Flight is a traditional heavy metal band from Norway. Last year they put an awesome debut album and have been destroying our ear holes ever since! So I figured why not get an interview with these guys. So here it is!
1. Hello, thank you very much for doing this interview. When did you guys decide to start a traditional heavy metal band? How did you guys meet each other?
Jonas: We started up the band in October of 2012. We were all active in other types of metal. That’s fun and all, but classic heavy metal has always been our main genre, at least for me personally (Jonas). The thing is that there has never been a heavy metal scene in Norway, really. Right now there are us, Black Magic and Magister Tempi. So it’s not the easiest thing to do as it’s hard to find the right guys to do it with. And nobody sings clean anymore either. I was asked to play bass live with Herman (Flights first drummer) and Chris’ other band, and when we got to really know each other Flight just happend by itself. It felt very natural for us to do this kind of hard rock sound. We started out as a three-piece, and then Kribb (lead guitar) joined us half a year later. A much needed addition to play proper heavy metal! We also got a new drummer around springtime last year: Kickan from Nekromantheon. Great guy!
2. Your album is really awesome! How was the writing and recording process for this album? I notice with the production it sounds very organic almost like a 70's album which I really enjoy was that an objective for the band?
Jonas: Thank you! As mentioned we started up the band in October of 2012, and a month later we had pretty much 75% of what were to become our album ready. It all came quite fast and natural in the beginning, we had a lot of ideas and riffs already, riffs we couldn’t use in other bands. The last songs we finished were Lion’s Den and Devil Woman, which were completed sometime the first half of 2013.
We got a good mix of late 70’s and early 80’s heavy metal in our sound, which comes from my and Chris’ differences in writing music. His stuff is more rooted in the ‘70s, and mine in the early ‘80s. We think it works well together and gives the record a bit more dynamic and variety.
Having a proper organic sound was definitely an objective for the band. Half the battle is having the right sound. There has to be a “right” amount of gain on the guitars when playing early heavy metal. Growing up today you get exposed to all kinds of different genres of metal and your ears adjust to it, and it might feel correct to play classic heavy metal through a super-overdriven amp, but that doesn’t mean that you should do it. Listen to some classic albums and appreciate what just the right amount of gain can do to your sound. We just got the Gibson Flying-V and plugged it straight into a Marshall JCM800 without any extra bullocks and experimented with the placement of the microphones to get the desired sound.
3. You also released a 7" with a cover on it. How did you guys decide to cover ‘Stormers of Heaven' by Legend?
Jonas: We wanted to do a single like they did in the old days, have it released a month before the album to promote it (which didn’t happen). But it’s no use in doing a 7” single if there isn’t anything special on the B-side. Chris came up with the idea of doing Stormers of Heaven as he was listening quite a bit to Legend at the time. It was a perfect fit, it really has that kind of riffing that we’re aiming for. And to do it a bit more special we had Kribb, the other guitarist, to do vocals on it.
4. How did you guys get signed to Bad Omen Records?
Jonas: We made a quick demo with 6 songs to be distributed digitally to labels or relevant people. Dave Sherwood from UK heavy hitters Amulet got a hold of our demo, and he passed in on to Bad Omen Records, which again contacted us and that was it.
5. How was the Muskelrock fest? And how are shows generally for you guys?
Jonas: Playing shows are always fun, it’s one of the main reason for why we play. Muskelrock was the best, a bit hot rockin’ playing in leather in 30 degrees Celcius. The crowd was good, and there’s always a good atmosphere there. We played 3 news songs which will be on the next album, it’s nice to finally do some new stuff live too. Muskelrock is top 1 festival to go to for me at least, even though you have to sleep in a shitty tent that starts to boil at 9 in the morning because of the sun. It’s a good way to get you up early in the morning and go swim in the lake though.
6. Is there any plans for any new material?
Jonas: We’re working on our second album right now. Most of the ideas and riffs are there, but we’ve only got 5 out of 8 locked down as a full band.
7. What are some of your biggest musical influences?
Jonas: Judas Priest is number 1, obviously. Other than that you got a few UK bands, and even stuff like Rush, Camel and Winterhawk is a big inspiration. And 80s stuff like the first Queensrÿche EP and Iron Maiden. And even some classic US 70s rock.
