Dear Albert hi. First of all I would like to congratulate you for your debut album.

Hi Giannis! Thank you for the opportunity to get across to your readers and for all your interest in Nomad Son. It was also really awesome to finally meet you at the Doom Metal Assault three-way gig last March here in Malta. We really enjoyed your company, as well as that of our brothers from the mighty Reflection. Hopefully, we will meet on Greek soil one day soon and renew our friendship in person!

Thank you. I really hope the same. It seems that you have gathered a lot of great reviews concerning "First Light". What do you think is the main ingredient for this success and what is the common element in all these reviews?

The feedback for the album has been really impressive and enthusiastic from both the metal press and doom metalheads alike. The essential element for Nomad Son's notable introduction to the doom scene is the freshness and spontaneity that we bring to the table so to speak. Nomad Son's impact is very immediate and in-your-face. I think this is evident in our compositions and comes across effectively both in our debut and even more so in our live sets on stage… it's like an untamed animal has been let loose from its cage… ready to hunt down its next prey relentlessly and without ever looking back! The strong bond that exists between all band members makes all this possible. We're all on the same wavelength musically and on a personal level. There's great respect in the band for each member's musicianship and song-writing skills. When we plug in our instruments and rehearse or start to compose new numbers, there's strong electricity between us. I can't really explain it in words. It has to be experienced to be really understood. What I can say is that the special feeling we have in the band remains a fundamental ingredient to Nomad Son's success. We felt it in our first meeting and jam together, and its still present each time we meet and get together, even during sound checks for a gig for example. When the five of us are together, the wheels of doom are set in motion!

Do you feel that these good reviews and the acceptance of the album creates new standard for the next Nomad Son album?

Yes, "First Light" has certainly raised the standard bar and following it up effectively is going to be a challenge. However, you can rest assured that we're going to leave no stone unturned to ensure that our sophomore album will be more than a worthy successor to "First Light". We've already started working on new material, and the new songs already compare very well to the stuff on "First Light". Fans can expect all the ingredients that made up "First Light" to be present on the new album, although obviously it will not be a simple repetition of the debut album. But what fans can certainly expect is another slab of potent, heavy and uncompromising doom!

Let's go a bit back. How was Nomad Son first conceived?

Basically, I had been on the look out for musicians interested in pursuing a more Sabbath and retro fused form of doom for quite some time and also spoke to David Vella (Forsaken and Frenzy Mono producer) at Temple Studios about this. When Frenzy Mono were recording their "Unorthodox" album he called me and asked me to drop by the studio to check out one of their tracks for the album which he thought would captivate my interest. And how right he was! When I heard that track (which was infused with Sabbath references) I knew that these guys were just perfect for what I had in mind. David Vella eventually set up a jamming session between us at his studio and in that very first jam we got on like a house on fire, completing two tracks that were later to feature on "First Light" ("Shallow Grave" and "Empyrean Fade") within a few hours. Things then started to take off rapidly after that. Originally, the band was intended as a one-off project band but right from the start we realized that this was going to be something more than that. We kept on meeting and rehearsing, composing new material and eventually got a live set together and started playing gigs here in Malta within no time. We left an immediate impact on the doom heads here and we've already built a strong reputation in Malta as a really solid live band. In between we sent off the "Shallow Grave" and "Empyrean Fade" demos to a few friends of mine in the scene abroad just to sound their opinion on the band. These contacts included Metal On Metal Records (Italy) and they offered us a record deal for the debut after hearing the tracks. The contract for the debut was signed sometime early last year and was released in July 08. So we really had to work on the album intensely. However, I believe that we all rose to the occasion perfectly as can be seen from the quality of the debut.

In nearly two years you made things that other bands need years to achieve. What do you think was that, that helped you reach so rapidly this point?

Well as you know I am a passionate doom head and have been into this music for well over twenty years now. So I am very familiar with the standards of the doom metal idiom. I feel that doom metal is a huge part of me – it is my life really. Consequently, I have been involved in the doom scene since the early 90s, particularly through my work with Forsaken and even beyond that through contributions in webzines and online discussion boards. I also ran a small distro for some time together with Simeon from Forsaken, so you could say that I know the scene and its ins-and-outs quite well. This has helped Nomad Son to be able to interpret and get to grips with the essentials of the genre and to position itself effectively in the scene without much difficulty. However, obviously, unless you've got a strong product to push, all the contacts and right buttons one can push would prove useless. I think that the quality of the band and our songs were really the ultimate factors that really pushed Nomad Son to the achievements it has accomplished so far. Moreover, as I said before, Nomad Son is the collective creation of the strong bonds of friendship and compatible musical mind-sets that exist in the band. What we have achieved so far could not have been possible without the natural disposition we all have in the band for this music and our own unique approach to it.

