Immortalizer is here to stay! You will agree with me, if you listen to Immortalizer’s debut album, “Born For Metal”, a record by a musician who is born for metal, soulfully made for all the people, who are born for metal! Myth of Rock contacted Dave D.R., Immortalizer's mastermind, some days ago, for an interview, which proved to be exciting for both parts. Continue reading, I am sure you will find it super-interesting … !

by Dimitris Zacharopoulos

When and where did you start the Immortalizer project? Why is it only a one man project and not a band?

I started Immortalizer in 2015 in Ottawa, Ontario Canada, where I’m originally from. The project came together after I decided to start my solo career. My best friend and long-time bandmate / drummer Jay decided to return to school, which also took him to another city, so our band went on hiatus. It was difficult trucking on without him, but I couldn’t imagine doing anything else other than music, so I decided to go it alone. There was a lot of other things going on at the same time too, so Immortalizer was my attempt to continue with music despite every obstacle. Thankfully I had a solid foundation with each instrument, so it made it a lot easier to do full productions myself. I've always planned to make Immortalizer into a full touring band, but in the meantime, I could at least write and record material and get things started as more of a recording artist. 

Why did you pick up the name “Immortalizer” for this project?

I spent a great deal of time on the band name. It’s not easy to find something solid that isn’t already taken. When I first started writing material for the band, I was working on what became the song “The Immortalizer” which is about a cursed sword and the demon behind it and I kept getting pulled back to that word. I thought damn that would make a bad ass band name! So that was that! 

You released an EP in 2016 (”Unleashed”). Can you describe this EP, since there are people who haven’t listened to it (including me)?

 The “Unleashed” EP was in essence the first Immortalizer demo. It has the songs Unleashed & Lost. Unleashed is a song about a demon whose hell bent on destroying humanity. Lost is about feeling detached and angry at the world and its seemingly endless corruption. The EP was recorded in my home studio while still in development, so as a result it’s less polished than I would have liked it to be, but it was the first two tracks for the band, so I still enjoy it. It was first pressed on CD and later on 7” vinyl as well, so it was also my first vinyl pressing. I've been thinking of re-recording the EP and adding those songs as bonus tracks on future albums. 

Some months ago you released your debut album (”Born For Metal”). Which are your feelings about this release? Which are your favorite songs from this album?

I’m quite happy with the end results of the “Born For Metal” album. Working directly with Ralf Scheepers throughout the process and having him featured on it as well has been an incredible experience. The album is also the first full length album of mine to be pressed on vinyl. So, that makes it extra special to me as well. “We Were Born For Metal” would be my favourite song because of Ralf’s guest vocals. That really was a dream come true for me. But I must say, having worked each song from scratch, writing and recording each part and carefully selecting them for the album, I feel strongly about each and every one of them. 

When and where did you record the songs of “Born For Metal”? Which was your inspiration for the songs of this debut album?

I recorded (and in some cases re-recorded) everything in 2022 at my home studio, which I’ve nicknamed “Immortalizer Studio”. I've moved the studio since, but the entire “Born For Metal” album was recorded in Toronto, Ontario. Once recorded I'd send the tracks to Ralf in Germany and he'd work his magic engineering, mixing and mastering everything. 

The inspiration came from several sources. The state of the world is an important theme to me, so it's featured a few times across the album. Songs like “We Were Born For Metal” honour metal music itself and metalheads from all over the world. Some inspiration came from personal hardships and my never give up / never surrender attitude. "The Immortalizer" was the introduction of the band's mascot (Deimos). I wanted to create a backstory for him and open the door for horror themed songs. "The Fallen" was written in large part for my very good friend Kirk who died tragically in his early teens. The song honours several people, but I was never the same after his death. The song is for anyone who's ever lost someone they care about, so almost everyone can relate. 

In this debut album you cooperated with a famous musician, Ralf Scheepers. How did it come and you cooperated with him? Which was his contribution to “Born For Metal”?

I consider Ralf to be one of the greatest Metal singers out there, so I first reached out to him for help with my vocals. I’d been singing for over 20 years but wanted to expand my vocal range and capabilities. Being such a huge fan of his and Primal Fear, I felt he'd be the perfect person to see. He helped me a tremendous amount with my vocals. He also helped me by crafting me a new vocal sound and helping me with gear, input and advice. On top of being featured on “We Were Born For Metal”, Ralf also mixed, mastered and engineered the entire album! He took my recordings to another level. It was very impressive. His expertise was invaluable throughout the making of the album! It was such an honour to have one of my heroes work so closely on the project with me.

