Interview by Luis Landeo
Hails Snowy, is a real pleasure for me have an interview with you, you are practicly a live legend of Metal, You was member of many important bands like: Dimmu Borgir, Dream Evil, Therion, King Diamond and Mercyful Fate, so my question to start this interview is how was play with all this bands?
Not forget mentioning about the other half of the bands I was, but anyways. It's been quite an eventful journey I can tell you, with both extreme ups and downs in this crazy rock n´rollercoaster of mine.
Actually you have a Glitter Rock project called: "XXX", how goes this project?
There hasn't been much activity since 2009. And that's because the guitarist Xhris has disappeared from the face of the earth. He might be dead for all I know.
Well I have to say, I like your participation in the last album of my greek friends Sorrows Path, in the track: "Everything Can Change", how was work with them?
I haven't heard any of other songs yet. Working and recording "Everything Can Change" went very smooth. Kostas and the other doom brothers seems to be all nice guys and I wish them all the best in the future.
I remember in 2012 you released a live album entitled: "Snowy Shaw Is Alive", playing cover songs of some of your ex bands, how born this idea of record an album with songs your ex bands and playing it in live? how was the answer of your public and the bands you played their songs?
Well, it seem you got it all a bit wrong here so let me try to explain and clear the fog. On the two shows I've recorded and filmed for the upcoming live DVD/CD I have written about 60% of the material single handedly and the rest are with former bands that I have either recorded or toured with, or both. Therefore I think it's legitimate and in my book that's not what I'd call covers. The idea of putting together these super shows with "All my favorite songs by all my former bands" originally came
from the fact that everywhere I went in the world I would constanly meet fans who'd say things like "I love Notre Dame why don't you reunite this band, or as much as I love what you're doing with Therion I'd love to see you play drums again, why don't you go back to King Diamond, or a third person would say how they'd love to see me back together with Memento Mori.. and so on it went.
I've been with so many bands in my life and although it's rewarding and flattering that people like your stuff, normally I wouldn't pay too much attention to those type of requests. I mean, even if I would have wanted to there is simply not enough time please them all at the same time. But lately there'd been a big increase in that department and somehow I just couldn't shake it off. So while on tour in December 2010 late one night on a ferry between Estonia and Finland the idea came to me that I could put together the kind of shows that I would have loved to see myself, summing up my entire career by playing songs from all my former bands. Not only would I play classic songs but more obscure treasures that had never ever been played live before, like Whether with or without, Singh Hai by illwill or Heathendom by Memento Mori, all of which I wrote by the way but they were never performed live up until now. I would also invite members from all these bands to join me on stage as a special guest artist appearance and put on one helluva bombastic show with big production and lots of cool shit happening on stage while I'd be fronting my band and swapping between instruments. Wow! that would really be something that I personally would love to see and this oughta satisfy my fans getting a lot of bang for the buck.
I was checking a new album like Snowy Shaw, entitled: "Live Showreel in wunderwurld", how was record this dvd? why release this dvd like live album too?
The showreel you're talking about is just a short visual pre-taste, preview or whatever you wanna call it, that I put together after the first of the two shows now included on the kick ass live DVD/ CD and triple vinyl. Coincidently I'm celebrating my 25th anniversary and what could be better than to sum it all up with this release, marking my past and launching me into the next 25 years.
Like a metal veteran, how do you see the progress of Metal in all this years? and what things dont you like about the new age of Metal?
Generally speaking I think the climate for metal around the world is probably better than ever, although due to the downloading and industry it's becoming increasingly harder to earn any money and make a living from it. There certainly are things I like and others I don't, regardless of genre. But to be completely honest I stopped caring or keeping updated on what others do or don't about 2 decades ago, at least.
Well you was musician of the heavy metal legend: King Diamond, how was work with him? and how is your relationship with him?
My relationship with King has always been very good. Like I said in the summer of 2014 there is now 25 years since I joined King at the height of his career, and I'm eternally grateful for the opportunity.
You are a multi instrumentalist, how was for you learn to play many music instruments? at the same time how was learn to play all the metal genres you play? and what style do you feel more confortable to play?
