Red Wine, “Dreams and Madness” Mad or just drunk?

RED WINE

RED WINE IS BY FAR ONE OF THE MOST PROMISSING HEAVY/POWER METAL BAND FROM SPAIN. THEY DON'T FEAR TO MIC IN THEIR MUSIC CLASSIC METAL, HARD ROCK AND PROGRESSIVE AND CAUSE OF THAT THE WHOLE RESULT SOUNDS REALLY INTERESTING. IF YOU DON'T MIND THAT THEY SING IN THEIR MOTHER TONGUE, THEN GIV 'EM A CHANCE.

1. FIRST OF ALL CONGRATULATIONS FOR “SUENOS Y LOCURA”. IT’S A GREAT ALBUM!

Dani: Thank you. It’s a great pleasure for us to know that you like it.
Iván: Yes, thanks a lot.

2. COULD YOU POINT OUT THE MOST IMPORTANT MOMENTS OF THE BAND’S HISTORY AND PRESENT RED WINE TO THE READERS?

I: Well, Red Wine, was formed in Logroño in 1997. Our first album “Hijos Del Despertar” was recorded at Sonido XXI between August & September 2000. It was released in June 2001. After some live performances, some of them with Dark Moor, we had the chance to open the Saxon Spanish Tour. In those dates “Hijos Del Despertar” was licensed and released in South America, U.S.A & Canada. We were voted as the “Best Promising Band” in many referemdums, here in Spain.

D: In 2001 winter, we recorded our second album “El Fin De Los Tiempos” at Rock Studios, the mastering was made at New Sin Studios, in Italy.We were lucky to have the collaboration in the choirs of Elisa from Dark Moor & Nacho from Arwen. Then, after some gigs , we began the songwriting of this “Sueños y Locura”. During the process we had to stop some days due the recording of the track “Rise and Fall”, for the album “The Keepers Of Jericho - A Tribute To Helloween Part II”.

I: In December 2002 we started the recording of “Sueños y Locura” album at Rock Studios. The album was finished and Piet Sielck (Iron Savior) did the mastering for it. And this is all until today. We’re working in our new Spanish tour, wich is gonna be another good experience for sure : )

3. YOUR SOUND IS VERY CLOSE TO BANDS LIKE TIERRA SANTA AND MAGO DE OZ, WHO ARE ALSO FROM SPAIN. YOU HAVE THAT VIBE, GROOVE AND ROCK ‘N’ ROLL FEELING. DO YOU AGREE? NAME SOME OTHER BAND INFLUENCES AND SOME OF YOUR MOST BELOVED ALBUMS.

D: I don’t think that we are that alike to theses bands; even though is logical that we sound a bit similar, ‘cause we are all Heavy Metal bands. We all have the vibe and the feeling, but we have diferent points of view about it. There are many bands that I like. And if I had to name all of my partners’ favorite bands, the list may have no end : ) I love bands like Skid Row (we are the youth gone wild!!!), Guns N’ Roses (until “Use your Illusion”) or Mr. Big (all their discography). But I feel the same listening to Angra(their past and their present), Rage (even better with this last line-up), Iron Maiden (up the irons!), Dream Theater (Amazing!), Children Of Bodom, Megadeath, Axxis, ... There are so many bands and so many albums that I couldn’t take only a few.

I: Well, I think is common people from abroad compare us with this bands but just because spanish language creates a different atmosphere than the english one, but I agree with Dani that musically the three bands have their own point ‘bout how to see metal

4. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT HAVING FUN IS ESSENTIAL IN MUSIC? WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WEREN’T ABLE TO EXPRESS YOURSELF THROUGH MUSIC?

D: Of course. I think everybody who wants to play any kind of Rock music needs to feel it. You know, someone said:”I know. It’s only RNR... but I like it!”. This is the only thing we belive. We really love it, and we enjoy it. If I weren’t able to express myself through music, I’d probably try some other kind of art. I don’t know.

I: Heavy metal requieres many sacrifices that people couldn’t overcame if they didn’t feel it. Answering the second question I supposse literature could be the way for me.

5. YOU RECENTLY RELEASED “SUENOS Y LOCURA”. TELL US FEW THINGS ABOUT IT (WHERE IT WAS RECORDED, WHO THE PRODUCER WAS, HOW LONG IT TOOK YOU, ETC.). ARE YOU STILL SATISFIED BY THE FINAL RESULT OR IS THERE ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE TO CHANGE?

I: The album was released a few days ago, but we recorded it in Chistmas. We wanted to have enough time to make all that goes around the album and the artwork. We went to Rock Studios with Carlos Creator, who was the producer for “El Fin De Los Tiempos”. We spend a month for the whole recording sessions and the mixing, and then Piet Sielk mastered it. I’m really happy with the final result, and morover I think it’s a really good album. Don’t you?

D: What are we going to say? haha

6. WHERE ARE YOUR LYRICS REFERRING TO? WHAT INSPIRES YOU? TELL US A FEW THINGS FOR EACH SONG OF YOURS. WHY DO YOU WRITE LYRICS IN YOUR MOTHER TONGUE? DON’T YOU THINK THAT THIS WAY GAINING A WORLDWIDE APPROVAL IS MORE DIFFICULT?

D: We talk about anything we can be worry about; this is just “sex and drugs and Rock N’ Roll”, jajaja. Seriously, we write about many diferent thigs. There are some songs ( like “Llantos de otra realidad” or “Tras el portal”) about fantasy, fairy tales and the feelings you can have by reading a good book. “Renacer” is a hymn for anyone who feels bad and want to make a change in his life.