How would you describe the music of Immortalizer? Which are the main characteristics of your sound?

That’s a very good question. I fuse many different styles together so I'm not exactly sure what category I fall into, haha. I've been called heavy/power metal which I'd say is pretty accurate. Though I try to avoid thinking of music in terms of categories. I just write what I enjoy and let creativity flow naturally. Some songs are more thrash and others more power metal or classic style metal. I like the freedom of being able to stretch out creatively. I have a very guitar driven sound but I try to highlight each instrument at appropriate times in my music. Vocals and vocal melodies are always very important, so I work hard on those elements as well. I try to capture as much intensity as possible in my recordings. 

Where do your lyrics refer to?

I cover a lot of themes with my lyrics. "Out In The Streets" for example is about the turmoil in our societies around the world. Humans seem hell bent on self-destruction. "Cut Loose" switches gears completely and covers trying to have fun despite the world and just enjoying the now. I wanted to do a song that honoured metal itself and metalheads, so I wrote "We Were Born For Metal". I try to cast a wide net when it comes to lyrics. 

One of the highlights of “Born For Metal” is the song “Lemmy”. Can you tell us more about this song?

I've been a huge fan of Lemmy and Motörhead since I was 13 years old. His impact on me and my music throughout my life has been significant. Lemmy is one of my biggest heroes. So, I decided to write "Lemmy" as a tribute to him. The whole time I was writing and recording it, I kept thinking to myself, would Lemmy have liked this? After the song was complete, I sent it to Phil Cambell of Motörhead and he gave it a like which really meant a lot. 

Give us all the necessary info about the cover artwork of “Born For Metal”.

The album artwork was done by the great Jobert Mello of Sledgehammer Graphix! Jobert did such an incredible job on the artwork. I love how it's a mix of old school and new school. The band Mascot which I've nicknamed "Deimos" is the main feature, so I felt it was a great way to introduce him on the first album as well.

How did the Covid-19 pandemic affect you?

Covid-19 has been a challenging time. I decided to dive even deeper into my music and spent most of the time writing and recording. I put together tons of demos and full songs. I love writing and recording music so in a way it's always been my escape as well as my passion. 

Which are your ambitions for Immortalizer?

I'd really love to be able to bring Immortalizer to the stage and tour the world. I hope to continue making albums and collaborating with Ralf and other artists. I plan to continue searching for a major label to help grow the band. Long term I hope to earn my place beside my heroes. I hope my music will stand the test of time and have a meaningful impact on fans. 

Which are your future plans? Some live dates maybe? Have you already started writing songs for your second album?

I'm currently looking to put a band together to be able to play live and tour. It's challenging for Indie artists in particular, but I'm hopeful that I can continue to grow the band and get things to the next level. I'm currently working on the second album as well. A few tracks are already fully recorded!

Send your message to the fans!

I'd like to extend a very special thank you to all the Immortalizer fans from around the world! I'm very grateful to you all for your support, it helps keeps me going! Crank up the tunes and live for metal! 

It is true that the Greek heavy/power metal scene has blossomed, during the last years. The circumstances have improved and the newcomer bands of the heavy/power genre have less obstacles to cope with. One of these new bands that have drawn our attention is Hellpass, a band from Thessaloniki, which released its captivating debut album, "Gates of War", some months ago. Myth of Rock is on a heavy/power mode and talks with Alexander, the drummer of the band. Enjoy our chat right below!

by Dimitris Zacharopoulos

When and where was Hellpass formed? Give us a short biography of the band, until now.

Hello! First of all, we would like to thank you for this interview and for the opportunity you are giving us for a wider audience to get to know us better. In June 2022, having met Aggelos (guitar) we made the decision to form Hellpass, because Aggelos and I share the same love for extreme sound and the desire to dedicate our lives to it. So, it is definitely a dream that came true and not just a jam.