Initially it was more out of necessity than anything else. My only ambition when I picked up the guitar or bass, or vocals for that matter was so that I could write my own music as drums aren't optimal for this purpose and because my band mates weren't always so creative and inventive in the bands I formed early on as a teenager and also later on. Gradually I got a little better at it and you'd be suprised to find out how often it's me playing all the guitars and bass on albums where I was the main songwriter and creative force, even though I may only be credited as drummer to avoid any confusion with the fans.
Well Snowy, was a real pleasure have this interview with you, and to finish this interview have you a message to Arsenal Del Metalero readers and your fans?
Thanks for having me. I want you all to look out for my brand new upcoming live DVD/CD and vinyl released this summer. There is shitloads of other really cool stuff coming up in the near future. So join me on my official Snowy Shaw page on Facebook to stay posted and in the loop - Muchas Gracias - Stay True!
To know more about Snowy Shaw:
http://www.snowyshaw.net/Snowy_Shaw/Splash.html
"...Cambiamos y tomamos un paso decisivo hacia adelante con este segundo disco..."
Entrevista por Luis Landeo
Hails Andrea, es un gusto tener esta entrevista contigo, ¿cómo estas? y felicidades por el lanzamiento del segundo full lenght! ¿cómo fue el lanzamiento de este segundo álbum? y ¿cómo fue la grabación?
Hola Luis que es genial estar aquí y tener una agradable charla con usted! Así que, muchas gracias por adelantado! Bueno, es un período de intensa actividad, con la promoción del nuevo álbum a mi cargo, las fechas en vivo y mi trabajo como profesor me mantiene muy por el borde. Bueno, en parte de esto, tengo que decir que el álbum ha estado fuera por casi 3 meses y la respuesta hasta ahora ha sido realmente buena. No esperábamos este tipo de reacciones positivas de la prensa y los aficionados, porque somos muy conscientes de que hicimos un paso adelante con respecto a nuestro álbum debut "The White Path to Rebirth" y el nuevo que suena más moderno y actualizado. Si TWPTR era de un sonido bastante de los "90s", "DISPELLING THE VEIL OF ILLUSIONS" es 100% puro metal del 2014! Tengo que decir que la grabación llevó un poco de tiempo, fue un proceso lento y discontinuo, debido a nuestras obligaciones laborales constantemente empujando hacia adelante nuestros horarios y así sucesivamente. Al final se tomó alrededor de 6 meses para grabar, mezclar y masterizar el álbum en el Greenriver Studio, cortesía de Tancredi Barbuscia, el tipo que produjo el álbum, pero creo que valió la pena. Y ... ya que después de 10 meses desde la masterización yo cazando altos y bajos para un nuevo label, también tuvimos demasiado tiempo para re masterizar por completo el disco con el fin de mejorar aún más su calidad de sonido.
Me di cuenta de algo muy interesante y que es la alineación de la banda no ha cambiado. ¿Cuál es el secreto para tener una line up completa por más de 5 años? porque sabes que algunas bandas en menos de 1 año están ya cambiando sus miembros...
Bueno, no sabría decir, tal vez es porque venimos de un pequeño pueblo en las montañas de los pre-Alpes y en tales lugares afianzados son generalmente más fuertes ... pero también en los últimos años nos hemos criado juntos y llegamos a conocernos mejor, lo que hace que escribir y componer canciones sea un proceso más simple. La formación es sólida y todo el mundo esta 100% involucrado en este proyecto en solitario, que también ayuda. No vamos a cambiar las cosas en un futuro cercano.
Hablemos sobre el nuevo álbum. ¿Por qué este segundo álbum se llama: "Dispelling the Veil of Illusions"? ¿porque el arte de la portada representa una escena de un sueño extraño? ¿Qué significa el arte para el concepto del álbum?
Nos gustan los títulos largamente boombasticos (risas) En serio, creo que hay poder en las palabras y por lo tanto, hay que usar las palabras correctamente. El nuevo álbum tiene que ver con "ilusiones", como se ve desde una gran variedad de puntos de vista, lo que significa que algunas canciones se basan en textos literarios, algunos en la experiencia personal, algunos en conceptos místicos o filosóficos. De alguna manera, los temas que tratamos representan la fiscalía natural de los que se centró en en el álbum debut, habló sobre la vida y la experiencia y la forma en que tales experiencias pesan sobre nosotros, a veces nos guiamos por la "senda blanca" de la iluminación. La obra del arte fue hecho por Claudio Bergamín, artista italo-chileno, que ya trabajó con Tierra Santa, Battle Beast and Arjen Lucassen. En su visión personal de lo que 4th Dimension podría ser... contribuimos a su visión añadiendo detalles... hay una línea en una canción del álbum que describe perfectamente la portada: "Extra mundo, siempre se conoce, sin tiempo, sin espacio, somos libres".
