Winter's
Bane
Winter's Bane is an old
band with a huge and interesting history behind them. Recently they came
back with their best album ever or at least this is my humble opinion.
Read below what Lou told us...
1. HELLO! FIRST OF ALL MY CONGRATULATIONS
FOR “REDIVIVUS”. IT REALLY SOUNDS INSPIRED! HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT IT?
Thank you Nikos, we worked really hard to
make it, but I enjoyed recording it and think it’s the best Winters Bane
album to date.
2. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO PREPARE THIS ALBUM
AND HOW EASY OR DIFFICULT WAS IT FOR YOU TO FIND ALL THESE NEW MUSICIANS
AND COOPERATE WITH THEM?
It took a while to find a singer that I was
happy with, a couple of years at least. Then it took another year or so
writing back and forth. As far as the Drummer Mark Cross, he was easier
to enlist. The album took a few years to get out, not because of the material
but because of getting the right studio and producers lined up.
3. IS IT A PROBLEM TO YOU THAT MOST OF THE MEMBERS
LIVE IN EUROPE AND ALSO PLAY IN OTHER BANDS?
Yes, it is a problem, mainly the cost of getting
everyone together to tour. As far as other bands we did the Winters
Bane CD before the guys got busy with their new projects.
4. DID THE NEW MEMBERS OFFER IDEAS TO THE COMPOSITIONS
OF THE NEW ALBUM?
Yes, Mark wrote his drum parts and Alex helped
with lyrics and Melody lines. I brought all the music to the table, and
some of the songs were finished in the studio with Curran.
5. “REDIVIVUS” MEANS, IF I AM NOT MISTAKEN, THE
ONE THAT RETURNS BACK TO LIFE. AM I RIGHT?
Yes, it’s Latin meaning to be “reborn”.
6. DO YOU WANT TO SAY WITH THIS TITLE THAT THE
BAND IS BACK FOR GOOD?
I would like to think so. I have tons of material
to release and it’s just a matter of time.
7. THIS IS YOUR THIRD OFFICIAL RELEASE. IN COMPARISON
WITH YOUR PREVIOUS 2 CAN YOU TELL US, WHICH THE NEW ELEMENTS THAT THE FANS
CAN LISTEN TO HERE ARE?
This album is a return to the Higher ranged
vocals and more straight forward pounding on the drums. I like to compare
it to a right cross to the face a boxing term for a power punch.
8. WINTER’S BANE AS A BAND ARE ALSO KNOWN BECAUSE
FROM YOU TIM OWENS STARTED HIS CAREER. I WANT YOU TO TELL ME SINCERELY,
DOES IT BOTHER YOU WHEN PEOPLE ASK YOU ABOUT HIM?
No, not really. Tim has the same problem but
he’s always asked about Priest or Halford. It’s funny though, Tim is well
known and we’re not, so why not ask Tim about Tim and ask us about Winters
Bane. It doesn’t make sense to me.
9. LET ME REVERSE A BIT THE QUESTION, HAVE YOU
EXPLOITED IN A WAY THE NAME OF OWEN IN ORDER TO PROMOTE THE BAND?
You would think yes, but the answer is No.
We promote Winters Bane. Tim wasn’t the original singer in the band, plus
we had record deal offers with our first singer. I’m the only original
member of the band, and I formed Winters Bane with Terry Salem (drummer).
Other people including you ask about Tim. If he’s not asked about, I don’t
mention him.
10. NOW LETS TALK A BIT ABOUT THE LYRICS. WHAT
KIND OF THEMES INSPIRE YOU TO WRITE ABOUT?
It depends on what mood I’m in or what type
of story I’m trying to tell.
11. CAN YOU TELL US IN A FEW WORDS WHICH THE STORY
OF EACH SONG THAT YOU HAVE INCLUDED HERE IS?
“Seal the light” was based off of the “Two
Towers” Lord Of The Rings.
