|
|
Interview with Snowy Shaw - Dream Evil
Swedish Metal rockers Dream Evil have just released their third album The Book of Heavy Metal, and we had the chance to ask drummer Snowy Shaw some questions.
Here's what he had to say.
Hello, and thank you for taking the time to answer these questions! First, a basic question: Why did you name the band after a Dio song?
Because they liked Dio and thought it was a cool name I suppose.
How do you think the evolution of Dream Evil has been from the debut album, Dragonslayer to the newest record, The Book Of Heavy Metal?
A tremendous progress, if you ask me. I think the lyrics in particular was more mature on Evilized compared to its predecessor, and now we´ve found the perfect balance. Without a doubt the new album is our best to date and probably the best that we´ll ever do.
Could you describe all 3 albums in just a few words?
Dragonslayer: Orange
Evilized: Uneven
The Book Of Heavy Metal: "Aim for the stars..."
Personally I think you have become more and more rock oriented, what are your comments to that?
Heavy Rock! Yes indeed, we were reluctantly pushed into this so-called power metal genre, which I think has never been an accurate description of Dream Evil's music. Because of the trend I suppose the music's been labeled Power metal but it has always sounded like mid 80s melodic heavy rock to my ears, but now we've gone a bit more into what I personally like better in that genre, Accept and Scorpions for instance. We claim ourselves and have been struggling to have the permission to do so. I think Century media is starting to grasp what we've been talking about all along and gotten an increase of respect for us for delivering the goods and standing up for what we believe in. We even managed to get a cool image in the new fantastic video. Better late than never.
Do you think some people had expected Dream Evil to follow the path of the debut album more closely?
Why speculate in that, when we are just getting better and better? What's the meaning of doing the same album over and over again? We must follow our hearts and do what we have to do.
Are you trying to move away from the "Power Metal" label some people associated Dream Evil with after the Dragonslayer album?
Both yes and no, which respond would you prefer?
Do you think the Metal world has become too obsessed with genre classification?
A big fucking capital YES!
I think The Book Of Heavy Metal has some sort of "live feeling" to it, also due to the cheering background vocals on some tracks, was that a goal for you?
Do you think this has a live feeling!? You should have heard the demos then or try to capture us in a live situation.
The song No Way sounds like it's influenced a lot by Ozzy Osbourne, even Niklas Isfeldt sounds to me like he tries to copy Ozzy's vocal style. Where do you think the limit goes between making a fun tribute and copying someone's sound?
It´s not Niklas, we brought in a guy called Andy who sings with a new cool Swedish act called Hellfueled, he sings exactly like Ozzy. A funny thing is that the more drunk he gets the more identical it gets! Regarding the copycat thing, I don't know where you draw the line, it depends on what the purpose is I guess, and whether you have any integrity or not.Gus and Fredrik wrote that song and it sounded like a Ozzy pastish, so I played the drums accordingly and wrote the words in a Ozzy-esque way. I guess you could say that this album is like a "best of" 80s heavy metal where basically every style is represented.
Is it important to try to be original?
With Dream Evil, no.
I've heard that The Book Of Heavy Metal was supposed to be titled Arena Rock, why did you go away from that title?
We decided to go all the way and be bold instead of going safe, middle of the road like chickens, terrified of upsetting anyone and excusing our existence.
The lyrics on the album don't sound that serious, in fact they seem more like funny, a bit ironic lyrics at times, to me. Do you have any specific themes or subjects you like to do lyrics about in the band?
It's more like what I don't want to do with this band. In the lyrical department we've improved with every album. And that has a lot to do with my involvement, I'm sorry but that is just the way I am. I almost fainted when I heard the lyrics for Dragonslayer, if you'll excuse.
The limited 1st edition of The Book Of Heavy Metal will include a 60 minutes DVD bonuspart! What does it contain, and what else can you tell the fans about that DVD part?
Besides the super duper book of heavy metal video, the DVD contains two parts, one is The Making of, which is some sort of documentary from the studio when we recorded the album and the other part is various live clips and behind the scene stuff from the Evilized tours. Most footage is from Japan though where we had a film crew following us around 24-7.
The guys in the band seems very busy with various bands (Snowy Shaw is in Notre Dame, Gus G. in Mystic Prophecy, Firewind, etc.), is Dream Evil a high priority to all of you or is it rather a fun way to "relax" from the other bands?
Relax!? Being in a democratic band is never relaxing, I can assure you that.
Will you be touring in support of the new album?
