Page 3 - ISSUE 17

ROCKNATION ISSUE 17 PAGE 3

ah! The italian reviewers find difficult with my solo project named “Pi Red
categorizing our style, so the easy Project”, a project I created to pro-
way is writing reviews, skipping the pose songs from my records and my
tracks and putting a low rate. But this own stuff, but this is another story.
is a good news, because it means Anyway, with my solution we are all
that our music could be appreciated “happily ever after”.
abroad, ah ah ah!!! Coming back to Rocknation: What plans do you
my favourite bands, there are surely have for 2012?
Loudness, that I really love, and Antonio Pecere: We are now work-
Symphony X; and for me too, the ing on the next record. The songs
list would continue for a while, with are all defined, even in the vocal
Atheist, Meshuggah, Bjork, Queen, melodies. We have just to fix some
and so on... I really like bands hav- arrangements, but the music is done.
ing their own style that makes them About the lyrics, we are evaluating
distinguishable from the mass. the possibility to make this record
Rocknation: Your band was been a concept album, reprising some
voted as #1 band on “myspace” in atmospheres of our pasts works (one
the categories “top metal song” and in particular), maybe making other
“top metal band” in Italy, France, singers join the adventure. These
Germany, Spain, Sweden and events are evolving now, so this is
Poland. What was the response all unsure! But I told too much. Now
online after you won that? I have to kill you, ah ah ah!!! More-
over, without Betoken, I’m involved in
Ivo Ricci: It was great! We have
BETOKEN been in the top of the chart for about some other projects. I’m still play-
two months, reaching many people
ing live with Rapid Fire and my “Pi
Red Project”, with whom I’m writing
who do not knew us. The contacts
Interview by Tom Mathers on myspace have increased expo- my own stuff. This year I will prob-
ably record with Deimos and with
nentially, surpassing even the 200
listenings per day. Important num- Crimson Dawn, the last band I’ve
Rocknation: Hello Betoken and hi-tune I used for example with my bers for a band like us. The result is joined, with Dario Beretta, the guitar
welcome to Rocknation. You just previous bands Sigma, Rapid Fire or that we have increased the range of player of Drakkar. But for details, we
released your album “Days Of The Komaday. I just wanted to explore a our potential listeners. have to plan another interview, eh
Apocalypse” on STEELHEART new way to recite what I sing. Rocknation: Your band has been eh eh… songs and good melodies.
RECORDS. Please tell us about the Rocknation: You live in Monza, together since 2000, please name Anyway one of my targets for the
recording and writing process for this Italy. What is the music scene like some bands you have appeared with future is an instrumental album, so
release. there? in Italy. maybe after I will plan some other
Ivo Ricci: Hi Tom! Thanks for the Antonio Pecere: Monza is very Ivo Ricci: We’ve never been really clinics.
opportunity to appear on Rocknation! close to Milano that the scene is involved in live-activity. In the early Rocknation: Thank you for taking
With “Days Of The Apocalypse” we in fact the same. There are many times because of various line-up time for this interview and last words
decided to make an album different bands, playing different genres, from changings; and since 2007 because to the fans?
from the previous ones. A little more Pop to Metal passing thru Rock. The of our choice to continue only to Antonio Pecere: Thanks to you for
melodic and with more pathos. Then problem for all these bands is to find record albums. However, we have this interview! I make the obvious
I started to write the structures of places to play live. The situation is played with great Italian bands like reminder to join our myspace and
the songs. Once I reached the result quite dramatic, because the audi- Kenos, Derdian, Mathedras and our facebook, even mine. But first
I wanted, I called Antonio Pecere ence goes to live pubs just if there many others. of all I want to leave a message to
(the singer) to work on melodies and is a tribute band that plays as the Antonio Pecere: For me, that I’m a all musicians, in particular for those
lyrics, while Alex and Michele were copy of the originals. This is funny for live singer, this is a problem. There ones that are frustrated for the lack
studying their parts. Then we entered awhile, but for a musician that want are some Betoken’s songs that I of results: “Be unstoppable as a river
the studio, and we recorded every- to play his own stuff, this is really wished to play live. The solution I in flood!”
thing in two weeks. frustrating. The question from the found is playing these songs live
Antonio Pecere: The approach this pub’s owner is always the same: how
time was focused to make the album many people do you plan to bring?
Of course, the
great names of
the Metal scene
are not touched
by these little
problems.
Rocknation:
Your band has
been described
as techni-
cal and solid
Power Metal.
Please name
bands or artist
that influenced
you.
Ivo Ricci:
Megadeth on
everything else!
In the band we
more direct than the previous one. are all fans of this band, especially
We tried to get a direct punch in this me. Personally I also love Rage,
new work. This is the reason why Symphony X, Royal Hunt, Anthrax
“Days...” has less backing vocals and many others. The list would be BETOKEN
than “Venom Empire”, and less very long. Returning to our defini-
intertwined vocals. Another choice tion as a Power Metal band... many
to catch a live attitude was to record people define us this way; we try to “Days Of The Apocalypse”
the vocals of “Days...” in two days, propose a classic Heavy Metal with
reducing corrections the more pos- some influences from Thrash and USA distro by Perris Records
sible. I also decided to sing in a dif- Progressive. We’re not exactly a
ferent way from my previous works, Power Metal band. Catalog PER3922 UPC 670573039228
using sometimes a low-tune to Antonio Pecere: I’m agree with Ivo.
differentiate this new record from the We are not a “tra-la-la” band, ah ah NOW AVAILABLE IN ALL FINE CD STORES AND ONLINE.