Rock

O n l i n e M a g a z i n e The Most Relevant From Rock & Metal World 45th. Edition • December 2013

D.G. Rocío Echávarri (Deuzzy) Manuel Ocaña Palacios Graphic Design & Columnist Editor in chief of the English version, email: [email protected] English translation Twitter: @deuzzydragon email: [email protected] Idaly Lejeune Twitter: @manuelocana Correspondent and columnist (France) Translators: Zaravasty Luna Francois Phoenix [email protected] Correspondent (France) https://www.facebook.com/PicsNHeavy Elena Garnes http://www.picsnheavy.com/ Twitter: @lossielgarnes Zeljko Vidovic Mario Bolaños Underworld Music Javier Arriaga http://www.underworldmusicmagazine.com/ Twitter: @Hyperdrive_ Rodrigo Hidalgo Lilith Absynthe (Selma Estrada) Proofreading Graphic Design & Layout: Rocío Echávarri Cover Design: Rocío Echávarri Logo Design: Alfredo Mambie Rock & Metal World is a publication dedicated to the diffusion of Rock Music and Metal. The content and opinions of the articles is the exclusive responsibility of their authors.

Magazine’s index • Press Releases: 4 Luca Turilli’s Rhapsody • Vexillum: Entrevista Exclusiva 6 • Rhapsody Of Fire: 14 Dark Wings of Steel • La Mágia Absalón 22 Vanden Plas: Entrevista Exclusiva • Lateless: Way Out 28 Rock & Metal World Página Oficial: www.rockmetalmagazine.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/rockmetalmagazine Twitter: www.twitter.com/rockmetalworld

Luca Turilli's Rhapsody Announces its second album: Prometheus Symphonia Ignis Divinus Luca Turilli’s RHAPSODY are proud to reveal the first news about their new album, scheduled to be recorded and mixed once again in the Backyard Studios of Sebastian Roeder (Kempten, Germany) and released by Nuclear Blast in 2014. The first comments by the band: “This album is very important to all of us. Behind it there is the ambitious goal of creating one of the most epic and cinematic albums ever written”. Singer Alessandro Conti adds: “Prepare yourselves for an amazing journey ranging from the myths and legends of the past to the unexplored borders of space and time, the revelations of quantum mechanics and beyond, while exploring the multi-dimensional levels of psyche and consciousness and the intimate secrets of heart and soul on the path of spiritual evolution. In short words: a roller-coaster ride of extreme emotions. Be ready!” Luca Turilli continues: “I recently gave birth to my company Luca Turilli Music 4

Productions (www.lucaturilli.com) and have partnered with great artists such as the US producer/re-mixer/ mixer Allen Morgan (U2, NINE INCH NAILS, TAYLOR SWIFT) and the Czech conductor Petr Pololanik (nominated for “Hollywood Music in Media Awards” in 2011) to start composing emotional music with impact, mainly for the world of cinema and the videogames. What I can say is that I am composing, writing and producing the guitar parts and the orchestral and choral arrangements for this new RHAPSODY album in the same exact way I would and will do it while scoring movie trailers or videogame soundtracks. Therefore expect moments of high tension, pure action and adrenalin for a final result never heard before. In other words: the definitive consecration of CINEMATIC METAL!” More news and videos, including exclusive “behind the scenes footage” directly from Luca Turilli’s home studio will be coming soon. Stay tuned! Photo by Alexandre Coesnon 5

Exclusive Interview Idaly Lejeune © Pics 'N' Heavy - www.picsnheavy.com 6

fter almost one year and half of releasing first full length album A“The Wondering Notes” and after an European tour besides Rhapsody of Fire, Vexillum is back again with their second album “The Bivouac”, an excellent Power/Folk Metal album that has been very well received by both public and critic. Then, they started a second European tour supporting one of the most expected shows in 2012 “The Cinematic World Tour” with none other than Luca Turilli’s Rhapsody, where also Freedom Call and Orden Ogan were present. In the middle of this year 2013 we saw them in some concerts supporting Freedom Call in a little tour. But, what is happening about Vexillum nowadays? Which plans have they for the future? And how many surprises can we expect from them? Let’s talk to our friends of Vexillum about it in this little interview. • Welcome my friends, we are happy to have you once again with us in Rock&Metal World’s magazine. Michele: Hi Idaly, It’s a pleasure for us meet you again, thanks for inviting us again! • Let’s begin talking a bit about your second album. What means “Bivouac? And why did you choose this name for your second album? Michele: The “bivouac” is the campfire, made from any kind of wonderers who spent the night under the stars. It’s a very simple meaning but at the same time it represents a world for us. The bivouac it’s a moment of pause during a journey, the caravan stops, and everyone takes his own time to rest, to think, 7

