Hi there. Congratulations to your great new album. Please describe the reactions to the CD so far.
Fabio “Thunder” (guitar and vocals): The first feedback we got from both Germany and more European countries are exciting, definitely beyond expectations; the previous releases as well received very good responses but this time we really hit the spot. I reckon that the variety of atmospheres in the album made it much more enjoyable for both public and critics.
 Do you care for the opinion of your fans, the press and people in general? Or is it just you and your music?
Fabio “Thunder”: We give credit to both press and public’s feedback, their opinion is important to us and might be truly precious to a band in order to grow up and improve musically. Obvious is though that we do things our own way and as well as we do let others’ thoughts in somehow we must feel we do like songs or whole albums beyond any possible pulls.
Let's talk about your new CD. What are the differences between "As We Die Alone" and "Nero Enigma" in your opinion?
Omar (bass): Well, I think that the great main difference is that we worked on NE as a concept. Working on concept isn’t so easy, you had to forget “single tracks” and starting to image as a single song, a band as a single instrument, lyrics and music had to be one single thing, emotions turn to music to turn back in emotions. Like on a soundtrack. On the previous one, every single song was a unique world, thus we composed on the same months. Anyway, I think that NE is a natural following on Thunderstorm’s evolution. Pick up “Monologue”, the murderer presents himself to the last victim and somehow to the world… the gentle voice line is just a prelude of the end, tension increases till the chorus where you can feel the assassin strength, but you can imagine victim fear reflected on his eyes.
What are the reasons for these differences?
Omar: We kept the same way to compose and to approach music, the great main difference has been on the arrangement. We entered the studio with a lot of ideas, we tried everything: different cabinets, chords, melodies and we only kept what we really felt at that particular moment. The sound engineer is a friend, so we left the “formalities” out of the door and we started to record.
 Which one is your favourite song from the album and why?
Omar: Well, it isn’t an easy choice! Cause I told you we developed the album as a single song. Anyway, I think that one of the most “strange” song we ever composed is “The trial of life”. It’s a mix of epic and misty feelings with classical “Thunderstorm’s touch”. Doom is behind the corner, you can feel it, but it’s not so clear. It could be an awful song with all these reminds, but It come out a real punch-in-the-teeth. I wouldn’t change anything
Please tell us something about the album's concept!
Omar: Well, the concepts it’s based on a serial killer who kills eight women. It could be a over-busy subject, but leaving the serial killer apart, the second main character is the listener: as a detective he had to find “trough the words” clues and evidences to find the “modus operandi” of the murderer. The “red line” links every assassination has to be found… this is the real difference between our concept and the “others”. We try to put the listener in between the history, giving a new listening level. After release date we’ll put on our site some random clues and we’ll create an e-mail address where everybody can try to solve this Nero enigma. The serial killer is a middle-aged man. He has been fired and dismissed… this is a way for recompensing people that still buy “original” CDs, fanzine and support underground band. Metalheads always need food for their minds! The artwork reveals our reverence to some great Italian Directors such as Mario Bava, Dario Argento, Pupi Avati, it isn’t a dirt cheap picture
What are the milestones of your career up to now?
Fabio “Thunder”: I must say that our history moved in gradual phases indeed, made of steps, all important, that took us to what we are now but should I think of some of these and some moments that might be of a special relevance I would mention our second album “Witchunter Tales”. From there to “Faithless Soul” we reached a great public playing in many high level festivals, we felt direct contact with people catching their reactions
What was your aim when you started making music? And have you achieved it?
Omar: Every man who plays always keep up the flame of dream. Dream to be famous, dream to touring, dream to earn money with music. it could be the classic kid dream, but it’s very important “to believe” on what you do. You had to effort the real life and re-dimensioning that “dream”, but it’s the engine of music. Metal is still giving me a lot of satisfaction, you know, when the adrenaline runs on the stage and people screaming your songs, that’s incredible! We recorded five albums, we stepped on a lot of stage, we knew a lot of people, but we’re still hungry like wolves.
Is there anything you would do in a different way if you could start it all over again?
Fabio “Thunder”: Actually no, should we turn back time I would not change a thing in our career or maybe there’s one thing, I would take care of Faithless Soul mixing. Had its sound been less “dry”, poor and more full, it would have gained so much in its power… but this is just a personal opinion!
What do you think: How will Thunderstorm sound like in let's say five years? Is there a masterplan?
Fabio “Thunder”: Oh well, we really cannot foresee what could happen in terms of sound, anything might be! Oh no, let me reassure you, we shall not become any sort of pop band!
Please name some lately released CDs that you like to listen to at home.
Omar: While heaven wept – vast ocean lachrymose
Katatonia – Night is the new day (sorry it’s 2009 album!)
Trypticon – Eparistera daimones
How important is it for you to play live on stage?
Omar: I think you understand how we love to play on stage, we aren’t such as a “studio band”. Our songs are made to be live performed. Being in studio is quite boring, you just think “how it will play on stage”. Stop working on Thursday, wake up earlier on Friday, drive for 6 to 9 hundreds Km, play two Gigs, wake up on Sunday, lay down very late, Monday morning: back to work. You just call it LOVE FOR METAL. Ah!ah!ah!
 Please describe your audience and tell us about further Live activities.
Fabio “Thunder”: Our public is really faithful and not just “occasional”. People do remember all our songs in our albums, they got all pieces in our merchandising material and, as far it seems, there’s no hallway in between, they either love us or hate us. Even during live gigs they worship us very closely, our public is very attentive and well, very severe as well!
The German festivals Doom Shall Rise and Hammer Of Doom get more and more popular. How do you feel about it?
Fabio “Thunder”: I am really glad to see that they’re getting more and more popular year after year. These are festivals which offer very good bands and the atmosphere you breath into both as part of the public and as a musician yourself is very warm and familiar. I am sure that they will grow year after year and that more and more will be created!
Is there a question left that you would like to answer? And what is the answer?
Fabio “Thunder”: The question is: What’s your preferred guitarist and singer of all time?
Answer: Tony iommi and Ronnie James Dio!
We are looking forward seeing you in Germany. Best wishes to you all. Any finishing words?
Fabio “Thunder”: Take a listen to “Nero Enigma” and you won’t regret it… or even better, take a look at our myspace and listen to some samples, even if you’re not a doom fan you won’t be disappointed!
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