John Morris, AJ Simons

Burning Black

John Morris (guitar) and AJ Simons (bass) were kind enough to answer to our questions regarding BURNING BLACK's brand new album MechanicHell (just out via Limb Music). If you think Italian Metal is all about bands like RHAPSODY and LABYRINTH you should clearly reconsider, 'cause BURNING BLACK has the potential to feed your neat Heavy Metal needs with both full-force and melody.

By Grigoris Chronis

• December 25, 2009

Greetings from METAL TEMPLE! Hope you're all keeping well!

AJ: Hi everybody at METAL TEMPLE! It's a very busy period, but everything is going well, thank you!

Straight to the point: the new BURNING BLACK album is excellent! It has a distinctive sound of its own being both similar and different than its predecessor Prisoners Of Steel. Did you have a clear direction when rehearsing for MechanicHell or you decided it in the meantime?

John: We really appreciate your compliments! You got the point, saying that from our first album's starting basis we tried to go one step further with MechanicHell. Working on it has been quite spontaneous, while we were going through the early material we realized that the path would have been different: the choice to add full keyboards arrangements was a major step in this direction.

Listening to the new album both in my car stereo and at home I came out with the impression that you've put a lot of effort in the production for this CD, right? I mean, the sound is both traditional and fresh while in Prisoners Of Steel the sound was more 'classic'. This way I think more people will have the chance to be attracted to BURNING BLACK's style. Really, who's in charge of the sound in the new album? Did you have a tough time trying to build up this production or it all came naturally?

John: Of course one of our purposes was to improve the production. Actually, we'd like to have more time in the future to make things even better, there's never enough time to do everything. Anyway, Nick Savio at Remaster Studios did an outstanding job.

In the meantime, between the two albums, did you receive all the feedback from the Press and fans in order to see which (new or not) elements you would include in the songwriting for the new tracks? Who's the songwriter for BURNING BLACK? Or is it a team work?

John: If we had listened only to the fans, we should have done a second Prisoners Of Steel. They were enthusiastic about our pure and straight 80s. But we are not here to plan what to compose, it has to flow naturally, and this is the result. Most songs are built around a basic rhythm guitar and vocals structure. The other guys do the arrangements, but composition is mostly done by Dan and me.

Just having a promo copy of the album, so far, means there's no lyrics available. So, which are the concepts in the album's songs? Who's the writer in the band, haha?

John: Haha, the promo copy with no lyrics! Dan, our singer, writes them all. Most of them are inspired by adventure and loneliness during life on the road (Messengers Of Hell, Dust And Rain), while some are funnier tales about people with skeletons in the closet (Secrets To Hide, Dangerous Game).

You believe BURNING BLACK's songs can mean the same with or without the lyrics available to the listener?

John: Since some lyrics are ironic and quite amusing, yes, we suggest to read them!

Is Limb Music a new home for BURNING BLACK's music? How did you get in contact and how many albums do you have a contract for? Having in mind the label's experience, you believe you'll get full support on your plans?

John: We could act like rockstars and say that we got a lot of proposals from major labels, but obviously this isn't the truth. Limb Music simply ended up being the best staff we could work with. They are doing a highly professional job and we sincerely thank them for that! About future plans...let's see the feedback for this album first: we are optimistic.

Prior to singing to Limb Music, did you have any other offers? Did you consider the chance of promoting the band yourselves and only? The internet has major force nowadays, huh!

AJ: Yes, we got some proposals: some good, some bad, some ridiculous, and yes, we considered a (risky) self-promotion. I always thought of the Internet as a double-edged sword: a powerful weapon (for promotion, keeping in touch with fans, etc), that must be used wisely though (the endless problem of file sharing).

Hailing from Italy, BURNING BLACK's music is far away from the trademark heavy/epic/Hollywood Metal (RHAPSODY, LABYRINTH) sound the average metalhead knows this country for. Older Metal fans of course are aware of the legendary 80s Metal bands Italy offered to the Metal map (my favorite CRYING STEEL and VANADIUM, among others) but how do you plan on raising the interest of younger fans? Or this is not your aim at all?

AJ: Yes, even though we deeply admire the Power/Epic Metal scene, we are closer to the bands you mentioned. We played with both CRYING STEEL and VANADIUM's singer Pino: wonderful people, all of them.

But of course we aim at the younger fans: we are young too! There are some die-hard young fans that appreciate this kind of music, unfortunately in our country people are not very supportive towards small and medium underground events. We are working our way through every day.

The guitars work is impressive again; powerful and to-the-point without sounding outdated, I think the melodies created in Mechanic Hell are striking. The same goes for Dan's vocals, too, while the rhythm section is convincing, no doubt. Do you rehearse a lot to keep an adequate level or it's also a matter of band chemistry?

John: Thanks man! Rehearsals depend on the period we are in, and arranging the album was a heavy rehearsals period, because we definetly wanted to improve our performance and chemistry. In the studio, Nick Savio's contribution was huge, playing most solos and doing a devastating arrangement job.
AJ: As of personal chemistry, we are like a couple of lovers: we quarrel, but we make peace by having a lot of sex!

Purgatory Child - an example - has a more melodic approach in regards to some other songs featuring a more Power Metal vibe, and I confess it's my favorite track so far off the whole CD. Should we expect more 'melodic' songs in the future from BURNING BLACK (Prisoners Of Steel also had a couple of song in the same atmosphere, I can recall) or you think you have a good balance between powerful and melodic Metal songs?

John: Hard question, who knows how the next album will sound like. Anyway, I personally think that the mixture of harder and more melodic songs worked pretty well, and could work again next time.

Were there times â€ while making the new album â€ you felt you were pushed to end up the songmaking/recordings? Were you stressed at all or not?

John: Not really, I would say. Nick Savio's studios feel like home; just a bit during last days. Hearing the music coming out one piece at a time, day by day, is a unique experience.

Since â€ in our days â€ there are countless bands playing Rock/Metal music and the chances for worldwide success are rather limited, what's the motive for BURNING BLACK playing together all these years?

John: Not for the money, not for the fame, that's for sure! We are pushed by passion, and because we see people supporting us more and more: playing live is the most fulfilling satisfaction.

It's quite reasonable the next 5-10 years most of the 80s Metal legends will retire. Does Metal music of today have the potential to bring on new legends in your opinion? You think the 80s Metal legends â€ not on purpose, of course! â€ did harm newer bands' expectations by not leaving way for more fresh bands to rule the Metal world?

John: Complicated problem. Nowadays there are more bands, less money, less market, less space, but on the other side it is easier and cheaper to record an album and get heard. 80s legends can't go on forever, but doing the same things they did would be extremely hard: the overall atmosphere is different. From our side, we don't claim to invent anything like they did, but simply to do what we like to do.

Thanks a lot for your time to answer our questions, AJ and John. Let's hope we'll see BURNING BLACK in our area too when your tour plans are finished!

AJ: Thanks to you, Greg, and to your readers, for the space and the support you gave us. We take this chance to remind you that you can stay in touch with us through our MySpace page (www.myspace.com/burningblackband) and you can find us on FaceBook too. The official website (www.burningblack.com) will be online very soon. See you on the road!!

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