Tuve la oportunidad de escuchar este nuevo disco y suena muy bien, me gusto al 666% (risas), pero, como artista, ¿cómo te sientes acerca de la evolución del sonido de 4th Dimension con esta nueva producción?
Bueno, gracias por las amables palabras! (risas) Como decía anteriormente, estamos conscientes de que cambiamos y tomamos un paso decisivo hacia adelante con este segundo disco. Mejores arreglos, una mejor calidad de sonido, pero lo que es más importante, una composición más sólida y original. Tratamos de evitar algunos de los habituales clichés y, como prueba, basta con considerar el teclado y arreglos vocales. Algunas de las canciones tomaron un largo tiempo para ser completadas y esto es prueba de que no queríamos dejar piedra sin mover, y en su lugar tratamos diferentes soluciones hasta que encontramos los que mejor se nos ajustara lo que estaba en nuestra mente. "Dispelling the Veil of Illusions" es lo que somos en este momento ... pero una evolución más profunda ya está en la puerta (risas).
Antes del lanzamiento de este álbum, lanzaron un single titulado: "Kingdom of Thyne Illusions", ¿por qué se soltaron esta canción como single promocional? y ¿cómo fue recibida por los fans de la banda?
Bueno, fue idea del label para lanzar un mp3 gratis, dos meses antes de la fecha de lanzamiento del álbum ... en julio pasado tuvimos esta oportunidad de auto producir un video y el chico que la filmó eligió "Kingdom of Thyne Illusions" porque se ajustaba a la perfección: "comercial y no demasiado largo", con letras que se podrían utilizar para hacer algún tipo de historia visual. Por lo tanto era su idea de usar la canción, no la nuestra grabar el video fue muy divertido (risas), la modelo con que se trabajó era muy agradable, la ubicación también era fresca y agradable, y el resultado final, aunque no puede competir con costosos videos profesionales, cubre nuestras necesidades. Creo que la gente se tientan con la música y el vídeo de modo que, al final, fue una buena elección ... Estamos pensando en la liberación de un segundo single/video para impulsar la promoción más allá ... ya veremos.
¿Cuáles son los planes de 4th Dimension para este año?
No, no vamos a hacer ningun tour. Hace tres años tuvimos una gira por toda Europa con Sonata Arctica y Labyrinth y fue una gran experiencia. Pero también un tanto costosa. Por el momento no podemos permitirnos este tipo de grandes inversiones financieras, ya que, como se puede entender, las personas suelen descargar música ilegalmente y por lo tanto no recibimos suficiente dinero de las ventas para equilibrar nuestros gastos. Si la gente se consideran fanáticos haran una pequeña cuota y compraran las canciones que les gusta, y con eso podríamos hacer un montón de cosas...en este momento, lo único que podemos hacer es tocar en pequeños shows en Italia.
Me gustaría preguntarle acerca de ¿que canciones de este nuevo álbum son tus favoritas? y ¿que canción puedes tomar como personal?
Sin misterio, mis canciones favoritas son “White Logic”, “Memoirs of the Abyss” y “The Watchtower”, por un montón de razones diferentes ... Bueno, ya que este álbum es menos íntimo y más centrado, en cuanto se trata de letras, Yo tengo que decir que ninguna canción en particular me parece "personal". Viejas canciones como “Everlasting”, “Goldeneyes”, “The Sun in My Life” or “Consigned to the Wind”. Todos son letras inspiradas en mi vida, así que yo considero estas canciones como más "personales"...
¿Tienes un mensaje para tus fans y lectores de Arsenal Del Metalero?
Bueno, todo el mundo sabe que los fans de América del Sur son los mejores que hay! Así que hagan nos escuchar su voz!! Únanse a nosotros en www.facebook.com/4thdimensionmetal y hagan nos saber lo que piensan de nuestra música! No puedo prometer que vamos a ser capaces de tocar en su continente, pero que si los apreciamos!!! Saludos desde Italia!!!
