‘The Imperial Skies’ Chapters Album Review

London-based progressive metal band Chapters began their journey in 2009, and since then they have been making a name for themselves in the UK metal scene. Their unique blend of heavy metal and progressive rock has gained them thousands of fans across the world so far, and their latest album ‘The Imperial Skies’ is definitely one of the hottest metal albums around.

Opening track ‘I Will Reign Forever’ opens with an incredible technical guitar solo, which instantly proves how Chapters are not just another metal band: their musical skills are both impressive and enjoyable to listen to. Lead vocalist Joseph Nally’s screams are undeniably heavy and brutal, instantly making an impact on your brain.

The disjointed and fast-paced riffs in ‘March Of The Puritan’ are full of energy, making you imagine what Chapters would be like at a live show. Despite constantly changing pace and tempo, the four-piece band have managed to master the art of technical metal songs, making them sound effortless and exciting.

Final track ‘Chapters’ is the perfect end to an exhilarating album: the heavy riffs and vocals merge seamlessly together. Full of breakdowns and spine-chilling screams, Chapters have truly managed to create an album which will stand the test of time.

If you are a fan of bands such as Sylosis and Malefice, then you definitely need to check out Chapters. 

Rating: 8/10

www.facebook.com/chaptersmetal 

'Is This Growing Up?' Over Album Review

Release Date: 7^th March 2015

In a music industry mainly dominated by males, it is always uplifting to find a female-fronted band that does not have to rely on gimmicks or over-sexualised material to gain fans. Italy-based five-piece Over are one of these bands, and it is safe to say that their latest release ‘Is This Growing Up?’ is full of melodic punk rock anthems that will change your views on females in the rock industry.

The album begins with ‘Growing Up’, an instrumental track which is both dramatic and mysterious, which instantly peaks your interest. This leads seamlessly into ‘Wrong For You’, an angst-filled melodic song which is both catchy and exciting. Lead singer Linda Battilani’s vocals are simple yet effective: her range is impressive and she sounds both unique and familiar at the same time.

‘The Promise’ is the first single to have been released from ‘Is This Growing Up?’ and it is safe to say that Over picked one of the best songs on the album to peak people’s interest. Linda’s harmonious vocals merge perfectly with Nick Bagnoli’s harsh screams. The guitar riffs are a fantastic fusion of heavy rock and pop punk, appealing to rock and punk fans across the spectrum.

Melody-filled track ‘Like Ashes Underground’ is filled with stunning harmonies and exciting guitar riffs. One of the best parts of this track is the breakdown, which is well-placed and features heavy screaming vocals. The pop-punk anthem is both addictive and completely different to anything that you have ever heard before.

Two of the most appealing things about Over are their passionate lyrics and melodic vocals. Despite not being the most technical band in the world, they are able to create songs that sound both fresh and exciting. Their music is harmless and fun-filled, so if you are looking for a band that will lift your mood and make you sing along no matter where you are, then you should definitely check out Over.

Rating: 8/10

www.facebook.com/OVERtheband 

'Dreamers' Bounds Of Modesty EP Review

There are many different things associated with Amsterdam, such as canals, museums and of course the infamous coffee shops, but pop punk isn’t usually one of them. However, Bounds Of Modesty, a four-piece band that formed in 2009, are on a mission to change this with their latest EP ‘Dreamers’.

‘Dreamers’ is the soundtrack to Bounds Of Modesty’s latest feature film, which promises to tell the story of the friends chasing their dreams and the obstacles that they encounter on the way. Also, each of the five songs on ‘Dreamers’ claims to have its own signature instrument, such as banjos, harmoniums and ukuleles. Opening track ‘The Heart Wants’ is upbeat and fast-paced, which instantly catches your attention. Callum Stamp’s vocals are harmonic and striking, allowing you to really focus on the stories being told in the lyrics. The beautiful fusion of acoustic riffs and harrowing vocals pull at your heartstrings and leaves you desperate to hear more.

