Interview with HELL FREEZES OVER
!!!HEAVY METAL FROM JAPAN!!!
GAINER = Vox
RYOTO = Lead Guitar, Main Composer
HIROTOMO = Lead Guitar
Welcome to the FILTHY DOGS OF METAL Webzine.
Tell us a few things about HELL FREEZES OVER (Members, Starting Year etc).
R: Hey everyone. We’re a metal band formed in Tokyo, Japan, back in 2013. It all started when I was a teenager and decided to create a legit metal band that could take on the world from Japan. Finding the right members took about two years, and I probably reached out to close to a hundred musicians during that time. People call us speed metal or thrash metal, which is cool. I’m into all kinds of music myself and draw from a lot of influences, but if I had to sum up this band, it’s just METAL.
You have recently released your live album ''Live After Corona''. What is the feedback from your audience as well as from the press?
G: It was the band's first live album, and I feel that it received a good response. The band is celebrating its 12th anniversary, but I think we must continue to do new things.
Label or DIY and why?
H: Label agreements are a good idea if they allow some freedom of activity and promotion and excellent management, but do such labels exist? Of course, I think a label deal is important to sell albums all over the world, but it can be difficult depending on the content. I have released three albums on my own label so far, and the good thing about being independent is that you have a certain amount of freedom to make various choices, but at the same time there are limits. In other words, you can't say either way.
Is there any funny or weird story from the recordings or from your live shows that you would like to share with us?
H: Honestly, I can't say much interesting things about the recording process because it takes a lot of effort to concentrate for long periods of time and to pick the right takes, but I am serious about making something good anyway. I consider metal to be an athlete. After a gig, I usually don't remember the fun stuff because I turn exhaustion into alcohol. But I do enjoy the feeling of being alive.
Do you prefer Vinyl, Tape, CD or Digital Format and why is that?
G: I'm sure each has its own merits, but I'm quite fond of cassette tapes. I had been bought kinds of cassette tapes and recorded my favorite CDs to listen to and compare. At that time, I was impressed by how much the sound had changed. That's why cassette tapes are my favorite.
Your music style is Heavy/Speed Metal. Which are your main influences (Favourite Artists / Bands etc.)
R: I’ll answer this one as the main composer. If I had to pick three artists who’ve influenced me the most, I’d go with METALLICA, MINOR THREAT, and LYNYRD SKYNYRD.
Which things do you think a band should sacrifice in order to succeed? Have you ever sacrificed anything in your life for a better future for your band?
R: You’ve got to be ready to give up money, time, and probably a normal life or easy happiness. Being in a metal band is tough, no doubt. I’ve sacrificed a lot myself. I have a wife and a two-year-old son, but lately, I’ve been giving up time with them. I’m deeply grateful for their support, but I’ve got to keep pushing forward with my metal life.
Describe your ideal live show as a performance band. Have you already experienced that?
G: That's a tough question. lol. In terms of performance, I guess you can't miss KISS. And recently, Rammstein and others are great. I haven't seen either of them in person, though.
What attributes do you think that a new Heavy Metal Band should have in order to gain identity and be unique?
H: That's a tough question, and a challenge for an artist. I think that when you take your influences and put them out on your own, what becomes original is when you mix them with your own personality. And to bring out that individuality, you need humanity and experience, because that is life.
Do you believe that Digital Platforms help the new Heavy Metal Bands? Which, do you think, is the ideal way for a band to promote its work?
H: That's another troubling question lol. I think we have been helped a lot, because now anyone can send out information to the world, and the procedure is much easier than it used to be. However, this ease has also resulted in an overflow of information that does not reach the people who need it, and the listeners have become less concerned about the concept or message of a song or album as the music itself has become more of an easy-to-use content. This is the poison of digital. Ideally, the best thing would be to buy CDs and albums in physical form, but in this day and age, I wonder if the ideal would be to distribute them with music videos.
Do you see any differences between the Japanese Metal Market & the EU Metal Market (Labels, Bands, Fans etc)?
R: The Japanese metal market has its own vibe. For one thing, CDs still sell here, even though the number of buyers has gone down quite a bit. There are still fans who love grabbing physical copies. Japanese fans are super dedicated too. They show up early, know every lyric, and scoop up all the merch they can. The scene’s mostly about intense club shows, which keeps things tight-knit. Bands here have to work hard to stand out since the market’s smaller. You’re building your fanbase from the ground up. Labels in Japan tend to focus on local promotion first to build a solid foundation before going international. From what I hear about the EU, it’s a different story. Fans there are just as passionate, but you get huge crowds at festivals like Wacken, so the energy feels more spread out. Bands can get noticed faster with all the venues and festivals, but the competition’s tougher. EU labels seem to have more global connections right away, so bands can tour abroad sooner, though they can be pretty selective about signing new acts.
Tell us a few things about the New Underground Metal Scene in Japan (Bands, Fanzines, Webzines, Metal Clubs etc.)
G: I think it's relatively active, at least in Tokyo. There are live music venues that frequently hold metal events. When I ask people outside of Tokyo, they tell me there are no metal bands at all. So, if you want to hear Japanese metal, come to Tokyo, everybody!
Do you know anything about the Hellenic Metal Scene?
G: I don't know much about them, but I do know Fire wind and others. Also, when we released our LP, it was a Greek record company that helped us out. I'd love to hear about all kinds of cool bands.
What are your future plans?
R: We’re planning to drop our next album and hit the road for a tour in Europe. After we get back to Japan, we want to put on our own festival. If we can build some buzz, we’d love to keep pushing into Europe more and more.
Thank you very much for your time & keep up the good work! The closure is yours.
R: Thanks for having us and for the kind words. It’s been awesome sharing our story with you. To everyone out there, keep supporting metal, keep showing up to shows, and keep the fire burning. If you’re curious about us, check out HELL FREEZES OVER on social media and give our music a spin. We’re just getting started, so see you on the road!
By Steve the Filthy Dog.
HELL FREEZES OVER CONTACT:
https://www.hell-freezes-over.com/
https://www.facebook.com/hellfreezesover.hfo/
https://www.instagram.com/hellfreezesover_official/
https://hellfreezesover.bandcamp.com/album/live-after-corona