Lacuna Coil is one of the most famous and charismatic heavy metal bands in Italy, having already carve their own path to success. A few days ago Rock Overdose had the pleasure to have a conversation with band’s singer Andrea Ferro , and he told us many things about Lacuna Coil, their new album 'Delirium' and some other things that would logically be discussed.
Rock Overdose: Hi Andrea and welcome to Rock Overdose. How are you these days?
Andrea Ferro: I’m good thanks. I’m in Germany at the Record Label for a few interviews today and tomorrow. Cristina and I are on a European press tour to promote our new record “Delirium”.
Rock Overdose: So, it’s a busy period for you but I’m certain that you enjoy it!
Andrea Ferro: Yeah, of course. I mean, we always like talking about our music. It’s always a good time; even if we’re going to do a lot of the same stuff all day, or repeat the same stuff. But it’s good. That’s the way it is and we love talking about out music and music in general so it’s a good time.
Rock Overdose: Of course, it’s part of your job and promotion. How are things going for Lacuna Coil in 2016?
Andrea Ferro: We’re very busy! As I said, we’re promoting our new record, we’re organizing the upcoming tours and we’re working on finalizing a lot of stuff to promote the release of the new record. So, it’s busy times, but busy in a good way. We’re also very excited for the people who get to listen to the new album and the new songs. It’s an interesting kind of ‘being busy’ and crazy.
Rock Overdose: “Delirium” is the eighth studio album of the band and it will be released on May 27th. Can you give us some more information about the release?
Andrea Ferro: This album is sort of a new chapter for us. Not only because we’ve been recording it with kind of a new line-up. Besides me, Cristina and Marco, we also have Ryan, the new drummer, working on the record for the first time. It’s the first album we ever recorded as a four-piece and it has quite a different vide to it. Marco specifically, the bass player who wrote all the songs, was free on the songwriting, so there are a lot of different moods on the album, a lot of faster, heavier and darker songs but also some more crazy stuff. We’ve been very free on the songwriting and tried to go to different places that the usual. Since it’s our 8th record as you said, we already have our sound and our style, so we tried to get a little out of it and freshen up a bit. There’s a big variety of songs and moods in the new record and I think it’s kind of a treat when you listen to it. It’s a little crazier than usual but also dense and heavy and leveled up. There are growled vocals, quite a variety of sounds and I think it’s pretty fresh for a band that is already on their 8th record.
Rock Overdose: So, we can say it’s going to be pretty different from the previous releases, given that Lacuna Coil are a trademark in their scene.
Andrea Ferro: Yes, some songs might remind the old Lacuna Coil, but most of the stuff is pretty fresh. We took a leap and went a bit out of our classic standards. It still feels like a Lacuna Coil record, because it still is dark and it still has its heavy parts and melodic stuff but I think you’ll be surprised when you listen to it. It’s quite different.
Rock Overdose: Which will be the first single of this album?
Andrea Ferro: As a first single, we’re releasing a song called “The house Of Shame” which is the first track of the album and it’s probably the heavier song of the record. That’s why it may come as a surprise for many people. It starts with a lot of double-bass and extreme vocals and it’s definitely a surprise. But as I said, there are a lot of different styles on the record, so we can say that it’s very strong. But not all of the record is going to sound like that.
Rock Overdose: So the first single won’t be a representative of the whole album?
Andrea Ferro: No, but in a way yes. Some songs will sound like it but not all of them. But it’s not going to be the most commercial track. It’s going to be more of a strong song, very heavy and with a very epic chorus, a surprise.
Rock Overdose: And what about a video-clip? Any plans?
Andrea Ferro: We haven’t shot a video yet, but I think that we’re probably going to shoot it at the end of the month. We’re still talking about it and how it’s going to be. At this point we have a lyric video, just for the launch of the song. We may do a video clip for the next track.
Rock Overdose: Ok. Let’s go back, to the past of Lacuna Coil. Can you tell us, in a few words, how did you all meet and begin as a band? If you can fit it all in a few words! [laughs]
Andrea Ferro: [Laughs] So many years in a few words! Well, basically we started the band as friends. Marco, the bass player, and I started it, because we were skateboarders and hanging out together and then it became more and more of a passion, more of a serious thing. We were always on the lookout for band members, between our friends’ circle, between people that we knew that could play, but also people that we knew we liked being around. We never looked for some professional musician that we didn’t know. We always looked for people that we knew we’d like to spend time with and build something together. That has been our main goal since the beginning and even today, when we have to choose a band member, apart from being able to play the songs, it has to be somebody that we like to have on tour for many months and we’d like to spend a lot of time with. It’s important for us. Friendship has always been the key for this band; and maybe one of the secrets of being around for so many years.
Rock Overdose: Do you think it’s difficult for an Italian band to achieve worldwide success?
Andrea Ferro: I think so, yes. We’ve never had a history of many bands achieving this type of success. Take UK for example, or Germany. They always have big bands that succeed worldwide, like Scorpions or Kreator. They have the German thrash metal scene and then they also have bands like Rammstein. They have a lot of experience in having heavy music becoming internationally successful, while Italy has never had that thing. We’re more famous for our traditional music or melodic pop Italian music. It’s not very common for a metal band from Italy to become internationally successful. In our case, we were one of the few ones, or the only one actually, who took it to the next level. I think it’s a bit harder for an Italian band, even now that some bands have more options and more chances to tour than they had in the past.
Rock Overdose: Do you think that Lacuna Coil being a female fronted band has to do with the fact that you’re famous?
