Valkija
The first time we did an
interview with this band was when they 've sent us their demo. From then
we knew that this band won't find any difficulties to sign a contract and
the facts didn't prove us wrong. After a short time VALKIJA released their
debut "Steel Avengers" which was a punch in our stomach. We really had
a long time to listen to such a band that remind of us the golden era of
ZED YAGO and CHASTAIN. For this reason Nikoll for once more had the difficult
task to reply to our answers. Hope that you will enjoy this interview...
1. HELLO AND CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR NEW
ALBUM “AVENGERS OF STEEL”. I HAD LONG TIME TO LISTEN TO SUCH A GOOD HEAVY
METAL ALBUM WITH A FEMALE VOCALIST. HOWEVER I’D LIKE TO KNOW HOW YOU FEEL
ABOUT IT. DO YOU THINK THAT YOU COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING MORE ABOUT THE
ALBUM AND YOU HAVEN’T MANAGED TO DO IT AFTER ALL?
NIKOLL: HI TO YOU NIKOS! PERHAPS THE ONLY
THING WE NEEDED IN THE RECORDING SESSION WAS MORE TIME. WE RECORDED THE
ENTIRE WORK IN ONLY SEVEN SESSIONS FROM THREE IN THE AFTERNOON TO TEN IN
THE EVENING: ALL SONGS ARE PLAYED AND SINGED IN ONLY ONE TAKE AND ONE AFTER
ONE. IMAGINE THAT FOR THE BASS RECORDING I’VE TAKEN ONLY FOUR HOURS: THE
SAME FOR THE VOCALS (EXCEPT FOR THE FEW BACKING VOCALS). THIS IS BECAUSE
WHY IT SOUNDS SO “LIVE”. BUT AT LEAST IT’S NOT A TERRIBLE THING. BUT WE
HOPE WE HAD MORE TIME FOR THE NEXT WORK.
2. THE VOICE OF ZORAIJA IS SO GOOD THAT REMINDED
ME OF ZED YAGO’S SINGER, JUTTA. I BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE HEARD THIS COMPARISON
AND SIMILARITY FROM OTHER PEOPLE AS WELL. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT IT? DO
YOU THINK THAT THIS COMPARISON IS NOT FAIR FOR YOUR SINGER?
NIKOLL: OH, YES WE HAVE READ IT LOTS OF
TIMES. I DON’T THINK AT ALL ZORAIJA DISLIKES THIS COMPARISON. SHE LIKES
JUTTA VERY MUCH, HOWEVER HER MAIN INFLUENCES ARE MALE SINGERS, LIKE HALFORD
AND DIO.
3. ON THE ALBUM THEODORIS GOURLOMATIS, THE SINGER
OF BLOODSTAINED DOES A GUEST APPEARANCE. HOW HAS THIS COOPERATION OCCURRED?
IN WHICH SONG OF THE ALBUM DOES HE PARTICIPATE? HAVE YOU LISTENED TO THE
ALBUM OF BLOODSTAINED AND WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT IT?
NIKOLL: AS A MATTER OF FACT HE DID SOME
BACKING VOCALS BUT AT THE END WE DECIDED NOT TO INCLUDE THEM. AS I TOLD
YOU WE HAD VERY LITTLE TIME, SO WE COULDN’T REHEARSE ENOUGH WITH HIM. HE’S
A REALLY GOOD SINGER AND A GREAT PROFESSIONAL, SO WE TOOK ONLY THE CHORUS
WE MADE ALL TOGETHER WITH HIM ON “SIGN OF THE HAMMER” AND “SON OF THUNDER”.
I HAVE THE BLOODSTAINED “GREETINGS FROM HELL” HERE AT HOME, AND I LIKE
IT VERY MUCH: WELL PLAYED, WELL ARRANGED, WELL SINGED: IT SOUNDS GREAT
AND I HOPE THE BEST FOR OUR FRIENDS BLOODSTAINED (IASU GIORGIOS TI KANIS?).
4. VALKIJA IS A VERY STRANGE NAME FOR A BAND.
SO CAN YOU TELL US THE MEANING OF YOUR MONIKER? HOW DID YOU CHOOSE IT?
DO YOU THINK THAT THE NAME HELPED YOU IN A WAY TO ATTRACT THE INTEREST
OF THE PEOPLE?
