EXCLUSIVE: INTERVIEW WITH PAOLO COLAVOLPE OF DESTRAGE
ITALIAN RISING STAR !! TECHNICAL, POWERFUL, AND CHAOTIC !! INTELLIGENCE MODERN METAL BAND DESTAGE ARE GONNA COMING TO JAPAN ON 2015 AGAIN !!
ボーニョボーニョボニョザガナノゴ～～で図らずも自らの狂信的ジブリ愛、日本愛を世の中に広く知らしめる事に成功したイタリアン・ライジングスター、DESTRAGE。DISARMONIA MUNDI の奇才 ETTORE RIGOTTI の肝入りで製作した 2nd アルバム “王様はデブで老いぼれである” のイカレっぷりが各所で好評を博し、あれよあれよという間にメタル界の大御所 METAL BLADE と契約を結んでしまいました。今年そこから発表した彼らの最新作 “ARE YOU KIDDING ME? NO.” は弊サイトのリーダーズポールにランクされたように実に素晴らしい彼らの最高傑作となりました。確かにアルバムタイトルや曲名に象徴されるように彼らのイカレた部分は非常に魅力的なのですがこのアルバムでは良い意味で成熟し、荒削りだった部分が改善されています。とは言え SIKTH, PROTEST THE HERO, BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME などをさらに闇鍋化させたようなその INSANE なサウンドは十二分に健在。昨今のバンドたちよりギターヒーロー的なプレイを連発するギターチームも最高にクールですね。二度目の来日も決まったようで止まるところを知らない彼らの快進撃。ボーカルの PAOLO に話が聞けました。
ANNA MURPHY OF ELUVEITIE TALKS ABOUT THEIR NEW ALBUM “ORIGINS”, PADE KISTLER, HURDY-GURDY, AND LIVE IN JAPAN !!
今年は FOLK / VIKING METAL が本格的に日本に上陸を開始した年になったように思います。11月には PAGAN METAL ALLIANCE という FOLK / VIKING 系のバンドを集めたフェスが開催され ENSIFERUM, MOONSORROW, OLPHANED LAND といったバンドの好演で盛り上がりました。そしてこのバンドの公演も大好評でしたね。ELUVEITIE。メンバーにハーディー・ガーディー、バグパイプ、ヴァイオリン奏者を含む本格的な FOLK METAL バンドです。8月に発表した最新作 “ORIGINS” も DARK TRANQUILIRY, IN FLAMES 直系の本格的なメロデスを骨格としながらケルト神話の世界観と民族楽器を使用したフォーキーなメロディーで肉付けを施した彼ららしい快作に仕上がっていますね。SWISS MUSIC AWARDS を獲得したり日本の HONDA とスポンサー契約を結んだりとバンドにとっても重要な年になりました。ただメンバーチェンジの多いバンドで先の来日公演でもバグパイプに日本国旗をブッ刺しながらステージ上をウロウロし、”KAMIKAZE WHISTLER” の異名を欲しい儘にした PADE KISTLER は脱退してしまいました。その辺りも含めてヴァイオリンの二コールちゃんと二人で ELUVEITIE の “KAWAII” を担当するボーカル/ハーディー・ガーディー奏者の ANNA MURPHY に話が聞けました。
Actually we just uploaded one whole track which is called “Carbon Phrases”. This song starts like modern rock/pop song but then transends into a tech death metal song. It is over 9 minutes long and the listener will be taken on a journey where tension is always created and reliefed. There are of course stunning guitar solos and blazing drum fills, but the main statement of this song is the variety in human life. The lyrics are about the tought process of a writer/artist, but in fact it has a double meaning. A “Carbon Phrase” literally would be a line of a script or play written on a paper with a pencil. But since carbon is the matter all physical beings on this earth share, “Carbon Phrases” is also a metaphor for our DNA.The other track is an album teaser. It’s just one minute of 4 different songs, just to get an impression of how the other material sounds.