‘Superheroes’ is one of the slowest-paced songs on the album, however, the emotion-filled lyrics and stunning vocals are more than enough to keep you entertained.

Final track ‘Awake’ is not only just a great ending to ‘Dreamers’, it also proves that every song on the EP is enjoyable to listen to.  Although the orchestra-like composition of the song sounds nothing like pop-punk, they prove that they are multi-talented and unique.

Although Bounds Of Modesty are relatively unknown, many bands could learn a thing or two about multimedia from them. Every song is full of emotion and harmonies, proving that they are not just another pop punk band on the circuit: they are hard-working and talented musicians who deserve to have a much bigger fanbase.

Rating: 9/10

www.facebook.com/BoundsOfModesty 

'As I Walk With Fire' Opheon EP Review

Release Date: 4^th April 2015

There are thousands of teenage metal bands across the world, so it is safe to say that just being young musician is not enough to cut it anymore. However, the members of Opheon have an average age of nineteen and they have already received praise from Robb Flynn and Corey Beaulieu, so it is safe to say that they are definitely doing something right. ‘As I Walk With Fire’ is the latest release from the Birmingham-based four-piece and it is definitely an EP to watch out for.

Opening track ‘As I Walk With Fire’ gives an instant glimpse into what Opheon are about: heavy riffs, harsh vocals and hard-hitting lyrics. The fusion of fast-paced guitar solos and melodic vocals prove that despite being young, Opheon really know how to create a professional-sounding metal anthem.

If you have never listened to Opheon before then ‘The Distance’ would definitely be a great place to start: the melodic yet heavy song is not only catchy, but it is also one of the most impressive metal songs of this year so far. Liam and Josh’s vocals merge beautifully, and combined with unique riffs and thoughtful lyrics, it is almost impossible to ignore Opheon’s talent.

Final song ‘Lost In Undertow’ is full of energy and pure passion, making it the perfect end to such a hard-hitting EP. The crushing guitar riffs and heavy vocals leave you constantly wanting to hear more from the Birmingham youngsters and you will find yourself having this song stuck in your head, whether you like it or not.

‘As I Walk With Fire’ will be released on Saturday 4^th April. The official album release show will be on Thursday 9^th April at The Flapper in Birmingham, with support from The Final Chapter, Vexxen and This Memory.

Rating: 8/10

www.facebook.com/OpheonOfficial
www.twitter.com/OpheonOfficial 

Our Hollow, Our Home at The Joiners, Southampton

Support: Gone By Tomorrow, Deference, Tonight We Fall
11/02/15

Andover-based youngsters Tonight We Fall (7/10) were the first band to grace the stage, and it is safe to say that they warmed the crowd up well. Despite being ill, vocalist Sam Culverwell was able to impress the crowd with his heavy vocals and energetic stage performance. Although they are teenagers, Tonight We Fall are talented musicians who seem to improve with every performance that they do. Their confidence and ambition is almost infectious and it is clear that they already have a strong fan-base in the Hampshire area.

Deference (8/10), a Southampton-based metal band were next on the stage, and it is safe to say that they opened with a bang. Rob Lea's heavy vocals were incredible and merged well with the fast-paced guitar riffs. Once of the easiest bands to compare them to would be Architects as their musical style is very similar, which was demonstrated during their more melodic songs. Despite not having any released material yet they certainly knew how to entertain a crowd and left everyone wanting more.

The final support act was Gone By Tomorrow (6/10), a five-piece metalcore band from Southampton. With similarities to bands such as Yashin, Asking Alexandria and With One Last Breath they definitely appealed more to the younger fans in the audience. Despite being energetic and entertaining their set was much more slower-paced and gentle compared to the heavier bands on the line-up, which made some of the crowd disengage with their performance. Their mixture of screaming vocals and harmonies worked well, however, there was definitely something missing from their set.