8. Once again thank you for doing this interview. Any last words for the fans?
Jonas: “Get fucked up. Drink a couple of beers, you know”.
https://www.facebook.com/heavyflight/
1. Hello, thank you very much for doing this interview. When did you guys decide to start a traditional heavy metal band? How did you guys meet each other?
Jonas: We started up the band in October of 2012. We were all active in other types of metal. That’s fun and all, but classic heavy metal has always been our main genre, at least for me personally (Jonas). The thing is that there has never been a heavy metal scene in Norway, really. Right now there are us, Black Magic and Magister Tempi. So it’s not the easiest thing to do as it’s hard to find the right guys to do it with. And nobody sings clean anymore either. I was asked to play bass live with Herman (Flights first drummer) and Chris’ other band, and when we got to really know each other Flight just happend by itself. It felt very natural for us to do this kind of hard rock sound. We started out as a three-piece, and then Kribb (lead guitar) joined us half a year later. A much needed addition to play proper heavy metal! We also got a new drummer around springtime last year: Kickan from Nekromantheon. Great guy!
2. Your album is really awesome! How was the writing and recording process for this album? I notice with the production it sounds very organic almost like a 70's album which I really enjoy was that an objective for the band?
Jonas: Thank you! As mentioned we started up the band in October of 2012, and a month later we had pretty much 75% of what were to become our album ready. It all came quite fast and natural in the beginning, we had a lot of ideas and riffs already, riffs we couldn’t use in other bands. The last songs we finished were Lion’s Den and Devil Woman, which were completed sometime the first half of 2013.
We got a good mix of late 70’s and early 80’s heavy metal in our sound, which comes from my and Chris’ differences in writing music. His stuff is more rooted in the ‘70s, and mine in the early ‘80s. We think it works well together and gives the record a bit more dynamic and variety.
Having a proper organic sound was definitely an objective for the band. Half the battle is having the right sound. There has to be a “right” amount of gain on the guitars when playing early heavy metal. Growing up today you get exposed to all kinds of different genres of metal and your ears adjust to it, and it might feel correct to play classic heavy metal through a super-overdriven amp, but that doesn’t mean that you should do it. Listen to some classic albums and appreciate what just the right amount of gain can do to your sound. We just got the Gibson Flying-V and plugged it straight into a Marshall JCM800 without any extra bullocks and experimented with the placement of the microphones to get the desired sound.
3. You also released a 7" with a cover on it. How did you guys decide to cover ‘Stormers of Heaven' by Legend?
Jonas: We wanted to do a single like they did in the old days, have it released a month before the album to promote it (which didn’t happen). But it’s no use in doing a 7” single if there isn’t anything special on the B-side. Chris came up with the idea of doing Stormers of Heaven as he was listening quite a bit to Legend at the time. It was a perfect fit, it really has that kind of riffing that we’re aiming for. And to do it a bit more special we had Kribb, the other guitarist, to do vocals on it.
4. How did you guys get signed to Bad Omen Records?
Jonas: We made a quick demo with 6 songs to be distributed digitally to labels or relevant people. Dave Sherwood from UK heavy hitters Amulet got a hold of our demo, and he passed in on to Bad Omen Records, which again contacted us and that was it.
5. How was the Muskelrock fest? And how are shows generally for you guys?
Jonas: Playing shows are always fun, it’s one of the main reason for why we play. Muskelrock was the best, a bit hot rockin’ playing in leather in 30 degrees Celcius. The crowd was good, and there’s always a good atmosphere there. We played 3 news songs which will be on the next album, it’s nice to finally do some new stuff live too. Muskelrock is top 1 festival to go to for me at least, even though you have to sleep in a shitty tent that starts to boil at 9 in the morning because of the sun. It’s a good way to get you up early in the morning and go swim in the lake though.
6. Is there any plans for any new material?
Jonas: We’re working on our second album right now. Most of the ideas and riffs are there, but we’ve only got 5 out of 8 locked down as a full band.
7. What are some of your biggest musical influences?
Jonas: Judas Priest is number 1, obviously. Other than that you got a few UK bands, and even stuff like Rush, Camel and Winterhawk is a big inspiration. And 80s stuff like the first Queensrÿche EP and Iron Maiden. And even some classic US 70s rock.
8. Once again thank you for doing this interview. Any last words for the fans?
Jonas: “Get fucked up. Drink a couple of beers, you know”.
https://www.facebook.com/heavyflight/