Interviews: Screaming Shadows

We have had the opportunity to interview the Heavy Metal band Screaming Shadows 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 planned it or come out just like that?

The band begin to exist around ‘98/’99 but in the first years, we had different names, at first Survivors, then Eruption… The name Screaming Shadows was suggested by a friend in 2001, we liked it immediately and over the years we understood that the name was perfect for us and for our music. We also created a motto, a kind of “mantra”: When you hear the Screams… The Shadows rule!!!

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

I started listening to Heavy Metal music when I was 8 and I grow up with bands like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, for me was very natural and spontaneous to compose this kind of music. Obviously, I listen and compose also other kind of music, I have so many side studio projects like Stone Circles Project or Black Demons (Hard Rock, Heavy) and as a session musician I recorded guitars for many different kind of music. In my solo instrumental album Time Flies (released in 2018) I show all my versatility as composer, moving from funky rock to rock blues, from progressive to Metal.

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

The band’s lineup changed many times during the years. Our new singer, Alessandro Marras, worked with us for the New era of shadows album’s tour in 2009 and he also recorded a song as a guest in our album Night Keeper (2011). 2 years ago I moved from Sardinia to Germany, to work as a musician, and destiny wanted that I meet Jürgen Steinmetz (ex Silent Force bass player) at the supermarket! So we started a collaboration. Even if Michele Sanna is present on the recorded picture and in the Free Me video, currently, for the concerts, we are working with Edo Sala, a drummer with whom I had already played and worked several times previously.

4. Each band member favorite band?

Our favorite bands are Iron Maiden, Symphony X, Queensryche, Helloween.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Most of the time songs starts from a guitar riff, then I start to work on the songwriting, song’s structures, arrangements, lyrics and so on. I always create a complete demo before starting production. With the lyrics I always try to send a positive message to our fans, a sort of "carpe diem", to push people to live life at its best

6. Where was your last gig?

Our last gig was in a venue named Fabrik, in Cagliari, Sardinia, the 13th of November. The next gigs will be at Lemmy’s bar, in Bad Friedrichshall, Germany and at Jonny’s Lion Cave in Trübbach, Switzerland, the 3rd and the 4th of December.

7. Where would you like to act?

My dream is to play, as headliner, in big and famous festivals like Wacken Open Air or Donnington Monsters of Rock. For now, I’d be happy to have the chance to continue to play, because the feeling is that a new lockdown is on the way…

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

I’m always very open to new collaboration so, can I say with everybody who wants to play with me? Anyway, my dream is to produce an Iron Maiden album, to bring back the band that we all love.

9. Whom not?

There are no particular artists I don't want to play with, maybe it could be better to talk about which kind of music I don’t want to play… I don’t like to play pop, hip hop or any kind of shit like that… I can play only music that rocks

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

Personally, I still feel excited before a show, every time I play. I think it’s normal, because I care about my performance, I care about music and about the show. Before a show I always prefer to be focused on my instrument, I warm up, and do a lot of things that can help me to keep my focus high.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Iron Maiden, Helloween, Sonata Arctica, Queensryche.

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

We are lucky, our fans never asked us weird things!

13. What do you think of your fans?

We love our fans and we are thankful for the constant support they give to us, especially in this hard time, during corona…

14. What do you think of our site?

I think it’s great, I really like the menu voice “Countries”, where you can discover bands from every country. I really love that you support music and bands for free, thank you for your support!

15. Something to add?

On the 12th of November, we released, for the record label From The Vaults, our new album titled “Legacy of stone”. It is available on the main digital streaming platforms like iTunes, Spotify, Amazon mp3, Deezer. You can also order the cd physical format from our website www.screamingshadows.com Follow us on our social media to keep you updated, more shows and news are on the way, as always thank you for your support. When you hear the Screams… The Shadows rule!!!