www.sevengates.it
www.myspace.com/sevengatespage
Q. Hi Seven Gates Congradulations and Thank You for the download of your latest release “The Good and the Evil.
A. (Marco) : I have only to thank Frank Andiver for his kindly permission to distribute the CD online for free. Then.... only myself and Tommaso ’cause we strongly believed in our music, even in very difficult moments (some lineup changes and some bad contracts signed), and we are here now only for our great will-power and love for metal!
Q. I understand The Good and The Evil has been on a long journey to become published what were some of the challenges the band faced in producing this CD from 2004-2007?
A.(Tommy) : Well, first of all we had a co-production agreement with Frank Andiver,so every choice concerning this CD had to be ok for us and for him. Then we had some record labels offerings but the deals were never good for us, because these labels were actually offering nothing, execpt asking us money and money. So,3 years passed before we (the band and Frank) realized that the best thing to do was to publish the CD online for FREE.
Q. Seven Gates has experience many lineup changes in the band members since 1999 who are the current band members now?
A. (Tommy) : We had many line-up changes through the years.....because people was tired of playing or was not able to play the way we need. The line up now is :
Marco Moroni – guitars
Lorenzo Innocenti – drums
we actually are looking for a singer and a bass player. Federico is no more with us,because he is never been a singer ,and through the years he lost some of his voice. About the bass, me and Marco played all the bass lines of the 3rd CD “Betrayer”, but we need a bass player for the future.... so if somebody wants to try to play with us,please contact us at info@sevengates.it
Q. Can you tell us who writes the catchy songs for Seven Gates and what do you express in your lyrics?
A. (Marco) : “Hi I can tell you about my lyrics on the CD.... one is inspired by civilian hostages killed in Iraq and around the world (“Freedom”) and another is inspired by a real history event, the resistance and the fall of Cefalonia in 2nd World War (“Honor and Pride”), not an “heroic” resistance in facts, but when 5.000 men dies, it’s better to call them “heroes”, also if they want only to return home (but had no other chance to stand and die).
(Tommy) : I can say most of the music is written by me (Message to the stars, Vengeance, The Dragonkiss, Cry of Efestus, Ride the Wild). Especially the music part of them. I love to write catchy power metal songs, and it comes very easily to me. About lyrics I wrote some of them (Message to the stars, Burning Clouds, Vengeance, I don't believe, The dragonkiss , Ride the Wild). I talk about every day life experiences, (message to the stars is in memory of my grandmother, ride the wild about wild sex) or movies (Vengeance is about “THE CROW” movie). “Burning Clouds” is about our planet Earth,and “I don't believe” about lies in love histories........
Q. Seven Gates sound is strong hard and heavy curious does the band have any musical influences like say for example Metallica or Iron Maiden?
A. (Tommy) : We have many influences. Surely Iron Maiden had a great influence on our music. We all are Maiden fans. I was a crazy fan for 10 years! Metallica too, but mostly we have influences from power metal bands, such as Helloween, Gamma Ray, Stratovarius. We like double bass drum and high vocal range!! Some classical music too and hard rock such as Malmsteen. ;)
Q. Up to this point the band has refused many record labels and decided that the Future is the Web has Seven Gates thought about opening up their very own record or distribution company?
A. (Tommy) : mmmm...hard question. We prefer to give our CD's free on the web. We will not open a record label or distribution, for we have few time for music, we would not have time to dedicate to a label! We think we might consider offerings in the future from record and distribution labels....but we want people who can give us what we want, and no we give them what they want....this may could never happen? ok...we go on on our way!
Q. Can Fans around the world buy your CD’s from your main web at www.sevengates.it?
A. (Marco) No. We have the “ok” from Frank for free distribution online, not for a press of CD's.... We think the next CD, “Betrayer”, will be distributed for free in mp3 and pressed (by ourselves) in 200..300 copies. We’re no interested in labels, unless they want to press the CD already distributed in mp3 for free on our site. Q. Will you have a online store featured at your main web in the future so fans can buy Seven Gate goodies or T Shirts?