After recently releasing their EP '//Redefine', local metalcore heroes Our Hollow, Our Home (9/10) returned to Southampton for their home show. With a crowd full of family, fans and friends, it was easy to see how popular the five-piece have become since their formation in 2013. Known locally as energetic and hard-working musicians, it is exciting to see their career progress further and their talent become recognised by record labels and publications around the world. One of the most well-received songs was 'If Those Were Guns, Reggie Be Dead', which was played twice during their set: once as a band, and once as an acoustic song for the encore. Every song that was played sounded unique and fresh, and Connor Hallisey's harsh vocals were on top form, merging well with Tobias Young's clean singing. Our Hollow, Our Home engaged well with the crowd and they even brought an inflatable boat with them (called 'H.M.S Heisenberg') for fans to crowdsurf in. It is safe to say that Our Hollow, Our Home are one of the best bands to come out of Southampton, and if you haven't listened to them yet then you are definitely missing out.

www.facebook.com/ourhollowourhome

www.facebook.com/gonebytomorrowuk

www.facebook.com/WeAreDeference

www.facebook.com/tonightwefallofficial

'Black Hearse Serenade' I.N.C Album Review

I.N.C
‘Black Hearse Serenade’
Label: Ferocious Records
Release Date: 24th October 2014

I.N.C, also known as Indestructible Noise Command, are a five-piece band from Bridgeport. Described as everything from trash metal, to power metal, to heavy metal, they formed in 1985 after Erik Barath and Dennis Gergely decided that they were frustrated by the ‘cookie-cutter bands plastering videos on the sole cable station’. Despite having a previously complicated history, I.N.C are back for good, and ‘Black Hearse Serenade’ is their latest offering to the metal community. 

Opening track ‘Stirring The Flock’ begins with ominous chanting, leading into a ferocious guitar riff. The thrash-orientated guitar playing merges well with Dennis’ angst-filled vocals. The four minute track is filled with groove metal guitar riffs, angry lyrics and a surprisingly catchy chorus. 

‘Cyanide & Whiskey’ is heavy, hard-hitting and harrowing: everything that an impressive metal song should be. The strong riffs and heavy vocals are almost reminiscent of Pantera, but with a modern day twist. 

Despite being a metal vocalist, Dennis is able to display the true extent of his vocal talent on songs such as ‘Organ Grinder’. From harmonic vocals to screaming, he is able to make songs sound exciting and different. 

‘No Turning Back’ is one of the most impressive songs on the entire album, mainly due to the blend of heavy yet technical guitar riffs. Dennis is able to manipulate his vocals into many different styles, making his voice sound unlike anything that you have ever heard before. It is easily apparent that the members of I.N.C are using their previous experience in the music business to good use and they are able to create something exciting for metal music fans across the spectrum. The dramatic chanting also makes the song feel as though it has theatrical elements incorporated into it too, keeping listeners hooked.

Final song ‘Love Like Napalm’ is unlike anything else on ‘Black Horse Serenade’: the slow and passionate melodies sound and feel almost like the final number at a theatre show. The guitar riffs are not only technical, but they are also perfectly matched with the lyrics and hard-hitting vocals. 

It is becoming increasingly common for bands to state that their albums have concepts when they certainly do not, however, it is clear from listening to ‘Black Hearse Serenade’ that I.N.C have mastered the art of story-telling through their music. The lyrical content is both interesting and exciting, with emotive vocals to match. Although this album may not appeal to everyone, if you are interested in listening to metal music that is the perfect fusion of modern and classic, then I.N.C may be exactly what you are looking for. 

7/10

https://www.facebook.com/incmetal

Neck Deep at the Electric Ballroom, Camden (06/02/2015)

Neck Deep

Support: Trophy Eyes, Seaway, Knuckle Puck
06/02/2015

Themed tours are not something that often work well, but ‘The Intercontinental Championships Tour’ worked perfectly. Four pop-punk bands from four different countries, plus hundreds of foam hands and cheesy intro music lead to a ten-date UK tour filled with happy fans and energetic musicians. 

