Interviews: STEEL CAGE

This is a new interview with the Melodic Death Metal band STEEL CAGE from Italy. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you plan it or came out just like that?

GIANLUCA: STEEL CAGE is the name by which we describe our vision of society, it’s a “social cage” that binds us all within schemes that cannot lead to a fair, inclusive, and joyful existence. But many people and music can contribute to raising awareness and choosing a better way of living.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

GIANLUCA: we’re fond of metal because it represents darkness but also hope. We want to scream our anger, but also want people to find the energy to overcome the bad things. We want to blow the fuck away with our music and help people feel to have the power of believing in themselves and in the human genre 

SILVIA “SYN”: I always wanted to express through music what is not easy to say openly to people. Singing extreme metal helps me vent my anger. At the same time, I want to be an example for those who want to better manage this type of emotion and find well-being in music, especially for women, who are still too few in this genre. 

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

GIANLUCA: I started to play in a band with Genny and my brother Giuseppe in 1993 (we were “Apocalypse Now” at that time), then met Marco in 1998 and started to perform as a quartet with Giuseppe also on the vocals. In 2021 we were searching for the Singer and had the chance to get in touch with Silvia, who blew us away with her commitment, attitude, and skills.

MARCO: met the guys first time in 1998, when the band was already active. I joined them for some years, then I moved to Latvia for a decade or so. I was always in touch with them, and finally, it happened to reunite one more time, which is really a great thing! We are band members but first of all, we are FRIENDS.

SYN: Steel Cage found me on the music- website in 2021 when I was already singing in other rock&metal bands, both covers and brand new songs. I wanted to start with extreme metal and this powerful, professional band with such a long history behind was one of the most important occasions of my life. Since that moment, all my energies have been invested in this project.

4. Each band member's favorite band?

GIANLUCA: Moonspell and Paradise Lost, Dark Tranquillity and Insomnium, but also Metallica, Testament, Opeth, King Diamond, AC/DC, Queen

GIUSEPPE: all those named by my brother but also Vangelis, the Alan Parsons Project, Genesis, Dream Theater, Fear Factory, Rammstein, Linkin Park ... in short, the list is really long and varied.

GENNY: Obscura, Good Tiger, Porcupine Tree, Leprous, Insomnium, Dark Tranquillity

SYN: Metallica, Slayer, Arch Enemy, Lacuna Coil, Korn, and Infected Rain.

MARCO: grew up with the bay area thrash of the ’80s, but I would better mention “nontypical” bands, like Voivod, Galactic Cowboys, Flotsam, and Jetsam or Waltari. I’m now more fond of prog metal, from Dream Theater to Opeth, Porcupine Tree, Haken. I love Wilderun and Myrath of the newest (to me) bands 

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

GIANLUCA: not an easy question…inspiration comes unexpected, it can happen to play or not my guitar… Anyway, we’re used to starting with a riff or an idea and then building the song together.

GIUSEPPE: On a musical level we often start from emotion, from a message that we want to convey, and like sponges, we are open to any influence that may come from literature or, as for now, from the news that daily upset everyday life. The texts then act as a side, because even on a narrative level we want to tell a story that is the mirror of an interconnected reality.

GENNY: I get inspiration to write from the things around me and above all from my personal technique

6. Where was your last gig?

GIANLUCA: Defrag, Roma

7. Where would you like to act?

GIANLUCA: Circo Massimo

GENNY: Wacken Open Air

SYN: Wacken Festival

MARCO: Playing in Latvia would be great for me as I have lived for 9 years in Riga. Let’s say a big concert in Mezaparks or Riga Arena.

GIUSEPPE: in 2008 we played at the Dracma Metal Day at the Colonia Sonora Festival in Turin and it was an "immersive" experience. I’d love to feel the emotion of "Metallica's Snakepit" in a stadium ... Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino on July 12 opening for Rammstein... let me dream. … but… in these times, to play opening for Jinjer in Kiev at the end of this horrible war.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

GIANLUCA: Metallica, Insomnium, Dark Tranquillity

GENNY: Destrage, Jinjer, Obscura.

GIUSEPPE: Testament, Rammstein, Opeth

SYN: Lamb of God, Arch Enemy and Jinjer

MARCO: Opeth , Mikael Akerfeldt is such a great guy

9. Whom not?

GIANLUCA: not a problem, as long as the public loves the bill

GIUSEPPE: I’m for Love and Peace.

10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

GIANLUCA: be technically prepared, as an individual and as a band, but don’t be afraid of making mistakes, just enjoy the show and share energy with the public 

MARCO: sure I did, the right thing to do is to create and share positive energy, you’ll get it back and enjoy the show.

SYN: Personally, the stage did not ever give me fright but thrill. This was a big factor for even starting this singing adventure. As a suggestion for everybody: live each concert with enjoyment to share your own awesome energy, people come to the events for this energy and not for a flawless performance without passion.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

GIANLUCA: Metallica, Testament, Paradise Lost, Dark Tranquillity

GENNY: I had different influences from both extreme metal and black metal. Nile, Cannibal Corpse, Obituary, Death, Cradle of filth, Obscura, Jinjer, Leprous.

MARCO: started with Metallica, but I feel my composition work has a lot of Voivod in it

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

GIANLUCA: to play my guitar

GIUSEPPE: if I was my brother and let him know ... me

MARCO: I was stopped in the street once by a fan…that was so surprising and amazing for me

SYN: too embarrassing to tell.

13. What do you think of your fans?

GIANLUCA: honored for every good feedback

SYN: I'm grateful to everyone for their support and also for their active participation in the live shows, they're fantastic people.

14. What do you think of our site?

GIANLUCA: honestly didn’t get in touch before, but I want to thank you because through your passion and your work you give great help to spread the music worldwide

SYN: Really good job! It's a good source of information and I'm impressed by the number of new bands that you cover, allowing me to discover new amazing music.

15. Something to add?

GIANLUCA: keep safe, enjoy music, and stay STEEL!

SYN: Totally enjoy life! Stay Steel!

GIUSEPPE: two words for two times: Stay tuned, stay STEEL!