Andrea Ferro: Yes, of course, that does help our image. I think Christina definitely looks good but she also sings pretty well. The important thing to me is that you back up your image with your talent. I mean, she’s a beautiful girl but if she had a horrible voice, I don’t think we would have the same level of success. So it definitely is important, but it also has to be backed up by something else.
Rock Overdose: The full package!
Andrea Ferro: Exactly! The full package! If you have somebody that looks great on a cover, nobody’s going to complain, especially if he/she can also perform.
Rock Overdose: And what about your touring plans and upcoming concerts? Is there any hope of visiting Greece at some point?
Andre Ferro: Yes. We’re going to start touring at the end of April. We will start from Asia, you know, the Philippines, China, and then we’re going to America for 5 or 6 weeks to promote the record. Then, we’re coming back to Europe for a few of the summer festivals and, hopefully, in the European tour that we will do later on, Greece will be included. We haven’t been in Greece for a while and hopefully there will be the right conditions to come back and give a show. Every time we came, we always had a great time. We love Greece. We love the food, we love the people, the attitude, the weather! [laughs] I’ve been there for a holiday as well We definitely have nothing against coming back and give shows in Greece!
Rock Overdose: But there’s nothing planned at the moment.
Andrea Ferro: No, not yet. But it’s pretty early. We’re now booking the first dates we’re going to do and then we’re going to deal with the rest of the dates and all of the rest of the countries we haven’t visited yet.
Rock Overdose: Ok. We hope to see you soon. Here are the last couple of questions for you. Which is your favorite metal album of all time?
Andrea Ferro: Oh, it’s hard to say. There are so many great records out there. I can say that, when we started, there was one album that influenced us a lot and that was “Icon” by Paradise Lost. Another one was “Bloody Kisses” by Type O Negative, which was also released at the same time. Those two records were very important for us when we first started, so we decided to play this style of music with Lacuna Coil, especially in the beginning. But, overall, there are obviously more great albums like “Master Of Puppets” from Metallica or “Reign In Blood” by Slayer. All time classics. AC/DC, “Let There Be Rock”, “Back In Black” or Iron Maiden. There are so many records to name. Even some more modern ones. Some Korn records are also classics for me, System Of A Down. There are just so many great albums.
Rock Overdose: Now that you mentioned AC/DC, what’s your opinion about the rumors that Axl Rose will be their frontman?
Andrea Ferro: I don’t know. I think he has that type of voice that could fit in, but I think that he would have been better a few years back. Nowadays, I don’t know. I think nowadays, you expect AC/DC with Brian Johnson and that’s it. He’s been with the band for so many years that it’s hard to replace him. At the same time they should probably consider the possibility that it might be time to quit. I love AC/DC, they’re one of my favorite bands. Maybe the first rock/metal t-shirt I bought was an AC/DC one, with Angus posing on it. I’m very connected to this band. My first vinyl was “Let There Be Rock”. I love the band. It’s just that, I think that when you can’t do it anymore, maybe it’s time to stop.
Rock Overdose: But I think that perhaps it’s too hard for a musician to stop doing what they love.
Andrea Ferro: Yeah, of course it is. I see that The Rolling Stones keep on touring, but I think that when you start losing all the pieces. I don’t know. It’s a tough decision. I know, and I can imagine, it’s not easy to say that you’re just going to call it quits. We’ll see. It could be interesting. But I just think AC/DC have already gave me what I needed from them. I’ll always treasure all these records, in all my life and I don’t expect them to give me something new.
Rock Overdose: One of my favorite bands, too!
Andrea Ferro: Yes, I love them too. I don’t have only one favorite band, but AC/DC are definitely one of my favorite classic rock/metal bands, for sure.
Rock Overdose: Now let’s get back to Lacuna Coil. What would be your personal message to the fans in Greece and also everyone who will read/listen to this interview?
Andrea Ferro: I would like them to listen to our new album, “Delirium”. As I said, it should be a surprise for many of them and obviously I hope that we can come back very soon and play at a festival or to give our own show. Whatever we can do, we will try to make it happen and come back. We’ve always had a great time in Greece and we feel that there’s a different kind of relationship between Greek people and Italians. We’re very close.
Rock Overdose: We’re really looking forward to it! Greek fans love the band and they will give you a warm welcome.
Andrea Ferro: That’s true. We can’t argue when we say that Greeks and Italians have a very similar attitude when it comes to the crowds. It’s always a pleasure to play for these people that really enjoy the music. Hopefully, we’re going to make it back very soon.
Rock Overdose: Any other news that you’d like to reveal about the band, before we wrap this up?
Andrea Ferro: At the moment we’re just working on the video and working on the tour that’s going to start. Those are the main news. We also have a new guitar player for the tour, that we’re going to try, an Italian guy. That’s it basically. We’ve got a couple of guests on the new album, that play some of the lead guitars since Marco basically recorded all the rhythmic parts. One of them is Myles Kennedy from Alter Bridge and the other one is Mark Vollelunga from Nothing More, an upcoming band. They’re both friends. They have assisted us and they did a great job, so there will be some surprises on the music.
Rock Overdose: That’s great. At this point I’d like to thank you for your time. It was really nice talking to you. It was much easier for me to understand your English since you’re Italian!
Andrea Ferro: [laughs] My pleasure! And don’t worry about it! Thank you very much. Ciao!
Hallway - Untold Stories#LacunaCoil
Δημοσιεύτηκε από Lacuna Coil στις Τετάρτη, 9 Μαρτίου 2016
For Rock Overdose,
Interview Zisis Petkanas
Questions Pavlos Giannakopoulos-Zisis Petkanas
Transcript Sofia Douska
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