Opening the tour for the last time were Trophy Eyes (7/10), a five-piece Australian punk band. One of the most notable aspects of their performance was their pure energy and passion: it was easy to see how excited they were to be playing on a sold-out stage at the Electric Ballroom. The venue was packed out to the brim and vocalist John knew exactly how to engage with the crowd. Their catchy riffs and hard-hitting vocals made it almost impossible to stand still during their set and they left the stage with fans eagerly awaiting more.

Canadian pop-punk five-piece Seaway (8/10) proved their brilliance before they even arrived onto stage due to their opening song ‘Blame Canada’ from comedy television show South Park. Lead singer Ryan Locke spoke about how humbled they were to play in the UK for the first time and he genuinely seemed astounded at how many people were singing his lyrics back at him. One of the songs that the crowd seemed to engage with the most was ‘Alberta’, a slow paced pop-punk song which was full of angst and well-written lyrics. they informed the audience that they were filming a music video during their set, which seemed to increase the already-full energy levels of the crowd. 

Chicago-based punk-rock five piece Knuckle Puck (7/10) were next on the bill, walking onto stage to Van Halen’s classic hit ‘Jump’. Vocalist John Siorek was full of energy as constantly jumping around the stage and encouraging fans to move along with him. Playing songs such as ‘Your Back Porch’, ‘Stuck' and ‘No Good’, they were able to keep the crowd momentum high. The mixture of screaming and melodic backing vocals worked as well live as it does on their records, creating beautiful harmonies that worked well alongside their emotion-filled lyrical style.

“We thought we would do a wrestling tour because it would be funny!” Wrexham-based pop-punk heroes Neck Deep (9/10) graced the stage for the final time of this tour, and it is safe to say that they left it with a bang. Opening with ‘Losing Teeth’ they instantly made the crowd putty in their hands: there were mosh pits taking over most of the venue. Ben Barlow’s vocals were on top form and sounded even more powerful live. The happy-go-lucky band impressed crowds with songs such as ‘Damsel In Distress’, ‘Crushing Grief (No Remedy)' and ‘Sweet Nothings’. It is easy to see just how far that Neck Deep have come in just a year: “A year ago we were playing to two hundred people at The Barfly, today we are playing to 1000 people!” Their popularity has not only been increased by social networking websites, but also the hard-work and dedication that they put into each and every live show. One of the most memorable moments of the evening was their acoustic rendition of ballad ‘A Part Of Me’, with Laura Whiteside joining Ben on stage to create a beautiful and harmony-filled performance. Despite the curfew being at 9.45pm, Neck Deep managed to play an impressive seventeen songs and left the crowd feeling satisfied and impressed by such raw and passionate music. They may call themselves generic pop-punk, but their performance was anything but ordinary. 

www.facebook.com/neckdeepuk / www.twitter.com/NeckDeepUK
www.facebook.com/KnucklePuckIL / www.twitter.com/KnucklePuckIL
www.facebook.com/seawayoakville / www.twitter.com/seawayband 

www.facebook.com/trophyeyesmusic / www.twitter.com/trophyeyesmusic 

'Matter As Regent' Wells Valley Album Review

Wells Valley

‘Matter As Regent’
Release Date: 7th February 2015
Label: Bleak Recordings

It is not very often that you hear about Portuguese metal bands on websites, let alone Portuguese post-metal/sludge bands, so it is highly unlikely that you have heard of Wells Valley before. The trio consists of Filipe Correia from Concealment, Pedro Lopes and Pedro Mau from Kneel. They formed in late 2011, however, they have only recently signed to Bleak Recordings. ’Matter As Regent’ is their debut album, which consists of six tracks. 