NIKOLL: WHEN I WAS THINKING OF THE MONIKER
A FEW YEARS AGO, I WAS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING FAR FROM THE TYPICAL NAMES
OF HUNDRED OF METAL BANDS. NOTHING WITH DRAGONS, MASTER, LORDS, STEEL,
FIRE SWORDS OR ANYTHING ELSE IN THE NAME, BUT WITH ALL THIS STUFF IN THE
MEANING. VALKIJA IS A CITY THAT HAD ROSEN FROM THE GROUND IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE DESERT LAND: INSIDE ARE CONCEALED WISENESS, HONOR AND EVERYTHING
THAT WORTH IN LIFE: FOUR STEEL WARRIORS FORGED FROM HEPHESTUS AND TEMPERED
IN THE STYGIAN ARE DEFENDING THE WALLS OF VALKIJA. OBVIOUSLY EVERYTHING
MINTERIOUS IS CATCHY; YOU MAY LIKE OR DISLIKE IT, BUT IN EACH CASE YOU’LL
ASK: ”WHAT THE FUCK IS VALKIJA?”.
5. YOU HAVE ON YOUR NEW ALBUM A SONG BASED ON
ONE OF MY FAVORITE LOVECRAFTIAN BOOKS, THE ONE THAT NARRATES THE STORY
OF KADDATH. THIS BOOK IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM ALL THE CTHULU STORIES THAT
HE WROTE. IS THIS PERHAPS THE REASON YOU CHOSE IT? ARE YOU THINKING OF
DOING A CONCEPT ALBUM BASED ON A NOVEL OR A STORY OF LOVECRAFT OR OF ANY
OTHER WRITER?
NIKOLL: THIS WAS THE FIRST BOOK BY LOVECRAFT
I READ, AND IT REALLY SMACKED ME DOWN! I FEEL IN LOVE WITH THIS WRITER
AND THE LEAST WAS TO THANK HIM WITH A SONG! ABOUT THE CONCEPT, I DON’T
THINK SO, BUT YES, NOW I AM WRITING SOMETHING UPON “A DESCENT IN TO MAELSTROM”,
A POE NOVEL.
6. SINCE WE’VE STARTED TO TALK ABOUT THE LYRICS,
TELL US IN A FEW WORDS THE STORY OF EACH SONG INCLUDED IN YOUR DEBUT ALBUM.
WHO IS THE MAIN LYRICIST IN THE BAND AND WHY?
NIKOLL: THE OPENER, “THE LAST ONE”, IS
ABOUT REVENGE AGAINST DISLOYAL ENEMIES, “HOLD ON” IS ABOUT REVENGE AGAINST
THE FLOWING OF TIME. BOTH OF THEM ARE A DIALOGUE BETWEEN A FATHER AND HIS
SON. “EYES OF THE SHADOWS” IS THE MOST INTROSPECTIVE SONG OF THE ALBUM.
“THE LANDSCAPE” IS A DESERT ROAD IN WHICH A KILLER LIES WAITING FOR THE
EYES OF THE SHADOW (THE DEATH) AND REFLECTING ON HIS PAST. “RETURN OF THE
KING” IS INSPIRED TO THE LAST ACT OF “LORD OF THE RINGS”. “SIGN OF THE
HAMMER” TELLS OF AN EVIL HORDE THAT DESTROYS AND KILLS, SETTING WORLD ON
FIRE. “SON OF THUNDER” IS A MOTORCYCLE INSPIRED AND DEDICATED TUNE. “STEEL
AVENGER” FLIES DOWN ON THE EARTH IN RUIN AFTER A NUCLEAR WARFARE. “HATCHET
BLADE” IS ABOUT REBELLION OF CELTIC PEOPLE AGAINST THE DOMINATION OF ROME.
THE MAIN LYRICIST IS ME, AT THE MOMENT, AND ZORAIJA ( MORE IN THE PAST).
7. I READ IN YOUR BIO THAT YOU DIDN’T WANT TO
BE LABELED AS ULTRA DEFENDERS OF METAL. HOWEVER THE TITLE OF THE ALBUM
AND THE REALLY OLD FASHIONED COVER ARTWORK “IMPLY” DIFFERENT THINGS. SO
HOW DO YOU COMMENT THIS?
NIKOLL: WE ARE FOR SURE DEFENDERS OF THE
HOLY FLAME, BUT WE DON’T LIKE THE “ULTRA” ATTITUDES OF SOME BANDS. FOR
ME IT’S A POSER ATTITUDE, AND IS VERY FAR FROM THE MEANING “OF BEING A
METALHEAD”. I WAS BORN IN 1973 AND I GREW UP IN THE GOLDEN AGE OF METAL
AND THE ATTITUDE WAS REALLY DIFFERENT!
8. RECENTLY I WAS READING A GREEK METAL MAGAZINE
AND I SHOW THAT YOU WILL PLAY HERE IN GREECE LIVE. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT
IT? IS THIS THE FIRST TIME THAT YOU PLAY OUTSIDE OF ITALY?
NIKOLL: WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO COME IN GREECE
FOR A LIVE SHOW. THE ATMOSPHERE WE FOUND IN ATHENS WAS VERY EXCITING AND
SO WE FELT VERY PROUD WHEN THE FRIENDS OF BATTLEROAR INVITED US FOR A LIVE.
