HELLSPAWN MAGAZINE
hellspawn.be
BELGIUM
Interviewer: Nico
*'D:' below indicates 'Danie Powers'
1. Let's start with a short look back at NKOH, I guess that CD help spread your name, but how do you look back at it now?
D: On 'NINE KINDS OF HELL', the idea was nine different kinds of hell, so each song on the CD represented a different type of hellish experience, for instance, 'Darkened Paradise' is about a young woman who is very depressed and while she sits in her bedroom crying, a dark spirit comes to her urging her to take her own life so that they can be together in death. So she struggles with the decision of living or committing suicide in order to be with this dark spirit who makes his world seem so inviting. 'The Devil's Triangle' is about a ship's captain struggling to maintain control of his vessel, which has wandered into the Bermuda Triangle. Each song on that album tells a different story, so it was more like a collection of short stories.
On 'THE RED MIST OF ENDENMORE', it is one complete story and again more traditional.
I am very proud of each CD we've done and I stand behind each one! We did our very best on each and every one of them. When I first started writing I had an older musician that said to me, "Whatever you do, try to make each song timeless. That way when your fans hear your music, they can enjoy it over and over and even years from now, they will be able to pull the CD out and still enjoy it!" I thought that was excellent advice and I really try to take that timeless factor into consideration with each song I write. That's essentially why my attitude is, "fuck trends!" because something what's 'in' now won't necessarily be enjoyable to someone 10 years from now. We're kind of aiming for what the original Black Sabbath, Rush, Led Zeppelin, etc., type bands were doing when they created music. Their music has withstood the test of time in my opinion, that is what a true musician and artist should be all about I think. We do definitely take into account some modern elements, I play a seven-string guitar on some songs, I utilize different instruments, different tunings, up to date production and sound techniques, but again the storytelling needs to be timeless.
2. It took 7 years to come with a follow up! Can you give our readers some info on what caused the delay and what happened during these years?
D: It's been a very painful and tumultuous seven years for us, My mother died, my father died, I had a potentially fatal illness that sidetracked us for a good long while and it took another year to fully recuperate and get my strength back. Once I was over that? I went to Oregon to visit a relative and fell 12 feet from a loft onto my back and broke a vertebrae and was in a back brace for several months, then I had to recuperate yet again. After I survived that, our drummer John became a 'Born-Again' crusader and bailed out just when we thought we finally had the lineup of our dreams. Next Steve had a near fatal truck accident and rolled his vehicle six times (I had the photos posted on here for some time, the truck crushed in all around him except for where he was sitting, it was horrifying). Next came my car accident where I hit a retaining wall and totaled my car.
There's more but this is starting to sound like FINAL DESTINATION FIVE or something.
The truth is I don't like talking about all of this because for me it seems like excuses, but it's simply reality. These devastating things happened, but we managed to triumph over these obstacles, persevere and in the end STILL managed to get the album out.
We apologize if we disappointed our fans, but hopefully the end result will be well worth your wait.
3. Seeing the problems you encountered it's amazing you continued and didn't call it quits! For me that means you must be doing it all from the heart!
D: Thank you! Yes! I started playing guitar and writing little songs when I was just 10 years old and it's just something that I really enjoy doing. Thinking about having an album to finish really helped motivate me to get better when I was sick. It's a terrible feeling to think that you may not be here tomorrow and you've left something like an album unfinished. I wanted our fans to have this very badly.
4. Do you agree with me that the disc needs a few listens to come to its full effect! For there is a lot coming at you! *grin* Personally I think it grows with each spin you give it!
D: Based on the reviews we've gotten, yes I have to agree. We didn't realize that this one would be considered so much more progressive than the last one, but after reading a few reviews we put it on again and listened and yeah I guess compared to what other bands are doing, it's a bit more CONTROL DENIED or something they said. I've heard that from a lot of the fans as well, "It reveals more with each spin," which to me makes for a good album because ultimately this should be a disc that you will be able to get out and listen to over and over and enjoy it more each time.
5. The new album is a concept story can you tell our readers something more or at least something so they'll get hungry for it? I guess the place where the story happens is a fictional place?
D: The story is about an evil landowner who fancies the daughter of the Pagan Village Chieftain. He uses black magick and sorcery to woo her, but things go awry after they are married because the magick is not strong enough to keep her and other arcane forces are involved that cause her to stray. I don't want to ruin the companion book I've written to go with the CD for the fans by giving the entire story away, but just know it's a very exciting story that takes place in the mythological place I've created called, 'Endenmore' and it tells of this rich landowner and how he brings about the downfall of the entire region with his evil plotting, black magick and extreme violence. It is a full length novella that will flesh out the CD and make it larger than life and more fun for the fans. The book will just enrich the CD experience for them.
6. So you are also busy writing a book that tells the story which is featured on the new CD! Can you tell us something more about that and when will it get released? Will people from Europe also be able to buy it?
D: Yes! I just finished writing it yesterday (04.04.08) and I will start discussing plans with the printer this week, so I hope to have it available by about mid-May or sooner if things go smoothly! Yes of course people in Europe and all over the world will be able to buy it! It will be available from our myspace page and on the website. The fans will be able to buy it directly from me and I will personally autograph it for them also.
7. How did you get the idea for this concept story? Did something inspire you? And how did you come to the title THE RED MIST OF ENDENMORE? (it sounds great)
D: The term 'Red Mist' came from a conversation I had had with a friend of mine. She said that she was so mad she wanted to beat someone into a 'red mist'. So I thought, "Hmm...what would it be like to write a story and concept based around something like that? About someone losing control to the point where they beat someone until there is nothing left but a red mist?" From there the rest just kind of slowly unfolded in my mind.
8. You can hear lots of different influences on the new CD from classical music to a band like ICED EARTH (especially the guitars - are you a Schaffer fan?).
D: Huge Schaffer fan, especially 'Iced Earth - the Matt Barlow' era, which I understand he's back; I'm really excited about that. Other guitar influences are RANDY RHOADS, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, TONY IOMMI, CRISS OLIVA, ANDY LA ROQUE I don't know how much I actually sound like any of them, but they were all huge influences on me.
9. I heard there were some troubles regarding the artwork for this CD, so I wonder are you 100% satisfied with the end result? I personally think it has lots of atmosphere.
D: Yes honestly, I'm 100% satisfied with it!! I think it came out beautifully! No problems! Dragonheart did an excellent job on the printing, they always put out the most wonderful packaging in my opinion.
So many bands the artwork really has little or nothing to do with the actual music. A lot of the time it's just some surrealistic artwork that simply looks 'cool' and conveys nothing at all about the music. We worked very closely with artist Thomas Stark and gave him our ideas, but he was very hands on and got into the story itself so the booklet and cover, etc., all very much tie into THE RED MIST OF ENDENMORE story very closely. It makes it all one experience.
A little explanation on the cover, the woman on the lower left hand side of the cover is portraying the character, 'Elsbeth'. She is the main female character. She is the daughter of the Pagan Village Chieftain, 'Cormac', and his wife, 'Gunnora' who is also known as 'The Iron Rose'. Beneath her picture, you will see the silhouette of a church. Around the church steeple there are crows circling. This represents the portion of the story where Elsbeth marries the main character, 'Merrick'. Merrick is the dark and evil, rich landowner. On their wedding day, a crow somehow manages to get into the church and the narrator of the story points out that a crow is a symbol of 'Morrigan', the Celtic goddess of blood and war but also fertility. So was the crow foretelling of many children to come? Is she blessing the couple? Or is it a sign of some evil that is to come because of the union of Merrick and Elsbeth? The forest that you see depicted, is 'Endenmore Wood' where part of the story takes place. The cloaked figure on the right side of the cover is also Elsbeth. This is the part of the story where she sneaks away in order to meet with her lover, 'Ivar' in Endenmore Wood. The song, 'Darkness Calls' is about Elsbeth waiting in secret in Endenmore Wood for Ivar to arrive. The midrange or lower voice in the song is Ivar and the high soprano vocal is Elsbeth. The entire album is a bit like a modern opera. I try to convey different vocals for each of the characters. The red mist that encompasses the entire cover is about the climax of the story.
