Interview with Northwinds
Its been a while since your last album Masters Of Magic came out on Black Widow Records how has the reaction been so far from fans and press coverage ?
In general the reactions have
been good , even very good. Sometimes some critics were done about the
heterogeneity of the album ,on the sound plan. The critics were comin’
from people who have appreciate a lot our first album so, we can’t blame
them and to be objective they are right .Our new lp/cd is ,in fact, the
testimony of all our line ups: 2 songs from 96, I song from when we were
2 ( Vincent and I ), 2 songs from the David Marcos (a guitarist who gave
us a new hope and then vanished for ever out of sight…)era and 2 songs
from the new line-up.(Benjamin and Thomas are in the band for 1 year now)!
So it is a very heterogeneous album on the sound register but for us this
is not a problem: it gives each song a special vibe , it is a precious
wealth but it’s clear it could be disappointing for many listeners. A lot
of trouble have surronded us since the
release of our 1st
lp/cd but we keep on going straight forward with the inestimable help of
our label mates. Finally it’s only few months before the final release
of our 2nd lp/cd that a new motivated and stable line-up was
completed and the 2 songs that we’ve recorded to finalize the cd ( Dancin’
in Moonlight and Violet Rainbow) are the proof that this new incarnation
of NORTHWINDS has a lot to offer ! In terms of compositions there is not
so much differences beetween the 2 albums. The sound on MASTERS OF MAGIC
just underline our prog side while the sound on GREAT GOD PAN is more guitar
orientated.The 1st lp seems more homogeneous because of its
sound. This is a precious lp/cd cos’ it is the proof of our will to fight
against bad fortune, the proof that we have kept our identity thru’ our
ill fate and finally the complete proof that Black Widow is a label that
supports their bands with all their heart.It was foolhardy to release such
an heterogeneous lp/cd and they’ve done it!
In your opinion what is the major changes in the progression from your first album Great God Pan to Masters Of Magic, do you reckon this album to be a more established Northwinds album and how much have you refined your musical ideas from your first album to Masters Of Magic?
In terms of compositions there is not so much differences beetween the 2 albums. The sound on MASTERS OF MAGIC just underline our prog side while the sound on GREAT GOD PAN is more guitar orientated.The 1st lp seems more homogeneous because of its sound. Remember that our new lp/cd is in fact the testimony of all our line ups. But we can underline 2 aspects. We have already composed long songs , for the internal development of the lyrics demanded it ; like FOREST OF KONKORET or GREAT GOD PAN ; we have make a further step on the way to concept songs with ENTRE CHIEN ET LOUP , the song dedicated to H.P.LOVECRAFT.
The second aspect is the choices on a musical plan and about the topics of the songs. We are comin’ back to a very ground to ground doom- riff structure and the topics are more personal and far away from pure fantasy or reflections on the occult. They are more rooted in reality and experience, though it could be hard to feel it cos’ they are still written in that particular way , full of images so that everyone is able to read them thru’ his own reality. The last songs we have done for the lp/cd are the complete proof of it:DANCING IN MOONLIGHT and VIOLET RAINBOW.
Great God Pan going back to that album a heavy progressive doom metal masterpiece I would say with its brilliant flute arrangements and celtic overdubs, looking back on the studio process on Great God Pan are you pleased with the performance on that album and the mix of it ?
Thanks for the compliment. We are definitively very pleased with our first lp/cd , the sound was great back then; we loved a lot the positive feelin’ of the guitar sound far away from the depressive sounds of classic doom metal so it reflects well our identity , rooted in B SAB, WITCHFINDER GENERAL, QUARTZ, etc…It’s clear that nowadays we will make the drums sound different and we have changed the way to record the flutes: listen carefully to the intro of FOREST OF KONKORET and you’ll hear that the sound of this instrument is everything but cristal clear! The vocals are no more made with a natural chorus, it killed the emotions…
We were very happy with the final mix but we were deceived by the final result it didn’t sound the way it was on the DATtapes. This problem is obvious on the new lp/cd: the guitar sounds have lost their "body", the guitars are not here the way they should have! It’s obvious on DANCING IN MOONLIGHT and VIOLET RAINBOW. For our future productions we will try to supervise the mastering process. With our 1st lp we have a good mix of sound beetween the heavy and folk parts. These two sides of our music easyly readable and none is tresspassing on the other, you know ? None is over the other; all sides seem to be pure…I think so…On our new lp/cd we have not repeat the performance cos’ we have not take enough care of the guitar sounds. So we do understand the people that are saying that the new lp is more in a prog vein. On the other hand some were sayin’ that the flute is less present than in past days…I sincerely think that the sound and mixes we’ve made have leaded people to think such things.
