Interviews: STORMWOLF

On this new occasion, we had the opportunity to interview the Heavy Metal band STORMWOLF 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, did you plan it or come out just like that? 

FN: I would say both: at the time (2014) Elena (Ventura: former singer) was looking for a name that was short and easily recognizable. During an epic afternoon bender at the Clipper American Bar, we had the illumination: STORMWOLF. It sounds pretty good, it’s short, and it mixes two archetypes, the Storm and the Wolf, that are definitely Metal-related. So, here we are!

2. Why did you want to play this genre? 

FN: Since I started listening to music I was totally lured toward the sound of electric guitar, both by pounding riffs and by soaring solos. When I discovered Van Halen, I think I was 10/11 years old, I was completely blown away: I did not even think that a Man with a mere six strings could possibly produce such an infinite gamut of sounds, noises, harmonics, chaos, and havoc. After that came Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Ratt, Judas Priest, The Cult, Crimson Glory, Black Sabbath, and so on. It was then, I guess, that I decided to learn how to play guitar: Heavy Metal, with its unique mix of uncompromising energy, technical proficiency, speed, melody, and unrelenting power was a simple, natural choice.

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

FN: No, apart from Dave and me “The Brave”, the other guitarist, who is a long-time friend. We met the others because of Stormwolf, and then we became very good friends, besides being bandmates.

4. Each band member's favorite band? 

FN: Well, I hope to get this one right, without saying too many cockups! Let’s see…If I have to choose just one band I definitely say Van Halen. Tiziana and Dave “The Brave” share a fanatic common passion for Iron Maiden, Davide (bass) lives this everlasting inner struggle between King Crimson and Children of Bodom (He can be quite intellectual at times, as jazz players usually do…), while Irene is devoted, amongst other acts, to Led Zeppelin and Robert Plant.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs? 

FN: My main inspiration is equally split between History and inner states of mind, encompassing everything from rage to calmness, love, hate, remembrance, God, sex, reverie, and so on. Usually, we start composing music, and only after we build a skeletal structure of the song do we start to think about lyrics.

6. Where was your last gig? 

FN: Phew! Unfortunately, we’re talking about some years ago, before the so-called “covid outbreak”. I think it was in Padua, Italy. The subsequent lockdowns and prohibition of movement quite destroyed the live scene during that shitty, almost fascist period. After that we choose to dedicate ourselves only to the production of the new album, becoming, as for now, a “studio project”. Logistics and mere costs needed for lives are a big issue in my homeland…we’ll see in the future: we are all very eager to get back on stage!

7. Where would you like to act? 

FN: Simply everywhere, on condition that basic logistics (PA, Amps, drumkits, etc.) are good and efficient. We never played outside Italy, so it would be a dream come true to play in Germany, Sweden, the UK, Hungary, Norway, Spain…who knows…

8. Whom would you like to feature with? 

FN: Personally? Crimson Glory, one of my all-time favorite bands, recently reformed.

9. Whom not? 

FN: Ha! Definitely Pearl Jam. Never ever loved anything coming from Seattle, both from a musical and political point of view, except the glorious Sanctuary/Nevermore and, in some ways, Queensryche.

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

FN: Hahaha! Yes! Especially when I was very young or, more recently, when something weird, and unpredictable happened on stage (burned tubes, cables not properly working, venue circuitry not grounded making unsustainable droning noise, etc). About tips, I always say a Prayer to God before getting on stage: it usually works! Then, you should have deep and total trust in your bandmates, knowing that every one of them knows exactly what to do in case of an “emergency”. To build that, you have to rehearse: the more, the better. Lastly, always remember that shit may happen: laugh about it instead of getting angry or depressed, turn the page and start all over again. And never complain like a cissy or a snowflake whiner.

11. What bands have inspired you the most? 

FN: Definitely Van Halen, Iron Maiden, Accept. Then I would say Dokken, Ratt, AC/DC, and a whole lotta bands more. Besides Metal, I am very keen on eighties electropop, videogames soundtracks (especially Ben Daglish, Mark Morgan, Matt Green), and even…techno/ambient (don’t tell my bandmates, please…)

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

FN: Ha! That’s a good one! We were playing near Genoa, our hometown, and in the crowd, there was this weird guy dressed in kinda fluorescent sequins and completely bleached white hairs: during the paus,e he came to us and asked very kindly if he could get on stage and…read a brief poetry written by himself. We were a bit puzzled but allowed him to jump on stage before our reprise. He started with a whisper…and ended up screaming like a raving mad these verses of his which were, basically, a bunch of metaphors about…vagina! It was actually good poetry, indeed!

13. What do you think of your fans? 

FN: The best possible things and more! For two main reasons: they buy our records making us rich and bold, and by doing so they show that they have an undisputed and indisputable good taste for Music, they are clever, and they are smart.

14. What do you think of our site?

FN: I admit my guilt: I did not know your site before this interview. And I just realize what I’ve been loosing up ‘til now, when I started to navigate it. I find it absolutely neat and easy to stroll, first of all. Moreover, it’s full of manageable, interesting content and nice, very welcomed promoting tools so…please forgive me, I can’t stop loving you! (cit. Bryan Adams…)

15. Something to add?

FN: I want to thank you very much for this interview and cheers to all of your readers! Stay tuned and let the Stormwolf roam free!