“CARBON PHRASES” という新曲を公開したよ！この曲はモダンなロック/ポップ的に始まるんだけど徐々にテクデスに移行するんだ。９分を超える長尺曲でリスナーは緊張とその解放という旅に出る事になるね。勿論目を見張るようなギターソロと燃えるようなドラムフィルは健在だけどこの曲の要は人生の多様さについての主張なんだ。歌詞はライターやアーティストの思考プロセスについてなんだけど、これはダブルミーニング。”CARBON PHRASE” とは文字通りだと手書きの文章とか鉛筆で書き下ろしって意味だよね。だけどカーボンは地球上にある全ての物質の起源だから、”CARBON PHRASES” とは DNA の隠喩でもあるのさ。アルバムティーザーでは他の曲も聴けるよ。４曲が一分づつ。他の曲の印象も感じて欲しいな。
【ABOUT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OBSCURA】
The difference between Obscura is, that we take the music and the lyrics to much wider places. It is much “more” considering contrasts. The contrast of the parts and the whole songs to another is drastic. We finally want to prove with Alkaloid that metal doesn’t have to stay in a narrow field of one particular style. Since I wrote the biggest part of the music on Obscura’s last two albums, and also Chris’ guitar work was one of the most crucial factors to Obscura’s sound, there are of course elements in Alkaloid which are fairly similar to Obscura. Maybe Alkaloid is just the most logical consequence when taking the music on Obscura’s “Omnivium” to the next higher level.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to share our music with Japanese listeners. I’ve been to Japan twice (with Obscura) and it was one of the best touring experiences ever. So I’d be psyched if people in Japan were receptive for the music of this new band as well.
こちらは同時に公開されたアルバム収録曲でクリスのギターソロ曲 “C VALUE ENIGMA” です。フランツ・リストのピアノ曲をギターにおこしたかのような超絶技巧で同時に刹那的な美しさを放っています。ギタリストなら聴いて損はなし！！
【ABOUT CROWDFUNDING】
Producing a professional album is a lot of work. We need to invest a lot of time and money into recording our instruments. But this is just a small part of what needs to be done. We also need to get the album mixed and mastered. For this job we work with V Santura, who also has mixed most of the albums of the other bands we play(ed) in, like Obscura and Dark Fortress. But then we need to get the physical copies pressed, we need artwork, fotos, a booklet and a general album design. Even counting the unpaid hours of work we’ve to put into the album ourselves, we still need people to do all these jobs. And since we want to produce the best quality possible, we need to hire nothing but professionals. So none of the funded money will lead to personal enrichment! Everything will be used to deliver the best quality. We worked hard and are offering EXCLUSIVE perks which are LIMITED; and which YOU hopefully find interesting enough to eventually support our campaign.We appreciate everything you do in order to help us. May it be selecting a perk and thus advancing our album or just telling a friend about this campaign, consider our gratitude to be endless!
WORLD PREMIERE: NEW SONG!! “BACK ON MY TRAIL” OF REVOLUTION SAINTS !!
It’s a fun record. It’s not safe. It is a musician’s record,” states Castronovo.
DOUG, DEAN, JACK のバンド REVOLUTION SAINTS がもう一曲新曲を公開しました。アルバムオープナーの “BACK ON MY TRAIL”です。コード進行、声、コーラスの付け方などまるで勢いのある JOURNEY といった趣で素晴らしさしかないですね！！アルバムを楽しみに待ちましょう！！
WORLD PREMIERE: NEW SONG !! “TURN BACK TIME” OF REVOLUTION SAINTS !!
DOUG ALDRICH (ex-WHITESNAKE, BMR, LION), JACK BLADES (NIGHT RANGER), DEAN CASTRONOVO (JOURNY) JOIN TOGETHER AS A NEW BAND “REVOLUTION SAINTS !! THEY SET TO RELEASE THEIR DEBUT ALBUM “REVOLUTION SAINTS” ON 2/20 !!
WHITESNAKE を脱退した DOUG ALDRICH が NIGHT RANGER, DAMN YANKYS の歌って弾けるベーシスト、JACK BLADES, JOURNY, BAD ENGLISH の歌って叩けるドラマー、DEAN CASTRONOVO と結成した新バンド REVOLUTION SAINTS。 彼らのデビューシングル “TURN BACK TIME” が遂に発表となりました。誰が歌うのか？という点にも注目が集まりましたがこの新曲ではディーンがメインで歌ってジャックがヴァースやボーカルハーモニーを担当という形のようです。そもそも歌唱には定評のあるディーンですが STEVE PERRY 譲りの絶品のボーカルを披露しています。ダグのカッティングリフもキレキレで正統派メロディックロックの素晴らしさを凝縮したような曲ですね。デビューアルバム “REVOLUTION SAINTS” は 2/20 、日本では 2/18 に FRONTIER RECORDS から発売です！！
From the opening notes of “Back On My Trail” to the piano outro on the album-closer “In The Name Of The Father (Fernando’s Song),” it is clear Revolution Saints is a musical force to be reckoned with. Songs “Locked Out Of Paradise,” “Dream On” and “Here Forever” showcase the diversity that permeates throughout the entire album. Deen’s band mates from Journey also make an appearance on the album with guitarist Neal Schon showing up on “Way To The Sun” and vocalist Arnel Pineda singing on “You’re Not Alone.” The album’s 80’s vibe is reminiscent of some of the biggest hard rock tracks of the day, but with a modern feel, backed by top-level musicianship.