How could you describe your music? I guess that keyboards play a significant role to your music, so do you see keyboards as a means for differentiating from other bands?

I think that the most apt description for Nomad Son, is heavy (in the true meaning of the word) doom metal with both 70s and 80s influences. One critic described us as sounding like a jam session between members of Witchfinder General and Pentagram and Uriah Heep and Deep Purple. I think this explains our sound perfectly! The Hammond sound certainly has a key role in Nomad Son, and also sets us out from our peers. However, we do not use it so that we sound different or unique. We use such sounds because they are deeply rooted in our background as musicians/listeners. I am a huge Hammond worshipper (e.g Deep Purple, Atomic Rooster, Lucifer's Friend, ELP and Uriah Heep) for example and that was one ingredient I was really looking for in this new band. So when I came across Julian's awesome keyboard playing (particularly the way he fuses the Hammond organ sound in his work) I really felt that this was going to be something special if nurtured in the right way, that is, in a way that doesn't diffuse the heaviness of our riffs. The listeners can judge for themselves, but in Nomad Son, the way Julian plays adds heaviness rather than diluting the music as was typical of all those great Hammond players in late 60s/70s heavy rock.

Do you believe that keyboards - in the future - can play an even more important role?

Over time Julian is really warming up to his key role in the band even more and is now taking an even more active role in the band's song-writing. I think this shall be more evident in future. But I'd like to emphasize one thing: Do not expect Nomad Son to mellow out; or to venture into AOR territory or something of the sort. Doom and metal fans would be foolish just rule us out because we have a keyboard/organ player in the band as I know sometimes the more purist among us do. Believe me; I am proud to rank myself as a traditionalist when it comes to doom metal. I detest all these so called doom bands that place more emphasis on "atmosphere" rather than true heaviness. The overall atmosphere or aura that we seek to create is one which complements the apocalyptic sound-scapes that we seek to pursue. Nomad Son will remain a bottom-end, no-nonsense riff-based doom metal band. I think that we will make this even more clear on our next album. There will be no compromise on this formula as that is what makes this band so special. Within this formula, organs have central and crucial role to play and will be used to augment the feral sonic experience that constitutes Nomad Son!

You are responsible for all the lyrics in Nomad Son. Can you give us a few details about the issues that you treat in the album?

Unlike my recent lyrical work with Forsaken, on "First Light" we don't deal with one central conceptual theme with each song-text tied to a broader thematic lyrical complex. Different sources of inspiration helped mould the song-texts on the debut. For example, both "Seven Notes in Black" and "The Light at the End" draw from personal reflections on the passing of my mother shortly before the release of the album. Both songs offer some insights on this really difficult time; although both songs examine this episode through divergent angles… "Seven Notes in Black" is more bleak and brooding while the ballad on the album "The Light at the End" looks at that time through a more solemn, reflective perspective. Some of the other songs (e.g. "Shallow Grave" and "Forever Twilight") offer more direct socio-political commentary on the mess around these days and are perhaps less introspective than the afore-mentioned songs. All in all, I'd say that the album deals with themes of darkness and light, with sometimes even the same context or situation presenting itself with different shades of this broad spectrum.

How these lyrics are associated to the cover and the album title?

Yeah, the lyrics inspired both the cover concept and album title. As I said already, broadly the lyrics deal with elements of both darkness and light and how these impinge on our lives. Ultimately, however, I am a hopeful and optimistic person and tend to see light even where darkness dwells. In fact, I am a firm believer that the light outshines obscurity and this is basically what the artwork for "First Light" depicts; the ultimate triumph of light over darkness; or good over evil if you will. As for the album title, as you know the term "first light" implies the dawning of a new day; and we thought that this is more than an apt title for our debut, as apart from its connection to the lyrical themes explored on the album, the debut marks a new chapter in the lives of all the members in the band and moreover our first entry into the metal domain and hopefully bringing with it a breath of fresh air in the doom metal scene.

By checking your MySpace site I see that you are very active concerning live appearances. Moreover you are not constrained in the limits of Malta, but you have arranged a couple of dates in other countries and in significant festivals as well.

