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Hi Ian, this is the second interview that you grant us, and the
WhiteMetal.it staff thanks you for this great availability. This time,
we
 want
talk about Seventh Angel. After sixteen years the reunion was a
pleasant surprise for all your fans. What are the reasons that brought
you to play again together?
We had begun to see each other socially again after a long absence and
it made sense to get the band back together again.
Some readers of this webzine say that "The Torment" and "Lament For The
Weary" are two purely thrash albums, without any doom influences, while
others say that there is a mix of both styles. Surely, your words will
resolve this debate. What do you say?
There was definitely doom influence as I was listening to Trouble a lot
at the time. I was also really influenced by Sabbath when I started to
dabble with the guitar in the early 80s.
The question is different for "The Dust Of Years". The sound is
stronger and rich of death influences. Why this change?
The vocals are different simply because this is the way I have been
singing for the past 18 years! I didn't want to go back to a purely
thrash style after all this time. I normally sing growls or clean, but
wanted Simon to do the clean vocals with SA so it sounds very different
to MSW. There are many influences from us all, but Simon and I tend to
both write pretty doomy music!
According to our reviewers, "The Dust Of Years" is your best work to
date. Do you agree? In your opinion, what's your best release?
Difficult! The first album was immature, but had a lot of energy and
enthusiasm. The second was a much more solemn and mature affair and the
new one is just us doing what we want to do these days with all our
experience musically (and in life) under our belts.
 I
like them all for different reasons, but the Torment is my least
favourite especially lyrically.
When I listened "The Torment" for the first time, the bluntness of the
lyrics struck me, preachy and rich in faith at the same time. How
important are the lyrics for you? Are they powerful enough to convince
and touch the listener's heart?
For me personally they are too preachy and sound like the rantings of a
teenager who thinks he knows all the answers. Simon's lyrics on there
are good, but I don't like mine.
During the latest Elements of Rock, pastor Bob invited all the bands to
tear down the walls between them and the audience. I must say that both
with My Silent Wake in 2007 and with Seventh Angel in
2009, you were often among the audience to see the other performances,
to speak, to take some pictures or to drink a beer in company. I think
it's a great thing that is worthy of praise. How important are festivals
 like
Elements of Rock for you?
Well, we are music lovers too and we go to gigs in our spare time, so
for us it is not only good to play, but to socialise and enjoy other
music too. I can't understand people turning up to festivals and not
getting involved in this way. I just enjoy the whole thing.
So, do you prefer to record in a live or a studio environment? What
was your best gig to date?
I enjoy gigs and recording for different reasons; they are both great
experiences. Gigs can be disappointing when there is a poor attendance,
but it has been good so far with SA since the reunion. Our best gig
since re-forming hmmmm....would like to say
 Nordic
fest as it was our first but I was very nervous, so I think maybe
Brainstorm.
What about Seventh Angel future plans?
Fear Dark tour! Maybe we will record again in a year or so - we will
have to see.
Thanks again for this interview. Any last words for our readers?
Thanks for the interview! Thanks to everyone who has bought the new
album and not downloaded illegally.
Daniele Fuligno
(with collaboration
of Christopher Warman)
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