The gentleman that did the proofreading on the companion book said that he felt the music, the artwork and the companion book all tie in incredibly well and create a true work of art so you can really experience the world of Endenmore that I've created! I thought that was a huge compliment as that is what I was truly aiming for and I really hope the fans enjoy it!
10. On the CD we also get a bonus track, the great "Cold Day in Hell" (the chorus keeps spooking in your head!). Why was it put as a bonus track? Because it doesn't fit the story? Tell us more...
D: A lit bit of trivia for the fans, 'House of Sorrow' from our 'NINE KINDS OF HELL' CD is actually connected to the song 'Cold Day In Hell' that appears on 'THE RED MIST OF ENDENMORE'! 'House of Sorrow' is about a woman during the American Civil War period sitting in her parlor with the drapes closed. She's very sorrowful because her husband is missing in the war and she fears for his life. She sits at the table and gets out her ouija board trying desperately to find out if he is alive or dead or what has befallen him.
The song COLD DAY IN HELL is about the man himself and he's being tortured, they're trying to get him to give up military secrets (he's fighting for the North) and he's being very stubborn and very brave and refusing to do so. They keep him in what is called a 'sweat box' in the blazing sun hoping that he'll crack, but the more torture they inflict upon him, the more determined he becomes not to give up any secrets. A sweat box is a form of solitary confinement used for punishment and convincing someone to talk. A person placed in one would experience extreme heat, dehydration, heat exhaustion and even death; depending on when and how long one was kept in one.
Essentially he's saying, "It will be a cold day in hell before I tell you anything!" and he is laughing in the face of adversity and showing a lot of strength and bravery.
11. Hmm, I know downloads fuck lots of things up, so please give us your opinion on that?
D: This is a very touchy and somewhat controversial subject. It seems like the people that do all of the pirating/free downloading tend to think that they're lashing out at these huge corporate monsters, in this case, the record labels. What they're ultimately doing though, is hurting the very bands they're pretending to love, especially bands on smaller record labels.
This is a bit complicated to explain so please hang in here with me. Even if someone buys a CD and then puts it online for free down load, because they think it's helping to promote the band...after all they bought the CD, they feel they can do what they want with it. The problem is, the content is not their property to distribute as they so choose. And while in the old days you might make a cassette tape for your friend, it's just not the same as putting something up for grabs online where 100s of 1,000s of people within the course of an hour can nab this same CD for free.
People believe that the record label just gives money to these bands for recordings and the label takes care of all promotions, artwork, promo copies, etc., Like some huge, faceless entity with unlimited funds, but in actuality ALL of the money must be recouped or paid back to the record label before the band makes any money. It's kind of like a loan.
Record labels are in business to make money, let's be fair. You cannot expect a company to keep putting out products for you that more and more people are just taking for free. Technically it is stealing.
What happens is you're screwing the band over and the label that's supporting them. This same band might get dropped from their label due to lack of sales. Pretty soon we're all going to wind up with generic, mainstream crap and nothing else because the smaller Indy labels especially and Indy bands cannot continue to work and produce their products for free.
Everyone else gets paid for going to work every day, why not bands and their labels? If you love a band and you would like for them to continue creating their music for you, please buy their releases legitimately, otherwise they might not be able to continue making music for you.
12. Dragonheart isn't the biggest label in the world, so I guess a European tour isn't something that would happen soon? If you would get an invitation for a festival or so, would that be a possible thing if it works out financially?
D: Yes, our label Dragonheart unfortunately does not have tour support and that does make it more difficult for us to travel overseas, but we haven't ruled out the possibility if we can somehow get the money together and if the opportunity arises for us to play some key festivals! I would LOVE to come to Europe!
13. Can you tell our readers why they should check out "The Red Mist of Endenmore"?
D: I believe that Powers Court's music is for the more intelligent metal fan that really likes something with a lot more substance to it than most releases you come across now and by that I mean there is an actual concept involved. Most of our fans tend to be the more 'cerebral' sort. On every one of our CDs each song is like a short story, to me this gives each song more depth and makes each album like a collection of works.
THE RED MIST OF ENDENMORE is a very thought out traditional concept album in the vein of Abigail, Them, Conspiracy, etc., by KING DIAMOND.
I've had several fans that told me they put the CD on, dim the lights, light a candle and sit and read the lyrics from the spell book/parchment like booklet and they're transported into a completely different world, so it's a magickal escape of sorts into the world of Endenmore that I've created. I wrote the book so that when they're reading the companion book and really discovering the characters and getting into what the story is about, they can play the CD in the background so it becomes a soundtrack of sorts for the book, they totally compliment each other and each element is tied in.
We've worked very hard to create a magickal experience for our fans. They've given so much support and encouragement to us and we really do our very best to give back to them. The fans are why we keep at this.
14. I hope the next opus won't take so many years? *grin* I know it's early but when would you start thinking of a follow up? (by the way for how many CD's was the deal with Dragonheart? - one more or are you done and shopping around?).
D: The Dragonheart deal is a three CD deal, so the upcoming CDIV, which is as yet untitled, will be our last CD under this contract on DH. What happens after CDIV remains to be seen. We plan on making music until we're no longer able to and we've already fought a hell of a lot of obstacles to put out the releases that we have, so plan on seeing more from us in the future because we're obviously very stubborn! *laughs* Seriously, as you said we do this 'from the heart' and until the heart ceases to beat, we will continue to create. It's what makes life worth living.
We've already started discussing plans for the next one. I just finished up the companion book as I said so now I'm free to start working on the music for the next CD. I have some riffs and ideas we've been kicking around already. Contractually it needs to be at least eighteen months before we can submit new material so at the very least it would be 2 years from the release of THE RED MIST OF ENDENMORE before you'll see the next one. I hope it won't take so many years either *laughs* but after this last go-round I'm afraid to promise anything, but we will do our very best to get it out much sooner!
We're also talking about re-mastering our debut CD and doing a larger booklet, some updated artwork, etc., so that would come out between the Dragonheart releases and give fans something in about a year or so from now if all goes well with that.
It was so great talking to you Nico!! I would like to thank you very sincerely for giving me a chance to express my feelings and give the fans a closer look into how POWERS COURT works and what the new CD, THE RED MIST OF ENDENMORE is all about. I appreciate very much the time you took to come up these great questions! I hope in the near future to get to meet you personally and have an ice cold beer or two with you! *smiles*
Oceans of love to you and our fans!
Danie
POWERS COURT
STEREO INVADERS
stereoinvaders.it
ITALY
Interviewer: Psychotron
Hello Danie, I am flattered to host you on my webzine. Powers Court is a great band and to me your albums are heavy metal jewels mantled in epic darkness.
D: Wow Marco! You really have a way with words! Thank you for the great compliments and we really appreciate your help and support!
Seven years have passed between "Nine Kinds Of Hell" and the new "The Red Mist Of Endenmore". You've been though a lot of pain and personal losses in the last years. Everyone can read about it on your personal MySpace profile. How and where did you find courage and strength not to lose your heart? Did music and the love of your fans encourage you to carry on and still believe in life?
D: Being faced with the possibility that I might never again be able to play music was very helpful in keeping me focused on wanting to fight to get better. As far as the losses, I've struggled with depression and various negative situations since I was a child so things that are 'less than pleasant' to me are just part of life. There always seems to be something to deal with and get through. When I was sick though, yes worrying that the CD might not be completed for the fans and fearing that I might never again be able to play guitar, worrying that I might not be alive even really gave me the determination to fight to get better.
Are you a religious person?
D: Not in the traditional sense no.
What about the feedback you are receiving, both from the Media and the audience?
