Interview with guitarist Stefano "Napo" D'Orazi, The Prowlers (October 26th 2006)

Hi, first off I just want to congratulate you on your new album. To new fans could your please fill us in on the history behind it all?
Napo -
Well…me (Napo/guitars) and Dr.K (drums) decided long time ago to raise up a tribute to Iron Maiden (and the name talks for itself….the 1st song of their 1st album), so we called some friends and set the 1st line-up, with Me and The Eldar on guitars, Dr.K on drums, Fabio on vocals and our friend Sergio on bass. We started soon to play original songs together with the Maiden ones but after some years Sergio quit the band and we found another good bass player: Alessandro. The latest member who joined the band was Max on keyboards that arrived in 2003, just after the release of “Souls Thieves”.

Then we started composing new songs and with the 4 track demo Devil’s Bridge we found an agreement with the managing company IntroMental that brought us the deal with Locomotive Records….and here we are!  

How has your new album been received by the media?
Napo -
Just take a look at the reviews we collected on our website….they all seem to like it very much, now let the fans have the final word on it!  

I know artists don’t like to put a label on their music - but a spaceship from outer space has just landed in your backyard, and is demanding an answer - so how would you describe your music to an alien from another galaxy?
Napo -
Huh….before it all let’s see if they have laser beams pointed at me…..LOL, then I would let them listen and decide, that’s the best thing, but if I have no possibility to play the album….well….a mixture of old school 80’s metal mixed with progressive,  power and sometimes gothic elements.

If your music was an emotion, which one would it be?
Napo - Fantasy (if we shall consider fantasy as an emotion….I do).

Who and what inspires you when you write a song? Walk us through the creation of a song?
Napo - Nothing in particular, everything can be of inspiration, things we read, things that happens….usually the music comes first, and then the lyrics, but sometimes is also the opposite, with the music build over a concept we want to express…  

Who has produced and mixed the album? Are you pleased with the result?
Napo - The producer is the “world famous” Tommy Hansen, who produced bands like Helloween, Pretty Maids, and Manticora. He’s a very nice guy, and it was so fun working’ with him in his Jailhouse Studios. In only 1 week he gave to our CD the touch it needed. The result was gorgeous.

Who has done the artwork? And how important do you feel it is to have a great cover?
Napo Mattias Norén from Progart was chosen after looking’ to some proposals, and his one was the best…then we worked together to have the final result, that, as you can see, is perfect!!! And obviously the answer to the second question is YES, the cover is one of the things that catch the eye of the “future listener”, so it must be impressive but also it must contain elements that help the potential customer to understand the product he’s going to buy!  

Do you have any touring plans?
Napo - Not yet decided, but our management is looking’ to find something that can fit our needs ;-)

Let’s speculate – you have been granted a free slot on a tour of your own choice – who would be your ideal touring partners?
Napo - In my opinion Iron Maiden would be the best ones, but also Dream Theater or Helloween can be good partners…  

How do you feel about the co-operation with your label?
Napo - Well…we are at the beginning, but we can see that they move pretty fast, so it’s a good starting point for us to work together.

The internet is a very important source for many metal fans – how do you use the internet and how important is it for you and other bands?
Napo -
I LIVE on the net…I’m connected 24h a day, and I can see that is one of the most important way of communication that helps the music to reach every remote place in the planet. Unfortunately is also the best way to let the music travel “for free”…but you know….there are always 2 sides on a coin ;-)

And how do you feel about the metal scene in general at the moment?
Napo - A bit boring….too many bands, too many “clones”, and only few bands playing’ something new.  Now is more the “look” that counts instead of music….look at bands like Slipknot, Marilyn Manson and the newcomers Lordi. They play nice music, but the most important part of their business is their “appearance”…

Which song do you consider to be the best one you have ever written?
Napo - “A Descent into the Maelstrom” is still my favourite, even if it is on our 1st CD.

Name an album, person or event that has had a huge influence on your life … and why?
Napo - ‘7th Son of a 7th Son’ from Iron Maiden is the album…because it was the one that brought me really inside the metal scene. The person is my g/f Stefy, she’s always the one I listen for critics about my “musical career”, and she has a good point of view ;-)

Which kind of music do you listen to at home?
Napo -
Iron Maiden were and are for me the “very special band”, but I grow up with all the 80’s heavy metal (Judas Priest, Metallica, Helloween, Crimson Glory….) but I grow up also with bands like Beatles…now I like something different, except for Dream Theater, I usually listen Rammstein or System of a Down….even if sometimes I like to “slow down” with Simon & Garfunkel, Placebo, Stevie Ray Vaughan…

Vinyl has had a small comeback lately – do you still prefer “the old sound” or are you a CD/DVD kind of guy?
Napo - I’m a nostalgic, so I prefer the touch of a vinyl….CD is a “new thing” for me….but obviously is better to carry and to listen when you are far from home.

Last question - do you have any famous last words for our readers?
Napo -
The ways of God in Nature, as in Providence , are not as our ways; nor are the models that we frame any way commensurate to the vastness, profundity, and unsearchableness of His works, which have a depth in them greater than the well of Democritus. Joseph Glanville (used by E.A. Poe as prologue to A Descent into the MaelstroM.)
 

Don’t forget to visit us on www.theprowlers.com
Ciao to everybody and “Up the Prows!”

Interviewed by Kenn Jensen

The Prowlers - Devil's Bridge

Album available on Locomotive Music.

For more info on The Prowlers - click on the album cover.