Going back to the very beginning of the band how was Northwinds formed in the first place ?
The Northwinds first competent line-up is going back in 1990 when Vincent(guitars,vocals) joined R.I.P,the band Sebastien(gitars), Remy(bass) and I (drums, vocals ) had formed 3 years ago at the time. For us it was incredible to include another guy who was into Trouble, ST Vitus, Candlemass and 70’s or Folk/Prog ( Ange, A. Stivell…) as well. And to close this chapter the guy was blessed with a voice we felt in a Paul Chain style. Remy had to leave the band for his job and then I had to do my military service . We took a lot of time to reorganize our way of working in rehearsals and took the time to concentrate seriously this time on new compositions with a real ambition . In 94 we were ready to record a demo : our first serious one released in 95. It was the result of 2 recording sessions. We broke with the name R I P and then became Northwinds ( it was in fact a R I Ps song). It was the end of the 2nd chapter in the band history : a mix of our 70s , NWOBHM and Doom influences. All the songs had a strong 70s feeling. Then Vincent have managed to gain the help of marco to finalize our folk views. It was the 3rd chapter in our history with keyboards and flute having a great importance in our sound. In the same time Black Widow’s label guys had listened to our first demo and proposed to work with us if we did accept to insist on keyboards and flute ( I think they asked this to a million bands that entered in contact with them! ). But for us it was no compromise cos’ the compositions to be featured on the Great God Pan promo 96 were deady. They loved the recorded versions a lot and signed us. This leaded us to the Great God Pan lp/cd release.
The dark days then began: Sebastien , the original guitarist , had to leave us for his job.Vincent and I worked together and keep the band alive with the help of Marco and the support of our label mates. They gave us the opportunity to record 3 songs during this period: The Mask Of Satan ( For E Tu Vivrai Nel Terrore…grandiose project); The Night Of The Witch ( Deathh ss ‘ tribute ); Over the Mountain (on our new lp/cd ). Finally the chance was on our side and we met a guy called David Marcos after a rehearsal. He was listening to our conversation about our desparation cos’ we were unable to find a suitable guitarist for the band. He was the man in the dark and then he said : "I’ m your man" . And it was all true. He gave anew kick and hope to the band. 3 tracks are the testimony of this period of regain : Lost Paradise ( on our new cd/lp ), Entre Chien Et Loup ( on our new lp/cd ), Way to Power ( Black Widows’ tribute). But we are doomed. David has chosen to change his all life, switching off all contacts with his previous life . Once again it was desperation. But Vincent and I were still working and composing new songs: Dancin’ in Moonlight, Violet Rainbow (both on our new lp/cd) and Master of Magic (to be featured on 3rd lp/cd ) were composed during this time. In parallel I was working with Thomas Bastide (guitar) and Benjamin Leclere(bass) on ST Vitus , The Obsessed and Count Raven covers. So I have proposed them to work on Clear Windowpane for the ST Vitus tribute and as it worked properly with a lot of fun we proposed ‘em to include Nothwinds. However they ‘re listening to Northwinds ‘till the 1st demo so we were sure that they have understood our lyrical and musical concept without doubt. Now they are permanent members and are totally involved in the composing process. After the St Vitus song they helped us by recording Dancin’ in Moonlight and Violet Rainbow for the new lp/cd.
For this album you brought in Steve Sylvester from Italian cult heroes Death SS how did you manage to get him involved in Masters Of Magic and how much input did he bring in the studio process on Masters Of Magic?
Our label proposed us the work of Steve after asking him to do something for us. They were knowing how much we do appreciate his work. It was an honour to finalize the project!Many thanks to our label to have not put stickers on the lp/cd : "Featuring Steve S. of Death ss".It would have deteriorate our good vibes about this helping hand. His intro/outro sounds totally different from our "retro- sounded" songs. But can we blame him to have a good production?
