Sonic Perspectives

“Have you ever worked on something and been really proud of it, and the next day you feel like the worst in the history of humankind?”

Why yes, Carlos, I know that feeling rather well.

“It’s like that,” Carlos continues. “When we write the music, we double-check everything. We want to make every second of the music matter. No filler, on any instrument.”

As reassuring as it is to hear that even Persefone founding guitarist Carlos Lozano occasionally gets impostor syndrome, it isn’t terribly surprising. Persefone is, after all, possibly the single most illuminating band on the tech-death scene right now. Following in the footsteps of tech-metal giants like Watchtower, Spiral Architect, and latter-day Death, Persefone reject the existential dread of those bands’ lyrics in favor of introspection, spirituality, and self-actualization while turning the heaviness dial beyond what most yogis, hippies, and TMers could ever handle, all while writing the most complex and precise arrangements this side of a Swiss timepiece. It’s a hell of a daunting reputation to live up to.

“The lyrics are really uplifting, but writing the music can make a very toxic environment,” Carlos admits with a healthy laugh. Carlos joined Sonic Perspectives Texas Bureau Chief Gonzalo Pozo on a warm winter morning to discuss what motivates Persefone, their refreshingly bright outlook, and their devilishly dark upcoming sixth album, and first on the Napalm Records imprint. “Metanoia” will be available on February 4, 2022 on compact disc, black vinyl, and blue marbled vinyl, and can be pre-ordered HERE.

The pair may or may not have also discussed American supermodel/ super-shredder Angel Vivaldi and Persefone‘s hilarious man-crush on him. “I really hoped he would be an asshole,” Carlos reveals, “but he smells really good.”

But you’ll have to listen to hear more about that. Check out their 40 minutes revealing conversation below, and remember that for more interviews and other daily content, make sure to follow Sonic Perspectives on Facebook, Flipboard and Twitter and  subscribe to our YouTube channel to be notified about new interviews and contents we publish on a daily basis.

The post PERSEFONE’s Guitarist CARLOS LOZANO Recalls Creation of Upcoming Album “Metanoia” And Its Effect on the Band: “It Was Like Therapy” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

With their recently released album “Epigone,” Boston-bred aural imaginauts WILDERUN take a deeper and darker step beyond their expansive, prog-leaning metal scores that so skillfully came together on 2019’s “Veil of Imagination.” The result is a record that is at once grandiose, complex, sophisticated and unexpectedly human. “This is certainly a “meta” record for me,” states guitarist and vocalist Evan Berry. “It’s the record that has the most to do with the artistic process.” Indeed, the nine-track-long offering: beginning with the haunting acoustic prelude, “Exhaler” and ending with a twenty-minute, four-part epic composition, “Distraction I-IV”, “Epigone” is nothing short of a journey into expression and ambition. It has all the earmarks that have made WILDERUN a revelation unto themselves.

Admittedly, the universal pause and the frustration that came with the onset of a global pandemic of 2020 weighed heavily on the writing. “It was a frustrating time,” says Dan. “Things were starting to move in a direction that we had wanted them to for a while. We had signed to Century Media and were playing bigger shows like the 70,000 Tons of Metal cruise. Then, suddenly, it felt like everything was ripped away from us. For me, that made it the hardest record we’ve ever had to write.”

The arrangement process for “Epigone” can be described as “solitary”, largely due to the Covid-restricted universe the band found itself in. Ideas were shuttled back and forth between members, and the band frustratingly never had the opportunity to meet as a whole before tracking commenced in early 2021.  And with traveling being too risky at the time, guitarist and composer Wayne Ingram (who has worked for noted film composer Hans Zimmer’s Bleeding Fingers Company) had to do all of his recording and orchestrating out of his home studio in California, while the rest of the band tracked in Syracuse, NY. In spite of that isolation, tracks like the driving “Passenger” speak volumes of WILDERUN’s increasingly canny sonic reach as soaring, cinematic orchestrations flirt with Berry’s death metalized inclinations.

