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C: Thanks!! The response of the media has been more than positive! We received great Reviews from all around the world (see the dedicated section in our Web Site), but I have to say that the best of them came from USA! Also the fans who bought the “Souls Thieves” album sent us lots of E-mails, congratulating for the great job that we have done! We are very glad of all this, it gives us the strength to go on!
Can
you tell us a few
words about the band’s history? C:
We started playing Covers only for fun, the evolution to original song
writing has been gradual and we didn’t decide it from one day to
another. We released our first 5 tracks Demo CD in 1999, but it was
totally homemade and the recording quality wasn’t so good. So, we
decided to record a new one into Professional Studios. So, during December
2000, we released “A descent into the Maelstrom”, a 4 tracks CD that
gave lots of satisfactions during next 1.5 years! In 2002 we recorded
another Demo CD, titled “Souls Thieves”, thanks to this we almost
reached a deal with the German Labels LMP Records and Shark Records, but
at the end, nothing happened. Few months later we’ve been contacted by
the Italian Label “Northwind Records”, signed a contract and released
our Debut Album during October 2003.
What are your influences as a band and what are your personal favourite groups? C:
Well, several bands influenced our song writing. I am an estimator of Angra, Helloween, Dream Theater and Queensryche, but I don’t disdain bands like Police, Supertramp, Jamiroquai and Massive Attack!!!
Why did you name the album “Souls Thieves” and do you believe that such thieves really exist? C:
The Album’s title is tied to the 2nd track name that is Souls
Thief; it talks about a Demon who steels your soul if you look it in the
eyes… The lyrics have been written by our singer Fabio, and I think that
it’s just a story coming from his fantasy!
Now
I would like you to tell me a line or two for each song. C:
Ok…It will take a little…but I can do it! ;-) Track
1 is just an Intro and I already talked about Souls Thief before, so
let’s start from track 3. “Memories”
talks about how the experiences done in life can influence our decisions,
in the good and the bad way. “It”
is a criticism to how computers are taking the place of the real life. “Once
again” is
a song against liars and false people. “Fight
Against The Dragon”
talks about
a knight who has to kill a dragon that every 100 years wakes up and
attacks his village. “Incubus”
is just the description of a psychopathic mind. “The
Voice” is
an old song by Ultravox, re-played and re-arranged by us, but I don’t
really know what is talking about… “Freeze
On The Line”
talks about life of soldiers during their trainings “A
Descent Into The Maelstrom”
comes from an Edgar Allan Poe novel and is about a ship of sailormen that
fall is the middle of an enormous whirlpool.
Which
songs do you consider as the best of the album and why? C:
My favorite songs are “A Descent…” and “Incubus” because they
are a perfect mix between Heavy and Prog Metal. Also lyrics are not bad…
Now I want you to tell me about the collection that Man In Black Records released last year and included your track “Incubus”. Do you think that this helped your career and how? C: Man in Black Music contacted us after that they heard “Incubus” in a French Compilation CD, they asked us to include it in their new project and we agreed. I think that participating to some compilations, always helps the bands to extend their fame, of course it depends on how these compilations are distributed and promoted, at MIB Music they’ve done a great job!!
Which are the group’s plans for the near future and what are you doing this period? C:
At the moment we are playing few live gigs in Italy and writing new songs,
as soon as we’ll have 10 of them, we’ll record a Demo and send it to
Labels. We have also a new website and we are introducing in the band a
new element, Max plays keyboards and soon will be part of The Prowlers!
Are
you satisfied with your label or are you looking for a bigger one? C:
I think every band would like to sign a contract with a major label, but
it’s very difficult, especially for the debut album. We are happy that
Steelborn Records gave us the chance to start, but it’s natural to look
for something bigger for our next release.
What would you say to someone who hasn’t listened to your CD or any track from your group in order to convince him to listen to the new CD? C:
This is a good question! I think I would tie him to a chair, put
headphones on his head and press play on the stereo at full volume!!! ;-)
What do you think of today’s metal scene in Italy? Can you tell us a few underground groups that have impressed you? (if you have listened to any underground groups). C:
Unfortunately, Italy cannot be considered a country where Heavy Metal is very popular. It’s difficult listen to Metal Songs at the Radio or find a place where you can listen to this kind of music. Anyway, there are some Italian Metal Bands quite famous all around the world like Rhapsody, Lacuna Coil, Novembre and Ephel Duath.
I think that a new band can hardly find a contract with a big label the last years. What do you think of this, although that you are not a new band since you exist for almost 8 years? C:
The problem is that nowadays is too easy to record a CD, so the market is
overloaded even if the quality of recordings and of song writing is not
always good, and this goes against valid bands. Without talking about the
Internet problem, this goes against ALL new bands, because the famous ones
are already rich enough!!!
What
are your favourite drummers? C:
My favourite drummer has always been Neil Peart from Rush, but I like
also Mike Portnoy and Terry Bozzio.
And now just a couple of “weird questions”… Imagine that your wife is selling your whole album-collection just to buy for her an expensive, ring. How would you react? C:
Hihihi!! This is nice!! Let’s say that I solved this problem at
his root because I’m not married, so I’m not risking such a tragedy!!!
;-))
If you were living in Middle Earth (I hope that you have seen or read the “Lord Of The Rings”) which character would you choose to be and why. C:
I read the Tolkien trilogy maybe 15 years ago, and I think that the movies
are great!!! I’d like to be an Elf, because of their wisdom, calm… and
nice girls!! ;-)
Ok Dr. K! My questions are over! Thank you very much and I wish you good luck and success! You can end this interview by saying anything you want to add. C:
At the end of interviews I always say the same things… I just want to say thanks to you and to all the staff of Grande Rock Webzine for this interview. It was a great pleasure for us to say something more about our band and to introduce us to your readers!
by George Kouvelis |
First
of all, Claudio (“Dr. K”), I would like to congratulate you, and the
rest of the band for your album! What is the response of the media and the
fans so far?