On Masters of Magics lyrical standpoint there is both english and french lyrics here what is the main reason to have a mix like this and how pleased are you with the lyrics on Masters Of Magic ?
I’m pleased with the way my
lyrics and our music helps each other to find a final structure, it gives
a real feeling to our song. I really would like to improve on the english
lyrics cos’ I’m not sure they really make complete sense to the people;
but I’m too lazy to work on it seriously but it doesn’t mean that I’m not
makin’ a lot of efforts on that point!!!! I’m also very pleased to see
how much some people are takin’ care of our lyrics. If some songs are in
french it’s not a calculated thing ;the first words came naturally . When
we are jammin’ around new musical themes, we are searching for a lyrical
line to have a guide for the first words.When the first words are here
we work the song in its first form until the lyrical feeling help us to
develop the final structure and final mood of the song. SO , if the first
words are comin’ in our native language the lyrics will be too. On the
other hand we have decided to try to make at least one song in our native
language on each of our works. For the 3rd lp/cd the french
song is already written ;it’s called " Le Cercle Des Fées."Then
,now ,it’s becoming a calculated thing.
But our first reflex is to
sing in english.
Ever since I first heard
the band to my ears you have quite a lot in common with the NWOBHM bands
Angelwitch, Witchfinder General, Witchfynde to name a few are this particular
genre a strong influence in your musical direction ?
You are a clever listener!
The 3 bands you have quoted are gods for us and when we were young kids
it was our every days’lot to listen to their songs. On our next lp these
influence will be more obvious. I remember the glorious days when Sebastien
and I have decided to make a live tape with covers from the NWOBHM era/
Witchfynde, Witchfinder General, Holocaust,Diamond head, Blitzkrieg etc…
The project have never seen the light cos’ Seb had to leave France for
his job. A pity we have not done it cos’ we were years ahead of this NWOBHM
revival. I hope sincerely that our future moves in this era won’t be taken
as expediency, it would kill us . Cos’ we are not the ones to jump on trend’s
wagon . I’ve clearly paid my lyrical tribute to W General with the song
FOREST
OF KONKORET. Look at the photos we have included in our new lp and
you’ll find another proof of my dedication to the ZEEB PARKES and PHIL
COPE’s musical experience.
I’m still laughing when I remembered that people were trying to explain to us with a lot of care, after the release of our first demo, that we were not really sounded doom metal but more in a Witchfinder General vein. It was so sweet to my ears and my ego, ahahahah!!!!!! I was also very worried cos’ I’ve understand that for many people doom is beginning with TROUBLE and that their attitude will be radical , things like " true doom metal"… But in fact these guys are into sabbatical sounds since so few years ; they cannot understand and overall their attitude is totally sterile. They want to protect the purity of the doom metal vibes? Have they grown with it? They’ll have to think twice before being so radical. Doom metal is for your body, mind and soul so it demands a lot of maturity. If you only need low vibes, depressive sounds, depressive topics without a light of hope then you depreciate this style.
Looking at the french scene for heavy rock and doom metal beside you there hasnt been that much Astral Rising is one, Low Wibes is another not even the 70s period brought up that many heavy bands out of France how is the situation at the moment ?
Doom metal has not so much success in our country where it’s still a very underground style .But I’m very confident cos’ the revival thing will soon give a new exposure to this style and strangely the stoner mouvement helps doom to be more popular.And however we have to work for it. David an ex- DARK WHITE member is on the way to put together a new Doom Metal act…So we hope to do concerts together in the future to promote our respective styles of doom. SPACE PATROL is a stoner band we hope to share the stage with.
With your first demos and Great God Pan you have got a pretty strong following and a solid fanbase in the underground doom scene how pleased are you with the support and the reviews you have got so far ?
It gives us the strengh to carry on our musical concept and overall we feel now totally free with our style, that our prog/folk side will not restain our reputation in the doom metal scene we are cherishing cos’ it’s the fanbase scene we are comin’ from and still are into!
Talking about the title
Masters Of Magic has the title any significant meaning to it ? 
The title of the album tells
it all!
