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Hi, first off all I just want to congratulate you with the 2-CD “Defender of Metal/Heroes of Tomorrow. Are you satisfied with it? JR: We're more than satisfied. And I'm pretty sure our fans are really satified too. We are working with Pure Steel records now and they are doing an excellent job in Europe. The album is selling well all over Europe due to this fantastic work. They're sending the album all around the globe and that's amazing for a band that comes from Brazil. We have no words to say how satisfied we are at this very moment. We're giving interviews to all around the world since the double-pack with our two albums were released. Our albums are been reviewed by many webzine, fanzine and magazines all around the world too. We're receiving an excellent feedback from our fans and the media world wide as well.
How did you get your name Hellish War? JR: Actually there are not any exciting stories or any important event behind the choosing of the name (laughs). Our guitarist and founder of the band Vulcano just picked out this name out of nowhere. He just thought it was a real strong name for a heavy metal band. And when he came with the name to the other band members at the time, they thought the same as him. And looking now many years after the birth of the band it still is a strong and very metal name. In the end we're all hellish warriors in a Hellish War. (Laughs) Just joking. How would you describe your music to any of our readers who may not have heard of you before? JR: I'd say we're a heavy metal band. We don't play any modern metal but the magic metal from the 80's era. We sound like a mix of Running Wild, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and Grave Digger. I'm not saying we're a copy of those bands but the music we do is something between them and of course other bands. We have an identity as musicians and it reflects on the music we do. We just love metal music the way it was created and that's why we're still playing this kind music. And many others around the world still sharing the same idea and the same passion we have. That's the reasons we have many fans all around the world. But I'd rather ask to you readers to go and listen to our music, then give your own opinion, alright!!
Where do you get your inspiration from and how do you usually write a song? JR: Most of the time it comes from our feelings. We write music from the heart. We just don't think about it when we start the writing; we just see what we've done in the end of the day. Sometimes it sounds good, sometimes not. Most of the writing comes from some main riff and a basic ideia. Then we all just try to give our best in each song according to what each of us are feeling at that very moment and I think that's the reasons why our music is so well talked by people, 'cause they feel or get the feeling of the song and they get involved with it. And the last thing we do is to write the lyrics. How long do you need to practice to feel comfortable with your songs before you record them? JR: I don't know for sure, but maybe 6 months is enough. I mean 6 months of writing and getting comfortable to do it not only practicing but finishing the songs. We're trying a new method for us on the writing of our new album. The idea is to record the each song in a pre-production demo. So this way we will have a better idea of what is coming from each song and how it is sounding. And we'll learn the new songs real quickly. Being like this we'll have less time in the studio and more time on stage, which is what we really want.
What tasks presently lie ahead for Hellish War? JR: First of all, we're finishing the mixing of our first live album which was recorded in Germany at Razorblade Festival during our European tour last year. It was a wonderful tour and we just registered for a live release. We plan to do the release till the next semester of 2010. We're dealing it with some labels in Europe and Brazil. Next March we will get our asses back to rehearsal room and finish the writing of the new album. We have 4 songs almost done and gonna write some more. People can expect a even more strong album from Hellish War. We are really on fire. We plan to finish the writing till August 2010 and then get into the studio to record the new album. If we're lucky enough the album will be out in the end of 2010 or beginning of 2011. Let's speculate - you have been granted a free slot on a tour of your own choice - who would be your ideal touring partners? JR: Well, thats easy (laughs). Iron Maiden, Running Wild and Judas Priest. Of course we would like to tour with many bands as possible but these 3 would do the talking (laughs). I'm not asking much, am I? What albums or bands do you believe have had the greatest impact on the history of Hard Rock and Metal? JR: That's the kind of difficult question, because I'll expose my opinion and many others might not agree, so I'll try to be fair enough.
Bands: Jimi Hendrix Experience, Thin Lizzy, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Saxon, Metallica, Venom, Slayer, Sepultura, Motörhead. Albums: Number Of The Beast (Iron Maiden), Paranoid (Black Sabbath), Ride The Lightning (Metallica), Hell Awaits (Slayer), Aqualung (Jethro Tull), Arise (Sepultura), Heaven And Hell (Black Sabbath), Machine Head (Deep Purple).
I believe these are the ones. At least the ones I remembered right now (laughs). I really enjoy these bands and these albums and many more of course. But I kind of grew up with these bands and albums. I also believe that 90% of the metal heads who comes to read this interview will have to agree with me. These albums and these bands were and some of them are still very important to the Hard Rock and Metal scene. I thank you very much for participating in this interview and sharing this information and your thoughts with us. And to finish it off, are there any last words you'd like to express? JR: Well, first it really was a real pleasure to give this interview to you. Hope the readers enjoy it as much as I have. Hope we drop by Denmark in our next tour. Thanks from the bottom of my heart for the opportunity. And the ones who wants to know more about us just check our myspace (www.myspace.com/warhellishwar) and our website (www.hellishwar.com.br). See you all on the road. Metal Still Burns!!!
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