Interviews

HANGARVAIN’s Exclusive Live Show Streaming On Metal Shock Finland Tonight, July 15th at 9pm CEST

Posted by tarjavirmakari on July 15, 2020
Posted in: Int. News, Interviews, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

HANGARVAIN-LIVE-FOR-MSF

Italian rockers HANGARVAIN have teamed up with Metal Shock Finland to stream exclusively the band’s live show, tonight, July 15th at 9pm CEST from BrutusVox Music Recording Studio. Facebook event page, at this location.

Join and stream the show here:

Furthermore, just a few days ago, Metal Shock Finland’s Tarja Virmakari had a pleasure to interview the band, talking about the live stream, the band’s latest album ”The Great Machine”, touring, Covid-19 pandemic, #UNITEDWESTAND Project and future plans. Please, read below.

1- Hi HANGARVAIN, tonight Metal Shock Finland has the honor to host exclusively your worldwide live streaming at 9pm CEST from BrutusVox Music Recording Studio. Can you reveal something about it?

Hi Metal Shock Finland and first of all thank you from the bottom of our heart for helping us to make this project possible. It’s been a while since we didn’t play together and during the crazy period we all been through, lot of our fans and friends never stopped showing us their support and love. Hangarvain is a family of people living very far from each other so as soon as we had the chance to be in the same city at the BrutusVox Studios in Torino for some rehearsals, we decided to share with our lovely fans this very deep emotion. We really want our fans to experience again the energy of a true live show as it is when we go on a proper stage, so this is gonna be really nothing else than a pure Hangarvain’s show!

2- Your latest album ”The Great Machine” was released October 11th 2019, via Volcano Records. How has it been received by your fans?

The Great Machine is our fourth album and we couldn’t be more proud of it both for the music it contains and for the reactions people had when it was released. We always been very passionate about many genres of music that’s the reason why our albums are often full of different influences, but with The Great Machine we started a journey in the roots of what we love the most trying to give our personal interpretation to the blues and soul music. It seems that people received this new chapter in an absolutely enthusiastic way. Media all over the world spent great words with high-votes reviews on it and when we toured all Europe last year right after the release we can tell you that both CDs and vinyls went sold out several times and we had to ask for new stocks of copies three times during the tour.

3- During the years, you have been known as an untiring touring band playing shows all around Europe with many big bands on legendary stages. Indeed, your last European tour, before lockdown, was with the Danish D-A-D. What are your greatest highlights from that tour?

Touring Europe with D-A-D in 2019 has been an incredible opportunity for us to visit countries where we didn’t play before and largely expand our fanbase and supporters. We had the chance to play some legendary and massive venues like we did in England, France or Germany just to name a few, as well as super-cool, big and always full packed clubs all around Europe. We toured a lot before this also with big and legendary acts, but you never have enough and always learn a lot from an experience like that. You have to be really committed and always very focused on your mission when you play 24 shows in a row preserving strengths to hit the stage hard as hell every night and give people a memorable experience.

4- Talking about Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown, how this weird worldwide situation has affected your band’s activities?

We lost about 30 shows in the first four months of the year. Some of them have been rescheduled, some of them not. We were supposed to have a very busy 2020, a great spring and an epic summer with some huge European festivals like the Hills Of Rock where we were awaited to play on the main stage on July 25th, the day before Slipknot… So you can imagine how hard it’s been dealing with what happened and how tough is still today living without anything really sure for the upcoming months. But we tried hard to stay strong and work on the future. Some shows in December 2020 with Michael Schencher have just been announced, we also have a festival in Wales on December 3rd and some headliner gigs in France and Italy plus many other things on the way to be confirmed. We really hope to be able to make it all!

5- In April 2020 your label, Volcano Records, promoted the project #UNITEDWESTAND, feat. Italian Rock And Metal Artists Against Covid-19. Please tell us more about this project.

