POWER
QUEST is a true sensation. Not because they play melodic
power metal, because, hey, nowadays there are thirteen power metal
acts to the dozen, but because they play melodic power metal in
a country that is most renowned for its many black/goth/dark acts,
namely the UK. OK, so there's this band called Iron Maiden, but
you know what I mean... Oh, and the fact that they are great musicians,
and write brilliant, tight and catchy songs, fusing the old with
the new, should also be mentioned. Before the upcoming release
of their second effort Neverworld in March, I
got the chance to ask band leader and keyboardist/main songwriter
Steve Williams a few questions about British/Italian relations,
metal heroes of the past and today, as well as the growing melodic
metal scene of the UK of today. Here's what he had to say.
Alex:
Which three albums would you say have been the most influential
to you as far as songwriting go, and why?
Steve: Three most influential albums? Right, I'd have
to start with Iron Maiden, but perhaps not an album many people
would mention....Somewhere In Time. I really don't think it got
the credit it deserved. Maybe as a keyboard player I'm a sucker
for those guitar synths but I think the songwriting is fantastic
on this album. You've got catchy tunes like Wasted Years and Stranger
In A Strange Land, along with epic tunes like Alexander The Great
and Caught Somewhere In Time. You even have the sing-a-long number
in Heaven Can Wait and I haven't even mentioned Sea Of Madness
yet!
Second album would probably be Images And Words by Dream Theater.
This is not only from a songwriting point of view - this is one
of all time favourite albums. The arrangements and melodies are
brilliant throughout the entire album. Songs like Surrounded,
Pull Me Under and Take The Time....what can you say? It's fantastic
music played by great musicians.
Third album would be Return To Heaven Denied by Labyrinth. I guess
this is perhaps a less obvious influence as I don't think POWER
QUEST sound much like Labyrinth. It's just an outstanding
power/speed metal album full of catchy songs, some of which are
not instant hooks but they sure grow on you over a period of time.
Lady Lost In Time is one of all time favourite songs.
Alex:
Tell me about meeting Andrea (Martongelli, guitars) and Alessio
(Garavello, vocals). How did that happen?
Steve: We hooked up with Alessio first, via Maurizio
Chiarello (label boss at Underground Symphony Records). Maurizio
wanted to sign the band, but we didn't have a permanent vocalist
at the time, so we asked Maurizio if he could recommend someone
he thought would be able to do the job. He gave us a few CDs of
different singers but as soon as we heard Alessio, everything
stopped. We knew that he was the guy for POWER QUEST.
When Alessio came over to record the Wings Of Forever
album in 2002, Andrea came over with him. We thought it would
be cool to get him to do a guest solo but in the end we all gelled
so well that he ended up doing 4 solos I think. A couple of weeks
after that we decided that we had to get this guy in the band...and
fortunately he thought the same thing! That was in August 2002.
Can't say enough about the two of them...awesome musicians and
really good friends.
Alex:
Being permanent members in POWER QUEST as well as in Arthemis,
apart from living in Italy how do you solve the thing with Andrea
and Alessio? Do they fly between Italy and England for gigs only,
or what's the deal?
Steve: Yeah that's basically it, mate. Whenever we have
gigs in the UK the guys fly over a couple of days ahead of the
tour and we spend that time rehearsing. Same thing applies to
studio work as well. Obviously it means we don't get together
and rehearse in the same way as if we all lived in the same town.
The UK based guys rehearse more often....well a little bit more!
Hehe!
Alex:
How do the songs get written? Do you start with a vocal line,
a riff, or keyboard arrangements?
Steve: The vast majority of ideas come from sitting at
a keyboard and jamming. While that's going on I might get a melody
and one line of words and that's the start. Of course there are
songs that almost write themselves and come together really quickly
as well. A melody can come through your heard at any time and
often it's a case of trying to remember it. I think that generally
speaking, if you can't remember it then it wasn't that catchy!
That is if I've written the song though. Into The Light
on the Neverworld album was written
by Steve Scott (bass), and the keyboard parts came along after
guitars and drums for this one.
Alex:
Could you tell me about the origins of the song Temple Of
Fire? It is very catchy, and damn near impossible to get
out of your head.
Steve: "Days of old...." hehe! You like that
one? Cool! That song was one of the quickest to come together
for this album and was also one of the last to be written if I
remember rightly. The song came out of the idea of catching a
glimpse of the past. The "Temple Of Fire" was a place
of pilgrimage in olden times, and the song is about seeing that
past in the present for a moment. It's a fun song to play live
but almost seems to be over before it has started.