Para saber más acerca de 4th Dimension:
https://www.facebook.com/4thdimensionmetal
Interview by Luis Landeo
Hails Andrea, it is a pleasure to have this interview with you, how are you man? and congratulations for the release of your second full lenght! how was the release this second album? and how was the recording?
Hi Luis it’s great to be here and have a nice chat with you! So, thanks a lot in advance! Well, it’s a busy period, what with the promotion of the new album on my shoulders, live dates and my job as a teacher that keeps me quite on the edge (laughs).
Well, a part from that, I have to say the album has been out for nearly 3 months now and the feedback so far was really good. We did not expect such positive reactions from press and fans because we’re pretty aware we made a step forward with respect to our debut album “The White Path to Rebirth” and the new one sounds more modern and up-to-date. If TWPTR was quite into the ’90, “DISPELLING THE VEIL OF ILLUSIONS” is 100% pure fucking 2014 metal! I have to say that the recording took quite a bit of time, it was a slow and discontinuous process, due to our job obligations constantly pushing forward our schedules and so on. In the end it took about 6 months to record, mix and master the album at the Greenriver Studio, courtesy of Tancredi Barbuscia, the guy who produced the album, but I think it was worth it. And... since after 10 months from the mastering I was still hunting high and low for a new label we also too our time to entirely re-master the album in order to improve its quality sound even further.
I noticed something really interesting and that is the line up of the band didn’t change. What is the recipe to have a solid line up for more than 5 years? because you know some bands in less of 1 year are changing members...
Well I cannot say, maybe it’s because we come from a little mountain village in the pre-Alps and in such places bonds are usually stronger... but also over the last years we grew up together and came to know each other better, which makes writing and arranging songs a simpler process. The line up is solid and everyone is 100% involved in this project alone, which also helps. We’re not going to change things in the near future.
Lets talk about the new album. Why is the second album called: "Dispelling the Veil of Illusions"? Does the cover art represent a scene of a weird dream? What does the art means for the album concept?
We like long boombastic titles (laughs) Seriously, I think there’s power in words and therefore one must use words properly. The new album is all about “illusions”, as seen from a myriad of points-of-view, which means some songs are based on literature texts, some on personal experience, some on mystic or philosophical concepts.
In some ways, the themes we deal with represent the natural prosecution of those we focused on in the debut album, which talked about life and experience and the way such experiences weigh on us, sometimes leading us astray from the “white path” of enlightenment.
The artwork was made by Claudio Bergamin, an Italo-Chilean artist who already worked with Tierra Santa, Battle Beast and Arjen Lucassen. It’s his personal vision of what the Fourth Dimension might look like... we contributed to his vision adding details... there’s a line on one album song which perfectly describes the cover: “ExtraWorld, always known, without time, without space, we are free”.
I had the chance to listen to this new album and it sounds fucking great, I like it 666% (laughs) but you, as an artist, how do you feel about the evolution 4th dimension’s sound underwent with new production?
Well, thanks for you nice words! (laughs) As previously said, we’re aware we moved on and took a decisive step forward with this second album. Better arrangements, better sound quality, but what’s more important, a more solid and original songwriting. We tried to avoid some of the usual clichè’s and, as an evidence, just consider keyboard and vocal arrangements. Some of the songs took a long time to be completed and this is proof that we did not want to leave stones unturned and instead tried different solutions till we found the ones which best fit what was on our mind. DTWOI is what we are at the moment... but a deeper evolution is already at the door (laughs)
Before the release of this album, you released a single entitled: "Kingdom of Thyne Illusions", why did you release this track as a promotional single? and how was it received by the fans of the band?
Well, it was the label’s idea to release a free mp3 two months before the album release date... last july we had this chance to self produce a video and guy who filmed it chose “Kingdom” because it fit perfectly: commercial and not too long, with lyrics that could be used to make up some sort of visual story. Therefore it was HIS idea to use the song, not ours ahah Shooting the video was fun, the model we worked with was really nice, the location also was cool and pleasant and the final result, though it cannot compete with professional expensive videos, suits our needs. I think people was enticed with both music and video so, in the end, it was a good choice...