#UNITEDWESTAND is our motto since many years now and represents well what we feel about the community of people around us and our music. So it happened that one day during the lockdown, our guitarist Alessandro wrote this song using our motto to underline that even in that crazy moment where everyone was locked in, music could make us part of something bigger and feel united. From that we took the idea to ask some friends to join the message and be part of the song so we have on board many great singers like Mark Basile (DGM), Giacomo Voli (Rhapsody Of Fire), Marco Pastorino (Temperance), Iacopo Meille (Tygers Of Pan Tang), Tiziano Spigno (Extrema) and many others. We decided with our record label Volcano Records, to use the song to support the Italian Red Cross and release it as Italian Rock Union Project.

6- And what will happen next in the HANGARVAIN -camp?

Most of all we hope to be able to confirm our tour in December adding about ten shows we’re working on these days, to the ones just announced. But we’re also very busy preparing a brand new and super-secret project that should see the light in Autumn and will bring out new music from us with a very special guest involved that hopefully will be on tour with us in Europe in Spring 2021. But before all of this, let’s have some fun tonight getting back some good vibrations with the live in studio for Metal Shock Finland. After all, that’s what music is for, staying together living true emotions.

Watch #UNITEDWESTAND video here: https://youtu.be/W0bUqdJfa1s

HANGARVAIN line-up:
Sergio “Toledo” Mosca – Voice
Alessandro Liccardo – Guitar
Gabriele “Gabo” Sinatra – Bass
Simone Crimi – Drums

Other Recording Musicians:
Alessandro Stellano (bass), Andrea Gianangeli (drums), Mark Basile (keyboards), Johnny Dema (keyboards)

Watch/Stream:
Showreel [2019] – https://youtu.be/670bJSeihyg
Black Betty [OFFICIAL AUDIO] – https://youtu.be/mY8fEyDYDDc
Rock Down The House [OFFICIAL VIDEO] – https://youtu.be/kvz6tPa0UJ4
The Great Machine [OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO] – https://youtu.be/W3T35oG98rY

More information at:
BAND: https://www.facebook.com/Hangarvain
LABEL: http://www.volcanopromotion.com

Interview With Guitarist Darren DPaul Wise, Talking About His Creative Career, And Also How Covid-19 Is Changing Perspectives On Life

Posted by tarjavirmakari on June 12, 2020
Posted in: Int. News, Interviews, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

DARREN-DPAUL-WISE-Gibson

Interview by Tarja Virmakari

Darren DPaul Wise, the Dallas-based guitarist, is currently the music director for the Drew Pearson Live television show on ABC. This is a sports and entertainment primetime NFL pregame show based on the late night talk show format with a live on-set band led by DPaul. All themes and segment music have been written, recorded and produced by DPaul since 2013. His background includes multiple signed bands, session work for record labels, touring guitarist, published hit song writer and music for NASCAR, MLB, NBA, Chevrolet, various TV shows and commercials.

Just recently Metal Shock Finland‘s Tarja Virmakari had a pleasure to interview Darren, talking about his creative and successful career, but also how Covid-19 is changing perspectives on life.

– Hi Darren, and welcome to Metal Shock Finland. How are you doing today?

All good, just working on some music.

– We’re living now difficult times for the Covid 19 pandemic, how has it influenced your work in terms of music?

It’s actually giving me more time to work on music.

– What will be the first thing you’ll do when this situation is over?

Start performing live music again!

– In your opinion, it will change our life in some way, or will we return to our old habits?

It might give people some new perspective on life.

– How do you see the music business today, leaving out this current world situation?

Music is being consumed in many different ways now and that will continue so it should be embraced.

– You have a long and successful career as a guitarist, and you’re also the music director for the Drew Pearson Live television show on ABC. Can you tell us more about it?

I love writing music for any project I’m working on, it’s all a creative process.

– Your background includes many things, what can you reveal about the activities you are involved in?

I’m working on some solo guitar tracks and on a new original music project with some great people. Looking forward to getting that out there!

– Just recently you announced your artist relationship with Gibson Guitars. What can you tell us about this collaboration?

I started off playing Gibson guitars and I’m very happy to be playing them again! Great company, great people!

– What are your musical highlights, so far?

Having a couple of hit songs and working on the Drew Pearson show. It’s also great to work with people who have a real passion for what they do.

– What are your future plans? New shows, live dates, albums, new videos?

About to make a new video for a guitar track and then get into the studio with my new original project.

– If it wasn’t music, what would you be doing? 