A. (Tommy) : We never had this idea...we will consider it in the future!;)
Q. Will there be any tours planned to promote “The Good and The Evil CD for 2008?
A. (Marco) No. We had some gigs in Italy from 2004 to 2006. Then we stopped live shows, ‘cause here in Italy it’s very difficult to play your music live if you’re not a cover band, or if you want some money (not for income, just to cover the fuel and other costs). So we play live in an Helloween cover band called “Mr Eagle”, with good results. Anyway, for the future, we hope to play live again with our “true” band, SevenGates! We believe in internet promotion and we will see the results after the promotion and the distribution of “Good and Evil” and “Betrayer” (late 2008).
Q. From The Good and The Evil I can vision your live shows filled with bursting energy that comes from your music. Will you sell Seven Gates CD’s and merchandise at your live performances in the future?
A. (Tommy) : We can say,when we played live shows from 2004 to 2006, people at the show was amazed by the energy we gave them. People was telling us “hey guys, we can see you enjoy yourselves while you are playing on stage,and so we enjoy the show too”. Many were telling this to us. And we hope we will play again live someday. About merchandise, yes we will sell some cds in the future,when “Betrayer” will be pressed by ourselves. Or we we will distribute some flyers with the link to our website. So people can choose if the want a real pressed cd or download it. From metal fans to metal fans...isn't it?;-)
Q. Who helps record, mix and master Seven Gates Music at Zenith studios?
A. (Marco) Frank Andiver. We had some difficult moments after the difficulties of our CD. But Frank is a reasonable guy, and, differently from others, he believe in something more than pure business and he kindly permitted us to distribute the CD for free. His help in recordings was very useful. Anyway, on our 3rd CD probably there will not be keyboards, and the mixing process will be easier!
Q. Markus Sigfridsson did fanastic Cover Art The Good and The Evil will be be Seven Gates artist’s for future musical projects?
A. (Marco) We don’t know. It’s a fantastic booklet, but if we want to distribute our music FOR FREE we have to be careful with some costs....
(Tommy) : Yes....Markus did a great job. We asked him to do it when we still believed the CD would be pressed by a label. For the future we will try to do everything by ourselves with the help of some friends.
Q. Seven Gates has another CD coming out soon called Betrayer when do you hope to have this Album completed?
A. (Tommy) : We do hope as soon as possible. Actually all the music sections have been recorded. We “ONLY” need to find a good singer and record the vocal sections. We will start looking for one after the promotion of “The Good and the Evil”. I think in 2009 it will be out.
Q. How will Betrayer differ from The Good and The Evil?
A. (Marco) Simply.... no keyboards! And probably a different singer from Federico. Songs more immediate, more guitars, more drums, more bass. We have to record only vocal parts and some solos, the CD is ready!
(Tommy) : Yes, “Betrayer” will be more aggressive and metal (a mix of Motorherd, Manowar and Helloween!!),but always with the SevenGates trademark. So we need a heavy metal singer this time. Raw and high vocals togheter! Hard to find!
Q. How has both The Good and The Evil and Betrayer differ from your previous albums with the new lineup of Seven Gate members?
A. (Tommy) : the 1st album “Unreality is different. We were younger,and when you are young you want to fill your music lines with all you can! I mean Unreality had great songs,but arrangments were too full of instruments. The Good and the Evil has not so many lines. We can say we did a better use of arrangments in the recoriding and mixing section. Betrayer will be simpler than both cds. It will be metal straight to your hearts!
Q. Any music video production planned for 2008 from The Good and The Evil or Betrayer?
A. (Tommy) : No. we would not have such money for producing a video! We have never been interested in videos. If we will play live shows, then we could make a video from live!
Q. Before we wrap up our interview do you have any last words?
A. (Tommy) : We want to thank HMTV CANADA and DJ TINA for this great interview and opportunity. And we would like to invite metal fans to download our new 2nd cd “The Good and the Evil” from our website: www.sevengates.it
It's 100% free.
Thanks to everybody for downloading it and supporting our music!!
Thank you Seven Gates for allowing our eZine to interview your band The Good and Evil is a well mastered CD.
Tina