Opening song ‘Ghost Of You’ instantly transports the listener into an eerie place filled with twisted guitar riffs and hard-hitting drum beats. It takes around a minute and a half for the vocals to kick in, which makes Wells Valley’s almost progressive. Lead singer Filipe’s voice has a harrowing sound to it; his whispers and shouts make the song sound like it should be a part of a horror film soundtrack. There is something unsettling about the breakdown, which is most likely the fear of the unknown: once you are so engaged in the music it is impossible to tell which way the song will end up next. However, this is not a bad thing, it makes the album not only unique, but extremely exciting to listen to. 

‘Hands Are Void’ incorporates a mixture of screaming and technical guitar riffs, which appeals to both sludge and post-metal fans. Although it is hard to hear the lyrics clearly it almost adds to the haunting nature of the song. It is almost as if the songs were made with the intent for listeners to create their own ideas of what the music is about. 

One of the bands that Wells Valley have recently been compared to is Gojira. Although their songs are composed in a similar way, it is hard to hear any other similarities in their music. The one exception to this is ’Sacred Mountain’, in which the heavier vocals and guitar riffs used could be seen as having a vague similarity to the sort of style that Gojira uses. 

‘Kingdom Of Salvation’ is possibly one of the best songs on the album. With heavy metal guitar riffs and fast-paced drumming, it is almost impossible not to hit the ‘replay’ button on your music player. Filipe uses a wide range of vocal techniques, including hard-hitting and aggressive, slow and melodic and haunting screaming vocals. The pace of the song constantly changes, allowing the listener to stay entertained and impressed, despite the fact that it is the last song one the album. 

There is certainly nothing generic about Wells Valley. The trio are obviously extremely talented musicians, but they also know exactly how to create an album that brings something new to the post-metal/sludge scene. Each songs sounds different, with hints of progressive, technical and death metal incorporated into their music in unique ways. 

7/10

https://www.facebook.com/WellsValley 

Amon Amarth, Huntress and Savage Messiah at The 1865 in Southampton

At many concerts, especially metal concerts, there is a often a lot of negativity towards the opening band: why should people arrive at the venue early to see a band that they probably have not heard of? However, anyone who missed Savage Messiah's set should be kicking themselves. Their humble attitude engaged the crowd well and they sounded anything but generic. Lead singer Dave Silver's voice was on top form and he used his unique vocal style to its full potential. Their songs were full of catchy choruses, allowing them to gain new fans who could sing along as if they had followed the band since their formation in 2007. They managed to get the crowd warmed up perfectly with their technical guitar solos and melodic backing vocals.

Female fronted metal band Huntress were next to grace the Southampton stage, but don't let her femininity fool you: lead vocalist Jill Janus can growl deeper than most men. 'Pack your bong with stars and let's smoke the galaxies together' was her motto for the evening, allowing the rowdy crowd to engage with mystical lyrics about goddesses and spirituality. One of the highlights of their set was 'Flesh', a song from the new album which was dedicated to the females in the audience. With hard-hitting riffs and guitar solos it is sure to be a hit once it has been released later this year. Huntress often received mixed reviews from metal fans across the world, however, it is clear from their stellar live performance that they were back with a vengeance: Jill has previously said that she is set to conquer the world, one metalhead at a time. Every song sounded unique, with elements of doom, trash and black metal all fused together, to create something that is unlike anything that you have ever heard before.

Melodic death metal giants Amon Amarth packed out The 1865 to full capacity for their first ever Southampton show, proving that even after over twenty years together they still know how to impress crowds across the world. The Viking-themed musicians wowed the audience with their heavy riffs mixed with even heavier vocals. Lead singer Johan Hegg had an extremely powerful stage presence and he knew exactly how to work the crowd. Their setlist included songs from over seven of their albums, allowing fans young and old to hear their favourite tracks live. Playing hits such as 'Live For The Kill', 'Twilight Of The Thunder God' and 'Death In Fire', they made fans experience what a true Swedish heavy metal show is all about. Amon Amarth's mystical lyrics and fast-paced music style allowed the crowd to fully engage with the theatrical nature of their performance, creating huge mosh pits that covered the entire venue. One of the most impressive things about the band is their dedication to their music: there is no denying that they continue to keep performing live shows because they want to entertain the crowd, not just for the money or the fame. With Johan promising that this will not be their last visit to Southampton, Viking metal fans in the South will be anxiously awaiting their next tour and album release.