“Spark to Flame” is how an idea for a song
starts out and turns into a lifestyle and why it’s written.
“The World” is about human consumption “We
are consumers”.
“Dead Faith” has three verses dealing with
3 points of view on Christianity.
“Catching the Sun” is a kings return to rule
his land.
“Remember to forget” – Spanish inquisition.
“Burning bridges” is about a man who is ruthless
and does what he pleases without caring for other people.
“Waves of Fury” deals with a soldier’s final
minute on the battle field.
“Despise the Lie” – trying to escape a group
like the mafia or a gang.
12. I LIKED A LOT THE COVER ARTWORK OF YOUR NEW
ALBUM. WHO IS THE PAINTER? Chris Saiyen. DID HE LISTEN TO YOUR MUSIC
BEFORE CREATING IT?
I believe we told him what we wanted, and
then he heard the music.
13. WHY DID YOU SIGN WITH METAL HEAVEN AND NOT
WITH A BIGGER LABEL?
Honestly, Metal Heaven gave us the best deal.
It might be a smaller label but that won’t be for long. They are good to
us, and I like that. I don’t get bullshit answers or no answers at all.
Georg is a great guy and treats us well. We were looking for a label we
could grow with.
14. I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT THE BIG LABELS WEREN’T
INTERESTED IN WINTER’S BANE. ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH YOUR LABEL SO FAR?
15. IN THE PAST YOU HAVE RE-RELEASED “HEART OF
A KILLER” FROM CENTURY MEDIA. HOWEVER, NOW IT’S HARD TO FIND IT. DO YOU
HAVE PLANS TO RE-RELEASE BOTH OF YOUR PREVIOUS ALBUMS FROM YOUR NEW LABEL
OR AT LEAST RELEASE A COMPILATION?
We just got the rights back to HOAK and we’re
deciding what to do with it. I know eventually I’ll be re-recording Season
of Brutality our sophomore effort for Massacre records. I’ll know more
after the first of the year.
16. SINCERELY NOW, HAVE YOU COMPOSED A SONG THAT
YOU CONSIDERED IT WOULD WORK AS A FILLER, BUT IT TURNED OUT TO BE ONE OF
YOUR FANS’ FAVORITES? IF YES, WHICH ONE?
I don’t write fillers, that is why you don’t
get more than 11 songs. I think that rips fans off, and isn’t fair. That
is a record company’s bullshit attempt to sign shitty bands and make money.
17. WILL YOU DO A VIDEO-CLIP FOR YOUR NEW ALBUM?
I would love to do a video. I don’t have any
plans yet. I won’t say no. LOL
18. IMAGINE THAT YOU HAVE THE MONEY TO DO AN EXPENSIVE
ONE. WHICH SONG WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND HOW DO YOU IMAGINE IT TO BE?
That is a very tough question. I love all
the songs on the new album and each one has a favorite part. I would think
one of these two; “Seal the light” or “Burning bridges”. It would be very
cool.
19. I AM FROM GREECE AND, I WONDER IF IT’S POSSIBLE
TO SEE YOU FOR A LIVE SHOW HERE?
It’s looking like a tour in Europe is going
to happen after our next album, which is scheduled for spring 07.
20. IF YOUR MUSIC WERE AN EMOTION, WHAT WOULD
IT BE?
All my music is emotional, I have happy, sad,
angry, anxiety, confused and many more in songs that call for each feel.
21. IF IT WERE A PAINTING, WHAT WOULD IT SHOW?
Life and the struggles in it. That was a very
cool question by the way. Nobody has ever asked that before.
22. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME! HOPE I
DIDN’T TIRE YOU. THE LAST LINES BELONG TO YOU…
Thank you for some great questions, and I
hope I could answer them to your liking. I enjoyed this interview very
much. I would like to thank the Fans old and new for taking part in the
Winters Bane experience. Take care and hope to see you on tour, soon.
-Lou
Nick “William_Kidd”
Parastatidis
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