デビュー作 “REVOLUTION SAINTS” にはディーンのバンド JOURNEY からギタリストの NEAL SCHON が “WAY TO THE SUN” に、ボーカルの ARNEL PINEDA が “YOU’RE NOT ALONE” にそれぞれゲスト参加しています。トップレベルのミュージシャンシップに支えられたアルバムは 80年代のビッグなハードロックのヴァイブを残しつつそこにモダンな雰囲気も加わって完成しました。
KAL SWAN, DOUG ALDRICH, JERRY BEST, MARK EDWARDS という 80~90 年代のシーンにおいてそこそこ重要人物達を擁した悲運のバンド。何が悲運かは適当にググッて下さい。重要なのはカルとダグがこのアルバムでは非常に生き生きとしている事。
BAD MOON RISING – S/T
LION 解散後、ダグとカルの二人が結成したバンド。このアルバムはカルの歌唱が最大限生かされた英国の湿り気を帯びたメタルで実に素晴らしいです。グランジ/オルタナの台頭にしたがって徐々に彼らの音楽性も拡散して行きます。彼らの最終作 “OPIUM FOR THE MASSES” などはカルの歌唱力を生かしているとはお世辞にも言えませんがダグのギターはアイデア豊富でそれはそれで楽しめます。この後カルは音楽業を引退し、ダグは BURNING RAIN ~ WHITESNAKE, そして今に至ります。
HARDLINE – DOUBLE ECLIPSE
JOURNY 終了後、BAD ENGLISH で何か満たされなかった NEAL SCHON が新たに結成したバンド。ニール、ディーン以外にも JOHNNY GIOEL, TODD JENSEN というメロハー界隈ではそこそこ重要人物が参加しています。楽曲の出来はなかなか良いのですがニールのギタリストとしての良さを100%発揮しているかというと疑問です。ただこの曲は完璧な名曲。アーネル加入後の JOURNY がいかにロックとして素晴らしいかわかりますね。
ITALIAN MODERN PROG/DJENT BAND GARDENJIA SET TO RELEASE THEIR NEW ALBUM “NAISICAA OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND” ON 12/21. IT IS A CONCEPT ALBUM BASED ON “NAUSIKA” AND MOVIE SCORE OF JOE HISAISHI.
BANDIERA DO MODERN PROG !! イタリアが生んだモダンプログの旗手、GARDENJIA。今年発表した良作 “MATERIA OSCURA” に続く新作が12/21に早くも届きます。タイトルは “NAISICAA OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND“。宮崎駿の名作「風の谷のナウシカ」と久石譲のサウンドトラックを基にしたコンセプトアルバムです。そこから “SYMPHONIC POEM PART 1” を世界初公開です！！
【ABOUT NAUSICAA AND MESSAGE FOR JAPAN】
“The album is inspired by 1984 Hayao Miyazaki masterpiece Nausicaä of the valley of the wind. We tried to create an image of Nausicaa a bit different, firstly to respect the master work because the original character is untouchable. It is a conceptual album based on the film and on the original movie score of Joe Hisaishi, we selected the music to perform and re-arranged all in our style. The album turned out as one long song made of 16 chapters. The album art shows a “grown up” Nausicaä in a post-atomic context, she has also developed some special faculties as the third eye. The reasons that led us to create this project are many, first of all to pass in a certain sense, the message of the work of the master Miyazaki based primarily on respect and love for nature, a message more relevant than ever in these times. The hate for the war and to all manifestations of hate and violence that still reduces men to beasts. Cooperation, the rediscovery of a life lived in a community whose life and whose work is in close relationship with the elements of nature. Today might sound almost like a utopian message, but we believe it is important to reiterate these concepts, especially for future generations, also because our generations are destroying any possibility of future created in harmony and peace. Our work is also a tribute to the great geniuses, Hayao Miyazaki, Joe Hisaishi, Studio Ghibli, a large team of artists who created masterpieces that will remain in time forever. We recently had news of the announced end of the career of the master Miyazaki, who gave us a last masterpiece like “The Wind Rises”, an incredible work of extreme beauty, also giving us a great picture of us Italians. This work is also a tribute to Japan, wonderful land of contrasts.
Thank you Master.”