Wayne focused on innovative and challenging compositions while Muller pushed his synth work to create a sense of atmosphere the band’s prior work only hinted at. The album’s mix by Jens Bogren (Opeth, Arch Enemy) sets the album’s standard to masterpiece proportions. When it comes to scoring soundtracks for the theater of the mind, WILDERUN isn’t merely pushing boundaries, they’re writing sublime symphonies and setting the standard in the process. “At its core, WILDERUN is escapist, transformative. Our criteria is very simple: As a listener, does it put me in a place that’s better than where I am now? Even though the music and lyrics are very introspective, this could be anyone’s story.”

Contributor Carlos Gomez chatted with Wayne to gain a much deeper understanding about the band’s collective influences, the compositional process during “Epigone,” the band’s evolution since their previous album and a myriad of other topics. Listen to their informative conversation below, and remember that for more interviews and other daily content, make sure to follow Sonic Perspectives on Facebook, Flipboard and Twitter and  subscribe to our YouTube channel to be notified about new interviews and contents we publish on a daily basis.

The post WILDERUN’s Guitarist/Composer WAYNE INGRAM Discuss Musical Influences and Creative Process Behind Recent “Epigone” Album: ‘I Think My Real Strength is Creating the Orchestral Parts’ appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Canadian progressive thrashers Voivod have a new album in the can, the intense “Syncro Anarchy”. Recorded during lockdown, it was produced by Francis Perron at RadicArt Studio, and just like all their other albums, it features a cover artwork created by their drummer Michel “Away” Langevin.

Written and recorded in just over a month, “Syncro Anarchy” has a sense of urgency that is rather unique in the band’s catalog, and considering how diverse their output is, that says a lot. Through its nine tracks, Voivod distills anger, frustration, disappointment with the current state of humanity, but also hope for a better future. Social commentary is mixed with sci-fi themes, creating an exquisite blend, made whole with heavy and dissonant chords, complex time signatures and gnarly vocals. In short, it’s a Voivod fan’s dream.

Voivod‘s guitar player Dan “Chewy” Mongrain had big shoes to fill when he replaced the band’s original guitar player, Denis “Piggy” D’Amour, who sadly passed away in 2005 after battling cancer. Piggy left many songs for the band to record, and the material was used on the albums “Katorz” and “Infini”. 2013’s “Target Earth” was the first album containing material by Chewy, who captured the spirit of the band and carried the torch from there on in.

Sonic Perspectives collaborator Rodrigo Altaf has been a Voivod fan since his teenage years, and had the chance to catch up with Chewy to discuss the new album, the live-streams the band did during the pandemic, touring plans and much more. Find out their chat on the links below, and remember that for more interviews and other daily content, make sure to follow Sonic Perspectives on Facebook, Flipboard and Twitter and  subscribe to our YouTube channel to be notified about new interviews and contents we publish on a daily basis.

The post VOIVOD’s Guitarist DAN “CHEWY” MONGRAIN Shares His Thoughts on Upcoming “Synchro Anarchy” Album: “There Are Glimpses Of Hope, But This Is a Dark and Deep Record” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

A little over 2 years to the day that ANNIHILATOR unleashed their 17th studio album and mad thrashing foray “Ballistic, Sadistic”, seasoned veteran Jeff Waters has opted to revisit an older and largely unsung effort from his recent past, resulting in a retooled and revamped retread of 2007’s collaborative effort “Metal”, aptly dubbed “Metal II”. Partly a release meant to coincide with the newly minted deal the band has signed with the German label earMUSIC, the album itself has received a massive upgrade in rawness and vitality thanks to the combined efforts of famed ex-Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo and Into Eternity/ex-Iced Earth vocalist Stu Block, alongside a fresh coat of auditory paint provided in the form of a remix provided by Mike Fraser and re-mastering courtesy of Maor Appelbaum.

Scheduled for release on February 18th, “Metal II” promises a dual course of modernized metal thrashing mayhem, along with a bittersweet sense of nostalgia for the glories of yesteryear. All of the original guest vocal and guitar solo slots have been preserved from the original release, including a riveting shred fest via the sadly departed Alexi Laiho of Children Of Bodom, to whom along with the fallen legend Eddie Van Halen this album pays tribute. When considered alongside such noted guitar legends of the past and present like Jeff Loomis, Jesper Stromblad, Steve “Lips” Kudlow and Willie Adler, the resulting 11 song series could be qualified as a pure celebration of the guitar in a metal context, with representatives from its many eras providing their input.