This is how Hellpass came about and shortly after their establishment, Vasilis joined the band. We started as a three-piece and within a few months we had our first album called "Gates of War" and in the late summer of '22 we entered the recording studio. In the meantime, we were looking for a bass player so Vasilis could focus more on vocals. At the beginning of autumn 2022, Nikos joined the band and started learning our songs and coming to our rehearsals. Since then we have released several video clips. The latest is the self-titled track of our first record “Gates of War” which you can find on our YouTube channel (https://linktr.ee/hellpass).

We have also performed many live performances in many urban centers of the country (Thessaloniki, Athens, Volos, Larisa) and in August we will play, on the 26th of the month, at the Over The Wall Festival organized in Heraklion, Crete. Then, in November we have planned a tour with Arallu and our brothers from Athens, Among Ruins, in three countries in Eastern Europe.

Present us today’s line-up of Hellpass. Which is the relationship between the band members of Hellpass?

Hellpass are Aggelos on guitars, Nick on bass, Vasilis on vocals and me on drums. Apart from fellow musicians, we are all friends in our private lives. We do share moments outside of Hellpass also. For instance, at the moment, me and Aggelos work for the same company, so we share the same work-space every day.

You released your debut album,”Gates of War”, some months ago. Which are your feelings about it? If you had the chance, would you change something to the album now?

We feel excited! Gates of War is our first born child! I don’t think that we would change anything. The album represents who we were at the time of its’ making and changing anything would make it a “fake” release.

When and where was the debut album recorded? Who was the producer? Who did the mixing and the mastering? Describe the recording sessions, the whole album production and the mixing/mastering of “Gates of War”.

The production of the album was carried out by the amazing Ilias Palapela, whom we thank very much for the work he has put into the album. We look forward to working together again on our upcoming releases.

 There’s nothing special about the recording sessions, we recorded our music just like every band does in the contemporary western world.

 How would you define your music style? Do you believe that HellPass has its own musical character? Which are your main music influences?

I would describe our sound as heavy metal music with doom and thrash elements. Apart from this, we are an ever-growing band, every member carries his own influences and the final product is a blend of all the personalities that are involved in the composition process.   

Yes, I believe that there’s a kind of authenticity in our compositions. I can't identify to what we owe this to, but it's there. When someone listens to one of our songs, they can recognize it as Hellpass, even if they don't remember the title of the song or the name of the band.

We love the whole spectrum of metal music. I will only mention three discs as an indication: Savatage – “The Hall of the Mountain King”,  Mötley Crüe – “Dr. Feelgood” and Candlemass – “Epicus Doomicus Metallicus”.

Who is the main composer in HellPass? Who writes the lyrics? Which are your favorite lyrical themes? Is “Gates of War” a concept album?

Although all of us play our part in the musical composition, I’d say that the main composer of the band is Aggelos. The lyrics were written entirely by our singer, Vasilis. My favourite lyrical themes are war, metal and mysticism. I wouldn’t call “Gates of War” a concept album, but its’ themes revolve around the war in Ukraine and social decay.

Which would be your dream music collaboration?

I would say that there is a long list of bands that we would like to play, but one that stands out is definitely Slipknot. Αpart from their music they have a very good performance that remains unforgettable in your memory, having said this, it would be a great honor to be part of such a concert!

If you had three wishes for p

mes in mind. To perform live in Hellfest!

How did the Covid-19 pandemic affect you as musicians and as persons?

Although it was a shocking experience, I , personally, had too much time to compose new music and that’s a part of the pandemic that I enjoyed. The rest of it was shit!

How are things for heavy/power metal in Greece?

The heavy metal music scene in Greece is alive and it has variety and inspiration. You should definitely check it out!  

How do you see things for the worldwide heavy/power metal scene? What do you have to offer to the scene as a newcomer band?

Heavy music has grown a lot the last couple of decades and the scene still expands by the day. I’d say that the first thing Hellpass has to offer is energy!

How much important are live concerts for you? How do you sound live? Are you planning some live dates or even a tour? Other future plans?

Live performances are very important because they bring to life and give a face to a music that would otherwise be just sonic frequencies bouncing out of two speakers. Live music also includes the art of performance which is a whole school of artistic expression by itself. This gives us the opportunity to get in touch with our listeners, not only through sound, but also through direct interaction. That is why live performances are important, because they open up other fields of communication. In live performances, a band builds its relationship with its real listeners.

