An interview with Manuel Malini, vocalist for Black Phantom.
An interview with Manuel Malini, vocalist for Black Phantom.
MESMERIZE
What inspired the formation of the band and what are your influences?
The band was founded by our bass player Andrea Tito, as a solo project. There were some traditional metal songs written by him that never had the chance to be recorded during Andrea’s twenty-five-years career. During a break from his main band, Mesmerize, he decided to gather around him some friend musicians to arrange and finalize these songs. After the first record and the entry of the current drummer Ivan, the project turned into a full-fledged band. In support of the first album (Better Beware!) there have been several concerts in the north of Italy that have improved the feeling in the band. On March 20th our second album Zero hour is now was released, which confirms the genre that distinguishes us, a traditional metal (Iron Maiden, Judas Priest) with a modern approach.
How do you approach song writing? And did that approach differ for this record?
While for the first record almost all the songs were already written, both in terms of music, vocal lines and lyrics, for the second record we started from scratch. All the main ideas came from Andrea anyway, but we all worked together first in writing the vocal lines, and then in the rehearsal room, each playing and rearranging their own part. Also, today we are already working on new music, Andrea sends his ideas and we work from home, hoping to be able to meet soon in the rehearsal room and play live again.
FROM SCRATCH
FROM SCRATCH
How do you approach song writing? And did that approach differ for this record?
While for the first record almost all the songs were already written, both in terms of music, vocal lines and lyrics, for the second record we started from scratch. All the main ideas came from Andrea anyway, but we all worked together first in writing the vocal lines, and then in the rehearsal room, each playing and rearranging their own part. Also, today we are already working on new music, Andrea sends his ideas and we work from home, hoping to be able to meet soon in the rehearsal room and play live again.
HORDES OF DESTRUCTION
What song is your favourite song from the new album and why?
My favourite song is “Hordes of Destruction”, which was also used as the first single, but if I have to be honest it was really a tough choice because all the songs on the record are strong, each one for its reasons. I like “Hordes of Destruction” for its rhythm, for the very catchy chorus: it is great to sing, and it also has a very live approach. Even the outro of the song, guitar and voice, seems perfect to be sung live by the whole audience.
How do you transpose the songs from the record to a live setting?
In my opinion that’s very natural, because in our approach to writing and recording we usually don’t exceed in overdubs or special effects that are not reproducible live. Thus, what we do onstage is exactly what we play in studio! Furthermore, in my opinion, I really think that the freshness and genuineness of the record is probably the direct result of these choices.
NATURAL
NATURAL
How do you transpose the songs from the record to a live setting?
In my opinion that’s very natural, because in our approach to writing and recording we usually don’t exceed in overdubs or special effects that are not reproducible live. Thus, what we do onstage is exactly what we play in studio! Furthermore, in my opinion, I really think that the freshness and genuineness of the record is probably the direct result of these choices.
WHAT WORKS
CORONAVIRUS
What plans do you have for the future?
On the occasion of the release of the album on March 20th, we had organized a series of live dates to support the album. Unfortunately, everything that happened in the world because of the coronavirus (quarantine, social distancing) made us skip every plan made for this first part of 2020. We’re supporting our album via internet, with radio passages, interviews (thanks for the space you’re giving us now!) and online sales (https://blackphantom.bigcartel.com/). In the meantime, we’re working on new songs from home and waiting to understand how the music world will move, related to what happened in the last two months. Our hope is to resume the concerts as soon as possible, in order to bring our live music out and get back to have fun and entertain the people who support us!