to remember the past, to plan the future, to eat, to drink and to tell his stories. And our album is a bivouac, where everyone tells his experiences about the most different subjects. • The first track of the album “The wondering Note” makes reference to your last album. Is the Bivouac a continuation of the first album? Michele: I can answer yes and no at the same time. The title of the first track it’s a clear reference to our first album and it want to makes a connection, in fact we can say that, concerning the setting, “The Bivouac” are the continuation of “The Wandering Notes”. Now the wayfarers musician have left the tavern, set of “The Wandering Notes”, to continue their journey to other destinations and “The Bivouac” is the result of the first part of this new path. Both the album is a collection of tales and experiences, and at the same time two very different chapters of the same adventure. • What do you personally think, that have changed in Vexillum, between “The wondering Notes” and “The Bivouac”? Michele: Lots of things have changed! The first change is linked with the European tour experience, which give us a 8

great energy and more awareness, so county not only in Europe but also © Pics 'N' Heavy - www.picsnheavy.com as band we grew up. It was a strong in the world. I was afraid in the experience of life for every one of us beginning but the album was really and the way we live our lives has a welcomed in the best way. It’s strong impact on our music. Another always curious and very interesting difference is the time needed for the to know what kind of emotions and album’s birth; the first album was thoughts our music can awake in the result of the Vexillum musical every listener! And read so good and life from the very beginning, while positive reviews it’s a great mental the second is a totally new kind of resource to plan the next step! album for us, written in a year after our tour in 2011, with another kind • Who of you has become more involved of inspiration and energy. And talking in the compositions of the song? about music I can affirm that with The Bivouac Vexillum have reached Michele: Me and Dario are the mainly the sound they were looking for from composers of all Vexillum’s songs, the beginning. both we write our ideas alone and then together we take care of all • Are you happy with the critics that arrangements, and we unite the have received your last album? forces to reach the final result. Me and Dario we also take care of Michele: I’m totally happy about all “the package” from the cover critics. We received great reviews concept till the production. Of course about The Bivouac from different everyone in Vexillum suggest during 9

© Pics 'N' Heavy - www.picsnheavy.com the songwriting period ideas and thanks to his own music is the greatest personal solution, this is the way to satisfaction. Of course to be on tour is reach the Vexillum’s sound. not easy, we had to learn to live with very intense life rhythm, to sleep when • Many of us discover Vexillum in 2011 you can, and lot of energy is required during Rhapsody of Fire’s tour “The to guarantee great and powerful shows Frozen Tour of Angels”. What could every night! We worked very well you tell us about this experience? during that tour and this helped us to meet lot of new reality in the music Michele: It was our first tour around world and music business, and at the Europe, as promotions of our first same time we met lot of people. For us album, supporting one of our favorite was a sort of school, working face to band of all time, so it’s very easy to me face with great professionals of music, to say it was a blast!!! In the beginning not only talking about the stage and we didn’t know what to expect, the show, but also talking about the but we were prepared under lot of backstage, and everything behind the aspects, and this helped us to face all show, is always important to be ready the matters we met. Of course was in learning. We watched and learned a great experience under all aspects, everything we could, always enjoying I think that for a musician to travel every moment. 10

• So, then was with LT’s Rhapsody on through the touring agencies and © Pics 'N' Heavy - www.picsnheavy.com its first European’s tour in 2012, with some tour managers. Moreover one of the tours more expected for of course with the protagonist of everybody. The chance that many the first tour, Rhapsody. The mix of bands dreamed with, and it was for all this ingredients made possible you… How did this great opportunity our coming back on tour with the come to Vexillum? And can you talk new project of Luca Turilli after the us a bit about your experience in tour split with Rhapsody of Fire. Another with LT’s Rhapsody? great project, with a very long tour, we played 26 gigs in 30 days, a Michele: As I said before our very very intense experience. Of course first tour was a chance to show meeting again Luca and his almost our band to a great audience in new band was a coming back to front of the stage and at the same home for us, and we found a sort of time to show how we work behind family spirit with all the bands. We the stage, with concentration and had the pleasure to meet another collaboration together with every great band, that I personally follow single person who took part to the from their beginning, Freedom Call tour. This aspects of our band gave with which we shared the tour’s bus a very good feedback for Vexillum and almost all the free time between 11

