Rock Overdose proudly presents Bill Tsamis and Mark Zonder of the lengendary WARLORD! Read what they said to our editor Panos Warlord Bougalis about their concerts in Greece (and Europe), the past, the present and the future of Warlord, and of course their relationship with Greece! Enjoy the conversation below:
R.O: Let's get back in time to this first interview. Bill,you had told me that there was no plans for reunion or live appearance, nowadays there is a new album in progress and there are already a few confirmed live dates. What have changed since then?
MZ: I think a lot has to do with Bill’s health. I do not want to answer for him, but I was always ready to go. Whether it was just writing and recording songs or live shows, Warlord has always been my favorite band.
WJT: Well, it's a long story. I was teaching philosophy and theology in college for 15 years and I was very content giving lectures on the highest academic level. Lecturing about the most profound topics - the questions that "man has asked for ages" - is a very rewarding experience. And I was teaching only Honors students (the smartest students) so it was a very dynamic and interesting time in my life. In 2010 I became very ill with a "digestive illness." I lost 70 lbs in one year (I think that's 31 kg). During that time I had plenty of time to think about what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. "Music" was calling. The "muse" was back. And I figured I needed to finish this thing that I started when I was 8 years old. Note, that at this time, which was Aug 2011, I was under the impression that everyone had forgotten about Warlord so I was planning on composing more "Sea of Tranquility" type of music just for myself. I slowly got better from the illness, Mark happened to call, and the time was right for a Warlord reunion, especially when I found out there was still a lot of interest in Warlord.
RO: How do you both feel about that new "era" for WARLORD?I feel through your posts in fb that you are as excited as me are all the fans.
WJT: I am very excited about this new venture, both for the new studio album and the live performances. The new studio album sounds very, very epic, almost like a heavy metal film score and that's what I've always wanted to do - is take epic music to a higher plane. Even though it's metal, it's primarily great melodic epic music and Warlord fans will identify with the style immediately. As far as the live performances we have been planning a stageshow that is second to none. We will hold nothing back. This is not some casual gig like Wacken, but full on metal. The fans will be surprised at what we have to present. This will be Warlord as we always dreamed it should be.
MZ: I feel like I am 20 years old again. I am very excited about being able to play live for the fans and more importantly for us. We never really got a chance to play the Warlord songs.
RO: How easy is to compose for a WARLORD's album after so many years?And it's one man's job or there is collaboration with all band's members?
MZ: Bill writes the song and sends me the guitar parts, sometimes with bass and a guide vocal track so I know where they are. Then I just sit down and start playing and try to create the best fitting parts for the song. This is the way I approach any song, whether it be Fates, Warlord, or a hired project.
WJT: Well, when I first started getting back into it, I had to update my studio to a totally pro audio studio (2012 version). That, in itself took a few months. I had to learn everything, etc. As far as composing, I was surprised actually because many ideas started flowing out from my soul. Ideas, ideas, ideas -- too many. Many of these ideas would have been good solid metal songs but I've done that. I wanted to take it to a higher level with choirs and orchestration - of course, Mark and I have a certain magic that has never disappeared so that fell into place perfectly. It's very difficult working with other musicians who cannot capture my vision - but Mark not only captures my vision but makes the song his own as well. Writing new songs in the grand epic manner took some time. Recording all the instruments except the drums and vocals took even more time, although with the vocals I always lay down a scratch vocal melody line and have the singer sing it exactly the way I want it to be done. For me, the vocals are just another instrument in the whole composition. I also incorporated some Lordian Guard elements into these compositions which made them a bit longer with lots of changes. All I can say is that it will be 8 songs, 55 minutes with "no filler." Every note and drum beat/hit is in it's perfect place. So this will not be an album where you skip some songs because you don't like them. This will be an album where every songs is a masterpiece in itself and that has been confirmed by many of of my professional peers. I really think I'm on the right track in taking this type of metal to a higher level. No one else is doing it. It's still Warlord - but just more grand and epic.
RO:Talking about the members, who are in the line-up?
Both: We don't want to release that yet . . . the time will come. With Warlord, everything is "strategy."
RO: Can we have a little idea about the new material? How will it sound?
WJT: As I said, grand and epic. Night of the Fury gives you an example I think. All the main riffs are very strong with memorable hooks, the vocals are extremely melodic and meaningful, the drums, well what can I say - it's Mark at his best in the Warlord style. And the songs will cover the four different types of Warlord songs which are:
1. "melodic metal"
2. "melodic power metal”
3. "melodic grand epic metal, and
4. there is a "demented" speedburner in there that will really be a kick, kind of in the Mrs Victoria style, only meaner and more disturbing.
RO: Do you have come to a final decision of how many songs will be on the album and the titles of them?
WJT: Like I said, 8 songs, 55 minutes (which is a fairly long album, but again, no "filler" or "boring" parts) . . . and the only song I can reveal at this time is the one you're heard "Night of the Fury." Although I have to say with "Night of the Fury," that was just a quick 5 minute mix with no eq, or fx or anything.
Both: We just wanted to let the fans know we were working hard. Once that song is engineered properly if should sound absolutely killer - far better than the YouTube version you hear now.
RO: Have you any anxiety about the album's appeal?
MZ: No. We actually do this for us first, then the fans. We have to be satisfied and pleased with the results, then we release it.
WJT: Not really. This album is crafted especially for "the Warlord fan." If other metal fans like it then great. But I think I know what Warlord fans want to hear. So it's special in the sense that when I wrote each song I was very conscious of what "the Warlord fan" would want to hear. Yes, it's a bit different, but we don't want to keep playing the same old material from the past. I wanted to take this to a higher epic level and I "know" Warlord fans love epic metal. I am very confident than "the Warlord fan" will be very pleased with the album. Sure, there will be some detractors as there always are, but they haven't walked in my shoes and they don't understand what it has taken to put Warlord back together, because frankly, Warlord has always been me and Mark. We never really had a fully functional band at any time. So other musicians have come and gone but the sound remains the same . . . it's the same dark minor power epic style.
RO: Except the new album, there is a little "orgy" of re-releases of older material. Is that something that you decided or just agreed to such proposals?
MZ: Yes, we thought after 30 years it was time to have the proper releases through our company instead of most of the other companies taking advantage of the value of Warlord and selling product illegally. Whether it be the merchandise or albums.
WJT: We just agreed to the proposals. If someone wants to re-master an old Warlord album or albums then that's fine with us. In my view, all the Warlord fans have the material so, at first, I didn't see the point. Well, there are "collectors" and you know how that goes. However, we are re-releasing the "original" albums with very little re-mastering because the Warlord albums are out of print and I have heard from 15-16 year olds that are interested in Warlord. They can't pay $100 or whatever for a Deliver Us album so we want to make everything available and affordable to any new Warlord fans. We own everything now so we can do whatever we want with our material. And as Mark said, there have been so many illegal releases of Warlord - albums even unknown to us - we formed our own company "Sons of a Dream Music," and we will control everything from now own. And I emphasize again, especially after these live shows, I think a whole new generation will be interested in Warlord.
You can find the second part of the interview here!
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