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Hail and welcome to Iron Backstage! Before we begin the interview, could you please introduce yourself to our readers and provide a brief history of your band?
Sure! We are Frozen Sand, a progressive metal band from north-west of
Italy. We have been playing together for the past 15 years, since we were all
kids in high school, now still being kids, but outside highschool!
How would you
describe your music, and which bands have been your biggest influences?
We play a blend of
progressive metal and djent that explores all the dynamics and the colors that
these genres can offer. This is the baseline of what we play, while on top of
it, every song is different and has its own personality. About the influences,
we immediately think of Periphery, Tesseract, Protest the Hero and Dream
Theater.
How many albums
and demos has FROZEN SAND released so far, and which ones are your personal
favorites?
We are at 2 Eps and
2 full-length albums now. We have just released our second full-length
“Fractals: a light among shadows” which is our favourite work so far. Some of
the tracks on this record are not only something we are proud of, but music
that is strongly bonded to our souls and emotions. We really executed our
vision of progressive metal with this record, and we can’t wait for everyone to
hear it!
Has FROZEN
SAND's music evolved over the years, and if so, how?
Our music evolved
along 3 directions. Emotionally, as with the latest record we believe we could
really touch emotional points that we didn’t before, both in the extreme low
and despair, with tracks like “Midnight” and “Trauma”, and high with tracks
like “Meet the Enemy”. Also the middle section of “Neverending Circle” and the
epic cinematic ending of “Specters in my dreams” are two emotionally strong
moments on the new record. The second dimension is the lyrical one, as the
lyrics on this record are explore more deeply the complexity of human
nature and events that are part of the Concept behind the “Fractals” saga.
Lastly, The last dimension is the technical and sounding one, as we all
improved as musicians and the work delivered by Sime at ClusterB Studios, who
mixed and mastered the record, is exceptional.
How long does it
typically take for FROZEN SAND to record an album?
Years, we have to say it! We work on every song in parallel and every piece of music requires many stubs and rework. Rarely we are happy at the first passage. But once the stubs are mature and approved, the recording for each song takes a few days of work, as during that phase we fix the last details and put everything together. Then it comes to mixing and mastering!
Can you tell us
more about your latest album, "Fractals: A Shadow out of Lights", and the trilogy concept-saga
“Fractals”?
Sure! Fractals is a trilogy
built as a journey through Time, life, love, ambition, grief, art, mortality,
and human duality. The saga began as early ideas in winter 2013, first
appeared publicly as the 2014 EP Prelude, and then expanded into our
album “Fractals: A Shadow out of Lights”, which represents the first
half of the saga. “Fractals: A Shadow out of Lights” centers on Peter
Light, a gifted American pianist whose life is split between two forces: the
warmth of love, home, and Diana Okunarashi, and the consuming pull of artistic
ambition. The title already captures that contradiction: shadow emerging from
light. Peter is fundamentally bright, sensitive, and generous, but his desire
to become an internationally recognized musician opens the door to Mr. Shadow,
his darker counterpart: the embodiment of rage, mistrust, ego, and spiritual
collapse. Fractals is a saga about human beings trying to outlast
Time: through music, poetry, science, conquest, beauty, memory, machines,
faith, or love.
What's next for
FROZEN SAND? Are you working on any new albums, and if so, can you give us some
details?
We are now
preparing for the album’s supporting shows. We already have new ideas and we’ll
start working on them very soon!
Do you have any
upcoming tours or gigs planned to promote your latest album? Are there any
plans for FROZEN SAND to play in Europe or the USA in the future?
Yes, we are indeed organizing some Italian support dates. Hopefully,
we’ll extend to Europe as it is easier to plan nearby here. USA would be
amazing, but let’s start from our homeground.
Have you ever
done any opening acts for major heavyweight bands? If so, when and where?
Yes, we did play
some shows with relevant bands in the Italian landscape, for instance at the
Rock Inn Somma festival, but unfortunately because of activities, both musical
and personal, Frozen Sand members are scattered through Europe and there are
not many chances to see all of us in the same place. But when it happens, be
there!
What is your
opinion on the prog metal scene in Borgomanero?
Still recovering
from Covid-19. Weh have seen tons of clubs closing after the pandemic and never
reopening, which had a bad impact on the community. Social networks mitigate the
situation, but it’s very different from the good ol’ days. Hopefully,
everything will solve.
Do you have any
messages for our readers?
YES! Go and
check-out latest release: “Fractals: A Shadow out of Light”. It’s a
rollercoaster of emotions and once in a lifetime musical experience!
https://www.frozensandband.com/index.html