IT’S THE FIRST TIME WE GO OUT OF ITALY FOR A LIVE SHOW AND IT’S VERY ENTHRALLING.
9. I’D LIKE TO KNOW IF, AFTER RELEASING YOUR PROMO
CD, YOU HAD MANY PROPOSALS FROM LABELS OR NOT. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE SONIC
AGE FROM GREECE? DON’T YOU THINK THAT A LABEL FROM GREECE FAR FROM THE
CENTER OF THE EUROPE COULD BE A PROBLEM FOR THE PROMOTION OF THE GROUP?
NIKOLL: WELL, AS A MATTER OF FACT THE PROPOSAL
ARRIVED AFTER WE’VE ONLY SENT FIFTEEN PROMOS OF THE PROMO AND OUR MANAGER
EMANUELE GENTILE, ADVISED US TO TAKE IT. HE KNOWS THE OWNER OF THE LABEL
AS REALLY PROFESSIONAL AND SERIOUS AND SO... NOWADAYS IT’S EASIER TO BE
AT THE CENTER OF EUROPE WITH THE INTERNET, AND ACCORDING TO ME GUYS AT
SONIC AGE ARE DOING A GREAT WORK IN PROMOTION.
10. IF YOU HAD THE MONEY TO DO A LIVE APPEARANCE
WITH A GREAT SHOW, HOW DO YOU IMAGINE THIS SHOW TO BE?
NIKOLL: IN A WORD A GREAT METAL FEAST!!!
11. WE HAVE REACHED THE FINAL QUESTIONS OF THE
INTERVIEW AND I FORGOT TO ASK YOU YOUR INFLUENCES. SO PLEASE TELL US WHICH
BANDS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE CREATION OF YOUR OWN SOUND AND NAME
5 OF YOUR ALL TIME FAVORITE ALBUMS.
NIKOLL: ABOVE ALL BLACK SABBATH, JUDAS
PRIEST, VIRGIN STEELE, RUNNING WILD, GRAVE DIGGER, ICED EARTH, PRIMAL FEAR,
BRAINSTORM. 5 FAVORITE ALBUMS? THERE ARE MUCH MORE, BUT IF I HAVE TO CHOOSE:
HOLY DIVER (R.J.DIO); MARCHING OUT (MALMSTEEN); PAINKILLER (JUDAS);
HORRORSHOW (ICED EARTH).
12. I HAVE THE FEELING THAT YOU LOVE READING BOOKS.
SO CAN YOU TELL US WHICH BOOK THAT YOU’VE READ LATELY YOU LIKED A LOT AND
WHY? ALSO WHICH IS YOUR FAVORITE BOOK YOU WANT TO SEE BECOMING A MOVIE
(PLEASE DON’T TELL ME A BOOK THAT HAS ALREADY BECOME A MOVIE, THANK YOU)?
NIKOLL: YES, YOU’RE WRIGHT. I LOVE READING,
AND I TRY TO CUT ALWAYS SOME TIME IN A DAY FOR IT. LATELY I ENJOYED WALHALLA
OF CLIVE CUSSLER (IS NOT AN EPIC OR FANTASY BOOK, IS A THRILLER UPON A
SHIPWRECK). I THINK THAT THE BEAUTY OF BOOKS IS IN THE BOOKS THEMSELVES.
I ALWAYS DISLIKE BOOKS THAT BECOME MOVIES, THEY ARE ALWAYS DIFFERENT FROM
YOUR EXPECTATION AND USUALLY RAPE YOUR IMAGINATION... AND THEY END TOO
EARLY LEAVING YOU IN A VERY FEW. I USUALLY SEE THREE OR FOUR TIME A MOVIE
THAT I LIKE TO RECEIVE SOMETHING FROM IT!!!
13. IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO COOPERATE WITH FAMOUS
MUSICIANS ON YOUR NEXT ALBUM WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND WHY?
NIKOLL: PERHAPS WITH DEFEIS: HE’S SOMETHING
MORE THAN A GOOD SINGER; HE’S A GREAT MUSICIAN AND COMPOSER.
14. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS.
THE LAST LINES ALWAYS BELONG TO THE ARTISTS. YOU CAN WRITE EVERYTHING YOU
WANT! ALSO MAKE A WISH FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS AND THE NEW YEAR…
NIKOLL: NOT AT ALL MY FRIEND! IT WAS A
PLEASURE! HAIL TO YOU METALHEADS FROM GREECE. COME AS MANY AS YOU CAN TO
ATHENS ON 09 JANUARY FOR THE METAL MELTDOWN. UNLESS THEY EAT TOO MUCH IN
XMAS HOLIDAYS AND DON’T DRINK TOO MUCH OUZO!!! HAPPY NEW METAL YEAR TO
COME!
Nick “William_Kidd”
Parastatidis
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