Musics pretty much all that I do so not a lot of outside interest.

– What are your advices to up-and-coming musicians?

Do the best job you can on everything you’re involved in. Your work ethic and attention to detail will help build your reputation as a professional.

– I thank-you for this nice chat, and now the word is yours, what is your message to Metal Shock Finland readers?

Hope you’re all staying healthy and safe!

For More Information Visit Darren “DPaul” Wise at: https://www.facebook.com/darren.wise.12

CARNIÇA: Brazilian Thrashers Preparing To 30 Years Celebrations Of “Heavy Rotten Metal”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on May 27, 2020
Posted in: Int. News, Interviews, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

carnica1

Interview by Carlos Garcia

CARNIÇA (Portuguese word for “Rotten Flesh”) is a traditional Heavy/Thrash Metal band formed in 1991 in southern Brazil, with several demo-tapes and four full-lengths released, the group is now preparing to celebrate 30 years next year with the release of a new album. Some plans had to be postponed due to quarantine, but the band takes the time to compose the songs on the new album, in addition to preparing a single for soon and participation in some tributes.

The four-piece band is formed by Mauriano Lustosa (vocals), Marlo Lustosa (drums), Parahim Neto (guitars) and Vinicius Durli (bass), and their four full-lenghts are “Rotten Flesh” (1999), “Temples Fall…Time to Reborn” (2011), “Nations of Few” (2012) and “Carniça” (2017).

Mauriano Lustosa, lead singer and founder of the band, tells some of these plans and a little more about the band to Metal Shock Finland readers.

The band will celebrate 30 years in 2021, are you preparing any special things to celebrate this brand?

Mauriano: Yes! Finish 30 years on April 21, 2021. We are planning to release a new album, turn northeast, release a video and participate in less than 3 tributes for great Classic bands.

You use to call your sound “Heavy Rotten Metal”, tell us more how about this label.

Mauriano: The inclusion of Rotten is kind of an adaptation to the producer, because we play and we are a Heavy Metal band. There is a lot of tradition in our DNA. Maybe Rotten comes, maybe because the band is called “Carniça” (rotten flesh).

Paralleling the time you started and the current times, compare how the recording conditions were at the time when you have recorded the first LP and the conditions nowadays.

Mauriano: Ahhhh. The thing has completely changed!!!! Just to give you an idea, we are now recording a single during quarantine period. Each at home, in our home studios. In the past, It used to be a legend to record. It has no equipment and no technician can use it. Recording Metal was an epic !!!! Today any kid does a great job. Of course, those recordings sometimes sound similar. Many bands sounding the same in the recordings ….

The band also has a tradition of record personal versions of metal classics in your albums, such as Slayer, Wasp and more recent, a version for “Midnight Queen” of brazilian Death/Black Metal pioneers Sarcófago. Tell us more about these versions and their importance to you as a musician or even a fan.

Mauriano: We still had Venom. Not to mention several participations in tributes, whether official or not … Man, it’s a tribute, a vote of recognition for bands that inspired us to be alive today. We are about to launch the 5th. album and it will certainly have a cover. Also, live, Always we play the set list of the album we are promoting plus a cover.

Speaking about versions, you are also about to participate in some tributes, tell us a little more about these news.

Mauriano: The first is the tribute to the KISS Brazillian Rock City. We will be participating with the song “Love Gun”. The second is a tribute to the GREAT IRON MAIDEN, “South Americans Irons”. We already have the song ready, but because of the pandemic everything is stopped and we cannot disclose which song we will play. The third is a tribute to Slayer and we are in the process of closing. It is 99% correct !!!! Participating in tributes is an excellent showcase for the band. We make ourselves heard with greater scope ….

Almost 3 decades on the road, how do you see the situation of copyright bands, because even with all the market changes, many artists continue to release new works, although even some, including you, had some gaps, others also came to declare that they did not new discs are worth burning.