www.facebook.com/OfficialAmonAmarth 
www.facebook.com/HuntressKills 
www.facebook.com/SavageMessiahMetal

INTERVIEW: Jill Janus from Huntress

On the final night of their UK tour I spoke to Jill Janus, lead singer of Huntress, about her classical music training, dogs and the theme of Huntress' new album!

How has the tour been going so far?
It has been fantastic! What a great bill, and we are just so excited to be on the road with Amon Amarth. Savage Messiah kicks ass too!

What is it like being on the road with them?
Well, you know, it feels like family. We have known Amon Amarth since we toured together on Mayhem Festival in the States back in 2013, so everyone just feels like family and we are very supportive.

Awesome! How does it feel to be playing in Southampton tonight?
You know, I hear it is a real rager! I heard you guys know how to party so you had better freaking bring it!

How do crowds in England compare to crowds in America and other countries around the world?

It really depends on what the cities are like, y'know. They vary from city to city, but metalheads, true metalheads, all over the world are very much the same. They all have the same type of passion and you can see throughout the world, as long as they love heavy metal you know they are going to love true heavy metal.

How would you describe your music to someone who has not heard it before?

We are melodic heavy metal. I'm not easy listening heavy metal, you won't see me in a god damn corset or singing faux-opera, y'know. My background and my training is classical, which is the foundation for my screams. We are melodic, through and through. True, old school heavy metal, we have some of that in there. A little element of doom and thrash and even black metal and some death vocals. But y'know it is also tinged with theatre. Y'know I grew up on theatre, so you are going to see elements of theatrical in there and that is kind of a little bit of a hat-tip to Alice Cooper and King Diamond, and even Rob Halford and Judas Priest.

If you were trained in opera then what made you want to be in a metal band?

I have always wanted to be in metal or rock! I mean from the time I was thirteen years old I was obsessed with Suicidal Tendencies and Danzig and The Misfits and King Diamond. So my mother was the one who really encouraged me to stay true to opera and musical theatre because that is what was just occurring then in the small town I lived in. That is what I was doing and I won a scholarship to go to a school to study opera and performing arts. It has just been a really interesting journey for me. I have always wanted to sing, but now that I created this world for myself and following my purpose. I could not be happier!

What do you think that people should expect from a live show from you?

To be entertained! We are entertainment through and through.

What inspires you to continue writing and keep performing?

Music owns me! Ever since I was a very small child. Like I said, there has never been anything else but music. So that is my purpose and there is nothing else. And especially when Huntress started to gain momentum and we started ascending within the ranks of metal it became very clear that other ambitions would have to be abolished, so I am a slave!

Have you had to deal with much sexism in the music industry or do you believe that the metal community is more accepting?

I don't really pay attention! Again, part of living for your purpose is that you don't really participate in outside opinions. I don't read reviews, I don't ever allow myself to go on the internet to see what the trolls are up to. So I am very, very careful about what other people think. So I really do keep a very strict distance from all of that noise, positive or negative so that it won't affect my path.

What are your favourite and least favourite things about touring?

My least favourite is leaving my dogs at home! If we are touring in America then I can bring them with me, I can bring my little Annie with my Anubis. She is a rescue, well all of my animals are rescues and I am very involved in animal welfare and adoption and I just love critters! And then the best thing is just feeling like you really are achieving your goals in life. It is very rewarding to be here and sometimes you can get wrapped up in this strange loneliness. Every day kind of blends together and you just have to kind of step back and see the big picture and realise that we are really fortunate to be on the road with all the bands that choose us. So it is quite a blessing!