We wished to explore all the
concept of magic under different lights ( occult topics, mystic characters,literature,
people with strong character who’s got a hold on you men or women, etc…)and
to expose what it means for us. But 3 songs that helped us to build the
final concept of our lp/cd are missing: - THE GHOSTFINDER, a tribute to
author W. H. HODGSON but the final mix was horrible and we are still wondering
how we did such a sabotage? ( Then we promised to drink only coffee or
water the days we are recording songs) . For the completist this song is
exclusively featuring on the cd compil given with the last issue psychedelic’
zine ( Great zine!). -THE FIREWITCH :was about a red hair woman , some
kind of nymphomaniac who has the power to mesmerise the weak and lead him
against his will on the road of sin, makin’ him destroy all the things
he has taken years to build. She’s the supreme evil seductress and you’re
in danger by her side.It’s about a real character and not a cliché
song.Still this song from the 96 era is in the vault. Or maybe it is featuring
on a promo compil of our label called " CHILDREN OF BLACK WIDOW", but we
don’t have a copy of this cd so I’m not sure of the information.- MASTER
OF MAGIC: to be featured on our future lp/cd. Strange, no?
Masters Of Magic after I have played loads of times I reckon this album is even more experimental album to Great God Pan how was the studio process fill us in on the overdubs, mixing and the pre-production on the album ?
It’s hard for us to tell if it’s more experimental than our previous releases . As I said before , I think that the mix has left the guitar sound far behind and then let the overdubs ( keys and flutes ) being more evident. Our new lp/cd is ,in fact, the testimony of all our line ups: 2 songs from 96, I song from when we were 2 ( Vincent and I ), 2 songs from the David Marcos (a guitarist who gave us a new hope and then vanished for ever out of sight…)era and 2 songs from the new line-up.(Benjamin and Thomas are in the band for 1 year now)! So it is a very heterogeneous album on the sound register and there is enormous lapses of time beetween the different mixing sessions, so, it will not be objective to argue about the mix session: they represent different moods, different will. It’s almost impossible to remember the motivations of each moments, of each line-ups!
Talking about the progressive sound that you have, If I say that Northwinds are a progressive doom metal band am I right in my opinion or do you have a different point of view and how would you describe the sound that you have ?
When you think of our background try to imagine JANUS : 3 faces but one entity; that’s what we are: Doom metal, Classic Heavy Metal and 70’s. Our roots are what was called prog music in the early 70’s and it covered bands so different from each others: B SABBATH, BLACK WIDOW, VAN d g GENERATOR, YES, HAWKWIND, AMON DUUL , P BROWN AND PIBLOKTO, COLOSSEUM, JADE WARRIOR ETC…Here you’ll find a big influence and our will to feel free to mix different styles of pop-rck music …Somewhere our music find in this glorious past its justification . BLACK SABBATH, ALAN STIVELL and ANGE were a very effective influence . But it’s clear that NWOBHM and DOOM METAL are our main influences on the musical plan and for the topics too. A point important to note is that we are far away from musical agression, finally we are a very "easy-access" heavy metal band.
Talking about the concept for Northwinds what is the concept what is the major strength that this band have ?
There is not really a concept behind the band. Our wish to mix our musical influences without takin’ care of trends and closed minded people is a kind of concept in itself. Another point would be the wish to create a real parallel beetween lyrics and musical developpements and I think it creates a real particular and original feeling all along our productions: and thanks to God a lot of bands are doing this effort. Doing our thing we have proved that many people are not closed minded and are ready to accept the mix of different kind of music, in this optic you’ll see that the 70’s revival is patent. Mentalities have progressed.
Talking about your influences what is the major influences and inspiration. I guess there is a wide spectrum, right ?
Return back to answer nr 12. But it will have to change if we accept other members in the band! We will try to save what has done our particularity in the past. We have illustrated and mix our different backgrounds in the cover song we made for the BLACK WIDOW tribute album: " Way to power". Everything is here and no words is necessary!
You are signed to Black Widow Records how pleased are you with the label support so far in terms of promotion advertising and distribution of your albums ?
We are very happy with them cos’ they respect their bands a lot on the artistic plan ; just look at the work they’ve done for our new lp/cd it’s brilliant and very motivating for a little band like us. For each album they’ve made the dream comes true . They are very confident in our evolution and they have been a great help in times of trouble . We are feelin’ free and not prisonners of "flûte and keyboards" style; and I’m sure it will be like that for our future releases. We do respect their work ,we are also confident in their competence and love for the music. That’s the reason why we insist to include a photo of MASSIMO and PINO in our photo’s gallery in our new lp/cd.Their distribution is going higher and higher and they always send to us the articles they received about the band.I hope we’ll grow bigger together cos’ there is no other label with such a dark 70’s feeling and we’re feeling at home with them.
