NOMAD SON - Albert Bell

\r\nWell, Albert would you like to give us some info on Nomad Son, a short history of the band?
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\r\nIn brief, Nomad Son started out at the end of 2006. I was approached by David Vella from Temple Studios to drop by at Temple while Frenzy Mono were recording their “Unorthodox” album for a jam with the guys. David knew that I was searching for musicians to start a new doom metal outfit in a different vein to Forsaken and which drew on 70s influences. The guys fitted the bill perfectly, and believe it or not, in our first ever meeting and jam together we recorded two songs “Shallow Grave” and Empyrean Fade” and were really all captivated by the intensity and energy of our session together. This led to more rehearsals, more songs, live shows and eventually a contract with Metal On Metal Records (Italy) who released our debut in July of last year. It’s been an awesome rollercoaster ride really, with the band maturing from a simple germ of an idea to what I can genuinely describe as an uncompromising doom powerhouse!
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\r\n“First Light” sounds a little “out of date”, with all these Hammond organs that remind me of bands like Black Widow, Atomic Rooster or even Uriah Heep. Does the whole project sound “old” on purpose, are you fans of these bands?
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\r\nThe 70s references in Nomad Son are natural to us and not something we’ve made some sort of extra effort to achieve. This is where all the musical roots of all the guys in the band lay and so this reflects in our playing. I was on the look out for such musicians for quite some time as I wanted to explore this dimension at more depth. I’m a huge Hammond organ freak strongly into Hammond oriented bands like Atomic Rooster, Purple, Uriah Heep, ELP, Lucifer’s Friend, Camel, Beggar’s Opera etc.. Thankfully, in Julian, Jordan, Chris and Edward I have found like-minded musicians and together we are exploring musical soundscapes that reflect in part such reference points. However, Nomad Son remains principally a doom metal band, and I think that this is more than clearly evident on “First Light”. By fusing more 70s classic rock and even some prog rock influences we are making things possibly more interesting and not simply replicating the sound and approach of the milestone bands of doom metal. In my opinion this is what makes Nomad Son so refreshing for the fans, as unfortunately, there are several doom bands out there that are sounding all the same. Don’t get me wrong. We are not trying to re-define doom metal, but by drawing on our deep 70s roots, I think our interpretation of the music is somehow more unique. There’s several doom bands in circulation now that re-visit the 70s but in my opinion they tend to diffuse the power and energy of that music and somehow sound a bit lame and too tame. Our take on the 70s is totally different. For Christ’s sake, Sabbath, Purple, Heep and the like were high octane, testosterone fuelled bands that could bring the whole house down... to be able to capture that you need to keep this as a major driving principle... and not misplace emphasis elsewhere.
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\r\nAre you pleased with the feedback received so far for “First Light”?
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\r\nThe feedback has been astonishing really. I have yet to come across a single poor review or comment so far, and there’s been quite a strong amount of press coverage. This really augurs well for the band’s future I believe and I think that with more people experiencing Nomad Son live on stage, we are bound to continue consolidating and building on this impressive momentum.
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\r\nYou are a huge Doom Metal fan, what’s your opinion about the scene today? Tell us of some new doom metal bands that really impressed you, as well as the comeback of older bands like the new Witchfinder General album or the reunion of Count Raven for instance.
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\r\nI have been focused on doom metal ever since I came across Trouble’s eponymous fourth album in 1990. That album was my doom metal epiphany so to speak, although I have been deeply in Black Sabbath since my early teens. During the thrash/speed metal boom of the 80s I got caught in all that but Trouble changed my outlook towards metal completely and I have never looked back. The leaders of the genre like Pentagram, St Vitus, Trouble, Iron Man, Revelation, Count Raven, Solitude Aeturnus, Candlemass, Pagan Altar and Witchfinder General are pure bliss for me and continue to epitomize all that I love about the genre. However, you’re right, there’s been several quality doom bands rising since the 90s now that have really contributed to the flourishing of the music. There’s also been too much fragmentation for my liking away from the true idiom of the genre ...like this huge spate of bands simply emphasizing low frequencies and slowness in their interpretation of the genre. For me they are missing the point as to some of doom metal’s most essential aspects, and often forsake the energy and heaviness of the music for atmospherics and so forth. In spite of this however, there are lots of bands out there that really encompass all of doom metal’s fundamentals. One strong band of late which I think demonstrate all this is The Lamp Of Thoth – an excellent band all round. I am also a huge Thunderstorm (Italy) fan. They’re not exactly a new band (they’re into their fourth full-length now) but I fully enjoy their interpretation of the music. Hungary’s Wall of Sleep and Germany’s Mirror of Deception, Voodoo Shock and Dreaming also represent a string of relatively established bands now that have grown in stature with every release.  As for the “comeback” bands. Well, I had the opportunity of watching one of Count Raven’s re-union shows at the Doom Shall Rise festival some years back and I have to say that along with Place of Skulls show some time later it was a truly uplifting and near-spiritual moment for me. It’s indeed a pity that Foddy couldn’t stick with Wilbur and Renfield and it appears that Count Raven now bears little resemblance to the classic Count Raven line-up we all love and worship. However, perhaps it’s wise to see what Foddy comes up with on the new album. He is a very strong songwriter after all... but somehow I am sure that the old guard will be missed. I am also really looking forward for the new Iron Man album which should be out very soon. I have heard some samples and the Submission demo/Ep and was really impressed by new line-up Al Morris has assembled. As for Witchfinder General, well Lampros as you know we’ve recently talked about this – I think that "Resurrection" certainly has some fine moments, and really strong riffs... but I have to say that I am still missing Zeeb Parkes tremendously... maybe the new line-up will grow on me with more spins.