D: Either you love us or you hate us, there doesn't seem to be any middle ground and it's more intense on this release than on NKOH. If a listener is into nothing but trendy, mainstream, 'paint by numbers' metal, they are not going to be fans of what we do. We don't follow the rules and we rebel against all the superficial trends out there. If that bothers someone, then don't listen is all I have to say. If you're intelligent, have a mind of your own and like to be entertained by people that are more concerned with writing epic adventures and stories that challenge you, and if you like prog metal, if you're bored with all the sameness out there, then you will love Powers Court.
The big part of your audience is American or European based?
D: The majority are European I think.
How did it happen that you got in contact with an Italian label to release your albums? Do you feel comfortable with the guys of Dragonheart? You couldn't take for granted that a label would have waited for the band for so many years
D: Three different labels initially approached us at the same time and after examining the products that each label put out and the bands on each label, we felt that perhaps Dragonheart was the best fit for us. Dragonheart puts out excellent releases in my opinion. The digipak CDs are brilliantly done I think.
DH realized that we were going through a lot and they were very patient, yes!
What about your relationship with Italy? Have you ever been in my country, even also for holidays?
D: I've always had a really deep respect and fascination for your country! I would love to see Italy some day and obviously would love to tour there! Our label Dragonheart unfortunately does not have tour support and that does make it more difficult for us to travel overseas, but we haven't ruled out the possibility if we can somehow get the money together and if the opportunity arises for us to play some key festivals.
Do you feel that Powers Court is a power metal band tout court, or the sound features some thrashy elements too?
D: I seriously don't think that 'power metal' is the correct term for us, but I guess they had to categorize us somehow so that's the moniker we received. We began calling ourselves 'Dark Power Metal' and we emphasize that we are from the USA hoping to convey the fact that we're not traditional happy power metal. We've noticed since then some others have adopted the word 'dark' in their description, but this just adds to the confusion, because the bands I've heard that have done that are just plain old power metal. We have elements of progressive, hard rock, thrash, goth, power metal, traditional, classic metal, classical, music of the middle ages, madrigal, choral also a lot of ethnic influences such as Italian, Spanish, Celtic folk, etc., etc., and I also try to utilize different instruments such as mandolin, keyboards and I'm learning the violin and I don't use any of those in the traditional manner. There is a distinct darkness and/or sadness, so our sound is distinctly different, distinctly Powers Court.
Powers Court is often compared to Manilla Road and Mercyful Fate, for the epic dark atmospheres that you can breathe in your songs. Do you agree with that? Do you like those bands? Which are your heavy metal heroes?
D: Mercyful Fate and King Diamond along with Iced Earth, Savatage, Iron Maiden, etc., were huge influences for me. I had never heard of Manilla Road until around 1997 when we were first embraced by the metal underground. I kept hearing that reference and it was only then that I heard Manilla Road and it's kind of a strange coincidence, but I can definitely see some of the comparisons! We're also three piece and my vocal delivery is similar to Mark Shelton's! I'm flattered by that comparison; they're a really creative and great epic band!
Your powerful voice has a shocking and remarkable extension! You can recognize Danie singing among thousands of other voices. Are you a selfmade singer or do you have a background made of hard studies and schools? How do you train your vocal chords day by day?
D: Thank you very much for saying that! To me all of the really great singers are immediately recognizable, Dio, Halford, Dickinson, King Diamond! So I'm immensely honored that you feel my voice is also immediately recognizable! I sang choir for 12 years under the direction of Professor Max Hiendlmayr who was from Bavaria. So I sang in the choir, sang for funerals, etc., most of my life. At home in private, I of course listened to various metal and hard rock singers.
If we're playing out, I practice every day to strengthen my voice and prepare myself for a show. I sing both our material and along with other singers like, Geoff Tate, Dio, Dickinson, Halford and even The Three Tenors and other things like Mozart to try to challenge myself and exercise my voice the best I can.
If we're recording I concentrate on singing solely on our material and what is to be recorded.
If we're writing or are on hiatus, I don't sing everyday. I might go for a month without singing and I honestly think it helps to give the voice a rest sometimes.
The rhythm of your songs is so peculiar, divided and fragmented. It seems hard for the listener to feel a solid center of gravity in them. Electric guitar, bass guitar and drums hit you from everywhere, you loose any barycentre, but in the ends you find your way back home and get out of the song safe and sane, ahah! It's always a marvelous adventure to be sucked into a song of Powers Court, you feel like exciting dizziness!
D: Haha! That's quite the explanation! We've been compared to Chuck Schuldiner's, CONTROL DENIED project several times. I guess the progressive elements of bands like CONTROL DENIED and DEATH along with EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER and RUSH have been really big influences on my songwriting.
Do you like watching movies? Cinema and literature are a source of inspiration to you?
D: I love movies and I own a LOT of movies. I love historical dramas like ELIZABETH, AMADEUS, LADYJANE, BRAVEHEART, ROMEO & JULIET, ANNE OF THE THOUSAND DAYS, CLEOPATRA and also movies like THE CROW, BATMAN BEGINS, V FOR VENDETTA and I'm a huge fan of horror movies, especially vampire movies like BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA, INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE and action flicks like LA FEMME NIKITA, THE BOONDOCK SAINTS, THE PUNISHER. I also really love shows like THE SOPRANOS, THE TUDORS, etc., As far as literature goes, I really got into the Dragonlance Series and books by Marion Zimmer Bradley along with classic literature like Edgar Alan Poe, Charlotte Bronte, Shakespeare, etc., I also really like books on psychology.
Why did you choose to call the band Powers Court?
D: Steve (Murray/bassist) came up with that name. Powerscourt, (all one word), is the name of a castle and garden in County Wicklow, Ireland that my ancestors built and owned. We were trying to come up with a name that hopefully no other band out there would have. We originally went by the name EQUINOX and as you can imagine there are numerous bands with that name, including another American band that was a black metal band. So it's kind of a take off of my name and it has true historical significance also.
You cut your great long blonde hair .... wow! It was a shock to me! I was used to your pictures on the "Nine Kinds Of Hell" album. But I have to say you are a charming lady also with your nowaday's look! :-)
D: Gosh thank you very much! I actually didn't cut it. I had to undergo chemo and lost all of my hair. When it grew back in I decided to go with something more up to date so that is why I have the stripey red and blonde streaks with the modern razor cut.
Any hope to see your first album (1996) re-released also here in Europe? Many fans of Powers Court would love to buy that special item!
D: That's actually our next endeavor! Steve (bassist/producer) has started the process of re-mastering it. If all goes well we hope to put it out ourselves in a year or so, after that CDIV will be released on the Dragonheart label.
Do swear to write a new album before another 7 years period ....!
D: Well after all the unforeseen tragedies hit us on this last CD, I'm afraid to promise or swear to anything anymore. Every time I set a deadline it seems like we get some rude, deadly interruptions. *laughs* So all I can tell you is that we're working towards that as I'm speaking to you!
OK, it's your time to end this interview ...
D: Marco, it has been the most extreme pleasure meeting you and getting to know you! I would like to thank you very sincerely for allowing me a chance to express my thoughts and feelings and for allowing me to give the fans more insight into how POWERS COURT works and what the new CD, THE RED MIST OF ENDENMORE is all about. I appreciate very much the time you took to come up these great questions! I hope in the near future to meet with you personally and you can show me around your beautiful country!
Ciao!
Danie
POWERS COURT
METAL CHRONIQUES
metalchroniques.fr
FRANCE
Interviewer: Metalpsychokiller
Hi, I'm Metalpsychokiller from the French webzine metalchroniques.fr.
What can you tell us about 'Powers Court'? Retrace the story of the band in a few words. How did you meet?
D : This project was originally called EQUINOX. I was in the studio recording a demo and the bass player at that time (Monty York) decided he was going to quit and he wanted his bass tracks removed from the recording. He was a good friend of mine and so I honored his request even though it was going to mean a hardship when it came to finishing the recording. The sound engineer in the studio gave me Steve Murray's (bassist) phone number. He was just going to record the bass tracks for us, but he wound up joining the band. His influences are John Alderete (Racer X), Steve Harris (Iron Maiden), Billy Sheehan, Geddy Lee, etc., so our styles were similar.