WORLD PREMIERE: BEARDFISH LAUNCH “HOLD ON”. FIRST TRACK FROM THEIR FORTHCOMING ALBUM “+4626-COMFORTZONE”
Swedish progressive-rockers Beardfish recently announced the release of their new album ‘+4626-COMFORTZONE’ for the 12th January 2015 in Europe. Now the band are pleased to reveal the first track to be taken from the album in the shape of ‘Hold On’ which you can listen to exclusively here: http://prog.teamrock.com/news/2014-12-03/beardfish-premiere-hold-on
The band had this to say about the track: “Hold On was one of the first songs that came along for +4626-COMFORTZONE and it sort of set the mood for the rest of the album with the rhythm and the intertwined guitar riffs and melodies. The lyrics deal with trying to hang on to something that is slipping out of grasp and not being in connection with your inner self, to the point that you don’t recognize yourself in the mirror. A song that felt great right from the start and it still keeps getting better every time we play it live! Hope you’ll like it!”
The full track-listing for the album is as follows:
1. The One Inside Part 1 – Noise In The Background
2. Hold On
3. Comfort Zone
4. Can You See Me Now
5. King
6. The One Inside Part 2 – My Companion Throughout Life
7. Daughter Whore
8. If We Must Be Apart (A Love Story Continued)
9. Ode To The Rock’n’Roller
10. The One Inside Part 3 – Relief
Look out for more information in the coming weeks!
WORLD PREMIERE: NEW SONG!! “DYING ROSE” OF SWEET & LYNCH
“Dying Rose is the perfect representation of this album. It’s heavy yet dynamic with a riff and melody that reminds you of the greatest era in rock. George and I are proud of this song and excited that you all have the opportunity to finally hear it in it’s entirety and to see it as well!” exclaims Michael Sweet
WORLD PREMIERE: NEW SONG!! “THE WISH” FROM SWEET & LYNCH’S UPCOMING ALBUM “ONLY TO RISE”
Sweet & Lynch are releasing the first official video from their upcoming debut album, Only To Rise. The video is for the album opener “The Wish”. The video shows Michael Sweet and George Lynch performing the song together amongst imagery that corresponds with the song’s lyrics. The video was shot in Los Angeles and was directed by Devin DeHaven, known for his work with Rick Ross, Whitesnake, Kiss and R. Kelly to name a few.
“After almost a year of talking about the Sweet & Lynch album we’re extremely proud to premiere the first music video, The song takes you back to a time when guitar heroes ruled the airwaves and melodies soared. The thought was to bring back the late 70’s/early 80’s with a modern twist and remind people of one of the best eras in hard rock/metal. George and I are proud of how this album turned out and we’re counting the days for the release, We’re equally as proud of the fan base out there. So many people have been there through thick and thin and this album is a testimony to the perseverance of working hard and working even harder. George, Brian, James and myself gave 110% to every note played and sung and we hope that it shows.”
「ほぼ一年に渡って SWEET & LYNCH の話をしていたんだけど遂に初のPVを公開できて誇らしく思うよ。この曲は君達をギターヒーローの時代に誘うだろうね。HR/HM が輝いていた 70’s 後半から 80’s 前半のヴァイブにモダンな感覚を加えたような感じさ。GEORGE も僕も発売が待ちきれないよ！ファンのみんなにも感謝しているんだ。GEORGE, BRIAN, JAMES そして僕は全ての音に100%を注ぎ込んだからね！」 MICHAEL SWEET
Only To Rise is scheduled for release on January 23rd in Europe and January 27th, 2015 in the United States via Froniters Music SRL. Backing up Sweet & Lynch on this new musical adventure is bassist James Lomenzo and drummer Brian Tichy. Sweet & Lynch recently launched a pre-order for the new album via PledgeMusic. The pre-order features various bundle packages for fans and is live at: http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/sweetlynch. The album is also available via Amazon at: http://geni.us/SweetLynchAMZ.
WORLD PREMIERE: “TWILIGHT OF THE GODS” FIRST SINGLE OF BLIND GUARDIAN’S FORTHCOMING ALBUM “BEYOND THE RED MIRROR”!!!
来月発売、BLIND GUARDIAN の新作 “BEYOND THE RED MIRROR” からファーストシングル “TWILIGHT OF THE GODS” を世界初公開です！！
NUCLEAR BLAST NEWS: TRAILER OF BEYOND THE RED MIRROR OF BLIND GUARDIAN
“We do have a really great pre-production, very precise and rich in details,” shares BLIND GUARDIAN drummer Frederik Ehmke. “We completely separate the creative part from the purely performance part of recording. This means that my head is clear and I can focus 100% on the performance.”