Mauriano: Nowadays an authorial band records and keeps itself alive due to stubbornness and love for what it does. It is very exhausting and expensive to keep a band recording, promoting, playing live. Carniça, for having many years active, manages to sell merchandises, CDs … But in reality, it is tied in the financial aspect. And if you analyze it well, this is already a big thing. Many bands pay “producers” or “agents” to be able to play festivals or open to bigger bands. I don’t know, everyone knows what is best for their career and how to manage it in the best way. We don’t pay, we get paid. We play a few live shows on a year, but when we do, we play on a cool stage, with cool equipment and turning on the horn with every chord. Authorial Metal, mainly here in Brazil, is something for those who have passion, perseverance and the desire to see their work spanning decades !!!!

carnica2

Follow the band:
https://www.facebook.com/CarnicaOfficial/

Metal Shock Finland’s Exclusive Worldwide Premiere: VAIN VIPERS – ‘Let’s Party’ Video + Interview

Posted by tarjavirmakari on March 9, 2020
Posted in: Int. News, Interviews, News. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

VainVipers-2019

On March 22nd 2019, Italian glam-rockers VAIN VIPERS released their acclaimed self-titled debut album via Volcano Records. Today the band teams up with Metal Shock Finland to premiere worldwide their new video ‘Let’s Party’ from the album. Watch it here:

To celebrate the video premiering Metal Shock Finland‘s Tarja Virmakari had a pleasure to interview the guys, so let’s learn more about the band, video and their debut album:

1. Hi VAIN VIPERS, and welcome to Metal Shock Finland. Your self-titled debut album came out a year ago, via Volcano Records, how it has been received among your fans?

This is our first album. We had excellent feedback from local and non-local fans, much more than our expectations. We have sold several CDs in Italy and Europe and even in Japan, America and Australia.

2. What can you tell me about the influences and topics of your songs?

Our songs topics are the classic themes of the genre. The influences comes from the music we have listened since our childhood, combined with a modern touch.

3. How have you supported the album in this past year?

We have self-produced some videos for the singles of the disc and tried to play as much as possible despite, currently, the music scene in Italy is not the best.

4. Today we have a pleasure to premiere worldwide your new video ‘Let’s Party’ from the album. What is the story behind the song and video?

In the video you can see exactly what can happen at one of our gig… and that’s what always happens every time we go out together… which is the fourth essence of the “Let’s Party” and our way of being. This time we choose to pay tribute to our fans with a video dedicated to them, getting out of the habit of having a plot-based video.

5. What will happen next in the VAIN VIPERS -camp? Future plans?

We are composing new songs and we hope to come out soon with a new album. We are also looking for new gigs to continue promoting the album.

6. And now the word is yours: what is your message to your fans and Metal Shock Finland readers?

We want to thank them for all the support they have shown us and that continue to show us. To the Metal Shock Finland readers, we invite them to go on youtube and find our videos or on Spotify / Itunes to listen to our album. Come and join us to the Party!!!

—————-

VAIN VIPERS are an Italian glam-rock band, they were formed in 2013 by Scott and Wild (ex Cryin’ Angels). In the spring of 2016, after several lineup changes, they finally found their current singer: Mick (ex Sex for Cash and Shabby Trick, currently in Crying Steel) and in early 2017, their drummer, Aaron. From there, they began appearing in many italian clubs, sharing the stage with the famous rock bands Bai Bang, Rakel Traxx, and Stop Stop. In May 2017, the single “Lost in Your Eyes,” was finally released, and with it their first music video. At the dawn of 2018 it was time to start on their first LP, recorded entirely at Roberto Priori’s Pri-Studio. At the end of that same year, they found in Volcano Records the thing they’ve been looking for: A label, an agreement, and an album release.

VainVipers-cover

“Vain Vipers” tracklist:
1. I Hate You
2. Bitch Please (Shut Up)
3. Kissy Doll
4. Lost In Your Eyes
5. Let’s Party
6. Reach Me In The Dark Side
7. 80’s Whore
8. Devil Is Waiting
9. Rock ‘n’ Roll
10. Weeping
Running Time: 48’33”

Also watch:
Kissy Doll [OFFICIAL VIDEO] – https://youtu.be/iY3lZgDDVq4
Reach Me In the Dark Side [OFFICIAL VIDEO] – https://youtu.be/sncW3Zwh050

VAIN VIPERS line-up:
Luca “Wild” Barchetti – Guitar & Backing Vocals
Alfonso “Aaron” Durso – Drum
Davide “Scott” Dall’olio – Bass & Backing Vocals
Mircko “Mick” Bacchilega – Keyboards

