TRICK OR TREAT
Questions asked by Jon Wilde, added to Rock Realms 28th October 2009.
Italian band Trick Or Treat started off as a Helloween tribute act, but have since moved over to recording original material. Their latest album, Tin Soldiers, actually features former Helloween singer Michael Kiske on a couple of tracks.
Vocalist Alessandro Conti answers questions on behalf of the band...
Hi Allessandro, thanks for taking a moment to answer these questions. Trick Or Treat started as a Helloween covers act. Could you tell us how you ended up playing Helloween songs and what those early live gigs were like?
Alle: All of us had a common passion for Helloween back then and for the first 2 years we exclusively played their songs. I must say that things rolled very well here in Italy. During those years we had some sort of "tribute-bands-phenomenon" and we were the only ones with a whole-Helloween repertoire. So a bunch of clubs started calling us for live shows...but we started soon to feel the need to write and offer our own music. Fortunately things kept going on very well!
Did you suddenly become an 'originals' band or did you start slipping a few of your own tracks into the Helloween sets?
Alle: After producing the EP "Like Donald Duck" we started presenting our songs at our live shows...we started giving away at least 20 copies of our promo at each gig. It's been a very clever promotional move!
'Like Donald Duck', isn't really a traditional power metal title. How did the name come about and did you have lots of arguments over it? :)
Alle: We don't like the traditional subjects in power metal lyrics. Not at all. We like talking about things that happen to us daily, but always with a positive and ironic cut. We always try to see our glass half full ;)
In 2005, you released your first full length album, 'Evil Needs Candy Too'. Again, how did you come up with that title, and were the lyrics as tongue-in-cheek as the name suggests?
Alle: "Evil Needs Candy Too" is another of our ironic songs about how appearance can be discriminating. Specifically we thought about how your regular metal head is generally considered by mainstream people as "bad and ugly" while he's just a guy who wants to have fun through a music genre which we like a lot!
After the release of Evil Needs Candy Too', were you still performing lots of Helloween songs or did you consider yourselves an originals band?
Alle: Immediately after the release of "ENCT" we equally divided our set list with a mix of original songs and Helloween covers in order to make everybody happy.. after the release of Tins Soldiers we still keep one or two songs by Helloween in our shows...all the rest is pure Trick or Treat!
What is Trick Or Treat like on stage? The album titles suggest you don't take life too seriously. Is every gig a big party?
Alle: Absolutely! In our live shows we like to mix typical heavy metal elements with others more close to cabaret. This way we always involve the people who don't properly listen to our music...and our hardcore fans are completely crazy!
That brings us to the latest album, 'Tin Soldiers'. The title to this album isn't quite so comedic. Is it a more serious album than previous?
Alle: Tin Soldiers is certainly a more mature album, it's tougher and it's exactly how we wanted it to be...although Trick or Treat's "happy" colour is still present here and there.
How does the sound of the album compare to your earlier work, and how would you actually describe the Trick Or Treat sound?
Alle: "Evil Needs Candy Too" was a very spontaneous, ironic and happy album. With "Tin Soldiers" we wanted to improve ourselves, focusing on the elements which kept convincing us and leaving all the rest behind.
Do you have any favourite moments on the album?
Alle: Speaking for myself I am very happy of the 2 songs I wrote: "Take your chance" and "Tears against your smile".
What was it like having Michael Kiske performing with you?
Alle: It's a dream I've been chasing for years! To sing with Kiske on MY "Tears against Your Smile" meant a lot. This is a very special song to me.
Did he take a lot of convincing to lend you his voice?
Alle: Not really. We sent him the songs and he liked them.
Have you been doing lots of gigging on the back of this release?
Alle: We are playing a lot here in Italy and we are working on playing abroad also.
Is there any chance of you coming over to the UK for a few dates?
Alle: Yes! If any English agency is wiling to book us for the UK, just get in touch with our label and management. We are free from deals as of now.
Have you ever performed live with any members of Helloween?
Alle: We played in the same festival last year in Milan but not together.
Who does the artwork for your albums? It's pretty cool :)
Alle: Thank you! I do it myself. I have been studying as a professional illustrator and I also did the artwork of another Italian band: Myland's "No man's land".
What are your favourite 5 albums of all time?
Alle: Too hard to pick just five..but I will say Operation Mindcrime by Queensryche, Keeper Of The Seven Keys Pt.2 and Pink Bubbles Go Ape by Helloween, Holy Land by Angra and Number Of The Beast by Iron Maiden.
Do you have any interesting hobbies when you aren't performing?
Alle: Erm...no. Music takes most of my time and gives me almost everything I could ask for.
Are there any plans on the table for the next Trick Or Treat album?
Alle: We do have some ideas for the next album, it's going to be a concept album about an English author...we will tell you more soon.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Alle: We will be major superstars touring the world, of course :)
Do you have musical side projects?
Alle: No, all my time is completely dedicated to Trick Or Treat.
What are you up to once you've finished answering these questions?
Alle: Something exciting...
Anything else you would like to mention?
Alle: "Paper Dragon" was recently played on Bruce Dickinson's Friday Rock Show. He complimented me on my voice and compared it to Michael Kiske's. "Tin Soldiers" has now also been licensed by Valery Records in Japan. The album is obtaining very good sales and was praised by Japanese rock authority Burrn!
Thanks for your time :)
Alle: Thanks to you and to all the readers of Rock Realms!!!!
The new Trick Or Treat album, Tin Soldiers, is out now. Check out the Rock Realms review here. You can find it, plus previous album Evil Needs Candy Too in the UK & Eire through Cargo Records and the iTunes Store
http://www.myspace.com/trickortreatband
http://www.trickortreatband.com/