We have already booked a tour. We have planned 9 shows with the black metallers Arallu in Eastern Europe from November 11th to 19th and we are very excited to be doing it together with our brothers from Athens, Among Ruins. These are all the dates:

11/11/23:FarářovaSluj, MladáBoleslav, CZ

12/11/23:BossBar, Poděbrady, CZ

13/11/23:RockleKlub, ČeskéBudějovice, CZ

14/11/23: Probaterem, Szentes, HU

15/11/23:Manufactura, Timişoara, RO

16/11/23: Death Covenant Festival, Cluj Napoca, RO

17/11/23: MC Clubhouse, Lugoj RO

18/11/23: Rock ‘N’ Roll Center, Zalau, RO

19/11/23: Gekko Pub, Oradea, RO

Send your message to the fans.

It is equally important for musicians and fans to understand that bands, YouTube Channels, podcasts, radio station, venues, promoters, sound engineers, road crews etc. exist only because of, and to the degree of, the support that the fans show to the bands. So, you, metalhead, who are reading this interview I kindly suggest that you subscribe to our YouTube Channel, follow Hellpass on facebook and instagram, listen to our music on spotify, buy our music, if so desire, on bandcamp and also get your Hellshirt.  By doing these simple things one day you will be able to watch us perform your favorite Hellpass song live and have a great time banging your head with us.  Always remember: music is here to unite the human race and everything starts from you.

A serious person, a strong personality, a skilled musician. Maurizio Dottores, hailing from Liechtenstein, has grabbed our attention with Black Reuss, his one-man gothic/doom metal project. The latest releases of Black Reuss, “Journey” and the “Poems by R. W. Brunhart, Pt. 1” EP, were mind-blowing and persuaded Myth of Rock to contact Maurizio. What was discussed was so interesting!

by Dimitris Zacharopoulos

Black Reuss is a one-man project. First of all, how did you decide to start this project? Give is the whole story of how everything begun!

After a long break, which I took in 2007, I started making music again in 2014 because I started missing it badly. I also started to build my own recording studio and experimented a lot. In 2017 I started writing and producing songs for Black Reuss. Until the first album Metamorphosis 2021 was released.

Why is Black Reuss a one-man project and not a full band? Is there a chance that you will have other members in the future?

No. It will remain a one-man project. But I can imagine playing live with a band and add musicians that help me out on stage.

Why did you name the project “Black Reuss”?

When the project became more concrete, I also had to have a name for it and I wanted to bring in the flow of life and the melancolic vein that I have. So I decided symbolically for the river Reuss, where I live, when all this came into being and for the color black as a symbol for melancholy. The whole thing paired was then Black Reuss.... very simple.

Do you ever feel lonely in Black Reuss, without any other bandmates?

No. Never. I mean, I am working with other people for the Drums, Mixes, Mastering and Vocals. So, I have a few friends I can share thoughts.

Give us a short description of your discography until now, please.

I have developed a concept over four albums. It's about the flow of life. It consists of four chapters. Metamorphosis, journey, arrival and death. Each chapter has episodes that lead to the next chapter. Metamorphosis is about transformation. The change in which you build the power to make real and lasting change. Journey is about the journey you are on to make it all happen. Arrival is about arriving in the state that you have wished for, whereby here also comes the realization that everything will never run smoothly, but you have learned to deal with it. And death symbolizes the end of human existence and not the end of everything...

Your latest releases were “Journey” and the “Poems by R. W. Brunhart, Pt. 1” EP. How do you see these releases now?

The releases are part of the journey. All good for me. They have been necessary and lead to where I am now.

What are you up to now? Have you written any new songs for your next Black Reuss album? Can you give us any info on this new album?

Yes, I am finalizing "Arrival" these days. Will release it most probably in November.

You have signed a deal with Sliptrick Records. How did this happen?

They obviously saw potential and approached me. It didn't work because you are not able to market music properly. At least not mine. In this respect, I have already ended the cooperation.

How would you describe the music of Black Reuss? Is it simply gothic/doom metal?

I would say yes and add some melodic and a small portion of alternative.

How is a Black Reuss song usually composed?