More information at:
BAND: https://www.facebook.com/vainvipers/
LABEL: http://www.volcanopromotion.com

Video Interview: Italian Musician MR.JACK Special Guest At Metal Shock Finland, Talking “Long Road” In Details, His Music And Future

Posted by tarjavirmakari on November 26, 2019
Posted in: Int. News, Interviews, News. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

MR.JACK-golden-record

Interview by Tarja Virmakari

Italian singer/musician, vocal coach, record producer, songwriter MR.JACK released his first solo album “Long Road” on March 20, 2019, produced by Wanikiya Record and recorded at Mountain Rock Studio, in collaboration with Metal Shock Finland, Metal in Italy and Italia di Metallo. “Long Road” features great special guests of the rock and metal scenario all made in Italy.

We had a pleasure to interview MR.JACK, via the video interview, which can be seen below. Among the topics, of course, his latest solo album, the details around it + his ‘Da Jack Live Club’ and future plans.

Watch the interview below + questions listed under the video:

The questions we made to MR.JACK are:
1. Hi MR.JACK, our readers already know you via our articles about your music and latest effort and debut solo album “Long Road”, which was released on March 20, 2019 via Wanikiya Record, and in which also Metal Shock Finland was involved, as one of the sponsors. What drove you, in the first place, to start working on “Long Road”?

2. What can you tell us about the song topics and what inspired you in the songwriting process?

3. “Long Road” mixes genres, from Metal, to rock, ballad, hard rock, why this choice?

4. “Long Road” features a long list of special guests, great names, all made in Italy! could you please tell us, shortly, about each of them and their input in the album?
-Freddy Delirio (Death SS)
-Maestro Mistheria (Vivaldi metal project , Keyboard of Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden)
-Tomas Valentini (Animae Silentes – Skanners)
-Valerio Edward De Rosa (Soul of Steel)
-Steve Volta (Pepetual Fire)
-Raffaele Albanese (From the Depth – 5th Element Project)
-Mario Zeoli (Red Sofà Lab, The Angelis, Thirdston3)
-Marco Angelo
-Alessandro De Fusco

5. The album came out last March, how the album has been received by your fans and music scene?

6. Let’s go back to past, you started to sing and play with various bands at age of 14. But what was the moment when your knew that Music will accompany your entire Life in various ways?

7. You’ve done several collaborations with great artists along your long road, what are your highlights so far?

8. Not long ago you made one of your long time dreams come true, opening ‘Da Jack Live Club’, giving a great platform to many bands to play their music live. While telling us more about your club, please tell us also from where you take your endless passion and energy?

9. What are your next plans for the future?

10. What is your message to young people of today, when too many times the future doesn’t look bright to fullfil their dreams?

Thanks a million for your time and for this chat, Jack, may your future bring along satisfactions you can’t even dream of yet…

Stream “One Love” here: https://youtu.be/xv2ZrddLLcA
Watch “Trip to Paradise” video here: https://youtu.be/X5pPDgqEwuI

“Long Road” Tracks List:
Long Road
Trip To Paradise
Rock Whrole
Earthquake
One Love
Infernal Word
Metal Head
Mind Strange

More information at http://mrjackofficial.wixsite.com/mrjack

MrJack-LongRoad

Interview With VESSEL OF LIGHT/Former HADES Bassist Jimmy Schulman

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 20, 2019
Posted in: Int. News, Interviews, News. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

VESSEL-OF-LIGHT

Interview by Brian Aberback

Jimmy Schulman’s fluid bass work was the perfect complement to and anchor of Dan Lorenzo’s monster riffs in HADES in the mid-80s and again pm the band’s 2001 reunion-era album. Now, Schulman is at it again, adding his bass prowess to Lorenzo’s latest band, VESSEL OF LIGHT.

