ANTHENORA

1. First of all, tell us the history of “Anthenora”

The five pieces-band, Anthenora, was born in 1990 as a classic heavy metal band under a deep influence of metal masters as Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Saxon. The monicker of the band has been inspired by Dante Alighieri’s “Divina Commedia”: it’s a part of the “Inferno” (ch. XXXII).

In 1992 and 1993 the band released 2 demo tapes called “Bring me to hell” and “Heretical Symphonies”, recorded at the Dracma Studios of Turin.

From 1995 the band 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 the band has played all around Italy from north to south,increasing considerably the number of fans with powerful shows, opening also the gigs of Paul Di Anno (ex maiden singer), the italian power band Domine (www.domine.it) and kiko Loureiro (Angra’s guitarist).

The strong belief in the change of the band and the support of the estimators, led Anthenora to enter again in stuido. The new ep, called “The general’s awakening”, has been recorded at Remaster Studios Vicenza (Italy) on aprile 2002 and produced by Tony “mad” Fonto, leader of the well known italian metal band White Skull (http://users.iol.it/white_skull).

In november 2002 Anthenora have played with Nicko Mc Brain – The drummer of the “Beast”- on his Tour in Italy, playing with him on 7 gigs through the country.
Steeve Balocco, the bass player, plays also with Boroken Arrow, a band led by Nick Savio, White Skull’ s lead guitarist, and has recorded a song with the italian band Power Symphony” (http://www.powersymphony.com).

Anthenora are: Luigi “Gigi” Bonansea (vocals), Stefano “Pooma” Pomero (guitar), Gabriele “Gabro” Bruni (guitar), Stefano “Steeve” Balocco (bass), Fabio “Smaro” Smareglia (drum).

2.Tell us some details for the cd “The General’s Awakening”

The “general” – as we like to call it – it’s an ep with four songs: Planet jail, Dark Horizon, The Saviour and Gemini. The songs recall the sound and the structure of the classic heavy metal songs from 80’s. In our songs we don’t search at all costs new sound only to follow some trend.We like this music – the classic metal – and we are proud to play it.

In our lyrics – written by me, Luigi and Steeve – there are not political or religious ideas, we just like to tell something. To tell something about the past, the present and the bfuture that could be. The lyrics of the ep tells a fantasy story that begin during the 2nd world war in the France occupied by the german troops, involved in the “Operation sea Lion” (one of our next songs) to invade Britain, and goes on till the future with atmospheres that could remind Star Wars or Blade Runner. It’s an intersting history, i like it very much.

3. Is there any feedback from the audience about the cd till now?

Yes, we have received good reviews expecially from the fanzines and the webzines which promote the classic metal.

4. Which is the procedure when you write the songs?

Usually we start from guitar riffs, then we add the rhytmic sections and finally we adapt the lyrics. Stefano Pomero is our riffs maker, he is a machine of war made to create riffs. I’m not jocking… it’s true. He is the granitic creative soul of the band.

5. Have you already played any gig?

Yes of course. We are a live band first of all and as i told in the answer to questions n. 1 we exist as band from 1990 and i think we’ve played till now almost 250 gigs. Those which we like to remind are the gigs we played with mr. Nicko Mc Brain in the last month of november. Great experience!

6.Your influences from the metal scene?

Our origins can be found in the 80’s classic heavy metal, in bans such as Saxon, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden. But each of us has his favourites bands. Stefano Pomero is crazy for the classic german speed metal (Rage, Grave Digger, Helloween from Walls of Jericho and above all Gamma Ray and Mr. Kai Hansen – the mayor of the world as he likes to call him), Luigi likes band such as Iron Maiden, Grave Digger, Queen; Gabriele likes the 80’s metal and new band such as rage Against the machine; Stefano Balocco and i are the 80’s metal kids of the band: we are crazy for Saxon, Black Sabbath, R.J. Dio, Iron maiden, Judas Priest.

7. Do you believe that “Anthenora” is a “good” name for a metal band?

Yes i believe it for two reasons. First for its meaning (Anthenora is a place in hell as you can read in the italian poem “Divina Commedia” written by Dante Alighieri) and second for its sound.

8. Where do you come from?

We’re from Italy, from Piemonte that is a regione in the nord west of Italy near the french border. Probably you know the main city: Turin.

9. Tell me your opinion about your metal scene in your country

Fortunately after the great success of band such as Rhapsody, Labyrinth, Domine, etc, playing heavy metal in Italy has become easier, even if some difficults still remains expecialy for band who don’t play simphonic metal! And we don’t do that. Ah.ah.

10. You are from Italy, a country where a famous vocalist,Ronnie James Dio, is. Tell me your opinion about him

Yes,i think he is one of my favourite singer in the metal scene. I saw him live for the first time in 1993 with Blach Sabbath and i was fascinated by his way to sing and to perform the songs. He’s really a great singer.

11. Tell me a reason why someone to buy your cd

Because you’ll find a great grim expression

12. Tell me you favorite album and your favorite band

Iron Maiden “Somewhere in Time”. I think it is the best album in the history of music.

13.Do you know anything for metal scene in Greece?

No, i know very little from the greece metal scene. For exemple i don’t know which kind of metal music you like more: classic, nu-metal, trash? I’d like to know more. I’d like to get in touch with some greek headbanger, so write me at anthenora@yahoo.com

14. What are your plans in the future for “Anthenora”?

Play a lot of gigs. We are a live band with a live soul, and so to play is the best way to promote our music. The second plan is to spread aour music alla over the world with the aid of the metal webzines: the living heart of metal underground.
The last november one of our dreamns has come true: we have had the opportunity to live and to play with Nico McBrain for a week. It has been one of the best experiences in all my life. Probably we will repeat the experience in the next april.

15.Thanks for your interview and close the interview as you like

Thank you so much for the interest in our music and…as we like to close interviews: bye from Anthenora: iron fist in a metal glove!!