We changed the name to POWERS COURT in 1993 because there were so many bands going by the name Equinox and it was confusing. Steve came up with the name Powers Court. There is a castle in County Wicklow, Ireland called Powerscourt (one word). It's a castle and garden that my ancestors built.
I met Daniel Nydick via youtube.com, I was just surfing around looking for a King Diamond video and happened to find his many videos on there! We struck up a conversation and just kind of hit it off.
Were you in harmony with your precedent 'Nine Kinds Of Hell' in 2001? What I mean is...now, in 2008, I wondered if you're still in agreement with your album 'Nine Kinds of Hell'. In my mind, there is such a difference in musical maturity between these two albums that I wanted to know your feelings after these past seven years...
D: THE RED MIST OF ENDENMORE is a traditional concept CD, so the songs are all related to one story vs. on NINE KINDS OF HELL each individual song was a different story. NKOH was more like a collection of short stories, each story being a different kind of hell.
RMOE is more cohesive, each song flows into the next. Overall this CD is more aggressive, faster, more thrashy. It's a bit angrier than NKOH.
I am still very proud of every recording we've done including our original three song demo, our Self-Titled Debut CD, 'Nine Kinds of Hell' and 'The Red Mist of Endenmore'. Each one is a piece of my soul you know?
What can you tell to our readers about the released session, the process writing, the lyrics of this CD?
D: The recording sessions? They can sometimes be a bit nerve wracking because unlike playing live your playing has to be perfect and this sometimes takes more than one take, I'm playing with a click track and/or metronome which means you have to be very precise. It's a lot more challenging than playing live and sometimes it's stressful. Once you finally hear the take that you're going to keep it's very exciting though.
The songwriting process is probably my favorite and the most fulfilling to me. It's a real rush when you finally get a song together the way that you want it and the lyrics are the hardest because I always want the lyrics to reallly say something, to really mean something. A lot of lyricists aren't that concerned with that, but I like each song to tell a story and have deep meaning.
Are you happy with the result of 'The Red Mist of Endenmore' ?
D: Yes I am, I feel it's our finest so far. The music, the concept, the artwork, the lyrics, the booklet, etc., it's all one complete work of art.
Some say your rythm guitar is influenced by 'Iced Earth' ? What do you think about that?
D: I'm a big Iced Earth fan, the earliest works with Matt Barlow. So yes, I am influenced by Jon Schaffer's playing, I have many other influences that shape my style as well however.
How do you define your sytle of playing guitar? Are you influenced by some other guitar heroes such as Randy Rhoads, Yngwie Malmsteen...Or someone else?
D: How do I define it ? Well I play a very fast and very complex style of rhythm. I generally play full power chords vs. just the top two strings like a lot of metal guitarists do, this gives it a fuller more powerful sound in my opinion.
I'm a fan of both Randy Rhoads and Yngwie Malmsteen and I grew up listening to classical music like Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, Wagner, etc., so I'm definitely influenced by classical music. I loved how Rhoads was able to combine the classical stylings with hard rock and metal, his leads were always exciting and fresh, he didn't adhere too closely to scales and modes where it got boring. I also love the works of Criss Oliva (early Savatage), Alex Skolnick (Testament) and Andy LaRoque (King Diamond). I don't think if I sound exactly like any of those players, but I am a fan of all of them.
If I say, voice...soprano, growls...Is your voice natural or worked by some effects?
D: On both 'NINE KINDS OF HELL' and 'THE RED MIST OF ENDENMORE' I sing all of the vocals and they are all completely natural from the high soprano to the mid-range which sounds like a male tenor to the gutteral growls, that's all me without the use of any effects.
On our Self-Titled Debut CD there was an eerie vocal effect on the opening song, 'Lord of Winds & Breezes', the song was about the Greek hero, 'Bellerophon' and we wanted to give the vocals that otherworldly dimension.
Actually, largest part of drummers are playing with their feet: blasts, blasts, blasts...But Daniel Nydick is using his hands!!! And I find him fantastic. Don't you think so?
D: His influences are Mikki Dee (King Diamond), Neal Peart, Portnoy, drummers that are that style vs. the 'blast beat' players. He's a lot more technical vs. just fast and all double bass. He's definitely very talented!
Did you create the artwork cover of your album?
D: The concepts/ideas for the entire thing, cover, tray cards, booklet, etc., were ours, but the actual artwork itself was done by Thomas Stark.
You play guitar, write some history, sing...What else ?
D: I play rhythm and lead guitar, both six and seven string guitars, acoustic and electric. I play acoustic and electric mandolin, I'm the singer, songwriter and lyricist. I play some keyboards, I'm trying to learn electric violin. I like to try different instruments whenever I can, I think it just adds something a bit different, especially live.
You are divine, but also mystic?
D: I am somewhat psychic. Friends who are worried sometimes will ask me about a situation they are facing. For instance one of my friends was going to a new doctor and she was very anxious about it. I described to her what he looked like and what his personality was going to be like and that she would like him, etc., and she called me to tell me I was exactly right! I sometimes know what people look like after talking to them on the phone without ever having met them before. I knew exactly what Steve (Steve Murray - bassist) looked like before I met him.
I sometimes have dreams about things that are going to happen in the future, it's usually just simple things like in the dream I am in a house I've never seen before. Maybe six months later I am in that same house at a party or something.
I also read tarot cards occasionally for friends, I have a yes/no talking board, I do runes, etc.,
Can we hope to see you in France in 2008? Is a 'tour' planned for the promotion of your album?
D: I would love, love, love to go to France! Such a beautiful and soulful country. I have always wanted to visit!
Our label Dragonheart unfortunately does not have tour support and that does make it more difficult for us to travel overseas, but we haven't ruled out the possibility if we can somehow get the money together and if the opportunity arises for us to play some key festivals.
Right now I'm putting the finishing touches on the companion book to 'THE RED MIST OF ENDENMORE' CD, this will be a full length paperback novella that will be available through the band's myspace page and website once it's printed as I said earlier. I've also started writing material for CDIV, which is as yet untitled. Once the material is written, we'll go back into the studio to begin working on that CD.
Lastly, you prefer: Beer, vodka, or champagne...?
D: Champagne of course! It's my favorite! *grin*
Here is a drink recipe I also like once in a great while that some of the fans might like to try! I call this a 'Russian Qualude'. One shot of vodka, one shot of Bailey's Irish Cream, one shot of Kahlua, add ice and wa-lah ! It's like chocolate milk with a 'serious kick' to it!
I would like to thank you very sincerely Metalpsychokiller for allowing me this opportunity to say hello to you and to our fans in France and to give them some insight into how POWERS COURT works and what the new CD, THE RED MIST OF ENDENMORE is about. I really appreciate very much the time you took to come up these interesting questions and it's been so very nice to meet you!
I hope in the near future to get to meet you personally and to see your beautiful country!
Au revoir mon ami!
Danie
POWERS COURT
METAL ZONE
metal-zone.it
ITALY
Metal Zone is very glad to interview the band called 'Powers Court'!
D: We are very honored that you asked and I am very happy to answer any questions that you have!
Hi! Would you quickly introduce your band to our readers? When was Powers Court born? Who are the components of the band?
D: A little history about the band then! Powers Court was formed in 1990 under the name 'EQUINOX' and we released our first three-song demo in 1993. Our first full length CD was self-titled and self-financed and came out in 1996 under the name POWERS COURT. The next release was entitled 'NINE KINDS OF HELL' and was released on Dragonheart Records as is our newest release, 'THE RED MIST OF ENDENMORE'.
I'm Danie Powers, I'm the singer/guitarist, Steve Murray is on bass and Daniel Nydick plays the drums.
What do you expect from this new album? And how are the reviews?