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\r\nYou are about to play this summer at Headbangers Open Air warm-up show, any other dates confirmed?
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\r\nWe’re really looking forward for the HOA warm-up next July. Our plans for Nomad Son always prioritized getting the band on the road abroad and it’s great to see this goal materializing within such a relatively short time since the band was formed and our debut album released. I think that all this underscores the strength of our material. We are also trying to sort out some more dates in Germany while we’re there in July. Hopefully, we will be making our plans in this regard official soon.
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\r\nI see a new doom metal scene rising from Malta... First Forsaken, then Nomad Son and now the new band of Forsaken’s drummer. Your thoughts about the Maltese scene?
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\r\nYeah, the doom scene here is growing from strength to strength. We shall be organizing the second edition of the Malta Doom Festival next May, which shall feature five local bands (Forsaken, Nomad Son, Dawn Of Anguish, Victims Of Creation and Weeping Silence) and a foreign act which has still to be confirmed but we’re working on it right now. Moreover, we are also bringing Reflection from Greece (also now, as you know, featuring Leo from Forsaken on vocals) this month... so really the scene here is getting really active and for Nomad Son’s future gigs here we have plans to bring more bands from abroad to continue to make things more interesting and to consolidate the local doom scene’s bonds to the wider European doom scene. For me personally, it is indeed satisfying seeing the scene flourish here with our gigs being very well attended and more doom bands sprouting or old ones that had disbanded re-uniting. I am sure that if we maintain this momentum the scene can only continue to grow and offer a strong alternative to the metalheads here.
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\r\nAny plans for a new record? Nomad Son is a project or a “proper” band?
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\r\nThere’s no question about it: Nomad Son is a fully-committed band. It is neither a side or solo project or anything of the sort. It is a fully-fledged band with a clear vision and road map. We are all dedicated to the band 100% while also ensuring that we remain committed to our other bands – namely Forsaken in my case and Frenzy Mono for the rest of the clan. So much so, that we started writing new songs for the next album shortly after “First Light” was released and two of these tracks “The Vigil” and “Winds of Golgotha” have already featured in our live set and will probably continue to do so in our forthcoming gigs. At present we are refining another new track we recently composed called “Carnival of Souls” and have sketches recorded for two more. So as you can see the basis of the next album (we even have a tentative title for it ready) is already there, and I’m sure that, God willing, there will be others to follow!
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\r\nAs far as I know you are working on being on the 2010 Up the Hammers billing, any plans for visiting Greece, earlier than 2010 for a gig?
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\r\nIn fact, we were exploring the possibility of playing at this year’s edition of Up The Hammers, however, unfortunately, things didn’t work out as the billing was already complete when our label Metal On Metal Records approached the organizers to inquire on the possibility of us playing there. Hopefully, we will have the honour to feature at this prestigious underground metal festival next year and perhaps sort out a few more gigs while we’re there. One way or another, we will ensure that Nomad Son makes it way to Greece eventually. It’s a country I have always desired to visit, not only because your history and culture intrigue me, but I also have some very good friends there and I am positive (even from the great feedback Nomad Son has had from various Greek zines) that Nomad Son will be really positively received by the doom faithful in mighty Hellas!
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\r\nWell, allow me to ask you a not Nomad Son question; it’s hard for me to avoid asking you about the new Forsaken album. When will it be ready?
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\r\nThe recording for the new album titled “After the Fall” was completed late last year and everything is now sorted for a March 2009 release. So it should be probably out by the time this interview is published. At least, I hope so, as it’s been really a long time coming now. Our fans are really anxious for this to finally see the light of day and so are we really. We’re planning to launch it here locally in mid-April 2009 and we also have some more local gigs planned to promote the album and some gigs abroad (probably next fall) too.
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\r\nPlease add to this mini interview anything you’d like to say and I haven’t asked you already.
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\r\nWell Lampros, first of all, I’d like to thank you for your friendship. I value your commitment to doom metal highly and am sure that you shall remain enthralled by the genre as I have been for this past several years. Secondly, on behalf of all in Nomad Son, I want to thank you and MetalZone for supporting us and helping us to reach your readers through this interview. I hope that all this had made the Greek doomheads and all true metallers out there more interested to check us out. Our CD “First Light” is still available from the band and Metal On Metal and from most leading online metal shops and distributors in Greece and world-wide. You can check samples of two tracks off our debut on our myspace page. Don’t hesitate to contact us for more info. Hopefully, we will meet some of you out there in one of our shows shortly. We’re always ready for a beer or two or more and to discuss all-things doom. Meanwhile, take especially good care and help keep the true spirit of metal alive by supporting the bands that matter and not all the corporate crap that unfortunately abounds around us! \r\n

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\r\nContact:\r\n

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\r\nwww.myspace.com/nomadsonmalta
\r\nwww.nomadson.com
\r\nwww.metal-on-metal.com
\r\nwww. myspace. com/metalonmetalrecords
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\r\nLampros "Witchfynder" Tennes \r\n

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