EMQ’s with NIGHTWÖLF
Hi everyone! Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with Brasilia, Brazil based Heavy Metal band, Nightwölf. Huge thanks to bassist Guilherme de Almeida for taking part.
What is your name, what do you play, and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
Hello, Headbangers! I’m Guilherme de Almeida, bass player of Nightwölf. Well, the band was created in 2017, it was our guitarist Adan Hessen who came up with the idea of a Traditional Heavy Metal band. He invited me and we started planning how it would happen, and after that we gathered the other guys. But it was at the moment we got together as a band that all the ideas really got consolidated. Since then we have been creating music we love and playing as loud as we can.
How did you come up with your band name?
You know, we thought about a good name for a long period. The idea was that it sounded good, something easy to remember, and also that we didn’t know any bands with a similar name. Someday Adan came with Nightwölf and we thought it was Metal enough. Also, it fit really well in the lyric themes we like to write about (myths, horror and literature, basically), which ended up creating a kind of mythology that can be seen in our first release, the EP “Unleash the Beast”.
What Country/Region are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?
We are from Brasília, in Distrito Federal, the capital of Brazil. Our country has always been known for great metal bands, but I guess we can say our city has one of the best Metal scenes of the whole country. I mean, everybody is, in general, always creating good bands, good music, good events, and we are really proud of being part of such a great scene. Also, our region is the place of legendary Brazilian bands such as Violator, Dark Avenger, Flashover, Miasthenia, Embalmed Souls, Valhalla, Blazing Dog, and many others. So, yeah, we do have a very good scene.
What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)
Well, our latest release is the EP “Unleash the Beast”! It was released independently in February and is now re-released by the legendary Kill Again Records, with whom we have just signed! The EP is making us really proud, it is going way further then we thought it would go. Before that we had only released a digital single for ‘Halls of Hell’, a song that can be found in the EP in a newer and better version.
Who have been your greatest influences?
I can say that, in general, our biggest influences are the 80’s and 90’s Heavy Metal bands, you know, Judas Priest, Dio, Saxon, Accept, Manowar, Iron Maiden and many others. You can find lots of elements of all of these bands in our songs.
What first got you into music?
I think I can say that I grew up in a very musical environment; my mom always listened to good bands and musicians, so I think it was likely to happen anyways. But what really got me into music was certainly passion for Rock n’ Roll, which was awoken during my teenage years by classic bands like KISS, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. There isn’t anything that moves Heavy Metal more than the passion it creates within us.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
That’s a really tough one hahaha. It’s hard to pick just one; there are many bands I would die for collaboration. Speaking for the band, I think it would be really awesome if we got to collaborate with names such as Iced Earth, Grave Digger or Doro. Personally, I’m a huge fan of Zakk Wylde, so if I could do anything with him someday that would be great.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
I’d say any of the European summer festivals. But, well, it’s every headbanger’s dream to go to Wacken Open Air, Keep It True or Hellfest, and if we could play in any of these someday it would be a dream come true. Also, those are the festivals with the biggest visibility, with people from all around the world, so it would be awesome to have so many crazy bangers listening to Nightwölf’s music.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
Drugs hahaha. I don’t even know what the hell that was, but we are not really into it. So, we had to refuse. Sorry, bro, bring us some alcohol next time hahaha.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
I can only thank you all for the great support we have been receiving. You know, we have few fans, but all of them are true Heavy Metal lovers, and from everywhere in the world, which is something we didn’t expect at first. So, thanks for being real Metal worshippers!
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Another really tough one, hahaha. If I could choose two of them, they would surely be Ronnie James Dio and Lemmy Kilmister, but, please, don’t make me choose between them hahaha. I really loved both.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
Being on the stage and feeling the energy of the crowd is, for sure, what I enjoy the most, no doubt about that. Nightwölf really loves playing live. Now, what I hate… I wouldn’t say I hate it, but I’m just not really fond of recording processes haha you know, too boring and repetitive.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
It is a cliché, but also so real: music should be done for passion, not for fashion. Writing songs is putting yourself in what you create, whatever it sounds like. So, if I could change anything about music industry it would be the “industry” part. Leave us only with music, that’s enough.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
Black Sabbath – “Vol. 4”. If I gotta choose just one, it has to be one of the All-Fathers of Heavy Metal, of course haha.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
As a collector I would choose Vinyl. You know, there is a very pleasant ritual of listening around them. But as a means of spreading the word of the gods of Heavy Metal around the world, downloads are obviously the best option. I mean, each of them has had their importance through the years of music, so why not to choose them all?
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
Oh, we have played in many great gigs so far. Last year we opened for Blaze Bayley (ex-Iron Maiden), which was huge. We also played at Kill Again Metal Fest with Air Raid (Sweden) and two great Brazilian bands called Murdeath and Breakout; and at Ritual Metal Show Festival Camping, with many bands of the Brazilian scene. Those were three of the best ones. But, to be fair, we always feel like our latest gig was the best one and that the next one will be even better, you know?
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
Actually, I’m not just a musician haha. When I’m not making music I’m a teacher. Everybody in the band has their own professions besides being a musician ‘cause it’s really hard to make a living with Heavy Metal nowadays, and we gotta pay the bills, right? Haha. But I can speak for all of the band members when I say there’s no possibility for any of us of not being a musician. It’s something we need.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
My bandmates, for sure haha we love hanging out together. But if you’re asking about famous people, then they would be Ozzy, Rob Halford, Steve Harris, Glenn Hughes and Zakk Wylde. If I could bring someone back from the dead for this dinner party, then you can include Lemmy on the list. I think we would have a blast with these guys!
What’s next for the band?
As soon as everything goes back to normal we’ll go back to the stages to promote our EP “Unleash the Beast” that has been released just before quarantine and re-released by our label Kill Again Records (www.killagainrec.com) during quarantine, so the next gigs will be focused on that.
Also, we are already working on our next release which will be a full-length. We are using all of our free time during isolation to write new songs and set things up. I can only tell you that if you enjoyed our EP, you will enjoy even better the next record.
What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
You can find us everywhere! Nightwölf is on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Bandcamp, Spotify, Deezer, iTunes, you can listen to “Unleash the Beast” at any digital platform you prefer. Also, if you want to contact us to buy our physical copies and all our merchandising stuff, or if you simply want to have a good conversation, send us a message through our Facebook or Instagram pages, it will be a pleasure!
www.facebook.com/nightwolfmetal/
www.instagram.com/nightwolfmetal/
www.nightwolfmetal.bandcamp.com/releases
www.open.spotify.com/artist/2BwhU2iVUJfSYKRZI0d5b3
www.youtube.com/channel/UC4hGyWnQ5HHQ33U6NGut2UQ
Jaffa Cakes? Are they a cake or a biscuit?
Never really ate them, but something tells me not to trust the “Cakes” part hahaha. Biscuit, then.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
On behalf of Nightwölf, I would like to thank Ever Metal team for the amazing interview; it is always a pleasure to have such a great time talking about our band. Thanks, once again, for everyone from everywhere in the world that has been supporting us be it buying our record, listening to us in any possible way, sharing our music with friends or spreading Nightwölf wherever you are. Also, I’d like to thank all the guys who are always sending their feedback through our social media. We hope to be able to play for all of you very soon! Stay safe, stay true and stay metal!
Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this interview, unless you have the strict permission of said party. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.