D: What do I expect? Well...I really don't write albums expecting anything, we just try our very best to put out something we think our fans and fans of quality and unique metal will really love.
The reviews? Well some of the uber-corporate, mainstream-trendy mags hate us. I think they're scared to death we're going to single-handedly change the face of metal and put it back into the hands of the fans where it belongs along with musicians like us that are on a quest to destroy all the false metal they're promoting! *laughs* but we're getting very favorable reviews from the TRUE metal magazines, zines and fans. We've scored a 9/10 from Metalchroniques-France, 8.5/10 in Metal Hammer-Greece and also 8.5/10 from Stereo Invaders-Italy, a 5/7 from Metal Hammer-Germany, 5/5 from Pure Metal UK, a 90/100 from Hellspawn, Belgium, you guys gave us an 85/100 and I thank you very much for the favorable review! So as you can see, it's being very well received from the real metalheads! If anyone would like to read these reviews I have them on our myspace blog.
Who is the artist of the album cover?
D: The artist is Thomas Stark, we worked very closely with him to convey the general concept of the CD.
When did you acknowledge that you have a voice of the four and a half octaves?
D: I knew I had a pretty good range, but Steve (Murray-bassist) and I were recording some tracks one time and he was just curious and tested me with a keyboard. That was a few years ago and actually for this particular album, I stayed away from the highest register because based on some past reviews I think it's a bit hard on some listeners because it's so sonically high. There is one note on 'THE TRAGEDY OF FAUST' from the 'NINE KINDS OF HELL' album that our label executive called me saying, "Danie, I thought we agreed no vocal effects on this album?" and I had to send him an mp3 clip of me singing the note without the music so that he could see it was just my voice. *laughs* You have to listen really hard to hear it, some people think it's a guitar note, but it's all natural I promise.
What is the band that has a heavy influence on your style and what kind of music do you listen nowadays?
D: Oh gosh, hard question...my first influences were BLACK SABBATH, LED ZEPPELIN, IRON MAIDEN, JUDAS PRIEST, AC/DC, the SCORPS, SAXON, RUSH, ELP, bands like that growing up. Later I concentrated more on MAIDEN and PRIEST exclusively, I was in cover bands that did all Priest and Maiden tunes. The more I got into playing guitar the more I got into bands like early METALLICA (Cliff era), early MEGADETH, EXCITER, EXODUS, SLAYER, MERCYFUL FATE, KING DIAMOND. Once I heard King Diamond I was totally in love with his style, those incredible concept albums like Abigail, Them, Conspiracy, Fatal Portrait. Later I discovered ICED EARTH and am obviously heavily influenced by Jon Schaffer's playing.
What do I listen to nowadays? I love ICED EARTH, Alive in Athens is one of my favorites of theirs along with Burnt Offerings, Night of The Stormrider, The Dark Saga. I'm a big NEVERMORE fan, as are Steve and Daniel (Nydick-drummer). We are all into Chuck Schuldiner's DEATH and CONTROL DENIED, EVERGREY, early IN FLAMES, and some maybe surprising influences are AMON AMARTH , DISSECTION, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, LAMB OF GOD, CORONER. I also have a background in classical music, BEETHOVEN, WAGNER, BACH, MOZART.
How do you define your genre?
D: That's another difficult question! Everyone now seems to want every band categorized and if a band doesn't easily fit into some 'paint by numbers' category, they are beaten up for it.
For instance, we've been categorized as 'power metal', well we obviously don't completely fit into that genre, so we started saying we were 'dark power metal' to try show that we are different from the average power metal band. My lyrics are sometimes occult oriented, the storylines are dark, sometimes they are horror themed or what might be termed as Gothic horror type themes, you know classic horror like Edgar Allan Poe, etc., I use unique vocals harmonies based on madrigal, Gregorian chanting and choir type singing, we try to create an atmosphere to match the storyline for each song, etc., etc.,
With the newest release, 'THE RED MIST OF ENDENMORE', we're hearing 'progressive' in a lot of the descriptions, so now I guess we add in progressive. I realize it probably is easier on metal fans if there is a specific genre they're interested in to have these descriptions, but it's very frustrating for a band like ours because we pride ourselves on being creative and original. Originality means you don't normally fit into any one category 100% of the time, there are different elements in each song and each album has it's own personality but if you give our CDs a few spins, I think you'll realize that we have our own unique sound and approach to making albums. I have found that our fan base generally consists of people that are in general a lot more intelligent and like to be challenged. If someone just wants 'flavor of the week' metal to play as background noise, then we're not his or her band. If someone is more cerebral and likes something with heart and soul that's well thought out and has true meaning to it, then they are generally a big fan of ours.
What means metal music for you?
D: Metal music to me is about energy and raw emotion, it should be strong and powerful and in your face! It should express the full gamut of human emotions, but most especially anger and anguish. It's about being real and overcoming obstacles, it's about being free, about being a non-conformist and not having to apologize for it! True metal should punch you in the face and make you feel something, that's what we aim for in Powers Court. I want listeners to be able to identify with what I'm singing about, to get lost in the music and lyrics, I want to take them on some deep and meaningful journey vs. just being some trendy fluff metal that some people use as background noise.
Projects for the future? Another seven years for the next job?
D: Well I hate to promise anything because the last time I did that fate stepped in and kicked our asses several times in a row and tried to stop us, but we're incredibly determined and kept fighting until we got the CD done for our fans! So I'm not anticipating any problems! *crosses fingers for luck*
Right now I have just finshed THE RED MIST OF ENDENMORE companion book, I'm in the process of talking to the printer, getting it typeset into paperback format, etc., so that should be available hopefully mid to late May 2008. The fans will be able to buy that directly from our sites as I said earlier.
The next musical project we're working on is re-mastering our self-financed, debut CD with some new artwork and an expanded booklet; we hope to have that out by about January 2009.
I've also started writing material for CDIV, which is as yet untitled. Once the material is written, we'll go back into the studio to begin working on that CD. Contractually we cannot submit material before 18 months after this current CD, so hopefully our next CD on Dragonheart will be out around January of 2010.
We would also love to tour! Our label Dragonheart unfortunately does not have tour support and that does make it more difficult for us to travel overseas, but we haven't ruled out the possibility if we can somehow get the money together and if the opportunity arises for us to play some key festivals!
All the Metal Zone staff thanks you for your kindness and availability.
D: Thank you very much for the favorable review and for taking the time to come up with these great questions! You have been just incredible to us and we really appreciate all that you've done for us and all that you're continuing to do for true metal! You ROCK the MOST!
Please tell our fans we love them very much and hope that they will be very pleased with our latest release, 'THE RED MIST OF ENDENMORE' and we encourage everyone to please visit us on our myspace page and tell us hello!
Danie Powers
POWERS COURT
LOUD! MAGAZINE
PORTUGAL
Interviewer: Fernando Reis
During these seven years, did you somehow question if you would ever have the strength - or the will - to do another Powers Court album?
D: This is a very good question, you're a very deep and thoughtful person to think of this and ask this! Well actually, thinking about the fact that I might not live or be able to play or perform ever again really helped me to get better and stronger because I got very angry at the thought that something like an illness or an accident might take my life from me or take the metal music that I so love away from me. I really wanted to finish the album then. It is what gave me the strength to fight back and overcome the obstacles having that in front of me as a goal, to be able to play again and complete the album for our fans. Wanting to be able to play again and to finish the album really helped me maintain the positive outlook and fighting spirit that I needed to survive.
You really appreciate the gifts that you have been given when there is a possibility that they might be taken away from you forever. There are so many things in life that a person takes for granted until you're faced with the possibility of dying or having everything you love ripped away from you. It totally changes you as a person. In a lot of ways, I think it's helped me to become a much better person. I no longer take as many things for granted. I am truly blessed to be doing this again and to have fans that still care and are eager for the new album we worked so hard on.
Also, was the music and the story of 'The Red Mist Of Endenmore' slowly popping to your head, or did you have a lot of different ideas during that period that you were off and the material of 'The Red Mist Of Endenmore' was thought out not that long ago?
