have to have a piece of paper with us with our name and reason we’re out and there are heavy penalties for those who don’t respect the government restrictions. It has been difficult for some people to understand they have to stay at home. Now things seem to be getting better in the North of Italy but we have to still wait to have a clearer picture of the situation. About us, we have had to postpone our tour with Semblant in September and we have had to postpone our tour in the UK as well. Since we can’t go on tour and we can’t meet with each other, Andy and I (we live in the same building) have started to work on some cover songs and new stuff. The first music video was released on the 24th of March and was Gets Me Through by Ozzy Osbourne and the second one on the 2nd of April was The Bitter End by Placebo. We already have other songs in mind. In this way, we keep busy and give our fans something new in this difficult period we all are living. We hope to return to normality very soon!

THM: I’ve been following the whole COVID-19 situation in Italy, and during the past couple of weeks I received some videos of Italians playing and singing metal songs such as Slayer’s “Raining Blood” and Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” on their balconies during this never-ending quarantine. Having said that, how important do you think Heavy Metal and music in general are for everyone in Italy right now?

SR: You have been lucky to see these videos because around my house I only hear people who sing classic Italian music, every day at 6 pm! At the moment here in Italy a lot of newfound musicians and singers are coming out on their balconies every evening hahahaha But this has been fun and it has been a way to give positive vibes in this dark moment. Italian people have great energy and sense of humor.

Unfortunately, this is not the right country for the metal music genre. There are more musicians than fans. But at least they are very good musicians 🙂

THM: How’s the current underground metal scene in Italy in terms of bands, venues and live concerts? And can you tell us about any Italian bands apart from Secret Rule that we should take a listen to?

SR: mmmm…hard question. In Italy there are a lot of metal bands, probably there are more musicians than listeners 😀 ….unfortunately, the scene is not so good. There’s no great cultural movement to listen to new bands. So it’s always very hard to bring people to little shows. Anyway, the few people who follow metal music give a warm welcome and support.

If you wanna listen to THE ITALIAN METAL BAND, you should obviously listen to Lacuna Coil!! Hahahahh LOL

Secret Rule

THM: Who are your biggest idols in music? And who do you dream of sharing the stage with?

SR: Personally, I like a lot of bands and singers but if I had to choose, I would say Lacuna Coil and Within Temptation. Sharing the stage with them would be awesome, a dream. I might cry if I were to meet Cristina and Sharon. I think they have great talent and unique voices. There’s no one like them. First and foremost, I’m a fan of theirs.

THM: As a Symphonic and Alternative Metal band, your whole performance is obviously impacted by your attire, or by the way you look on stage. Who’s responsible for creating all the clothing you guys wear during your promo pictures and on stage during your live concerts?

SR: What you see on us reflects our taste and work.

It’s not simple but for the last album, we made a deal with the fashion brand PUNK RAVE. This has been awesome because they believe in us and we love their style. So it’s been a perfect marriage.

In addition, the mood and the meaning they put in their fashion style fits perfectly with the messages in our latest album “AGAINST”.

THM: Thanks again for your time, and please feel free to send your final message to our readers, to your fans and to anyone else that’s getting in touch with Secret Rule for the first time ever.

SR: Thank you for this opportunity. We invite all readers to get a taste of our music if they haven’t done so before and to trust their perceptions.

You can find our music on the best digital platforms like Amazon, iTunes, Spotify, Google Play and so on. The album is distributed worldwide so you can find it everywhere.

Links
Secret Rule Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music

Interview – Bastiën Baron (Shuulak)

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How about an “alchemical” talk with Mr. Bastiën Baron, one of the founders of Dutch metal act Shuulak, talking about their brand new album Citrinitas and their passion for the occult?

Bastiën Baron (Shuulak)

The Headbanging Moose: Can you please begin by introducing the band to our readers? Who are Shuulak, when was the band formed, and what is your main goal in the world of heavy music?

Bastiën Baron: At heart we’re a heavy metal band, but we’ve given it a modern spin and drenched it in occultism. Our goal is to have a street named after us. Or a small town. Preferably the latter.