What advice would you give to anyone aspiring to become a musician?

Lessons! Train yourself! Just don't go in blind, especially with vocals if you want to be a metal vocalist. I am asked over and over again how do I do it every night, night after night without losing my voice with the rapid screaming, back into a clean voice, back and forth. It really begins with training so get yourself in some serious vocal lessons and even if you want to be a musician, get guitar lessons! It is just about discipline. You have to be disciplined. You are not going to achieve anything if you are not really focussed. I mean, that is really the main rule for Huntress, it is vital to our existence, is discipline.

What else do you have planned for 2015?

Releasing that next album! Our new record will be out this summer and we are touring, touring, touring! We are writing and we are just having fun. Staying sane! It is really important that I don't go crazy!

Have you finished writing the album?

Yeah, we are recording it. Actually, we are heading back after Amon Amarth just to finish up a few things on it and then it will be handed over to Napalm Records and to the masses.

Does it have a specific theme?

Well, the first three albums for Huntress, if anyone is a Huntress fan, they would know that I talk about this a lot. It is dedicated to the triple goddess. So the first three albums are a bit of a spiritual journey for myself and a trilogy I would say. The first album 'Spell Eater' is in the Maiden phase and the second album 'Starbound Beast' is the Mother phase. So we are moving into the Crone phase and I always say that she is evil and old and horny. So you are going to get that viciousness on this third album with elements of doom and it is the death phase. It is the dying phase, so you will feel that. It is going to be heavy!

Listen to the interview here: https://soundcloud.com/juliaconopo/interview-with-jill-janus-from-huntress

www.facebook.com/HuntressKills
www.twitter.com/HuntressKills

INTERVIEW: Johan Söderberg from Amon Amarth

On the final night of Amon Amarth's UK tour, I spoke to guitarist Johan Söderberg about what it is like to tour in England, covers and the possibility of a new album.

How has the tour been going so far?
Good! It has been sold out almost every show.

How does it feel to be playing in Southampton tonight?
I'm sure it is going to be good! But it's cold in here, I hope it warms up when the people come.

How would you say that crowds in England compare to other countries that you have played in?
I would say that it's not a huge difference. Everywhere that we play is all the same, except for maybe South America. People are a little more crazy over there!

How would you describe your music to someone who has not heard it before?
It is kind of like traditional heavy metal, but it's more dorky-sounding and a little more aggressive.

What should people expect from a live show from Amon Amarth?
It's just a well-played, tight band with lots of power.

What inspires you to continue to write music and keep performing?
I'd say it's my biggest interest. From the beginning it was like a hobby and now it has turned into work but it's still one of my biggest, like, what I do in my spare time as well.

Have you hear the cover that Sabaton did of 'Twilight of the Thunder God' and what are your thoughts on it? Would you ever think of covering one of their songs in return?
I thought they did a good cover of it, but we are not going to do any covers. I also heard they play it live when we had them as an opening band in the US.

What made you want to become a musician?
I guess it was when I was a kid and I saw Iron Maiden and bands like that play. It felt like something that I wanted to do.

What are your favourite and least favourite things about touring?
I mean, the least favourite thing is that you can never really be by yourself. You are always surrounded by people. The good thing is that you get to see lots of places in the world that you would never see otherwise.

What advice would you give to aspiring musicians?
Just play the kind of music that you like to listen to yourself and keep on doing what you like to do. I guess that is the best recipe for success.

Do you have much planned for the rest of this year?

This is the last tour for this album, so after this we are going to go back home and start working on new material.

Have you already got the new material planned out or are you waiting until you have finished the tour?
Not really! Just some small, small ideas.

Listen to the interview here: https://soundcloud.com/juliaconopo/interview-johan-soderberg-from-amon-amarth

www.facebook.com/OfficialAmonAmarth www.twitter.com/AmonAmarthBand