We are thinking about releasing a second single/video to push promotion further... we shall see...
What are 4th dimension’s plans for this year?
No, we are not going to do any tours. Three years ago with toured throughout Europe with Sonata Arctica and Labyrinth and it was a great experience. But also a vey expensive one. At the moment we cannot afford such high financial investments, because, as you may understand, people usually download music illegally and therefore we don’t get enough money back from the sales to balance our expenses. If people of deem themselves fans did their little share and purchased the songs they like, we could do a lot of things... as matter stands at the moment, all we can do is play little shows in Italy.
I would like to ask you about what songs of this new album are your favorite? and what song can you take it as personal?
No mistery my favourite songs are “White Logic”, “Memoirs of the Abyss”&; “The Watchtower”, for a lot of different reasons...
Well, since this album is less intimate and more focused, when concerned with lyrics, I have to say no song particularly strikes me as “personal”. Old songs like “Everlasting”, “Goldeneyes”, “The Sun in My Life” or “Consigned to the Wind” all have lyrics inspired to my life so I deem these songs as more “personal”...
Do you have a message to your fans and Arsenal Del Metalero readers?
Well, it’s common knowledge the South American fans are the best out there! So let us HEAR YOUR VOICE!!!! Join us on www.facebook.com/4thdimensionmetal and let us know what you think about our music! I cannot promise that we’ll be able to play in your continent but we love you nonetheless!!!! Cheers from Italy!!!!!
To know more about 4th Dimension:
https://www.facebook.com/4thdimensionmetal
"...Cada hombre se ve obligado a usar una máscara ante el mundo, sólo para ser lo que quieren los demás..."
Entrevista por Luis Landeo
Bienvenida a Arsenal Del Metalero Nicoletta, ¿cómo estás? vamos a iniciar esta entrevista. ¿cómo inicia tu banda? y ¿por qué este nombre de Kalidia?
Hola! Muchas gracias por esta entrevista! Me decidí a empezar una banda con Federico (guitarras), Nicola (teclados), Alessandro (batería), ya que anteriormente habíamos tocado juntos en otra banda. Tras más de un año, finalmente encontramos a Roberto (bajo), el bajista adecuado para Kalidia; a principios de 2014, tuvimos un cambio de alineación y Gabriele (batería) se unió a nosotros. Acerca de nuestro nombre, Kalidia se forma por la unión de la diosa Kali y la antigua tierra de Lidia (Lidia es también una escala musical).
En el 2012 lanzaron el EP: "Dance of the Four Winds", ¿cómo fue el trabajo en este primer EP? y acerca del arte ¿por qué la banda trató de representar a los jardines babilónicos en este EP?
Fue nuestra primera experiencia en estudio y realmente nos gusto mucho. Además, fue un gran privilegio ser seguidos por Alessio Lucatti (Vision Divine, Etherna), un músico de power metal con experiencia (le debemos mucho!). Estamos influenciados por los temas mitológicos e históricos, es por eso que decidimos tener a los jardines babilónicos (uno de las siete maravillas del mundo antiguo).
En realidad, la banda tiene un nuevo baterista ¿por qué el primer baterista dejó la banda? y ¿cómo afectó esta perdida? y ¿cómo es trabajar con el nuevo baterista?
La banda y Alessandro habian decidido separarse por mutuo acuerdo a principios de 2014. Era una división amistosa, simplemente nos dimos cuenta que teníamos diferentes objetivos musicales. Gabriele se unió a nosotros y el mismo mes nos dio nueva energía; encontramos a nuestro baterista adecuado!
La banda lanzará en breve un primer full lenght, ¿cómo va todo eso? ¿Cómo van los dias de grabación? y ¿cuándo cree lanzar este trabajo?
Nuestro primer álbum, "Lies' Device" será autoeditado el 27 de junio (la pre-venta comenzará el 10 de junio en nuestra página BandCamp). Realmente ponemos alma y corazón en este trabajo! Volvimos a Eden Studio en Agosto del 2013, de nuevo con Alessio Lucatti, y pasamos unos 3 meses trabajando en el álbum. Fue un gran esfuerzo, pero estoy orgulloso del resultado.
