1. Could you tell our readers about your band Thunder Rising ? – What kind of music do you
perform, when was it established, etc.?
(Frank Caruso) Hello everyone, and thank you for having us!
Thunder Rising is a project that came about shortly after 2010. It was my idea, along with my
longtime drummer, Corrado Ciceri. We have always been fascinated by the American rock sound,
from Hard Rock to the Hair Metal of the late & In 2010, I was actually working on a TV
production. As luck would have it, I ended up chatting about it with Mark Boals (former Yngwie J.
Malmsteen vocalist) on Facebook. He told me, & Let me hear the tracks you're working on.& It was
his suggestion: & Why don’t we try singing on these songs (which were initially instrumental)? I
could give it a shot! Naturally, I was blown away and thrilled, and that’s where our adventure
began…
2. Which bands or artists inspired you to play music?
(Frank Caruso) Throughout my musical career, I’ve explored various genres, from prog (with my
band ARACHNES) to classic rock (with my band Firehouse), but also many genres ranging from pop
to blues, especially through my work as a television composer. My core remains the & 70s and 80s
framework—from Blackmore to Van Halen, and through the entire Guitar Hero movement
that my generation experienced & so that includes Malmsteen, Satriani, Vinnie Moore, and
so on. The reference bands, therefore, were Deep Purple first, then Rainbow, and then Dokken
and Whitesnake, and so on. The same goes for my brother and co-writer, Enzo. Being a
keyboardist, his references naturally leaned more towards Emerson Lake & Palmer, the same
Deep Purple, but also some Jazz influences.
3. Who came up with the cover art for the new album Horizon Line?.
The artwork is the result of the work by our production staff, starting with Gabry (Baroni), who
coordinates the entire multimedia sector of our company (Globalsoundnet). This division handles
the graphics and video releases for our music productions, as well as for several television
productions we write for. Together, I (Frank) and Gabriele first developed the concepts before
bringing them to life.
4. Who wrote the lyrics for your new album, how did they come to be?Gabriele is primarily
responsible for the lyrics as well.
They usually come after the musical parts, which are written by
me or my brother Enzo. The lyrics speak of journeys, understood as inner, symbolic voyages,
exploring emotions, feelings, hopes, fears, or desires. They are often depicted as imaginary trips
where the road is nothing more than a life path…
5. Who created the logo for the band, and who takes care of the graphics and the website?
Its always Gabriele who manages the graphic design side, from the logo to the website. As for the web programming and content management, Frank coordinates the whole thing.
6. How many Shows have you played? Which type of gigs do you prefer, whether (Venues or
festivals) and which of your performances would you consider as the best?
There aren’t a huge number of live venues here in Italy, but by carefully selecting the settings, you
can find some excellent spots. I think the most interesting gig was at the Legend Club in Milan.
Milan is a great city with an awesome audience!
7. What is your songwriting process?
When either my brother or I write, we always start with the riff, almost always on the guitar. I’ll
develop a riff first, then work on the rhythmic parts with Corrado—that’s the basic structure. I
often record a bass and keyboard part myself, which Gabriele and Enzo then rework and re-
record. But I need all the parts in place to get a complete vision of the composition. Then I move
on to the melody, which is never left entirely up to the singer. The singer’s fundamental work
comes after, when Alessio takes our songs—already complete with a melodic part—and refines
them based on his huge vocal range and styling.
8. How would you describe your bands sound?
Its actually very elaborate, even if it seems quite & on the surface, because it blends an Hard
Rock foundation with a Blues streak and a decidedly Melodic touch. My school of composition and
arrangement is Toto, where everything appears simple but really isn't. If you listen to the backing
vocal harmonies, they are very complex, with sevenths and fourths, and the same goes for the
guitar and keyboard solos, which often step outside the typical pentatonic scale to tackle more
complex scales. It is certainly a deliberately vintage sound, but reproduced in a modern way, and
thats why we like to call it Real Vintage!
9. What are the main themes or messages in your lyrics?
Never political or strictly idealistic. They are definitely positive messages of hope, even through
suffering, where a light at the end of the tunnel helps us reach future goals and destinations.
10. Do you have any endorsements/partnerships you want to talk about or share?
I have been collaborating for years with Ibanez for guitars and with IK Multimedia for the digital
side, also in my recording studio, where I often test and create tutorials for material that is still in
production. This allows me to always stay up-to-date, but more importantly, to give proactive
feedback for the development of new products. The partnership with Ibanez has lasted for many
years, and thanks to them, I’ve had the chance to test and use exceptional instruments! Corrado
has important collaborations with Yamaha drums, Ufip cymbals, and Evans drumheads. Many
people think an endorsement relationship is limited to just using certain products, but its when
There is a direct relationship between the brand and the musician that interesting dynamics
develop. This is useful for the brand itself to feel the sensitivity of musicians and get direct
feedback on their products.
11. Would you like to share any information about upcoming concerts or festivals?
Right now, we are starting the promotion phase and, especially, the video releases, which are just
as essential as live shows in the new digital world. We are also considering Live Streams, which
would allow us to reach audiences from every part of the planet. As for specific dates and tours,
we don’t have a precise schedule yet; our management will take care of that.
12. How and where can your fans contact you? And what about you and social media?
It’s always great to have direct contact with our fans, and the preferred channel for our target
audience is still Facebook, more than Instagram or anything else. We often have direct contact via
chat on Facebook when time allows.
So, fans can find us anytime on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thunderrising
Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ThunderRisingBand
Our Official Website: https://www.thunder-rising.com/
Have a rock day!