Guitarist Marcus Siepen adds: “We like to keep our options open to the very end. We do not record just two rhythm guitar tracks; we add several tracks, also with different tunings… we enrich the sound with down-tuned guitars. A wall of sound!”
Metal’s most epic storytellers BLIND GUARDIAN have just released the first new album trailer for their highly-anticipated tenth studio release, »Beyond The Red Mirror«, due out in Europe on January 30th, 2015, February 2nd in the UK and February 3rd, 2015 in North America.
METAL 界で最もエピカルなバンド、BLIND GUARDIAN。遂に1/30に発売となる新作 BEYOND THE RED MIRROR からファーストトレイラーを公開です！！
“It is impossible for us to choose a song that represents the whole album. The upcoming single needs to be seen as an appetizer- ‘Twilight Of The Gods’ is perfect, because it reveals incredible dynamic and contains great melody lines”, shares BLIND GUARDIAN vocalist & lyricist Hansi Kürsch.
「アルバム全体を表現するような一曲を選ぶのは難しかったよ。前菜のような役割が求められるからね。”TWILIGH OF THE GODS” は完璧だったよ。信じられないくらいダイナミックで素晴らしいメロディーラインを有しているからね。」
HANSI KURSCH
The track listing for »Beyond The Red Mirror« is as follows:
Ninth Wave
Twilight Of The Gods
Prophecies
At The Edge Of Time
Ashes Of Eternity
Distant Memories (bonus track on limited editions + vinyl)
Holy Grail
The Throne
Sacred Mind
Miracle Machine
Grand Parade
Four-and-a-half years in the making, »Beyond The Red Mirror« was recorded at Twilight Hall Studio in Grefrath, Germany and produced by Charlie Bauerfeind (SAXON, HAMMERFALL, HELLOWEEN). The album’s spellbinding tracks showcase BLIND GUARDIAN’s long-awaited collaborative work with three different classical choirs from Prague, Budapest, and Boston, plus two grand orchestras – each featuring 90 musicians. An endeavour demanding that attention be paid to the lyrics as much as to the music, »Beyond The Red Mirror« is a desperate search for truth, an exploration of the relativities of good and evil, a testimony of the consequences of lost opportunities, a glimpse into a distant universe’s dystopian society, and a story about a prophecy, a promise of revolution, a plot for revenge, and a miracle machine with powers far beyond what mere mortals could have dreamed possible.
前作から四年半の時間を経てリリースされる新作 BEYOND THE RED MIRROR は SAXON, HAMMERFALL, HELLOWEEN を手掛けた CHARLIE BAUERFEIND のプロデュースで録音されました。プラハ、ブタペスト、ボストンのコーラス隊と二つのオーケストラと共演し総勢90人のミュージシャンが参加しています。
AVANT GOTH? PROGRESSIVE EXPERIMENTAL DOOM? ABSTRACT ELECTRICACOUSTIC? ANYWAY, US MODERN GENIUS KAYO DOT RELEASED MARVELOUS NEW ALBUM COFFINS ON IO FROM THE FLENSER RECORDS !!
US 変態超常異能集団 KAYO DOT。昨年、彼らの10周年記念盤として製作され発売された二枚組みの大作 HUBARDO は各所で絶賛を博しました。弊サイトでも昨年のベストアルバムに選出、加えてKAYO DOT の頭脳 TOBY にインタビューを行う事が出来ました( INTERVIEW WITH TOBY DRIVER 2013 )。それから一年、THE FLENSER RECORDS という彼らにピッタリなレーベルに移って刺激を受けたのか驚くべき早さで新作が届きました。タイトルは COFFINS ON IO 。従来の EXPEIMENTAL, AVANT-GARDE, JAZZ, PROG 要素に加えてメタル要素を前面に押し出し、彼らの作品中で最も激しいアルバムとなった前作に対して今作はメタル要素は非常に薄めです。PROG, ELECTRONICA, NEW WAVE, その辺りをごちゃ混ぜにしてモダンな彩を加えたようなアルバムに仕上がりました。80年代と現在、そして未来を行き来しているような感覚に襲われますね。NOT MADE OF METAL, BUT HEAVY。そう表現したくなるような深みと知性に溢れたこれもまた KAYO DOT の素晴らしいアルバムです。彼らの代名詞となった SAX の使い方も相変わらず秀逸ですね。弊サイトでは初、二度目の登場となる歌に目覚めた TOBY DRIVER に話が聞けました。どうぞ。