Yet despite the highly auspicious ensemble of familiar names along for the ride, “Metal II” is otherwise a fairly typical offering for the ANNIHILATOR brand. Going all the way back to their mid-1980s inception and eventual smash debut LP “Alice In Hell”, this is a band that has often crossed the borders that separate thrash metal from territory normally reserved to both more progressive and more traditionally-oriented metal expressions. It speaks to a project with a mastermind that has always had his ear firmly fixed upon the present, and a creative well that is always ready to tap into the latest innovations. Ultimately, it succeeds in revisiting songs from an earlier era and giving them enough of a present day twist that even those who took to the original 2007 version will have to give it a second look just to be sure that it isn’t a different beast altogether.

Sonic Perspectives collaborator Jonathan Smith caught up with guitarist, co-founder and band leader Jeff Waters to get his take on the process of unearthing and re-polishing these 15 year old gems, how the scene has changed since his career’s birth back in 1984, his memories of working with so many prominent musicians, and where the path for ANNIHILATOR might lead in the near future. For more interviews and other daily content, make sure to follow Sonic Perspectives on Facebook, Flipboard and Twitter and  subscribe to our YouTube channel to be notified about new interviews and contents we publish on a daily basis.

The post ANNIHILATOR’s Mastermind JEFF WATERS Breaks Down Re-release of 2007 Collaborative “Metal II” Album: “Almost Everything About The Album Has Been Reworked Except For My Own Parts” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

If you’re a fan of 80’s hard rock, chances are that you heard Terry Ilous‘ voice and might not even be aware. He rose to fame with the French-based XYZ and released two albums with the band, before they were swallowed by the grunge movement in the early 90’s. They have since reformed, and continue to do shows across North America and Europe.

Terry is also known for his time with Great White, after they split with original singer Jack Russell. Together, they released two critically acclaimed albums, 2012’s “Elation” and 2017’s “Full Circle.” Sadly, Terry was replaced in 2018 by Mitch Malloy, and it was time for him to pursue other adventures.

Since 2018, Terry has done a lot of voice-over work, performed solo and with The Vagabonds, and released a solo album containing flamenco versions of classic rock songs, such as “Whole Lotta Love,” “Kill the King,” “Love Bites” and more. At the tail end of 2021, one of his most ambitious endeavors finally came to fruition, with the release of the self-titled Land of Gypsies debut. The band’s lineup is completed by Serge Simic on guitars, Fabrizio “Fab” Grossi on bass, AJ Morra on drums and Eric Ragno on keyboards. Jeff Northrup helped with lyrics and provided additional guitars on the track “Somewhere Down The Line”.

The ever positive and enthusiastic Terry sat down with Rodrigo Altaf to discuss the Land of Gypsies debut, future plans and much more. For more interviews and other daily content, make sure to follow Sonic Perspectives on Facebook, Flipboard and Twitter and  subscribe to our YouTube channel to be notified about new interviews and contents we publish on a daily basis.

The post TERRY ILOUS Discusses Debut “Land Of Gypsies” Album: “We Didn’t Want Something Overproduced, The 70’s Bands Were Our Blueprint for the Album” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

If there’s one person that can be called a prog-rock icon, that’s Ian Anderson. Having started his first band in 1963, he went on to form Jethro Tull in 1967, and became the band leader and the sole member to have been on all lineups of the group. He also released several solo albums which felt like an extension of his work with Tull, and created a unique style by playing the flute while standing on one leg. Jethro Tull‘s influence continues to be felt in many prog and metal bands, and they continue to move audiences around the world with their exquisite blend of folk, odd time signatures and classical music.