D: Honestly while I was sick, I was deathly ill and in bed and wasn't thinking about anything but getting better, I couldn't read or anything at that time it was just hours of lying in bed and trying to sleep as much as I could, I was very weak. The music is a lot of what helped me be mentally determined to get better as I said. I had had some of the songs written and the general outline started before a lot of the misfortunes hit me, so the concept was started, it was just a matter of getting well enough to start playing again and complete what we had started.
The Powers Court sound still is the sum af all your musical influences and tastes I guess, but this time around the album has a sense of tightness you hardly had before. Why do you think this happened - pure evolution or something else?
D: Thank you so much for noticing that! We made a concious effort to make this one more streamlined and cohesive and 'tight' as you say. It is partly evolution but it was definitely something we did conciously.
How do you juggle all the different elements of the Powers Court sound and still keep a focus on what each song needs in each moment? Is it a little bit like paint a simple painting when you have 1,000 colours to pick?
D: Wow, that's a good question...maybe if I explain the process I go throught in writing it might give you a better idea. I start with a guitar riff that we all find catchy and it builds from there. I get a mood or a 'vibe' from the riff, then the vocals start to take shape based on how the music makes me feel. From there we all iron our parts out and decide what else the song needs, leads, vocal harmonies, etc., So while it sounds like a somewhat complicated process, it's really kind of simple because a lot of it is based on emotions and I kind of let the music just lead me, so in that sense it is a lot like doing a painting!
You include a lot of dark elements in the story and keep it really heavy. Do you think it is so desperate, brutal and sad due to the period that you just went through in your personal life, or would you have done it this way even if you hadn't experienced all those problems in your recent past?
D: You know, sometimes reviewers ask me, "Why is your music so dark? Don't you ever write about pleasant things?" and I really didn't realize that this was the case. I've had a kind of difficult and challenging life I guess and I think that that is reflected in my music. I do tend to write things that are more somber and dark and I do think that is because of how I grew up and my recent misfortunes.
Regarding THE RED MIST OF ENDENMORE? I had the concept of the story in my head and had begun writing it, I don't think that the events that happened during that time period affected the album, but it might have given it more emotion, that's very possible. That's very astute of you to pick on things like that!
I know you're putting the album's concept to paper. What can you expect of that?
D: It's a full length 'novella', so it will be a full length paper back book that will sit on the shelf alongside all of our fans other books. It will stand on it's own as a story, but it also will flesh out the concept of the album and give the characters a lot more meaning and depth for the fans as they follow these people's lives through from start to finish. I just thought this was something that our fans would really like. They tend to be very intelligent people and they really get into their music, I thought this would be something to entertain them and expound upon the concept of the CD even more for them.
In a time when the metalcore trend seems to be washing away and everybody's looking for the new trend (can it be Thrash metal? Folk metal? Power metal?), do you think Powers Court can be caught in a wave of "hot-in-the-moment" music? (and would that be good for the band?)
D: Well...wow another really great question....um...we've never followed trends, but I guess if we became the band that started a new movement in metal towards bands concentrating more on creating true art vs. being worried about what they look like and becoming rock stars and making lots of money and just going with what 'corporate metal' tells them they should be so they would be more mainstream and commercial and make them more money, it might be a great thing! *laughs*
I would personally love to see metal move away from the current trendiness factor and become more about each band doing something that was genuine and had real emotion and feeling behind it. To me metal is more than just a genre, it's a lifestyle and kind of a team where there should be a sense of brotherhood and camraderie and less scratching and biting and commercialism. Somewhere along the way, the music has gotten lost in the process of it all because I guess the 'suits' found out there was money to be made in this genre. Today you're more likely to get a shining review if your label has forked over a lot of money in advertising, etc., and there's just something very wrong in that. Metal needs to be returned to the fans where it has always belonged. That's the true heart and soul of metal to me is it's dedicated fans that live and breathe true metal, not the casual listeners that listen to radio friendly tunes as background noise and the corporate heads that are attempting to dictate to the fans what is cool and what they should be into.
Do you plan to play live to promote this release? Will there be a stage act to somehow match the story behind 'The Red Mist Of Endenmore'?
D: Right now I am putting the finishing touches on the book, I'm beginning to write the material for the next CD, we're discussing possibly remastering our debut CD for those fans that never had the chance to own that one, but yes we're definitely discussing playing live as well as possibly some festivals! We don't have tour support from our label, so it's a bit more challenging to travel overseas, but we are discussing our options!
Can you please give me a list of five records that you've been listening to most lately?
D: Oh hard question...um...I've been stuck on ICED EARTH Alive in Athens for awhile, I know that's not a new release, but I just love the speed and energy on that album. The soundtrack from AMADEUS because I love Mozart and it was so well done. The score from THE CROW by Graham Ravell, Dreaming Neon Black by NEVERMORE and EVERYGREY's Solitude Dominace Tragedy.
Thank you sincerely for allowing me this forum to speak my mind and for giving the fans more insight into how POWERS COURT works and what the new CD, THE RED MIST OF ENDENMORE is about. Your questions were extremely intelligent and very well thought out and I appreciate the time you took to come up these!
Danie
POWERS COURT
BLEEDING 4 METAL
bleeding.4metal.net
GERMANY
Interviewer: Mandragora
Hey, First of all thank you for having this interview with us!
D: It's my pleasure! Thank you for so much for asking!
Could you first tell us something about you and the band?
D: Powers Court was formed in 1990 under the name 'EQUINOX' and we released our first three-song demo in 1993. Our first full length CD was self-titled and self-financed and came out in 1996 under the name POWERS COURT. The next release was entitled 'NINE KINDS OF HELL' and was released on Dragonheart Records as is our newest release, 'THE RED MIST OF ENDENMORE'.
What would you call your genre and what is your specialty compared to other bands?
D: That's a difficult question! Everyone now seems to want every band categorized and if a band doesn't easily fit into some 'paint by numbers' category, they are beaten up for it.
For instance, we've been categorized as 'power metal', well we obviously don't fit into that genre, so we started saying we were 'dark power metal' to try show that we are different from the average power metal band. My lyrics are sometimes occult oriented, the storylines are dark, sometimes they are horror themed or what might be termed as Gothic horror type themes, you know classic horror like Edgar Allan Poe, etc., I use unique vocals harmonies based on Madrigal, Gregorian chanting and choir type singing, we try to create an atmosphere to match the storyline for each song, etc., etc.,
With the newest release, 'THE RED MIST OF ENDENMORE', we're hearing 'progressive' in a lot of the descriptions, so now I guess we add in progressive. I realize it probably is easier on metal fans if there is a specific genre they're interested in to have these descriptions, but it's very frustrating for a band like ours because we pride ourselves on being creative and original. Originality means you don't normally fit into any one category 100% of the time, there are different elements in each song and each album has it's own personality but if you give our CDs a few spins, I think you'll realize that we have our own unique sound and approach to making albums. I have found that our fan base generally consists of people that are in general a lot more intelligent and like to be challenged. If someone just wants 'flavor of the week' metal to play as background noise, then we're not his or her band. If someone is more cerebral and likes something with heart and soul that's well thought out and has true meaning to it, they are generally a big fan of ours.
Our speciality? We try our very best to make our music a true experience for our listeners vs. just cranking out one after another song that's verse-chorus-verse-chorus predictable.
What is your favourite song on this album and why?
D: Well each one has it's own personality and it's kind of like asking someone to name their favorite child. *laughs* I guess the one that really stuck with me was, 'Vain Regrets' for some reason. I like how the guitar is so sad and expressive and the lyrics are pretty deep in my opinion.
I have to say that I am sure your album needs getting used to by many people and it is really strange especially the vocals and the big progressive influence. But all the same I really like your songs. How did you manage to do this?
