Hi Fabio! Thanx for taking time doing this interview in the first place.
Tell me who you are
and where you come from .
You're welcome ! Thanks to Infinty Belgium for the
attention to Anthenora. We're a classic heavy metal band from Italy.
This is our history in few words: were
born in 1990 as a classic heavy metal band under a deep influence of metal masters as Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath,
Saxon. In 1992 and 1993 we released 2 demo tapes called "Bring Me To Hell" and "Heretical Symphonies",
recorded at the Dracma Studios of Turin. From 1995 we played a great
number of gigs in Italy either as original-songs-band or as Iron Maiden Tribute band, becoming one of the best Italian maiden
tribute band. In the last years we have played all around Italy opening also the gigs of Paul Di Anno
(ex maiden singer), the Italian power band Domine (www.domine.it) and kiko Loureiro (Angras guitarist). The new ep, called The General's Awakening, has
been recorded at Remaster Studios Vicenza (Italy) on april 2002 and produced by Tony mad Fontò, leader of the well known Italian
metal band White Skull (http://users.iol.it/white_skull). In november 2002 we supported Nicko Mc Brain The drummer of Iron Maiden - on his Tour
in Italy, playing with him on 7 gigs through the country. The experience has been done again on april
2003. This has been a so exciting experience!! Believe me!
Introduce
the other fellow band members please.
The others
guys of the band are:
Luigi Bonansea
(vocals)
Stefano
Pomero (Guitar)
Gabriele
Bruni (Guitar)
Stefano
Balocco (Bass)
Fabio Smareglia
(Drums)
Each member
of Anthenora has its favourite bands: Luigi likes Iron Maiden, Helloween, Grave Digger; Stefano (guitar) is born and lives
under the teutonic speed metal: Gamma Ray and Mr. Kai Hansen, Helloween, Rage, Iron Savior, Grave Digger, Gabriele likes Iron
Maiden and Rage Against the Machine (i dont believe it...Ah!!Ah.Ah!); Stefano (bass) likes Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath and
all the 80's heavy metal; and for me (fabio) the best bands from here to eternity are and will be Iron Maiden, Saxon, Helloween
from Walls of Jericho and Running Wild.
What kinda
Metal band is ANTHENORA exactly and a few words about the influences .
Anthenora
is a classic heavy metal band, cause we dont use keyboards and we have a powerful,
not to fast way of play metal.
Our influences
are in the 80's and this means, as i said before, that weve been influenced by Iron Maiden, Saxon, Judas Priest, R.J. Dio,
Grave Digger, Accept.
Who
or what inspired you to set up a Metal band?
We decide
to start playing together we were teenagers listening lps like Life after death, Powerslave, Somewhere In Time, Denim And
Leather, Walls Of Jericho, Keeper Of Tthe Seven Kkeys, etc.
Listen,
there's a very important thing: 3 members of Anthenora have been toghether from 1986 till now!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And so: two things inspired us to set up a metal band: a strong feel of brotherhood and
the metal scene of the 80's.
Is playing in a Metal band some kind of a dream thats fullfilled?
Yes, of
course. And the last two tours we made with Nicko Mc Brain from Iron Maiden on drums were the dream thats come true!!!!
What about the releases so far?
We've recorded
two demos in the early 90's, Bring Me To Hell (1992) and Heretical symphonies (1993). Then we have played every day and
every night. Till last year, when we decide to record an ep called The General's Awakening. This ep will soon have a child
cause the next september well start the record sessions of our first full length cd.
Any plans with a major record company and which one do you prefer ?
This is
an hard question!!! Of course we try to get in touch with the majors, but now its very difficult. So well start to promote
our cd beginning from the underground and then we'll see!!
I was wondering
what ANTHENORA really means. I'm sure you can help me out .
Well,
Anthenora is a name taken from the most important work of the Italian poet Dante
Alighieri, The Divina Commedia. In this work, Anthenora is one of the circle of hell, a place of Inferno
(hell), one of the three reign beyond life described by the italian writer Dante
Alighieri. We liked the sound of this name and so we have
decide to use it for our band, not giving to this word a special meaning. The name Anthenora could you remind hell, but its
only a word. We are not a satanic band as someone could think.
How's the Italian Metal scene at the moment ? The last few years lots of bands came out and play that Metal
thing as never before. The Italian Metal scene grows on and on. Explane please.
Playing
heavy metal in Italy is not easy. Our cultural mediterranean traditions walks the paths of other kind of music: more melodic. Fortunately, in the last years, the italian metal scene has grown up following bands
such as Rhapsody, Labyrynth and Domine. But this scene is now full of power metal band, few bands play classic metal. And
Anthenora is proud to be one of them.
I dont know
for how many years you are into Metal, but I want you to ask to tell me some more about your personal faves. Give me five
names that you carry on in your Metal heart.
Nicko Mc
Brain, Steve Harris, Kai Hansen, Cozy Powell, R.J. Dio.
As you
Know weve been into metal for many years!!!!! ah.ah.
Now talking about the future. What are the plans for the next couple of weeks, months, years?
One of
the guitarist Stefano Pomero is going to marry his girlfriend and so we wont play gigs this summer cause he will fly to mexico
for the wedding travel. When hell be back, well start to record the new cd and then well be ready to conquer the metal world.
Ah.ah. Im jocking dear friend. But one thing is sure: you will hear again the name ANTHENORA!
How is ANTHENORA on stage? What was the greatest gig so far?
We are
a furious band that spread energy to the fans. We have an inner metal heart that burns on stage and leave it to reach the
fans. Go to see our photos on stage on our website www.anthenora.com.
Possible to meet you on Belgian ground some day?
Yes, we
hope to play in your country someday.
Well, I wish you and the rest of the band all the best and
if you want to say something to our readers, go ahead!
Thanks so much to you, to all the Belgian headbangers. We hope to see you soon dear
friends. If
you want to know more about Anthenora visit the site www.anthenora.com or write us at anthenora@yahoo.com
