>Hi guys ! ThunderStorm released several albums through the last years but i’m not sure many french metalheads know your music. Can we begin this interview with a history of the band ? When & where did it all begin ?
Ok. The band roots back to the the earlies 90’ when I starts a classic heavy-metal band called Thunderstorm In 1998. After two demotapes the band splits up due to musical incompatibility and the same year I form a new band called Sad Symphony. Giving up classic metal, the band aims at playing pure doom-metal without any external influence. In the spring of the following year the first demo tape by Sad Symphony is released. In june 2000, the band signs for Northwind records and enters the New Sin studios to record its first album with monicker “Thunderstorm”: The label don’t like “Sad Symphony” monicker and the band is forced to take the name of previous band. In june 2002 Thunderstorm are ready to record the second album, called 'Witchunter Tales' and after some line-up problems the band finally find a stable line-up with Attilio Coldani at drums. With this line up the band plays different european gigs and various festivals during 2003 (Summer Breeze, Headbangers Open Air, Doom Shall Rise). At the end of summer, Thunderstorm signs a multi-album contract for italian label Dragonheart records and in october 2004 released the third album entitled “Faithless Soul”. The “Live With No Faith tour” brings the band around the some clubs in Germany still on the stage of other european festivals (MetalCamp, Tradate Iron Fest and more). And on the june of 2006, Thunderstorm recorded the new album “As We Die Alone”.

>You play doom-metal the old-school way, strongly influences by grand-fathers Black Sabbath. But you also inject a heavy dose of pure hard-rock in your songs. How would y

ou define your music ?
We define our music as a perfect crossover between the old doom school and a style more hard and modern. We are very close to the historic doom bands (Trouble and Black Sabbath for example) but we are aware of being in the 2007. Above all, for what concerns the sound production in general, we like to be abreast of the times, in order to convey our music to more people as possible.

>Let’s tell how you composed the songs for your brand new album 'As We Die Alone'. Is it a common process, very rock’n’roll in the way of jamming during several months, drinking beers & smoking dope. Or is it in your case more of a cerebral processus, with a kind a dictator mind behind ?
We compose both with long jams and in a reasoned way. I think is the synergy of the both elements that makes us work good. If we throw off balance from one side to the other, nothing good comes out.

>Where did you record this new album ?
At the same recording studio of previous albums : New Sin studio in Loria (Italy). It’s a very good studio recording with a greatest sound engineer. He works very well and knows what Thunderstorm wants ! We’re very satisfied about his work and next album we will record in the same studio, that’s sure.

>What do your texts deal with ? Who does write them ?
The most part of our lyrics talks about everyday problems, while some of them are real tales like for example 'mad monk'. This song tells about Rasputin’s life, the Russian monk of the last century.

>At the end of the new album, you cover Hendrix 'Voodoo Child' ? Don’t fear the critics by covering this monument of rock’n’roll ?
Oh, no, we don’t fear about critics. This version

is very good, you will listen : is not a “trash” version! Fabio and me are big fan of Mr Hendrix. It was a great surprise when Fabio came in our practice-room and said “guys, follow me!” and he played this song. At first me and Attilio were shocked, but we just “jumped” into the groove. We thought it was a joke, but it wasn’t. I think we respected the feeling and the passion of the old school rock, we projected it into a massive metal field. I hope fans enjoy it,

>What do you think about today’s enthusiasm for funeral-doom ? Is it your cup of tea ?
Oh, I like something about this genre but it’s not my cup of tea : some bands are too much 'extreme“ : Too much slow with horrible recording sounds ! In extreme way of doom I like Electric Wizard for example : Very heavy (and very doped, ehehe).

>Italy is not well known for its doom scene. Tell us about your local scene.
Exactly : Italy don’t have a well known doom-metal scene, but more bands plays this genre. Some names : Doomraiser, Mydriasi, Trinakrius, All Souls Day… A doom-metal scene exists but is very little !

>Will you tour outside Italy to promote your brand new album ? What bands would you like to share the stages with ? Thanx for your answers.
Oh yes. At the end of april we will play some gigs in Germany like “releases party” to promove new album and at the end of summer we will try to make a real european tour. I hope to play in France of course : It’s one of our objectives ! I hope to share the stage with… Heaven and Hell, the new “live” project of Ronnie J.D. and rest of Black Sabbath : I hope to participate in a festival where this band plays… never say never ! Thanks for your interest, at soon, bye. Fabio. www.thunderstorm-doom.com