the shows. They are very special through German, Italy and France. persons, and they helped us very It was great to find lots of people much, it was a great pleasure to work waiting for us in Paris and Freedom with them and learn from them. I Call were the best company with can say that that tour was something which share a time like that. epic. We met lots of new fans around Europe, and we met again old fans • Are you working already in a new waiting for us. It was a great feeling! album? Can you give us a little We had also a positive feedback introduction about it, if is the case? about the songs of TB, in fact this time our track list was based on our Michele: Of course yes!!! And we are last album. A great tour under lots recording it in this very moment!!! of aspects…even if in the beginning, It will be a “special” album, a new at the very first gig, in Charleroi, all kind of album for Vexillum. In fact it our instruments and stage stuff were will be a concept album, I and Dario lost somewhere in Belgium by the wrote a story that will go on through shipping company!!! :-) all the songs. So this time there is not a setting the leitmotiv but a real plot. • During this tour, we felt that you We are still deciding with our label made a really great friendship with how reveal all the features of this the guys of Freedom Call, with whom album! It’s a new challenge for us, you worked in a little tour early this and I’m very excited to hear the final year; talk us a little bit about this. result....we can’t say so much for now but for sure this album will be ready Michele: Yes, as I told with Freedom in the early 2014 and it will bring a lot Call there was a great feeling from of surprises!!! the beginning of the Rhapsody Tour, we are always in touch also in • Have you plans to play in some our “real” life!! during that tour we festival in 2014 or a new tour? worked as a true team, everyone knew is part to do, and everyone Michele: Yes, we are already planning worked for the best. In personal case, our 2014, to come back on tour and for example, I shared and mixed with also to play in some festival. We hope Criss the equipment, to improve the to confirm some gigs very soon! stage situation. So because of this collaboration Freedom Call ask to us • To finish, would you want to say if we were interested in come back some words to all your fans and the on tour together for other gigs. Of Rock&Metal World readers? course we said yes!It was exciting and very hard at the same time, it Michele: I thank all your readers, for was a tour “old style”, with a motor their support to good music!!! Love caravan to drive and thousands miles and do what you want! to cover. Anyway a great experience 12

Stay tuned to our website because them on stage, I’m surprised about © Pics 'N' Heavy - www.picsnheavy.com we will update very soon other news how easy is to put the audience into about our new album. We will see all their world, the world they have of you on the road! Hoist the Vexillum! created in their songs, full of stories about, taverns, beer, camaraderie • I want to thank for your time, in and good mood. That’s what the name of all my partners in the Vexillum music is, and extraordinary magazine. And I would like to add travel into another world… some words about Vexillum to finish... “The bearer can die.... But the vexillum For me is not good luck that Vexillum can’t fall” has, which makes, that bands as Diseño Gráfco / Graphic Design: Rocío Echávarri (Deuzzy) Fotos / Photos: François Phoenix LT’s Rhapsody, Rhapsody of Fire or Vexillum is: Freedom Call include them in their tours. Vexillum is a young band yes, Michele Gasparri - Guitars but with an exceptional talent and Dario Vallesi - Voice with an overflowing energy, that Andrea Calvanico - Guitar get you involved in each of their Francesco Saverio Ferraro - Bass performances, every time I’ve seen Efisio Pregio - Drums 13

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Dark Wings of Steel Wings of Change Roció Echávarri (Deuzzy) / Translation: Mario Bolaños ith some years of being a fan of Rhapsody of Fire, and after the separation of one of the pillars of Wthis band, it was obvious my desire and above all, my curiosity to hear this new production of Rhapsody of Fire that began an era that for many meant a big question, would it be the same? For when these lines are published that doubt will already be clear, but I cannot keep my impressions about what Dark Wings of Steel represents in the history of this great band and to their millions of followers. First I must say that it isn´t an album to be digested on the first listen, especially since is still present in our memory that classic sound that is part of our “soundtrack”. In order to assimilate it, I had to listen to the promo several times and try, however difficult this was, to forget the past sound of Rhapsody of Fire. Obviously my impressions during the first listening were totally opposite, but you realize that something had definitely changed, with this in mind; I could finally enjoy the album in all its dimensions. 15

One point that perhaps has caused more buzz among the followers, is the role of Roberto De Micheli who faced the difficult task of occupying the place that left Luca Turilli, and, dear readers, Roberto has exceeded that challenge by making clear that he is a worthy successor with its own merit and style. In general, far from trying to relive past glories, Rhapsody of Fire go another way leaving behind the epic, heroic and fantastic, landing his music into something more aide to reality, in moments Dark Wings of Steel becomes dark, melancholic and disturbing, although it has moments that these feelings are cleared in some musical passages and interpretations. The orchestra is far from getting us back to the “baroque” of the first productions, it is used in a measured and intelligent way, and, together with the choirs creates that sound sometimes mysterious and overwhelming. Dark Wings of Steel begins, as is customary in Rhapsody of Fire, with a brief prelude, Vis Divina. The soft voices of the choir begin in some kind of spiritual song, it is then that the orchestra makes its appearance and with the choir adds intensity taking a turn that causes excitement and drama. 16