Alex:
What happened with Sam (Totman, guitars, DragonForce) and Adam
(Bickers, guitars)? Are they members of the band still, or not?
Steve: Unfortunately Adam has left the band to pursue
his career in the medical profession. It just wasn't possible
for him to combine his work as a junior Doctor with the band as
well. Obviously he's invested a lot into his future career and
we wish him all the best. I'm still in regular contact with Adam
and we get together as often as our schedules allow. Sam is no
longer a "permanent" member of the band but he's such
a great guy and musician that we hope he will continue to appear
in a guest capacity with POWER QUEST. He played
some great rhythm and lead guitar on the Neverworld
album and I think Andrea and Sam really play well together. Of
course Sam has DragonForce to occupy himself mainly, but it's
great to get together with Sam whenever we can.
Alex:
How did you meet Gavin (Ward, drums), and what's his background?
Steve: Steve Scott actually met Gavin in Germany I think.
Gav was on tour with his band Last Hours Of Torment and Steve
happened to catch a show. It was only a few months later that
we needed someone to fill in for the departed Andre Bargmann on
tour, and Steve got in touch with Gav. He learnt all the stuff
in 2 weeks and played a blinder on the tour. Again after a week...we
offered Gav the job full time! Gav comes from a Death Metal/Hardcore
background so I think he's enjoying the Power Metal thing. One
other thing about Gav...he's possibly the funniest guy I've ever
met!
Alex:
Are you confirmed for any festivals this summer, and if so, will
those be UK only?
Steve: So far we have no confirmed European festival
appearances this year, although we are available if anyone is
interested!
We are doing some UK shows in June with our friends Intense and
Mercury Rain, and then in September we are playing a few gigs
with Threshold and Balance Of Power in the UK. We are really looking
forward to getting out on the road again and we would love to
be able to take the Neverworld tour
to Europe and beyond! The band really clicked on tour last year
and I think this is one of the reasons why we are all so excited
about touring again this year.
Alex:
Seeing as Neverworld is the logical step up from Wings
Of Forever, what would you say is the NEXT step for POWER
QUEST?
Steve: That's the question I guess...hehe! I've already
started composing new material for the 3rd album and it's coming
together well so far. I don't want to give to much away at this
early stage to be honest, but I think some of the new material
is going to be really strong. We'll spend some time between the
tours working on the new songs and we'll see where are we are
come the end of September. Hopefully all the material will be
in good shape by then!
Alex:
How did you get in touch with Sabine (Edelsbacher) of Edenbridge?
Steve: I've been friends with Lanvall (Edenbridge guitarist)
for a couple of years, so when I was thinking about female singers
for the song Lost Without You Sabine was the first name
that came to mind. She's got a fantastic voice and I could really
imagine her duetting with Alessio. She was delighted to be involved
so she flew over with Lanvall for a couple of days and we had
a great time in the studio with them. I think the results are
really cool and I'm really glad Sabine agreed to get involved
with POWER QUEST. It would be cool to do the
duet live someday.
Alex:
What's your opinion the current melodic Power Metal scene in the
UK today?
Steve: Although the scene over here in the UK is a small
one, it is slowly growing, I think. There are a number of cool
bands playing different brands of Power Metal. Perhaps the most
well known is my old mates DragonForce but there are other bands
like Intense and Shadowkeep who play a more US style of Power
Metal hinting at Iced Earth, Fates Warning etc; Mercury Rain are
a great power metal band with a Gothic edge and a female singer,
from Bristol. Another band worth checking out are progressive
metallers Soliloquy from Derby. There is a real sense of community
developing amongst the Power Metal fraternity, not only with the
fans but also with the bands themselves. This makes for some really
great nights on tour up and down the country.
Alex:
Finally, after slaying the stage, how do you party?
Steve: To be honest, we are probably quite tame and boring....hehe!
Personally I don't drink alcohol anymore, so it's not too much
of a problem for me. Maybe I'm getting old!! I chill out in other
ways...haha! Everyone is pretty professional to be honest...couple
of beers after a show and then let rip on the last night of the
tour. The guys had a great time partying after the Bloodstock
festival last year.....they deserved it mate, as they all worked
really hard that week. |
