Interviews

Interview with Samael – Vorph: “If You Feel A Bit Different, So Just Be Different!”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 11, 2011
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Innovation is a key word when it comes to Swiss metal experimentalists SAMAEL! What started out with pure and raw black metal, soon evolved into a whole different beast, towards groove-laden dark metal, and afterwards they started incorporating electronic, oriental or world music parts on their music. The band has now returned to the essence and core of SAMAEL. The band’s new album “Lux Mundi” will come out on April 29, 2011, through Nuclear Blast. The result is a pitch black monster boasting epic melodies, cutting riffs and grooves second to none…

Some days ago I had an enjoyable chat with Vorph, SAMAEL‘s vocalist and guitarist. This’s what we talked about…

Hi Vorph, I’m Tarja, welcome to Metal Shock!

Thank-you very much, Tarja!
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Interview: Noir and Attractive BELLADONNA Creates Mysterious-Romantic-Erotic World

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 7, 2011
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How many artists can claim to have single-handedly originated a musical genre? Italian quintet BELLADONNA are amongst that rare breed of bands whose absolute uniqueness has enraptured and inspired countless fans, followers and imitators all over the world. BELLADONNA are Luana Caraffa – vox, Dani Macchi – guitar, Alice Pelle – piano, Tam Scacciati – bass, Alex Giuliani – drums.

But let’s find out more… some days ago I had a sympathetic chat with Luana Caraffa, Belladonna‘s singer.

Hi Luana, Belladonna, in all senses! I’m Tarja from Metal Shock! Please be welcome! What was your first thought of this morning? Lol

*Ciao beautiful Tarja!!! my first thought this morning was that i had to answer your questions! lol*
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Interview With Amon Amarth – Ted Lundström: Firegiants Ready For Headlining Tour With Surtur

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 5, 2011
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Swedish death metal band AMON AMARTH was founded in 1992. The band lineup is: vocalist Johan Hegg, guitarists Olavi Mikkonen and Johan Söderberg, bassist Ted Lundström and drummer Fredrik Andersson. AMON AMARTH has released eight studio albums, the latest one “Surtur Rising” came out on March 25, 2011, via Metal Blade Records. In May and the fall, AMON AMARTH will hit the road, with headlining tour. Johan Hegg commented: “Hopefully we can take some new steps in our career and reach another level as a band. We want to play places we haven’t played yet and reach a wider audience without sacrificing what it is we do best. We’ve always mainly made music for ourselves so as long as we like it, it’s ok. Of course it’s better if other people like it too.”

Couple of weeks ago, before the release, I had a chat with band’s bassist, Ted Lundström…

Hi Ted, I’m Tarja. Welcome to Metal Shock! Let’s start talking about your genre. Your singer, Johan has said that you’ve never called yourselves Viking metal and that you just don’t like to put labels on yourselves. But how would you describe your sound to someone who doesn’t know you yet?

Well we don’t mind if people call us Viking metal but when I hear the term Viking metal I personally think about bands with a more ”pagan” sound, we are a melodic death metal band that have viking lyrics.
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Interview With Necrodeath and Ghostrider: “We Are In A Continuous Evolution, Wanting To Explore New Territories”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 3, 2011
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Italian Black/Thrash terror bands GHOSTRIDER and NECRODEATH have one common denominator, Peso, the drummer and the founder of these two bands. Saturday, March 5 on the backstage of Bulldog in Genoa, I had a long talk, around a round table, with Peso (Necrodeath, Ghostrider), Helvete (Ghostrider), Claudio (ex-Necrodeath), GL (Necrodeath) and Pier Gonella (Necrodeath). Here are the topics of our marathon interview …

Hi Guys, so where do we start … hmmm, chronologically we start with Ghostrider (pre-Necrodeath). It was formed in 1984, but after just one year you have renamed it to Necrodeath. Why this name change? And what was the initial impetus to form Ghostrider?

HELVETE: The band was formed by Peso and Claudio and with two other guys, influenced by bands like Venom, and other historical bands of that period. The guys were driven to this enthusiasm for this type of extreme music, you know, they were young and lived in the underground metal environment of Genoa, with this adventure. Then after a year from the birth of Ghostrider, they decided to change the name to Necrodeath, especially for a moniker that speaks of a more extreme band. In the first year of life, Ghostrider, composed songs, to leave them “in the ashes” to wait …. but then after the name change, the band has taken a bit different kind of path that leads to our days … after 25 years, in 2010, Ghostrider made a come-back with a new lineup that includes me too.
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Interview with Malice In The Dark – Travis Enmon: “It’s Not The Hand You Dealt, It’s How You Play Your Cards”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on March 30, 2011
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Los Angeles’ MALICE IN THE DARK is a metal based band with many influences in different styles of the Metal family tree. With Travis Enmon’s departure with Novem, he keeps the flame alive with the passion of music. After Novem, he teamed up with Pradus’s former lead guitarist, Andy Hales and did acoustic covers and made videos on youtube under, the Corner’s Gypsys. And like Gypsys they change along with their style. With the addition of Alex Casanova on bass and Nic Sullivan on guitar as well and whom they beg to play drums with them, Austin O’Rourke , they are formed as Malice in the Dark.

The other day I had a looooong and interesting chat with Travis Enmon, the band’s singer and frontman and a real Metal Gypsy… here’s what we talked about…
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Interview With Phoenix Effect – Janne: “Cyanide Skies”… And The Story Continues…

Posted by melissalagiglia on March 27, 2011
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Finnish rock/grunge band PHOENIX EFFECT started as a solo project, but much has happened since the first song. The debut album “Cyanide Skies” was released in February 2009 via POTF’s Insomniac. After the release Phoenix Effect has concentrated on doing as many shows as possible and spreading the music as far as possible.

Metal Shock Finland‘s Melissa La Giglia had a chat with Janne Kärkkäinen, Phoenix Effect’s vocalist and guitarist.

Hi Janne, how are  you doing today?
– Hello! I’m doing great thanks.

How would you describe the band, the sound and the project?
– It’s always a bit hard to describe the thing you’re doing your self. Someone once described it as “progressive grunge”. I could really relate to that.
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