COUNTERPARTS

A new power melodic heavy metal band coming from Brazil in the tradition of great brazilian bands like VIPER, ANGRA & STELL WARRIOR. COUNTERPARTS members called with KREPUSKULUM about the band's history and your great first release , the demo CD TWILIGHT RIDERS.

KREPUSKULUM: Talk us  about the musical way of COUNTERPARTS.

This is a work of heavy metal, with a lot of influences, since the 70's to the 90's best bands like Judas Priest, Deep Purple, Helloween, Iron Maiden and Stratovarius. That bands have a big job in the instrumental line and great vocal line. But  CounterParts wants to create its own style, inside the metal music, jamming all the best things of our influences.

How was the creation process and recording of TWILIGHT RIDERS?

First, the musics has been created by the band, and the lyric's work was a André Baida's contribuition. At the beginning of  Emerson Penerari's band test, all the musics pratically was ready to record. The Drums was recording at a little studio in Mogi das Cruzes city, and the others was recorded in the  CounterParts House on a computer music program, Campinas city.

Which are the bands that more they influenced you?

Helloween, Iron Maiden (Maurício Grilo-Drums), Edguy, Queensrÿche(André Baida-Bass), Deep Purple, Stratovarius(R. Andrade-keyboards/vocals), Helloween, Whitesnake(R. Angelo-guitars), Stryper, Rush(Emerson Penerari-vocals), Angra, Iron Maiden(Vinícius Grilo-guitars), overall, everyone likes Helloween, Iron Maiden, Manowar...

What do you think about bands like DREAM TEATHER and STRATOVARIUS that are accused of virtuosos for some?

At all, we like it, some bands non-virtuose are great too, any song has yours merits if it's made with honesty. Some virtuose bands enjoy in this style fanatically, that forget the strong of metal, following a jazz, classical and pop line, and it's no good, 'cause the band loose your ancient fans and no acquire new fans.

In the layer of the CD TWILIGHT RIDERS we found a sentence of  MANOWAR's Joey   Demaio, that band is accused of poser for many critical. What do think of that?

When Manowar said: "Only Manowar is true metal", they are wrong. And when they said: "Metal will never die", we agree. That's why we put the sentence "The Gods made Heavy Metal, and it NEVER gonna die!" in the CD.The poseur attittude is an answer to the fans. CounterParts is not poseur, just a Heavy Metal band that plays your music with honesty. Is bands like Hammerfall, Anvil or Primal Fear poseurs? No, but they are defenders of Metal too.

The label TRUE METAL servant to name bands like HAMMERFALL and STEEL WARRIOR, is also good to define the sound of COUNTERPARTS?

No, our music are influenced by any styles, since hard rock, progressive, rock and roll. The label True Metal was made by new metal people, that not mean the real fan of metal, like the 80's fans, are radical children  that call to your mamma buy a metal CD and, after all, say to her "Fuck you, poser, I'm true metal". Fool label. It's just Traditional Heavy Metal.

Which the reason of the name COUNTERPARTS?

The name was a trip of drummer Maurício. After he saw the Rush's Counterparts album cover, he like it so much, and said: "the Counterparts' art seem what I search". It's logical, screw without screw-nut is nothing, and alone, screw-nut is nothing, too. I hope you understand, CounterParts is the meaning of ensemble work, the soul of our band.

Talk us a little about the shows and as it has been to play with bands as STEEL WARRIOR.

The bassist André had E-mail contact with Steel Warrior's André Fabian, and then invite to play around the states was faster than we waited. First, Steel guys comes to Campinas in August, 99. In November, we go to Florianópolis/SC, and the show was great. The Steel family are very cool, and they liked the Counterfamily too. So, in December, they comes to Monte
Mor/SP, at invite of Raging Angels band, and we play together again, so together that CounterParts'bassist played with Steel Warrior. We are great friends now, and we'll   pretend to play together again this year.

How has been the reception of TWILIGHT RIDERS? And which the plans of the band for the future?

Higher of our expectations. We sold more than 200 copies of this demo-CD and distributed more than 50 copies around the world. One of the songs, CounterParts, always plays on a rock program in Transamerica radio, friday, 10 PM. The plans: First, we are writting new songs to record an independent album. Some new songs are played in our shows, like 'Mankind's curse' and 'God's Army'. The recording sessions will start in the end of the year, and probably the album will be release next year. We wants to play in other places in Brazil and maybe in other countries. We wants much success for the band in this year. Here in Campinas, our name is mentioned with honour. Why not in the rest of the country? Thanx to you, to the Mag staff and all the fans and the people who wants to know the power of CounterParts, we see you in our next shows. We love our fans that makes CounterParts possible. We are prouded to talk to the zine. This kind of mag makes the underground alive.
Thank you so Much.

Contacts: andrecp@bestway.com.br