The French heavy metal band LONEWOLF talked with Rock Overdose's Antonis "Jey Key" Katsaros about the band's history, how they choose their name, their new album and the tour plans that they have. Enjoy the questions answered by Antoine and Jens.
Rock Overdose: Hi guys and welcome to Rock Overdose. Could you please give us the band’s history until today?
Antoine (drums): Hello!LONEWOLF was born in 1992 and split in 1996. During this period we released two demo tapes and the 7” “Holy Evil” . We came back in 2001 with our first album “March Into The Arena”. Then in 2003 comes “Unholy Paradise”, followed by our 2d 7””Hellenic warriors”,“Made In Hell” in 2008, “The Dark Crusade” in 2009 and now our last album “Army Of The Damned” via Napalm Records.
Rock Overdose: Why you choose the name LONEWOLF?
Jens (Lead vocals/Rhythm guitar): As we searched for a band name, I remembered that my favorite band Running Wild took the name from a Judas Priest song. So I took all my Running Wild vinyls and found Lonewolf on “Blazon Stone”. I found that it fitted perfectly with a true heavy metal band and to be honest I’m still very happy with this choice today.
Rock Overdose: Your fifth full length album " ARMY OF THE DAMNED" is out! How the press and fans have receive it until now?
Antoine: The feed back is mostly good to very good except in Germany where it’s rather average. In a whole we’re really satisfied with the feed back.
Rock Overdose: What's the differences with your previous albums musically?
Jens: “Army of the damned” is more darker as well production wise as the songs themselves. It’s less Running Wild influenced than “The Dark Crusade”. Songs like “Celtic Heart” or “Army of the damned” have new epic influences we never explored before and it gives to the album an atmosphere we never had before. Combined with typical Lonewolf stuff like “Lonewolf” or “Hellbent For Metal”, it gives the most various album we ever released.
Rock Overdose: Why do you think someone should choose your album from others?
Antoine: As Jens said “Army Of The Damned” is really various, but always remains true heavy metal. Beside our everlasting german influences (Running Wild, Grave Digger, Stormwitch…) you can hear british steel (Maiden…) and darker production approaches influenced by bands like Dissection. For me it’s a true heavy metal album how I like to hear it!
Rock Overdose: It's kinda strange that 20 years after you formed the band, you decide now to create a song with the band's name. How this come?
Jens: It’s been at least 10 years since I am thinking about entitling a song Lonewolf but this song had to be very special. After our deal with Napalm Records it was time for me to thank all the fans and metalheads who support us since years and without whom we would not be here today! As we had the hymnic riffing of what would become the song “Lonewolf” I knew that this was “the” song. I immediately wrote the lyrics to it as a tribute to every metal wolf head J!!!
Rock Overdose: The wolf is again your basic theme on your album's cover. Who create the artwork? Can you give us some more details?
Antoine: Our cover was made by an Hungarian artist, Peter Sallai. For me it’s our best cover up to date! We had 3 artists in mind and gave them our ideas. Peter came back with this amazing cover and we said to ourselves: “It’s him!!!”
Rock Overdose: Now, with the album in the stores, what's next for Lonewolf? Some tours maybe?
Antoine: We just come back from the Wolfsnachte tour with Powerwolf, Stormwarrior and Mystic Prophecy. The feed back was amazing, we never expected this! Now are coming the Metafests in Germany and Austria, Taunus Metal Open Air in Germany, some French gigs: one with Tankard, an other one in our hometown Grenoble (can’t wait for this one cause it’s been 3 years we didn’t play at home J), and still some other festivals are coming.
Rock Overdose: How Is the music scene in France lately?
Jens: The metal scene becomes better since a few years, the underground is of course not so big as in Germany or Greece but it’s boiling and gives a great support to bands like us. True metal acts have emerged like Elvenstorm, Hurlement, Resistance, beside great act like Nightmare.They have great support and it shows that France has not said it’s last word!!!
Rock Overdose: Thank you about this interview guys! I hope all the best about your band and album! The last words are yours.
Thanks a lot for the interest and the interview, a big hail to our fans, bands that support us during these years and the tours ! Hope to see you soon, HELLBENT FOR METAL!!!
For rockoverdose.gr ,
Antonis "Jey Key" Katsaros
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