D: Based on the reviews we've gotten so far, I guess I have to agree with you. Our music is more technical and involved than what the majority of listeners are being spoon-fed. Originality is something that's not being applauded and explored right now; trends seem to have taken over metal just like pop, so apparently it's kind of a shock to some listeners when they first hear us, we really weren't aware we were that 'strange' as you say.
We've been compared to CONTROL DENIED and DEATH most often recently and those bands were a lot more technical than we are, but that's the general consensus, that we're really progressive. Others say that fans of MANILLA ROAD, BROCAS HELM, CIRITH UNGOL and OMEN will get into what we do.
The thing is, the songs are reflecting the theme of the CD. It's about a furious rampage, a violent murderer and the story is full of the swirling chaos that's taking place in his mind and in the lives of these people he's involved with, therefore the music reflects that mood. It's not stereotypical 'happy' power metal. I don't write happy metal, I don't think metal is about being happy, but that's just my opinion.
It's really great that you like the songs! Thank you for saying that! Again, it's generally people that are more intelligent that seem to be open to and stimulated by our music. I have a really heavy classical background and Beethoven, Mozart and Wagner were huge influences on me. 'THE RED MIST OF ENDENMORE' is essentially a dark metal opera of sorts.
I think that people will just have to visit our myspace page and get a sampling if they're curious about what we sound like.
How would you describe the songwriting process?
D: Generally when I practice guitar, I jam around and riffs come to me. I pick out the ones we all feel the most, the ones that have the most energy, etc., I write the song according to how the tune makes me feel, what mood, etc., I then add the lyrics accordingly. I present the songs to the other guys and they put their parts in, the bass and drums, and together we iron out the timing, etc., Other times I will write complete sets of lyrics and based on the mood or theme of the lyrics, I write the guitar around that. Other times a vocal line comes to me and I write the song starting with the main vocal line. So each song is different really, but that's the gist of it.
What are your feelings concerning music?
D: I think that is probably the most difficult question I have ever been asked! Music has gotten me through some really horrific times in my life and actually kept me sane and at other times music has been the source of my utmost agony.
As a musician, music can be the source of the greatest joy you will ever experience in your lifetime. Songwriting especially for me has always been the most incredible high, but at other times and because of the business side of music or like in having to deal with some bandmates in the course of your career that just don't share the same passion or dedication that I do, it is the most stressful and heart wrenching thing you can ever possibly imagine. If you're in a metal band, you can't do it all yourself and you need at least three people total. Steve Murray (bassist) has always shared my same passion for this, unfortunately through the years it's been really difficult to find that third member that's willing to sacrifice everything to get this music out there and it's just been really, really heartbreaking at times.
So I have a lot of mixed emotions about music, it's like this cruel lover, most of the time it's just so good you cannot let it go and even when it's really bad you still cannot let it go. I cannot imagine myself ever not making music. Even with all the setbacks, heartaches and hassles, it's still my life's blood and what makes me want to continue living.
Thank you very sincerely Mandragora for allowing me a chance to express my feelings and give the fans more insight into how POWERS COURT works and what the new CD, THE RED MIST OF ENDENMORE is all about. I appreciate very much the time you took to come up these!
Hope to meet you sometime in the future!
Danie
POWERS COURT
ENTRATEPARALLELE
entrateparallele.it
ITALY
Interviewer: Alessio Torluccio
Hey guys! A small interview for you, cheers from Italy! Let's go with a lot of questions about your new, POWERFUL album!
D: Hi Alessio! How are you? Thank you for saying POWERFUL! I very much appreciate your saying that!
From your perspective, what's the best song (or best songs) on "The Red Mist Of Endenmore" and why?
D: Oh gosh, that's a hard one. I love them all really. This is like trying to decide on which of your children is your favorite! *grins* Several of the reviews that we have received name, The Prophecy, Somber Day, Vain Regrets and Cold Day In Hell, as some of their favorites! But for me, all of the songs tell the story so the listener needs to go from the beginning to the end to get the full experience. I'm sure each fan will have their own special song that they relate to the most.
A word about your artwork...Red like blood, mysterious! Who is hidden in the red mist?
D: The woman on the lower left hand side of the cover is the character, 'Elsbeth'. She is the main female character. She is the daughter of the Pagan Village Chieftain, 'Cormac', and his wife, 'Gunnora' who is also known as 'The Iron Rose'. Beneath her picture, you will see the silhouette of a church. Around the church steeple there are crows circling. This represents the portion of the story where Elsbeth marries the main character, 'Merrick'. Somehow a crow manages to get into the church and the narrator of the story points out that a crow is a symbol of 'Morrigan', the Celtic goddess of blood and war but also fertility. So was the crow foretelling of many children to come? Is she blessing the couple? Or is it a sign of some evil that is to come because of the union of Merrick and Elsbeth? The forest that you see depicted, is 'Endenmore Wood' where part of the story takes place. The cloaked figure on the right side of the cover is also Elsbeth. This is the part of the story where she sneaks away in order to meet with her lover, 'Ivar' in Endenmore Wood. The song, 'Darkness Calls' is about Elsbeth waiting in secret in Endenmore Wood for Ivar to arrive. The midrange or lower voice in the song is Ivar and the high soprano vocal is Elsbeth. The entire album is a bit like a modern opera. I try to convey different vocals for each of the characters. The red mist that encompasses the entire cover is about the climax of the story.
"The Red Mist Of Endenmore" is your second album with Italian label "Dragonheart." Are you satisfied from the Dragonheart's work? (It is a little label, but it loves heavy metal and it make a great work, in my opinion)
D: We were initially approached by three different labels at the same time, and after examining the products that each label put out and the bands on each label, we felt that perhaps Dragonheart was the best fit for us. Dragonheart puts out excellent releases in my opinion. The digipak CDs are brilliantly done I think.
In general, how long is it necessary because a disk as "The Red Mist Of Endenmore" is completed in all of his parts? Is there a songs in this album (or in the others) that has asked for more work than the expectation to be completed?
D: As far as different songs taking longer than others when songwriting? Yes, sometimes you write something and it just seems to all fall in place easily! Other songs you put together, the other players put their parts in and you play the song as a band and you just feel it's missing something. So you might add something or take something out or give it some other dimension with another instrument, etc., Each song has it's own personality.
Since your debut the musical scene (1996, I think!) is changed deeply: what is changed in better and what in worse?
D: To be perfectly honest? I really don't follow trends and I never have. I really try to avoid being influenced too much by what the current scene is doing. In America right now, the formula is: Tuned down, three chord, growling vocals with a sing-songy chorus that sounds almost like '90s Alternative vocals ala Stone Temple Pilots or Alice In Chains only with less balls, then back to the growling vocals then peace-out! The lyrics you cannot make out except the chorus parts which usually seem to be a guy whining about his girlfriend leaving him or something! *laughs* They all look alike, they all sound alike, they all move alike. Every so often we will record MTV's Headbanger's Ball, just to get some idea of what is currently popular here in the states? But we usually wind up fast forwarding through most if it. There is a song and video by comedian Brian Posehn and Anthrax's Scott Ian that is about this formula, it's entitled, 'Metal By Numbers', and it is not only hilarious, it really tells it like it is! Metal should be about being an individual and expressing yourself, about being a rebel and bucking trends, about creating art. Right now, all over the world, it's about being a conformist and following whatever the current trend is. I don't see anyone really trying to be an innovator and part of the problem is that if you are unique, you will get beaten up for it by certain mainstream publications that really should be boycotted altogether in my opinion. It's as if they're trying to destroy bands that are good musicians that are more about creating true art than becoming just another disposable clone band, because of course the disposable clone bands are where the money is and those are the bands they cater too and give good marks to because they basically get paid through advertising money to push these bands! A year from now these same bands will be tossed in the trash can for whatever new trend they decide is going to be the next 'new' thing.
