Interviews: Neptune

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Melodic Metal band Neptune from Sweden. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

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

The members of the unnamed band sat one day in the rehearsal room, sometime back in the 80s. They were discussing switching to a slightly harder sound and style of music.

When the band started writing new heavier and harder songs, the Old Norse mythology and the Nordic warriors - the Vikings were already great role models for the band and their lyrics, but the name of the band wasn’t decided yet. Not long after, Row Alex found what he thought was some kind of jewelry, but which later turned out to be a trident that the Swedish coastal hunters have on their berets. This caused the b and to spin loose in their thoughts. The name Njord, which is the lake god of the Vikings, came up, but they decided that the name Neptune suited better as a band name, which is another name for the corresponding person, so to speak.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

It's important to note that this band has experienced periods of activity spanning over 30 years, with shifts in musical style along the way. In the initial stages, the rough and intense sound reminiscent of bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Accept served as a foundational influence for all band members at the time.

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

The initial incarnation of the band consisted primarily of childhood friends. However, over the course of more than 30 years, some members have been replaced. Nevertheless, everyone currently involved in the band today had some form of connection with each other even back then.

4. Each band member's favorite band?

Row: Accept

Anders: Rainbow

Tosh: Judas Priest

Jonas: Judas Priest

Johan: Rainbow

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Tosh: I'm not sure what really inspires me. I'm a bad listener of new music myself so in that way I'm probably inspired by the metal of my time from the 80s. The problem is that I usually dream up songs in my sleep, with both finished arrangement and production in detail. It is of course a gift from above to have it served like this, but it also means that you must get up early, maybe in the middle of the night to finish it directly in the studio because I don't want to lose the feeling.

Row: Tranquility is crucial; it typically begins as a subtle notion in my mind, gradually gaining strength until I feel compelled to grab my guitar and start sketching. Once I embark on this creative process, my focus becomes all-consuming until the song is, at the very least, recorded in its initial form.

Anders: Most often, inspiration strikes when I sit down with the guitar in my lap and begin improvising a riff. Quite frequently, I record these improvisations and listen back a week later. If it still feels good at that point, I often continue building upon it.

6. Where was your last gig?

An outdoor festival in July in the southern part of Sweden, since then we have been more loss locked in the studio recording our new album – “End of Time” 

7. Where would you like to act?

A large festival such as Wacken Open Air, Barcelona Rockfest, or why not Metal Day in Slovenia.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

Well, if we could do a warmup for Judas Priest, or if we could dream a little bit as they probably not will be on stage again... Black Sabbath.

9. Whom not?

I would say no band would stop us but if the genre is way off, we might reconsider it.

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

I'm not aware that anyone in the band has suffered from stage fright, but with that said. We would really recommend the person to be open about in the band I f that’s the case. Stay away from any drugs that deafen the stage fright. Take note of the discomfort, sadness, or anxiety the thought generates. Formulate new, more nuanced, and positive ones. But hey, we are not psychologists in any way so who are we to say?

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

I think we come back to the once mentioned earlier as Judas Priest, Accept, and also MSG.

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

Not exactly a question related to whether the fans asked us or not (she didn’t). Anyway, at some gigs a couple of years ago, we kicked things off in a unique way. Our vocalist, Row Alex, made his entrance through the smoke on stage wielding a massive trident, elegantly swinging it. Right as the first song kicked in, he planted it firmly into the ground to stand there for the entire show. By the third song, a fan rushed onto the stage, grabbed the trident, and started swinging it in the air. It's worth noting that this trident was genuinely sharp and dangerous to us. This female fan remained on stage throughout the entire song, and I kept expecting security to intervene or escort her out, but it never happened. Anyway, everything turned out fine, no one was harmed, and the audience got a bit of an extra show. 

13. What do you think of your fans?

We certainly have a deep appreciation for our fans. It's worth mentioning that when we reignited the musical journey in 2017, we were pleasantly surprised by the influx of emails from around the world. What caught us off guard was the frequency of messages from fans considerably younger than we had anticipated. Some of them weren't even born when we initially formed the band back in the '80s. 

14. What do you think of our site?

Immersing yourself in Breathing the Core is an incredible experience for music enthusiasts. The genuine dedication to showcasing emerging bands and artists is evident in the quality of their articles and interviews. Whether your taste leans towards the core or spans various genres, their user-friendly platform offers an excellent means to discover new and exciting music. With their prompt, friendly approach, and professional expertise, they stand out as a premier destination for unearthing fresh talent.

15. Something to add?

We are currently in the final stages of completing our third full-length release, and it promises to be an exceptional album. Naturally, it will be available on vinyl and CD, and there's a strong likelihood that it will also be featured on various streaming platforms — albeit with some consideration. Given the evolving strategies of certain streaming services, we believe it's time to reevaluate our approach to them, possibly not offering the entirety of the album as we would with the physical releases.