1. To kick things off: Tell our audience a bit about the origin story of your Band.
Eric Novelo (bass) answering all questions: We formed in Mexico City in 2012 when my brother Daniel Novelo (guitar) and I decided to form a band with our keyboardist and cousin, Juan Carlos León. What began as a family project, soon developed into a more serious and focused endeavor. We learned from scratch how to do everything: write music, produce it, find a fanbase, etc., since none of our relatives are musicians. Ten years later (TEN!) we found our ultimate lineup, with Angel Asiain in drums and Jona Corral in vocals, adding an operatic voice that perfected the overall sound we were looking for.
2. Tell us about your new project?
We released Evocations – our first EP – last January, and we’re currently working on the full-length album, one that we’re sure will take us to another level of musicianship. This will be released in 2027. More news on that soon!
3. If you had to describe the sound of your Band to someone who hasn’t heard you yet: What would you say?
We define ourselves as melodic metal because our music is melody-driven but we incorporate many different styles: a bit of heavy, a bit of power, symphonic, gothic, and even doom. Although we love growls and shrieks, our music has only clean vocals. We were a bit tired of listening to new bands that started to sound overproduced, riff-driven, and a bit generic. We just want to bring old-school sounds and merge them with something that’s never heard before. Some songs are led by a guitar, but some others use the piano, keyboards, and even the voice as the main character.
4. How has the songwriting evolved with the band over the years? What does that process look like for you lately?
It has evolved a lot. We had no formal musical training at first, and then we acquired some knowledge that allowed us to reshape and refine some of the first tunes. For example, our song The Coven had several changes over 10 years of adjustments, both in arrangement and overall motif. What we do now is that Daniel (main composer) typically experiments in Logic Pro with an idea; he presents it to us, and then every member contributes with their unique view of the song.
5. Outside of metal, what books, Video Games, movies, or life events leave a mark on your music?
We like to import ideas from many sources, both fiction and non-fiction. For example, our song The Hunt, which features former Iced Earth vocalist Stu Block, is loosely based on the Battle of Hattin, where Saladin’s forces won against the Crusaders of the Levant. Besides History, we love science (Biology mainly), fantasy, video games (all kinds, especially Juan Carlos), sports, literature (Poe, Lovecraft, Bradbury, Cortázar), and so on.
6. What are some of the recurring themes or messages you find yourself exploring in your lyrics?
The main thematic arc of Evocations is death and its many facets. Death as seen when you lose a loved one (My Beloved Ghost); death in war (The Hunt); the death of human dignity and the planet Earth (System); and death as a driving force of vengeance and freedom (The Coven). Recently, we are expanding our scope with lyrics of introspection.
7. What is one song you’ve written that you feel captures the absolute core identity of the band?
We like to think every song released so far is unique and caters to a different type of audience. However, if we had to choose one that had input from most of the band members, I’d have to say The Coven. It’s intricate, it’s complex, and the video was a production challenge.
8. Do you find your energy translates better in an intimate club style venue or a massive festival setting?
The best energy comes from the balance of those two. A big enough audience to connect, yet in an intimate setting where you can still see their faces. So a mid-sized venue is ideal.
9. Which Artists or Band inspired you to be in a Band?
Several. The first band I fell in love with was Creedence Clearwater Revival, when I found an anthology album called Chronicle Vol. 1. Then Deep Purple was a reference to me, for their ability to combine classic rock with a touch of heaviness (and prominent bass and keyboards!). After that, metal blew my head off. Metallica, Judas Priest, Pantera, Iced Earth, Therion, Opeth, and so many more!
10. If you could sit down and collaborate with any Artist or Band right now, who would be at the top of your list and Why?
This is such a hard question because there are many people out there whom I admire profoundly and would be thrilled to work with. I had the pleasure of collaborating with one of my favorite singers, Stu Block, for The Hunt. Perhaps in the future, I’d like to have Liv Kristine sing a duet with Jona, or maybe a bass collab with Billy Sheehan!
11. What’s the current Pulse of the Metal Scene from your perspective?
Besides my participation with Red Sands, I own a heavy metal podcast in Spanish, called Metalópolis. Through that, I’m constantly doing research and finding new bands and trends. I believe heavy metal is going through a weird phase. Music has never been so accessible, democratic, and open to people as it is now. The audience is also very participative, going to heavy concerts in (almost) every corner of the world. But, on the other hand, the music industry has been hijacked by social media crap, unfair streaming services, and the pathetic attempt of AI to replace human talent. I would say that heavy metal (and many other genres) is more alive than ever, but at the same time it is staring at the abyss.
12. Are there any endorsements or gear brands you’re currently working with that you’d like to shout out?
Not at the moment, no. We’re a fairly new band (at least the definitive lineup), so that’s something we have yet to figure out.
13. What does your tour calendar look like? Any big shows or festivals we should be made aware of?
We’re currently booking shows in Mexico until we get our LP released. Then we’ll be announcing more dates.
14. What is your very first Metal album you ever bought ?
What a nice question. It was Horror Show by Iced Earth, followed (just two days later) by Powerslave by Iron Maiden. I cherish them.
15. What was the very first metal concert you ever went to?
It was Therion at the Metropolitan Theater here in Mexico City in 2007. I had been to rock concerts before (CCR, Deep Purple, etc.), but never a metal concert. It was just amazing.
16. What is your LinkTree or Online Link ?