Since I have my own recording studio, which is entirely dedicated to Black Reuss, I can work on the songs and ideas in a great setup at any time. Actually, everything always starts with a guitar riff or a melody. I build on that until I have a song together and thus a kind of pre-production. For the lyrics, I collect ideas for myself and write them down throughout the year. I only do the final lyrics when I have finished the music. Until I have lyrics, I usually only have the melody or a hook for the vocals. Except for the drums and vocals, I record everything in my studio. When I have finished the demos, I record everything again, mostly I also change arrangements or something. Mixing and mastering is then again done externally.

Where do you draw inspiration from? Which are your music preferences? Which are your favorite bands and artists?

Yes. I listen to a lot of different music. From classical to jazz, from pop to metal. But mainly I listen to music with a lot of distorted guitars in it. I love it when it's also a bit thoughtful or melancholic. I have a lot of artists that I like a lot. At the moment I listen a lot to Type O Negative, Katatonia, Depeche Mode, Porcupine Tree, Opeth, Tool, Gojira, Alice in Chains, Radiohead, The Cure etc. etc. 

Where do your lyrics refer to?

To my life, and the flow it has…

How much important is atmosphere for you? Which feelings of yours do you try to express through Black Reuss?

I like to work in a quiet environment where I am by myself and…Yes of course. It is 100% authentic and I stand behind every word I wright and sing…

How did the Covid-19 pandemic affect you?

I think we had much more freedom in Switzerland than in the surrounding countries. That was already very good. Suddenly, I had much more time for myself and for my family, which has paid off positively. And I was able to make a lot of music during that time. In this respect, it was a very productive time. I also had a lot of time to think. But I was also privileged because I did not have to worry about my existence. Other colleagues were more affected, and that was pretty hard to experience.

Have you ever performed live as Black Reuss? Is there a chance of Black Reuss live shows in the future?

No, not yet. But I am working on plans to play life. Of course, there also need to be a certain demand for live. If nobody wants to see it, then it doesn’t make sense.

How difficult is it to be a metal musician in Liechtenstein?

It’s easy. There are a lot of metal fans in this area. Of course, there is nearly no music scene, and no clubs to play. The country is too small. So, we need to orient towards bigger regions, where there is a bigger scene.

Send your message to the readers!

… live your dreams and be persistent.

Official Website: www.blackreuss.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/blackreuss

Instagram: www.instagram.com/blackreussmusic/

Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UC9UG6Rfa93ldqXiP3D6kVyA

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@blackreuss

Anglo-French electronic rock duo The Noise Who Runs recently presented an EP, "These Will Be Your Gods", and the "Preteretrospective" album, persuading us that the future of electronic music isn't ominous. Myth of Rock listened to their stuff and was absolutely amazed by the sound and the aesthetics of The Noise Who Runs.  So, we contacted Felipe Goes and Ian Pickering, a few days before the official release of "Preteretrospective", and had a wonderful conversation!

by Dimitris Zacharopoulos

How did the project of The Noise Who Runs come up? Give us a short biography of the band, please.

FELIPE: We met at work. I think I wasn’t supposed to work that day and was just covering for someone. Anyway, we talked about music for a bit and that’s how the two of us decided to play some music together.

IAN: I’d never see him before, he was new at the office. But he had a guitarist look about him and I’d just decided to put a group together to play all these new songs I’d been working on since I moved to France. It was a perfect coincidence - he WAS a guitarist and he was Brazilian, and my son is half-Brazilian, so, to me, it was a sign. So we set about rehearsing, recording a little as we went along. Then the COVID pandemic and the lockdowns and confinements started and everything shifted towards remote recording and production. Three years later, we really need to get back into the rehearsal rooms and work up a new set. It’s gonna be very different to the pre-Covid approach.

“These Will Be Your Gods” is your new EP. Introduce this EP to the fans, please.

Felipe: We’ve made tons of music, a lot of which is unreleased as of today. This is our best music yet.

Ian: There’s a lot of things to be learnt in the world. Listening to fucking arseholes making speeches, aspiring to their cheap fortunes, vacuous talents and runaway egos isn’t the good way. This is the start of the soundtrack to the fight for change that we’ve so far failed to win.

Who is the main composer in The Noise Who Runs? How is a typical song of The Noise Who Runs composed?