January 28th brings another entry in Jethro Tull‘s extensive catalog, an expansive collection of songs entitled “The Zealot Gene”. The genesis of the album came from Anderson writing down the names of strong human emotions on paper, and relating those emotions, good or bad, with stories from the bible. Although there’s no official concept on the lyrics, the idea of duality comes up in more ways than one, and is also reflected in the light and shade of the cover.This is the first release under the Jethro Tull name since 2003’s “The Jethro Tull Christmas Album”.

Sonic Perspectives flagship interviewer Rodrigo Altaf sat down with Ian Anderson to discuss the writing and recording of “The Zealot Gene”, and they also addressed the relationship between band members, Ian‘s thoughts on how music is consumed nowadays, and much more. For more interviews and other daily content, make sure to follow Sonic Perspectives on Facebook, Flipboard and Twitter and  subscribe to our YouTube channel to be notified about new interviews and contents we publish on a daily basis.

The post IAN ANDERSON of JETHRO TULL Chimes In on New Album “The Zealot Gene” and Different Eras of the Band: “All Members Past and Present of The Band Feel Good About Each Other” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

One of the most prolific bluesmen of our generation, Eric Gales is back with a new album, entitled “Crown”. More than a simple collection of songs, “Crown” is an artistic statement, which showcases Eric’s talent and sees him throwing the gauntlet to other musicians and claiming his place in the pantheon of best guitar players out there.

The origin of “Crown” dates back to the beginning of Eric’s career, when he was compared to Jimi Hendrix. On one of his early tours, an also very young Joe Bonamassa opened the show, and the two aspiring musicians became friends. Fast forward to 2021, and Eric defiantly asked Joe to produce his album, which Joe accepted in exchange for two bottles of coke. The record also features a guitar duel, on the funky “I Want My Crown”, which you can see here. 

Eric is never shy on stating his opinion, and “Crown” also shows his views on racism on “The Storm”, his troubled past on “Survivor”, and professes his love for his wife on “I Found Her”. The subject of his affection, LaDonna Gales takes on vocal duties on “Take Me Just As I Am”. Eclectic, cohesive and forward-thinking, “Crown” is a quantum leap in Eric’s already prestigious career.

Sonic Perspectives collaborator Rodrigo Altaf caught up with Eric to discuss the new album, his playing technique, his plans for 2022 and much more, on a very spirited conversation. For more interviews and other daily content, make sure to follow Sonic Perspectives on Facebook, Flipboard and Twitter and  subscribe to our YouTube channel to be notified about new interviews and contents we publish on a daily basis.

The post Guitarist ERIC GALES Reflects on Upcoming “Crown” Studio Album: “Being on Stage and Swapping Energy with a Crowd is One of the Best Feelings I Could Ever Have” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

“…There’s no better feeling than when your inner ear tells you to go some place and you get there…” – Steve Vai

Steve Vai is gearing up for a very productive year in 2022. The first shows of his “Inviolate World Tour” have already been booked, with over 50 shows booked for North America. This run is the first excursion of many planned, which together are a multi-faceted world tour that will bring the guitarist and composer to most continents across the globe touching down in dozens of countries. The appearances will present an all-new show featuring a lot of new music, with plans for performances to be staged for the next several years. Vai will be joined by his long-tenured ensemble members Dave Weiner (guitar / keys), Philip Bynoe (bass), and Jeremy Colson (drums).

As an accompanying piece of the tour, Vai and Favored Nations / Mascot Label Group have announced his new studio album titled “Inviolate”, to be released digitally and on CD January 28, 2022. The LP will follow on March 18. The album contains several compositions which were shared publicly in 2021, and some that the fans are yet to experience. Vai composed and recorded the song “Knappsack”, following his shoulder surgery, at a time when his right arm was in a sling (or, as his surgeon, Dr. Knapp, called it, a “knappsack”), and thus was able to use only his left hand when playing the piece. On “Candle Power”, Vai not only set up parameters outside of his comfort zone (Strat-style guitar; clean tone; no whammy bar; no pick), but also developed an entirely new guitar technique that he calls “joint shifting.” The core concept there, he explains, is to enact simultaneous multiple string bends in opposite directions, which “requires bending only the top joint of the finger independently from any other finger.” And while he acknowledges that bending multiple strings is not a new concept in and of itself, “I had not seen any of it done in the way I envisioned it,” he says.