In time Yes, but now there'll be festivals and promotion gigs mostly. We're planning a tour in the fall. We recently had to cancel a tour because the guy who organized it wasn't really cut out for that sort of arrangements. Listen to this tour date schedule:
12/6 Odense, Denmark
13/6 Honolulu, USA (support to Kenny Rogers)
14/6 Moscow, Russia
15/6 Pakistan
15/6 Perth, Australia
15/6 Stockholm
16/6 Mexico City
17/6 Legoland
Okay, that's all...almost! Last but not least, here's your chance to tell all the Metalheads why they should buy The Book Of Heavy Metal, instead of one of the thousands of other good albums out there:
Wow! Are there really thousands of other good albums out there? My prayers must have been heard, miracles actually do happen, and I have just missed them!
Like I said earlier it's like a Best Of heavy Metal album and it is proven that the best of's and compilations have the biggest sales simply because that's what the mainstream audience wants. If Absolute music wouldn't have been a registered trademark we probably would have called it Absolute Heavy metal.
Once again, thank you for your time and good luck in the future!
Thank you Nina
| |
Written by Nina - 5/12/2004 |
This article has been shown 7702 times. Go to the complete list.
RevelationZ Comments
| Comment by Rob Mckillop (Anonymous) - Saturday, June 19, 2004 | What an arrogant jerk. He seems very sarcastic and condescending. What's even funnier is that this Book of Heavy Metal album is really awful!
|
| Comment by Geert (Anonymous) - Sunday, July 18, 2004 | No Rob. You're wrong. You just don't get the vibe. The album is great and Snowy is great. Dream Evil is a fun band, just realize that!
|
| Comment by Martin Offpop (Anonymous) - Thursday, August 12, 2004 | I am working on a companion guide to this album called 'the book of the book of heavy metal'
with thoroughly detailed descriptions of every song played.All the minutae overlooked by even the most 'bookish' HM fanatic will be laid bare.Can't sleep at night unsure if that lick was Schenker or Blackmore? fret not! every scintilla of the annoying familiar and vaguely recognizable will be revealed in 'TBOTHBOHM'
|
| Comment by Jamie (Anonymous) - Sunday, September 5, 2004 | I agree with Geert. A lot of people just do not get this album. It's a tremendous record. It's definitely one of the best cds to be released this year. The video for THBOHM rules!
|
| Comment by Christopher Johansson (Anonymous) - Sunday, September 19, 2004 | Feels good to have a great heavy metal band from Sweden. Unfortunately, the crappy hip hop, pop etc dominate Swedish radiostations.
|
| Comment by Matt (Anonymous) - Sunday, January 16, 2005 | BOHM isn't that good and I'm a big Dream Evil fan. It was my first real METAL band, I'm really fond of these guys. But Evilized is WAAYYY better, and Dragonslayer might be too. I hope the next album doesn't have a specific theme, or at least isn't "how much I love to rock" and "how much my parents hate it when I rock." I could only get into like 3 songs on this album compared to Evilized's 11-and-a-half.
|
| Comment by Tobias (Anonymous) - Monday, February 28, 2005 | Snowy Shaw is fuckin godlike. Sincere, dedicated and not one bit arrogant, rather realistic.
|
| Comment by Tobias (Anonymous) - Monday, February 28, 2005 | Snowy Shaw is fuckin godlike. Sincere, dedicated and not one bit arrogant, rather realistic.
|
| Comment by Tobias (Anonymous) - Monday, February 28, 2005 | Snowy Shaw is fuckin godlike. Sincere, dedicated and not one bit arrogant, rather realistic.
|
| Comment by Herv (Anonymous) - Saturday, March 5, 2005 | TBOHM is a excellent album and absoultely their best so far.
Much due to Snowy´s involvement, song and lyric writing skills, needless to say his musicianship.
Dream Evil seem to be the only band these days, who does music for the right reasons the way it was intended.
|
| Comment by sean besson (Anonymous) - Tuesday, May 23, 2006 | whats up i was wondering if you and the band were going to have a tour or concert any time soon.
|
| Comment by Craig (Member) - Friday, April 10, 2009 | 
View Profile
Comments: 134
Ratings: 29 | | I generally like the cut of Snowy's jib but he really comes across as a complete dick in this interview.
Posted by Craig
Friday, April 10, 2009 |
|
|
|
|
|
Daily Spotlight
Iced Earth - The Crucible of Man, Something Wicked Pt. 2
 Iced Earth led their ride into glory and metal immortality with the amazing power/thrash masterpiece, "Somet....
Read full review
Retro Reviews
(Steen)
Ricochet - Among The Elements
 This album is a small gem that should be snatched up at once if you're lucky enough to find it somewhere. Highly melodic, overflowing with emotion and a technical prowess that is highly impressive are....
Read full review
(Alanna)
FM - Indiscreet
 The 1980s were most definitely the heyday for all things AOR. Stadium rockers Foriegner gone soft, a retooled Heart and the ever popular Journey ruled the early 80s and waiting in their wings were ple....
Read full review
Archive
· Albums of the month
· Retro Reviews
|
|
|