THM: Although your 2019 EP Citrinitas might be short in duration, there’s a lot of good stuff in each one of its four tracks. Why did you decide to release such a short album instead of a full-length one, and are you satisfied with the final result of the EP?

BB: Thanks for the compliments! There are many reasons for this. But foremostly, releasing a full-length album is a long and costly process. By keeping our releases short, we’re able to do them more frequently, which I think, people will appreciate. Especially in this day and age. That said, as our audience grows, so does demand for a physical release. We’ll relieve the itch soon.

THM: Can you explain in more details the concept behind Citrinitas and its connection to your previous EP’s Nigredo, released in 2017, and Albedo, from 2018?

BB: The EP’s are connected and are named after the steps towards the alchemist’s Magnum Opus; the goal of which is immortality and ultimate knowledge. It’s an ongoing story we’re not finished telling yet.

THM: What’s the main reason why you guys decided to explore such distinct topic in your albums? And can we expect more of this alchemical side of Shuulak in your future releases, or is it time for the band to venture through different lands and concepts?

BB: Alchemy is an exciting journey into the depths of the soul. There are, however, many more paths to take in the world of mysticism and the occult. So, we definitely won’t stop here.

Album Review – Shuulak / Citrinitas EP (2019)

THM: It’s simply fantastic to see more and more bands all over the world with women in their formation who are not only their lead singers, but also guitarists, bassists and drummers, which is exactly the case with Shuulak. How is it to have two girls on the band, Eve Laetitia and Puck Wildschut, taking care of the guitar and bass duties respectively?

BB: To us it’s quite.. normal. We don’t really think about it, to be honest. Though, Eve is really happy about it. She’s been the only girl for a long time, so it’s refreshing to have Puck around.

THM: How does your creative process work, I mean, do you all work together on the music and the lyrics, or are there any duties that are performed by only one or two of the band members? The process seems to be working well, as the music found in your albums sounds great, but is there anything the band thinks that could be done in a different or better way in the future?

BB: Angelo and Eve write the music, Bastiën handles the lyrics and vocals. Though it’s not set in stone, the process is quite fluid and ever changing. There’s a lot of back and forth. I don’t think there’s a ‘best’ or ‘better’ way to do things. Every song is different, and so is the way we write them. We’re constantly refining.

THM: Who are your biggest influences in music and in life in general, and how much do those influences impact the way Shuulak compose music?

BB: Musically we’re inspired by a great many artists but we don’t copy anyone. We’re all big horror fans and this definitely shines through in our music. Stuff like the books of Clive Barker or Dario Argento’s movies definitely inspire us as well as books on the real life history of the occult and ritual magic.

Shuulak

THM: What’s your opinion about the current metal scene in the Netherlands? Do you think this is a good time for bands like Shuulak to release more and more music and to tour around the country? And apart from the big names like Epica, Within Temptation and Delain, what other Dutch metal or even non-metal bands would you recommend to our readers?

BB: The Netherlands are very small, and so is the metal scene here. It’s very cozy and a good place to be. As for us, we’ve got our eyes set further. We frequently visit our southern neighbors in Belgium, as well as our friends in Germany.

It’s true The Netherlands is known for a blossoming female-fronted scene and you’ll find many wonderful bands here, but I would recommend a German band: Crownfall. We played our very first concert in Germany with them and not only are they amazingly talented musicians, they’re wonderful people too. So check them out!

THM: What does the future hold for Shuulak? And when would fans from other parts of Europe, from Asia and from North and South America be able to witness the band playing live in their countries?

BB: We’re focused on Europe right now, but we’re not dismissing the idea of an intercontinental tour. When demand is high enough, we’ll definitely visit those places.

THM: Thank you very much for your time. Please feel free to send your final considerations, goodbyes and anything else you would like to say to our readers.

BB: We’d like to thank The Headbanging Moose for this interview! To all of you reading this: you’re awesome for making it this far. If you’re curious, check us out on Bandcamp or find us on Spotify. We hope to see you at a show in the near future and are looking forward to finding new friends and disciples.

Links
Shuulak Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify | BandCamp | Apple Music