To me metal belongs back in the hands of the fans, the people that made true metal what it's supposed to be in the first place! With the current atmosphere of some of these mainstream publications that come off so lofty you'd think they were the Vatican in the Middle Ages dictating to the masses what they should and should not listen to lest they be excommunicated, it's just become absolutely ridiculous and downright criminal. They'll trash entire genres of metal along with their fans basically telling them they're all idiots for liking this style of metal, then turn around and promote these unoriginal clone bands in their quest for money. Metal is all about money now, it's become no more than pop music with heavy guitars. To me it's just insulting to all fans of true metal.
I would personally love to see metal move away from the current trendiness factor and become more about each band doing something that was genuine and had real emotion and feeling behind it. To me metal is more than just a genre, it's a lifestyle and kind of a team where there should be a sense of brotherhood and camaraderie and less scratching and biting and commercialism. Somewhere along the way, the music has gotten lost in the process of it all because the 'suits' found out there was money to be made in metal. Metal needs to be returned to the fans where it has always belonged, as I said. That's the true heart and soul of metal to me, is its dedicated fans that live and breathe true metal along with bands that have originality and heart and soul. Not the casual listeners that listen to radio friendly metal tunes as background noise and the corporate heads that are attempting to dictate to the fans what is cool and what they should be into.
There are, today, epic metal bands that you like? What's your opinion about last albums of Manilla Road and Steel Assassin, if you have listen to the albums, of course.
D: To be honest, I've not had the pleasure of hearing their new releases yet!
How is Powers Court on stage? Is the stage the ideal dimension for you?
D: I love playing live! There is just something really energizing about getting up on stage and playing fast and furious and interacting with the crowd. I feed off of their love and energy and it's just a really fulfilling and exciting experience and we do our very best to give back to them and give them the best show they've ever had! But I also really, really love songwriting. To me it's the backbone of what we do and the bare bones of what we're all about. Anyone can get up on stage and really kick it if you're a good player, but if you don't have good material with moving lyrics that people can relate to, really how good is a band? The songwriting is the main thing in my opinion and although writing and recording can sometimes be a really nerve wracking process, once you get the end result it is one of the biggest highs ever.
What about the future and a possible tour? (also in Italy??)
D: Right now I'm putting the finishing touches on the companion book to 'THE RED MIST OF ENDENMORE' CD, this will be a full length paperback novella that will be available through the band's myspace page and website once it's printed as I said earlier. I've also started writing material for CDIV, which is as yet untitled. Once the material is written, we'll go back into the studio to begin working on that CD. Our label does not have tour support so going to Europe is difficult financially, but we're not ruling it out if the opportunity arises.
Thanks a lot for the availability on my behalf and of the whole editing of www.entrateparallele.it! This last space is yours, close as believe better this interview!
D: Your questions were very intelligent and very well thought out and I appreciate very much the time you took to come up these!
Ciao!
Danie
POWERS COURT
METAL HAMMER MAGAZINE
ITALY
In this new efforts Daniel Nydick is the new drummer. What has become of Rick Kramer? And how can you explain the process of change where only drummers are involved?
D: Hi! So nice to talk to you! Rick Kramer was and is very involved in Brazilian World Beat music and has a group called 'Joia' that does events like opening the St. Louis Rams Football games and the Soulard Mardi Gras in St. Louis (which is second only to the New Orleans Mardi Gras in Louisiana) and he was also at the same time working with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. So he was working on three very different, very demanding projects all at the same time and it became too much for him to juggle, so he politely bowed out of Powers Court because he didn't have enough time to devote to our band. He was more of a session drummer on our debut CD. We still have contact with him and we are still friends!
Powers Court has been a band since 1990 and in all that time, we have had a total of four drummers. It's unfortunate, but not unheard of for bands to have far more personnel changes in that many years than we have had. Look at Dimmu Borgir and how many band members they've had over the course of their career. *smiles*
How long did you take to conceive, write and record all this 12 songs?
D: I'm really not sure, it was done over an extended length of time due to several unfortunate incidents that took place that I will explain later in the interview for you and our fans.
It turns heavy on some old school thrash-goth elements than before, doesn't it?
D: Yes, given the concept of the album, we decided to make it a bit more aggressive and thrashy than NINE KINDS OF HELL was. I'm not sure what you mean by goth elements, but you might be referring to the somber vocals on some of the songs? If you read the lyrics, the concept is a classic tragedy and the album is a bit like modern opera. So with my voice I was trying to convey the different characters as best I could. In songs like DARKNESS CALLS, the main female character is waiting in the woods for her lover to arrive under the cloak of night. The vocals alternate between a midrange that represents her lover speaking to her and the high, lilting soprano which represents the woman speaking. We also have our own unique way of layering the harmonies that contributes to this overall dark atmosphere in some of the songs. So if by goth you mean the sadness factor and somber theme that runs throughout the album? Yes it has more of that because the story is a tragedy. This story is very modern Shakespearean.
Technical texture is not so simple to understand...And honestly, during our first listening it sounds a bit disconnected, maybe took by some rhythmic mistakes ('Tarot Reader').
D: No, the entire album was done religiously with a metronome, so there are no timing problems or technical mistakes of any sort. The style is very progressive ala CONTROL DENIED and DEATH /Chuck Schuldiner, on some of the songs. Our music is not an easy listen, but I think if you give it a few more spins you will see that there is a method to the madness and the timing changes are very unusual, complex and progressive, but there are no rhythmic or timing mistakes whatsoever. I think sometimes it's easier for a fellow musician that is into the more progressive styles to fully understand and digest all that we do, but trust me, there are no mistakes. *smiles*
Anyway, it includes some psychedelic and groovy guitar steams, and a scaring theatrical halo, thanks to Danie's wide vocal range. What are her formative studies about? Have she ever thought to make something different from Powers Court in her career?
D: I was formally and professionally trained in voice by a Bavarian music Professor named Max Hiendlmayr. I spent 9 years singing choir. My first time onstage, I was five years old. I'm largely self-taught on guitar and began playing at age 10 and was immediately drawn to and studied metal riffing almost exclusively, alternating with classical music and trying to incorporate that into my style as well.
In which country your music and philosophy are best received? Are you satisfied of your American nature? You know, maybe if you were born somewhere else everything (from music to real chance to rise up) have could been very different...
D: We are hoping that if we're promoted properly and reviewed fairly by those that have studied and understand our specific genre that we will speak to metal fans all over the world, but obviously it will be the free thinking metalheads that will give us a listen and embrace us more eagerly. We're not commercial and we're not mainstream and we're definitely for a more intelligent type of listener that would like something different and unique and we realize that is going to be a smaller audience right now, but there are so many bands following the same formula out there, why be just one more band like that? We come from the underground and that is generally our fanbase, the fans of true and epic metal that are carrying the torch for true metal who are not concerned with trends. These type of metal fans really get into metal and they're more metal warriors who live metal than the casual metal listeners who prefer the mainstream. Our music appeals most to these 'epic' and 'true metal' fans no matter where they are from. People that are fans of MANILLA ROAD, BROCAS HELM, SACRED OATH, OMEN and the more well known bands like KING DIAMOND, ICED EARTH and NEVERMORE usually really get into us.
If I had been born somewhere else? This is an interesting question! I would imagine if I had been born somewhere else I might have some different influences and experiences that might affect my writing! I would love to experience Europe and your metal scene that you have over there because from what I've heard and read it sounds wonderful! Like a different world from America's metal scene! Our fanbase is largely in Europe, so we're very greatful to our European fans and the metal scene over there and to prestigious magazines like Italian Metal Hammer who are willing to support us.
We are curious to know when (and 'if') you come to Europe.
D: Our label, Dragonheart, does not have tour support, so planning a trip to Europe is a bit more of a challenge for us. We would love to do some festivals in Europe and we're not ruling it out! Again we are not a super high profile band that has all of these things taken care of for them, but given the opportunity we would definitely be most honored and eager to participate!
Thank you so much for taking the time to interview me and let me give the fans a deeper understanding of what we are all about and what was involved in the making of THE RED MIST OF ENDENMORE CD. I wish you well and hope to meet you sometime in the future!
Danie
POWERS COURT
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