Felipe: Ian does most of the work. Lyrics, music, most of it really. Then he sends me the song or plays it to me when we meet up. I try to figure out what’s going on and then play some guitar and keyboards, turn off a few sounds, turn others back on. Basically it’s musical Lego.

Ian: He means chess! Musical chess. Musical chess, made from Lego.

Which are your music influences? What music do you listen to nowadays?

Felipe: I honestly have no idea how to answer the first part of this question. I like a bit of everything really. On my drive to work you might catch me listening to soul one day and heavy metal on another. One of my current favourites is a japanese duo called “Yorushika.”

Ian: Everything you might ever think we sound like is probably an influence. It’s just been composted over decades and evolved through a range of life’s few ups and many downs. I like songs with good lyrics more than any particular type of music. Right now, I only just discovered Wet Leg. I’m surprised I didn’t notice them earlier but I’m writing all the time and I don’t like listening to music when I’m writing - live music, yeah, but not a lot other than that.

Which are the music trademarks of The Noise Who Runs?

Felipe: We often have keyboards and synths making cool new sounds or beeps and boops. There’s usually no guitar solos.

Ian: "Under The Sun" has a guitar solo, but that wasn’t you and really it was a one-off and totally alien to the song, which is the only reason I allowed it. No guitar solos. No anything solos. Showboating bullshit. And though it’s not a  musical trademark, a lot of the songs have ludicrously long titles. I do like that. The second single from "Preteretrospective", after "Beautiful Perhaps", is called "Takes a long cold look and then the kitchen sink". Possibly commercial suicide but I think it’s a very cool title.

Which feelings of yours do you try to express through The Noise Who Runs?

Felipe: For me it’s the joy of playing music. I’m always busy at work so I like doing something that does not require too much thinking. 

Ian: I think the music and the lyrics communicate for themselves. First and foremost, I’m a lyricist, have been for nearly 30 years now, and all the songs express so many different things all at once - they include a range of emotions, reactions and aspirations in reflection (or complaint or incredulity) about the wider world at large, sometimes through a very specific story or tale, but more often they represent a bigger picture zooming in, rather than personal subjective experience kind of presumptuously and arrogantly masquerading as the core beliefs, fears and anxieties of everyone else. Unfortunately, the vast majority of people only view the world through that lens - this is my situation, extrapolate that subjective view and insist that everything is the same for everyone else. It’s a dangerous arrogance not to look harder, more objectively, not to research, to ask questions, to never consider more than what exists within the confines of your own bubble.

Have you ever performed live in concert as The Noise Who Runs? Any tour plans?

Felipe: We never got to perform because when we were ready to do it, the whole Covid thing started. We were ready to play as a 4-piece with Gérald on bass and Julien on drums/pads, plus Ian singing and myself on guitar/keys. 

Ian: There are no firm plans to play live but now we’re thinking about translating the recordings and releases and the wealth of as yet unreleased material into a live set and the best way to do that, so rehearsals will be starting next month. For me, the pre-Covid approach was too heavy on the traditional band set-up. The plan is to use elements of a traditional set-up within a more interesting mix that allows us to play more like the recordings sound and evolve them and recreate them so it’s not just a karaoke version or tribute act. Hopefully, it’s gonna be a fascinating experiment where no one gig would ever be remotely the same. Such is ambition!

How did the Covid-19 pandemic affect you?

Felipe: We lost our momentum to play and make new music just as we were ready to start doing some serious stuff. I’ve also grown lazier than ever before. It was not all bad though, as for long stretches of time during 2020 and 2021 I did not need to go outside!

Ian: To be honest, my family was better off financially for the first three months of the first wave than we had been for the previous four months. I actually received 450 euros a month during that period, whereas my awful almost zero hours contract had seen me working, on average, five or six hours a week maximum from September 2019 to February 2020. After that first confinement ended, it was back to struggling like hell and I had to take two extra jobs and change my original job and even then it took until the end of 2021 to be in a more secure financial position.

As regards the band, I’ll take what happened as a good thing - we got a lot of recording done and I got a lot of writing done and right here and now I feel very confident about the next two years for TNWR. After "Preteretrospective" comes out in April, we have two new releases practically ready to mix and master. And we’ve just started to look at the album we were in the middle of making before the pandemic.

https://thenoisewhoruns.bandcamp.com/album/preteretrospective