The group’s stellar new release, “Thy Serpent Rise”, is the first to feature Schulman and fellow former Hades drummer Ron Lipnicki, joining founding members Lorenzo and singer Nathan Opposition. It’s Vessel of Light’s second full-length disc (in addition to a debut EP). The disc is out now on CDbaby.com and and will be available on all platforms Nov. 1. U.S. distributors are All That Is Heavy and Cobraside. The album can also be ordered at DanLorenzo.net

Schulman shines on tracks such as “Meet and Bone” and “Rush of Blood”. On the latter he takes the spotlight during the solo section. Even a short clip of the band performing new song “Abandon Light” at a recent show in Brooklyn (watch here) is evidence that Vessel of Light is a live force not to be missed.

VesselOfLight-JimmySchulman2019

We recently spoke to Schulman about Vessel of Light and reflected on the Hades days.

How did you come to join Vessel of Light?

They were happy being a studio project originally and then the next thing you know a gig popped up and Dan asked me and (drummer Ron Lipnicki) to play the show. It seems Ron and Dan and I are like family. I’ve been playing on and off with Dan for 35 years and he’s a riff monster. I love the challenge of playing bass to his riffs. We started rehearsing some of the tunes. When Dan gave me the EP, I thought it was genius. It was especially cool listening to him with a different singer. I really like the tone of Nathan’s voice and I loved his vocals. They wrote some really good songs together. They were catchy but still heavy. We played and it was unbelievable, a lot of fun. Talks of Ron and I joining the band started really happening then.

What are your responsibilities as the bass player in Vessel of Light?

I’m the same player no matter what. You give me a riff, you give me a song and I can work around that either by playing along or adding something to the song. I can do a lot. It depends on what is needed but it’s always based on the riff.

Tell us about “Meet and Bone”, the first single from “Thy Serpent Rise”

“Meet and Bone” is Lorenzo riffing at its finest. It’s an exciting song to play. The riffs don’t stop. His riffs just roll over one into the next into the next and the fact that Nathan can find space in there to sing and have a hook just amazes me. Nathan is such a talent. I think they were meant to write music together.

On “Rush of Blood” you get some spotlight in the middle solo section which only features lead guitar and bass, with no rhythm guitar track.

I came in thinking less is more and Dan was mentioning Non-Fiction was the only project where there was never a rhythm guitar track. I heard the rhythm track behind the solo on “Rush of Blood” and then I asked Dan to consider pulling the rhythm track and leaving in the lead guitar and bass. I thought it would sound like a groovy, bluesy sort of thing.

In late September the band played a weekend of shows. How has Vessel of Light progressed as a live act over the past year?

It really clicked from the start. For the first show last year we had never rehearsed with Nathan and he flew in that morning before the show. We got onstage and it was as if we’d been playing together for a long time. That goes to prove that Dan, Ron and myself really know each other and are a tight trio and then with Nathan coming in, it was like, ‘wow, this is amazing.’ We’ve done weekends worth of shows and as we do more of them the more addicting they become. Its’ all great, whether we’re paying before 15 people or 600. We’ll never turn down an opportunity to play before a headliner. We’d love to play before a large audience before a national act.

What lies ahead for Vessel of Light?

Dan is already writing the next album. In 2020 we’ll continue to play and see what happens. We’re all already very excited about that.

Let’s talk about your history with Dan Lorenzo starting back with Hades. Dark Symphonies just rereleased the band’s first two albums, “Resisting Success” and “If At First You Don’t Succeed,” each with a second disc of rarities. What do you remember about joining the band?

I remember listening to all the older songs. “The Cross” was great. Then Dan played me demos of “The Leaders” and “Nightstalker” and I was like, I’m all in. This is it. The music was ahead of its time, a sign of things to come, and I wanted to be a part of it. It was interesting to be in the studio back then. “Resisting Success” was a raw album that was indicative of the time.

The band made a huge leap musically with sophomore effort “If At First You Don’t Succeed”

The band was coming together as a live act and we had all new songs and they were all tremendous songs. Everybody was bringing their talent and ambitions to the table.

Any favorite rarities on the bonus discs?

“Bete Noir.” I pushed for that to be included. It was exciting to have a song of mine that was never heard see the light of day. Everybody gave a great performance. I’m definitely proud of.

Check out the band’s new single “Meet & Bone”, taken from the upcoming album “Thy Serpent Rise”. Stream and buy ‘Meet and Bone’ at this location.

VesselOfLight-ThySerpentRise-cover