In parallel with the album and tour, Vai has also announced the next installment of his coveted workshop, Vai Academy. Entitled ‘Vai Academy 6.0 – Finding Your Note’, the event will be staged August 4-8, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Hilton Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa. Featured guests at this year’s gathering include Nuno Bettencourt, Guthrie Govan, Larry Mitchell, Joe Robinson, Billy Sheehan, Yvette Young, plus special guest Tommy Emmanuel. Planned activities at the four-day event for players and music lovers of all ages, interests and tastes include jamming with Steve and his band, master classes with Steve in the quest to “find your note,” nightly concerts featuring Steve & Friends, and a special master class and matinee concert by Tommy Emmanuel. There will also be intimate breakout workshops and master classes with Nuno, Guthrie, Larry, Joe, Billy and Yvette. Camper jamming is planned until the break of dawn every night.

Sonic Perspectives interviewer Rodrigo Altaf caught up with Steve Vai to discuss the new album, his views on creativity, his new monstrous three-head guitar named “Hydra” and much more. For more interviews and other daily content, make sure to follow Sonic Perspectives on Facebook, Flipboard and Twitter and  subscribe to our YouTube channel to be notified about new interviews and contents we publish on a daily basis.

The post STEVE VAI Talks Upcoming Album “Inviolate” and Creative Process Behind It: “My Only Responsibility to Myself Is to Be As Brutally Creative As I Possibly Can” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

2022 is shaping up to be a very busy year for guitar mastermind Joe Satriani. The renowned axeman is the world’s most commercially successful solo guitar performer, with six gold and platinum discs to his credit (including one more gold award for the debut album by his band Chickenfoot), and sales in excess of 10 million copies. Now Joe is planning his first public foray as a touring visual artist with showings debuting at two Wentworth Gallery locations in January, 2022 – specifically, Friday January 28, 7-10 pm at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL and Saturday January 29, 5-8 pm at the Boca Raton location. Satriani has prepared one of a kind pieces for the exhibit including original canvases and hand painted guitars.

“Music and art are my passions. I like making the invisible, visible, and the unimaginable, real. The image on a canvas, or, an electric guitar for that matter, can make you feel something unexpected and revealing, something that is the beginning of a greater personal insight. Challenging the straight line and the concepts of what belongs with what excites me. I want to experience new color combinations to make me see beyond the prevailing reality. There’s a balance between seriousness and humor that can imbue in a painting a kind of resilience and longevity, making it forever contemporary. When I paint and play my guitar, I strive to be in a state of exhilaration and communicate that feeling to my fans.” says Joe Satriani.

In parallel with that, Joe will be releasing new music in 2022 – the new album “The Elephants of Mars” was recently announced, with a release date of April 08th. The first single, “Sahara”, had its video premiere on January 19th, and shows Joe with band-mates Bryan Beller (bass), Kenny Aronoff (drums) and Eric Caudieux (keyboards) in a futuristic, matrix-style setting.

If that wasn’t enough, Satriani is also involved in a series of sci-fi comics called Crystal Planet, which tells the tale of the hero Satchel Walker, and can best be described as “Mad Max” meets “Tron”, with music. Every issue of Crystal Planet comes with a custom Spotify playlist curated personally by Joe to stimulate the fans’ sci-fi vibes. The songs are a representation of the emotions of the characters and the music brings a sense of humanity to the story that might seem a little fantastical from the outside looking in.

Sonic Perspectives collaborator Rodrigo Altaf is a long time fan of Joe Satriani’s output, and had the opportunity to discuss his creative process in all these initiatives and more. For more interviews and other daily content, make sure to follow Sonic Perspectives on Facebook, Flipboard and Twitter and  subscribe to our YouTube channel to be notified about new interviews and contents we publish on a daily basis.

The post JOE SATRIANI Discusses Upcoming Art Gallery and New Studio Album “The Elephants of Mars”: “Expressing Myself in My Paintings, Fits with the Idea of Being a Musician Very Well” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.