The album cover is a painting by Giorgia at L´Antro di Tiebe how pleased are you with the outcome of this artwork and how did this painting end up as album cover on Masters Of Magic ?
The painting was chosen years ago. In fact our label mates proposed it to us for the Great God Pan lp/cd and we accepted it though it didn’t fill right with the propositions we had send. We loved this painting and we were, at the time, mesmerised by it; it was great for us to imagine that our 1st lp will have some kind of dark fantasy cover. Finally they decided to propose to us the masterpiece that would end as a cover for our 1st lp/cd and we were very happy cos’ it was very in the way we asked for. Our label mates then propose to keep the painting for the 2nd lp and we accept without knowing what the title will be!When time to think of the title has come the subject of the painting has surely influenced us. One thing I love a lot in this cover is the young man: he seems to be bewitched by the old astrolog, the old wise man…I find here a beautiful parallel with our fascination for the Grand storytellers: Poe, Lovecraft, Machen, Blackwood, Hodgson, Dunsany, etc… It seems that this painting is the one used for advertissement by one of the numerous astrolog working in Genoa. Here lies the all story!
Talking about Northwinds as liveact what is the main difference between Northwinds in studio and Northwinds live ?
The concerts we’ve done were " normal" concerts. Nowadays we are searchin’ for a keyboard player and a flutist as well cos’ Marco doesn’t want to be too much implicate in music outside his studio’s work . So we’re not really ready to do more concerts . We’d like to play our music in its full form so we will wait few months before playing live once again. We keep our fingers crossed!
I have mentioned your progressiveness but I would also consider that you guys have a symphonic feel that is very obvious on this album cause the instrumentation is quite varied with all kinds of arrangements do you agree with me that on this symphonic feel or do you have a different opinion ?
It’s the first time someone mentioned it! We have no opinion or particular feelin’ about it. However it’s the proof that our music has a lot to offer, beyond our will, that it lets the listener free to explore thru’ the window of his own reality!!
Compare Northwinds to the other bands signed to Black Widow what have Northwinds that the other BWR bands dont have if you would like to compare ?
No comparison is possible cos each band is very different , not working in the same musical style. B. WIDOW is a label that you can compare to the first years of VERTIGO; each band a treasure and far away from their label mates; BUT there is a common point: the dark feeling.
Looking at the oil paintings inside the booklet they are fantastic spooky and mystical.Danilo Capua have made them, how pleased are you with the outcome and how much does these paintings represents the performance on Masters Of Magic ?
The icons and the illustrations are the brilliant work of Danielo Capua. They are his interpretation of our songs/lyrics and though we let him know our wishes via Black Widow we can say that he felt free to do his very own work…And it works!
I guess you are currently in the plans for album number three how is that album going to sound like compare to your first two albums ?
Yes, and we have yet recorded 4 songs for our future lp/cd and it’s easy to say that it will sound more in the vein of our first demo; the guitars will be ahead and we will try to recover the equilibrium beetween heavy and folk parts. The all sound will be harder . Here are the 4 tracks titles: Master Of Magic, Never Neverland, Le Cercle Des Fées( sung in french), Crystal Ball ( a love song!?!?!?)
Fill us in on the current situation in the Northwinds camp whats up for the moment beside a new album what more plans do you have at this particular time ?
We are very busy : we keep on working on new songs, two covers….We ‘re trying to find a suitable keyboardist for the band cos’ it’s time now once again for the action and to play live. But now we wish to play our music in its full form and believe me to find him or her is not the easiest thing on earth!!
Thank you very much for the interview all the best wishes with Northwinds and thanks for a brilliant album Masters Of Magic good luck on the next one hope to see you live sometime up here in the northern part of Europe.
Many thanks for your interest and your interesting interview (though long but complete one!) .SYLVAIN Thanks a lot.
By Gabriel Lilliehook
Review of Masters Of Magic at passagen.se/lillie/rec14.html
Northwinds contact web email Thomas.BASTIDE@sage.com
Order Masters Of Magic and
Great God Pan at www.blackwidow.it
email blackwidow@tin.it