I: “Pesadilla” is a metaphor about the ones who try to put us down; some people try to turn our dreams into a nightmare, but they are not gonna get it, I promise! “Gigantes de hierro” is about the things that men do in the name of progress, but it’s only fucking up our planet (I think you know what happened in Spain with the tanker Prestige)... “Fuego en la sangre” talks about the fellings we all have in a life rock show. So, there are many diferent themes through the album.

D: We sing in Spanish, but we have a song in English in “Sueños Y Locura”: “Kill me in dreams”. Maybe we sing in English in the future; maybe we can keep singin’ in Spanish. We only do what we think that is good for us, and what we want to do. This is the only reason.

7. THE ARTWORK IS SIMPLY MAJESTIC! IT SLIGHTLY BROUGHT TO MY MIND DIO’S “DREAM EVIL” AND KING DIAMOND. ESPECIALLY THE ATMOSPHERE. DO YOU AGREE? WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IT AND WHICH IS THE CONNECTION TO THE LYRICS?

I: We haven’t thought about it before doing it, but it’s true. We only wanted not to make another “power metal pattern cover” more, with another guy with a sword, you know what I mean! I have nothing against it. Quite the reverse, we like it and we have done it in the past. But we wanted to make somethig diferent for this one. Jan Irlund made it for us.

8. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO A FAN TO CONVINCE HIM BUY YOUR RELEASE INSTEAD OF SOMETHING ELSE? WHICH IS THE BEST ELEMENT IN YOUR MUSIC, ACCORDING TO YOU, AND WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU NEED FURTHER IMPROVEMENT?

D: The only thing I can say is that you can give a try and listen to the album. Then you will fall in love with it, hahaha. I think the best element we have, is that we are six guys, and we all put our personal touch into Red Wine; so this is not an “one way” metal band. We are allways trying to improve all the things that goes arround our music and the band. We’ll keep doing it forever. Everybody should do it. Everything is important for us.

9. ARE YOU SATISFIED BY THE FEEDBACK YOU GET TILL NOW? HOW DO YOU REACT TO A BAD REVIEW? DO YOU LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES?

D: We are really glad about the feedback we’re getting. It’s been cool! We learn from our mistakes, and we can shine by reading a bad review, but sometimes (and I say it because it’s real) you can find people who only wants to fuck you up; well, I don’t really care about them, but I wrote “Pesadilla” just for them.

10. YOU’VE DONE SOME LIVE SHOWS. COULD YOU DESCRIBE THE VIBE OF A RED WINE LIVE SHOW? WHY SHOULD WE COME TO SEE YOU? DO YOU REMEMBER ANY FUNNY OR WEIRD INCIDENTS OCCURRING TO YOU WHILST YOU WERE PERFORMING LIVE?

I: When you will go to a Red Wine live show, you’ll find six guys doing their best and leaving their skin on the stage. The power that some people say that miss in our albums is the main factor in our shows... drums and guitars, specially, sound killers and over all a fantastic Mario that shows the good singer and frontman he is.

11. IF YOUR MUSIC WAS AN EMOTION, WHAT WOULD IT BE? IF IT WAS A PAINTING, WHAT WOULD IT SHOW?

D: Rage! I think that Rock music is rage in substance. It’s like a big bang of fury, screams of anger, and distorded guitars. You can try to paint something like this and maybe it can appear in the next Red Wine album, jajaja.

12. WHICH IS THE BEST DREAM AND WHICH IS THE WORST NIGHTMARE YOU’VE EVER SEEN?

D: The best dream is to live each one’s life by respecting each other’s one.

I: The worst nightmare is to lose all the people I love and I need them to live.

13. YOU ARE GRANTED ONE WISH. WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH IT?

D: I’d ask for the whole world to leave this crazy rush to destroy the planet and its inhabitants. Neither the power and the money are gonna save you after the end.

14. IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET THE CREATURE THAT CREATED THE UNIVERSE, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ASK HIM?

D: Why did you let them create “Operación Triunfo” (I don’t know how is it called in Grecce)?

I: Fuck you Dani!, well, I’ll explain what “Operación Triunfo” is. In the public Tv in Spain there’s a contest of amateur pop singers and it really sucks, but the worst is that being really bad singers most of them, the are in the top of all charts and even they’re in the front of serious newspapers...

15. IF YOU COULD TRAVEL IN TIME, WHICH HISTORICAL PERIOD WOULD YOU LIKE TO VISIT AND WHAT WOULD YOU MISS THE MOST FROM OUR TIMES?

D: Of course the middle 70’s, 80’s and the frist 90’s, to stay forever... Had I said I love R&R???

I: I don’t know, maybe Japan in the Middle Age, but the idea of Dani is quite good too! :) I would miss just my family and my friends, included the redwiners...

16. WHICH IS MAN’S BIGGEST TEMPTATION?

I: Do nothing, except to sleep, eat, drink and have fun!!!

17. WHAT TITLE WOULD YOU LIKE THIS INTERVIEW TO HAVE?

I: Red Wine, “Dreams and Madness” Mad or just drunk?

D: hahaha.

18. THANK YOU! HAVE I FORGOTTEN TO ASK YOU ANYTHING AND YOU’D LIKE TO MENTION?

D: Do you really still want more? hehehe Nothing else but thank you and all the people in Greece.

I: Thank you for reading an interview from a band that sings in so strange language as spanish, I’d like you to listen and enjoy “Sueños y locura” and I hope we can meet in a gig soon. Cheers & metal for all!!

CHRISTINE PARASTATIDOY

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