Me gusta el sonido de la banda, buenas melodías de Power Metal, y Nicoletta ¿Cómo trabajas tus letras? y en ¿que tomas inspiración para escribirlas?
Normalmente me tomo mi inspiración de la mitología, historia, libros, series de televisión y también asuntos de la vida. Realmente depende del momento, de cómo me siento y lo que me interesa, en ese momento!
Por cierto ¿cuál será el concepto de este primer full lenght?
No hay concepto. Por cierto, nuestro título y las ilustraciones se centran en "Lies' Device" el tema es: cada hombre se ve obligado a usar una máscara ante el mundo, sólo para ser lo que quieren los demás.
¿Cómo se puede describir la performance de los espectáculos de Kalidia? y has pensado en una gira después del lanzamiento de este primer full lenght?
Durante estos años hemos crecido juntos y hemos mejorado mucho nuestra presencia en el escenario; de todos modos eso es siempre espacio para más mejoras! Personalmente, tengo mucha diversión en el escenario y yo trato de inyectar entusiasmo en nuestro público! Nos encantaría hacer una gira: Vamos a ver qué podemos hacerla!
Bueno, para terminar esta entrevista, ¿tienes algún mensaje a tus fans y lectores Arsenal Del Metalero?
Gracias de nuevo por este espacio y gracias a todos los lectores por su tiempo! Espero que te guste nuestro álbum "Lies' Device", tanto como lo hago!
Para saber más sobre Kalidia:
https://www.facebook.com/KalidiaBand
Interview by Luis Landeo
Welcome to Arsenal Del Metalero Nicoletta, how are you? but let start this interview. how
start your band? and why this name of Kalidia?
Hello! Thank you so much for this interview! I decided to start a band with Federico (guitars), Nicola (keys), Alessandro (drums), since we previously have played together in another band. After more than a year we finally found Roberto (bass), the proper bassist for Kalidia; at the beginning of 2014 we had a line up change and Gabriele (drums) joined us. About our name, Kalidia is formed by the union of Goddess Kalì and the ancient land of Lidia (Lidia is also one of the musical scale).
In 2012 was released the EP: "Dance of the Four Winds" how was work in this first EP? and about the art why the band tried to represent the babylonic gardens in this EP?
It was our first studio experience and it really thaught us a lot. Also, it was a great privilege to be
followed by Alessio Lucatti (Vision Divine, Etherna), an experienced power metal musician (we
owe him a lot!). We are influenced by mythological and historical themes, that's why we decided to have Babylonic Gardens (one the seven wonders of the ancient world).
Actually the band have a new drummer why the first drummer left the band? and how affected you this loose? and how is work with the new drummer?
The band and Alessandro have decided to part company in mutual understanding at the beginning of
2014. It was a friendly split, we just realized we had different musical goals. Gabriele joined us at the and of the same month and he gave us new energy; we found our proper drummer!
The band will release soon a first full length, how goes all with that? how goes the recording days? and when do you think release this work?
Our first album, “Lies' Device” will be self-released on June 27th (the pre-sale will start on June 10th on our BandCamp page). We truly put heart and soul in this work! We returned to Eden Studio at August 2013, again with Alessio Lucatti, and we spent around 3 months working on the album. It was a great effort but I'm proud of the result.
I like the sound of the band, good melodies of Power Metal, and you Nicoletta how do you work your lyrics? and in what do you take inspiration for write it?
I usually take my inspiration from mythology, history, books, TV-series and also life's matters.
It truly depends on the moment, on how I feel and what I'm interested in, in that moment!
By the way what will be the concept for this first full length?
There's no concept. By the way, our title and artwork focus on “Lies' Device”'s theme: every men is
forced to wear a mask in the world, just to be what others wanted.
How can you describe the performance of the shows of Kalidia? and have you thinked in tour after the release of this first full lenght?
During these years togheter we have grown up and we have improved a lot our stage presence; anyway that's always space for more improvements! Personally, I have lot of fun on the stage and I try to inject enthusiasm into our audience! We'd love to do a tour: let's see what we can arrange!
Well to end this interview, do you have a last message to fans and Arsenal Del Metalero readers?
Thank you again for this space and thank to all the readers for their time! I hope you'll like our
album “Lies' Device”, as much as I do!
To know more about Kalidia:
https://www.facebook.com/KalidiaBand
