“The new album feels like a new beginning”

First of all, congratulations on the release of “War Hearts”! How excited are you?

Giada Jade Etro: Thank you so much! I am incredibly excited. This album is special for us because it's our first release on Napalm Records. It feels like a new beginning in many ways. It's also the first album with our new guitarist Alessia (note: Alessia Lanzone). We're all looking forward to going on tour and promoting it!

Speaking of Alessia, having her as the third guitarist in a six-piece band must have taken your sound to a new level. How has this addition influenced the music?

Absolutely! Adding a third guitar has had a positive impact on our sound. The decision was based on our desire to improve our live performances. In our shows there are many moments when Federico (note: Frederico Mondelli, vocals and guitar) and Fabiola (note: Fabiola Bellomo, guitar) play solos together. Nowadays it's common for bands to fill “empty” passages with sequences and backing tracks, but we want to preserve “the real thing”. We want to reproduce the full sound of our album on stage. Alessia has been a fan of the band for years and we've seen her develop as a musician. Bringing her into the band was the perfect decision because she brings so much energy and talent, especially on solos and rhythm parts. She plays the first solo you hear on the title track War Hearts!

Did your entry influence the songwriting process for this album?

The process has hardly changed. However, the third guitarist brought fresh ideas for the solos and arrangements. They had a lot of fun exploring these new parts together, which definitely gives the album a vibrant essence.

Talking about the album, what are the central themes and messages on War Hearts?

Our music is deeply rooted in themes of motivation and empowerment - we encourage listeners to make the most of their lives. It's about living life to the fullest and cherishing time with our loved ones. We often use metaphors associated with struggling to reflect the everyday challenges that everyone faces. I'm a big fan of fantasy literature and media, so I like to translate these messages through these themes. Songs like Edge of Reality and Bloodlines have different inspirations, but still carry the underlying message of facing life's challenges head on.

Can you elaborate on the inspirations behind Edge of Reality and Bloodlines?

Edge of Reality is inspired by the Highlander saga and deals with themes of loss and the transience of life. It conveys the pain of losing loved ones and emphasizes the importance of moving on. Bloodlines, on the other hand, taps into the darker themes of vampire lore, particularly inspired by Vampire: The Masquerade. It has a heavier sound compared to other tracks and allows us to explore a darker atmosphere, which we found fitting.

You also mentioned that Children of Bodom was a major influence on War Hearts. How did that shape your music?

Children of Bodom had a significant influence on us in our youth. Their ferocious stage presence and musicality inspired us to stay authentic in our performances. We wanted to pay tribute to them and at the same time incorporate our own identity into the music.

Are there other musical influences that have shaped War Hearts?

Definitely! Federico and I grew up listening to various Scandinavian bands like Dark Tranquility and In Flames, which you can hear in the riffs. Vocally, I was influenced by German bands like Blind Guardian and Helloween, which led me to use higher vocal frequencies in this album more than ever before.

How did your collaboration with Napalm Records for this album develop?

We've been talking to them for a while and finalized our agreement over a year ago. We celebrated this new beginning at a sold out concert in Vienna where the energy was electrifying! Napalm Records is a fantastic label with a dedicated team who really understand our vision and support us in all areas - promotion, social media, you name it.

Which song was the most challenging to write or record?

I would say War Hearts itself was the most challenging. I wanted to convey a lot of passion and emotion, but it's a fast-paced track and I didn't want to lose the intensity of the message. Ice Dragon, as a longer track, also required more development and allowed us to revisit themes from our previous albums while introducing new melodic elements. This process felt like a journey for us.

Now that you are preparing for the upcoming tour with Kamelot, what are you most looking forward to?

We are extremely excited to finally share our new music live! Touring in Europe is always a pleasure, especially in Germany where we have built up a wonderful fan base over the years. We love interacting with the fans. We have met many of them online. Also, this tour is our first opportunity to play in the UK, which is a dream come true for me personally as Kamelot has been a huge inspiration to me since I was a teenager.

Do you have specific goals for War Hearts and your future as a band?

Our main goal is to expand our fan base globally. We have a lot of supporters in countries like Australia, Canada and the US and are looking forward to playing in those regions. We want to reach as many people as possible with our music.

Let's move on to another topic: How do you perceive the metal scene in Italy today?

Unfortunately, it has become more difficult. The scene is not as supportive as it should be, especially for young bands. And female musicians continue to face challenges. Many venues have closed and there is a lack of solidarity among local bands. It's disappointing, but we keep going and representing Italian metal on the global stage.

In your last interview you also mentioned that women in music often have to work twice as hard to get half as much recognition. Do you still feel that way?

Globally, I think things are improving. We are now seeing more women in bands and there is a growing awareness that talent knows no gender. In Italy, however, there is still a lot to do. I hope that there will be more support for female musicians and bands in the future.

It's encouraging to hear that progress is being made. Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

I hope everyone enjoys War Hearts! We're looking forward to meeting fans on tour starting October 12th. Please come by the merch booth; we love chatting with fans and connecting in person!

Thank you so much, Jade! I wish you all the best for the album and the upcoming tour.

Thank you so much for having me here! I hope to see you at one of our concerts!