Interviews About Albums: Dirty Heavens - Drive (2026)

In this new interview, we sat down with the Italian Hard Rock band Dirty Heavens to ask questions about their album "Drive". 

1. What can you say about this new EP/CD?

Forever in the making! We’re so excited for it to finally be out! We could call it a dream come true, but honestly, I guess it’s the result of years of working our asses off!!

Everything we’ve been through, every minor inconvenience, and every struggle has been collected in these songs. It’s been a rollercoaster of feelings, between hope and despair. We made these anthems for ourselves and for anyone who needs courage, strength, and support.

We put everything into this, and we’re very proud.

This album is our story, told in the best way we could. We hope you like it.

2. What is the meaning of the EP/CD name?

When we first thought about the name of the album, we were thinking about the “drive” that pushed us to write songs, make music, stay creative, and face every setback despite everything… which is the main theme of all the songs, the reason you just can’t quit. It’s about the “drive” that gives you extra energy when you think you can’t take it anymore… but somehow you still can.

Now I could say there’s another meaning to it, which is that feeling of complete freedom and that anything can be achieved, while “driving” your car by yourself.

Maybe it’s personal, but I spend a lot of time in my car. I remember when I first started driving, it really felt like freedom to finally be in my own company. It was the only moment I could feel some kind of peace.

3. Which one is the composer of the CD/EP?

I (Dirty Hell) wrote all the lyrics and some music and guitar parts, but the main composer, I would say, is Chris Salerno. Usually, he has a riff, I have some lyrics and melodies, and we start creating what will become a song. Alessio Virno helped a lot as an arranger.

4. If you had to pick one song, which one would you pick?

“If I did It”.

I think it is the song that best sums up the rage and struggles of creativity. And it was the spark that ignited the process that led to the album being finished

5. Is there a special message in this EP/CD? If there is what it is?

To follow your drive no matter what.

Never stop, go chase whatever you’re looking for.

Don’t let anyone stop you, fight till you’re dead.

Sometimes all you have to do is touch the bottom in order to jump back up!

6. Are there some lyrics that you'd love to share?

All lyrics are very specific and evocative. There are some easter eggs, especially in “Gave my life for Rock’n’Roll”, there are some references and quotes which are fun to find!

But my favorite is in “If I Did It”:

“I waste some more ink making space in my head, printing written thoughts that remind me of who I once was”

7. Which inspirations have been important for this album? Like musically or friends, family, someone you'd love to thank especially?

Musically, the Rock gods have been with us all along this journey!

Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath have been great inspirations for sure. Some 80s glam as in Motley Crue, Whitesnake, Skid Row, and I can’t miss Guns n Roses and Nirvana too.

Biggest thank you to Nicola De Liso for recording drums on this record when we were still looking for a drummer, and everyone else involved. It takes a village, and we definitely found a lot of amazing people along the way!

(Dirty Hell) Personally, I thank my best friends Andrea and Cristina for holding me together, along with Alex (Foolish but not alone), who was the only one who could understand me musically since the beginning.

And here’s a little secret: the last push for this album to finally be made was thanks to Joey Zalla (Jolly Rox). I recorded a couple of backing vocals in their song “Creeper from the dust”. Little did he know that at the time I had decided to stop making music… but guess what? I couldn’t say no, and I had to start again. That experience gave me enough confidence to be my true self again and be ready to follow my drive and make this album!

8. Something to add?

This album is all about our inner worlds and feelings and personal wars.

Everything we went through shaped us and gave us the background to write these songs, in order to get out of some emotional places we were in. It seems very complicated, but it’s not, it’s more like: we wrote these songs because we needed them to be written in order to overcome the reason they were written… Hope it makes sense!

Now these songs are out in the world, they’re here to give you enough strength to jump back up and chase whatever makes your life worth living!