Having just heard the new album of Alltheniko , (out 23/11/12 Pure steel Records) I thought it was a good chance to have a chat with Joe Boneshaker , the guitarist of the bandabout the band and the new release . -
Hello Joe and thanks for accepting the invitation to do an interview on "Spritsian"
- Hi to You and all readers of Spritsian from me and the whole band ALLTHENIKO!
First of all i would like you to tell me what is the meaning of the band's name ?
- I think that the moniker is strange and it's understandable that the first time you read it you don't immediately think of a Heavy Metal band! 10 years ago, when we started, we had different names with which we signed up to as many competitions for bands, we kept the same name we performed the first time with, then we haven't changed it because has become dear to us! Alltheniko literally is a play on words sounding like "Oldenico", which is a small village near our town Vercelli (in the north-west of Italy).
So , you are celebrating the 10 years of the band , what do you think are the best moments of these years for the band ?
- it is usually easier to identify the worst and the most difficult moments, but luckily we had our small satisfactions, and are these ones that make us think it's the right way.
How would you describe the band having regard the style of music you play and the lyrical themes you use ?
-the band can be identified as ...a three-head mutant, haha! jokes aside: musically I think we have a good balance of influences, and the result is a recognizable sound! while with texts we always look for something different from the stereotype of the genre, but equally effective, certainly both music and lyrics will always be evolving.
Who writes the songs for Alltheniko ? What's the usual process ?
- I usually create the structure of the songs, only the musical base, not lyrics. tracks are selected all together, then played and arranged by the whole band. While vocal lines and lyrics are written by Dave and Luke, and are made afterwards.
Tell us a few words about the new album "Back In 2066" .
- Back in 2066 is an album, and as such exists for pure and simple communication, which is the need you have to express yourself, and at the same time to photograph a particular point of your life. certainly in this work, we expressed more our emotional side rather than the technical one, although this last is however contained in the 50 minutes of the cd, but its simplicity is its real strength.
How do metal fans in Italy respond to Alltheniko , and generally in local Heavy Metal bands ?
- Fortunately, over the years we got attention and support from those who follow Italian and European underground, mainly working "in the old way", that is, doing good concerts, that's why we try to give the best in our live shows. in general, metal in Italy is going through a difficult and confusing period, there are so many bands and some really valid, but it seems that lacks the will to find them out, and it may be due to too much supply that has generated a lot of indifference! hope enthusiasm to make and to live music will come back soon!
Would you ever change the style of music you play for any reason?
- hehe! I'll let you know if one day I'll have a big money offer! but in the meantime I'm happy to express myself without restrictions! I suppose then that a band is able to change its genre, but is unlikely to change even its own style!
What would you say to a heavy metal fan that has never heard of you yet?
- there are many who have never heard of us and I don't know what to say more than "try to give a listen", but I am sure anyone who want to, will come to our music without prompts by me or others!
I wanted to take advantage of this space to greet all fans of heavy metal in Greece! Unfortunately, we never had a chance to play there by you, but we hope it will happen soon!