We're lined up for the HOA warm-up with Trinakrius and Battle Ram from Italy and the seminal US power metal band Vicious Rumors at Itzehoe, Germany on Wednesday, July 22nd 09. Since we're going to be in Germany for a week during that period we are also trying to organize other shows there and we've already secured a gig in Uelsen on the Dutch-German border together with Never Comes Silence (Germany) and The Prophecy from the UK plus some other local bands. This shall happen on Saturday, 18th July. We are trying to look into possibilities for other gigs in the vicinity for Friday 17th July and Sunday, 19th to maximize the benefits we can draw from our first visit abroad. We aim to organize similar mini European tours on a regular basis to ensure that Nomad Son reaches as many people and places as possible. I am confident that we will manage to play in more gigs abroad next year. As for our local gigs, we are doing these on a very regular basis to meet the strong demand there is for the band in Malta. We might be taking a small break from live shows to concentrate on finalizing the song-writing for the new album some time next fall; however, knowing the hunger there is in the band for the stage I can't imagine Nomad Son being away from the stage for long!

Let me ask you something a bit personal. Do you believe that your participation in Forsaken has helped Nomad Son in a way that would not be possible otherwise?

Of course it has helped Giannis. There's no denying it. I have built a wealth of experience through my involvement in Forsaken over the years in various aspects; songwriting, live shows, recording, the business side of things etc; and I think I have brought this experience with me into the band. This applies to each Forsaken member and I am sure that Simeon, Leo and Sean are doing the same in the new musical endeavors that they are pursuing. However, as I explained before, all this background would have proved totally futile without the intensity of involvement, dedication and commitment Jordan, Chris, Edward and Julian have for Nomad Son. Nomad Son is a collective effort, with all of us pitching in for the band's benefit in different ways and levels. That is what makes Nomad Son so special.

I'll remain to the relation between Forsaken and Nomad Son. It seems that every member of Forsaken has also a side/parallel project. This might mean that you are seeking for new fields of expression. What was the need you wanted to satisfy by taking part in Nomad Son?

Forsaken is close to its twentieth anniversary next year and we have all given the band our all over these years. I think it is only natural for us to want to explore new avenues of musical creativity beyond the boundaries that we have set for Forsaken. Forsaken's musical direction is clear-cut and though we do explore uncharted territory and seek improvement on each of our releases, the possibility of playing with different musicians helps one to broaden one's perspective and thus provides the potential for self-enrichment. Although within the same doom vein (that is my music after all!), for me Nomad Son offers a very important and essential outlet for the expression of ideas which perhaps depart somewhat from Forsaken's template and moreover, to pursue new and exciting goals and thus ensuring that the passion I have for this music remains focused and unrelenting. I also have other projects in mind for the long-term, but at this stage my plate is more than full with both Forsaken and Nomad Son.

What about your contract with Metal On Metal Records? Do you think that this is a label that can cover any requirement you have for Nomad Son?

Our contract with Metal On Metal Records covered the debut. We will need to re-negotiate and arrive at a new agreement for the second album. We have a very strong personal and business relationship with both Jowita and Simone and at this stage I don't see any need for seeking new pastures. Obviously, there are always things one can improve upon and we certainly hope that our demands and suggestions on the contract for the new album will be taken into consideration effectively in future, but truly, we are really positively impressed with the excellent work Metal on Metal Records have done to promote the debut and which they continue to do for the band. Our business relationship with Metal on Metal is built on honesty, integrity and mutual respect and I think that these are crucial ingredients for a rewarding partnership between any label and a metal band and I am convinced that these qualities will spur and characterize the continuation of the Nomad Son-Metal on Metal Records alliance in the future.

After so many years in the doom metal scene and now that you are making a new beginning do think that the scene has changed? It has changed for sure, but do you find it harder, easier or how else?

Well the genre, though still very much underground, has more firm roots today and benefits from very dedicated fans world-wide. The close network (undoubtedly facilitated by the internet and the proximity that modern technology guarantees) in the global doom scene helps bands to reach this small but committed audience relatively easily or at least much easier than we could when Forsaken first started out in the early 90s. But once again, unless a band possesses the required credibility to build a positive reputation and status in the scene all the contacts that one may have would prove irrelevant. As for the present scene itself, there are really some great new acts coming through like The Lamp of Thoth, Procession, Heathendom and Sinister Realm for example and established ones going strong or making strong come-backs like Iron Man from the US or Germany's Dawn of Winter with their most recent albums. The combination of the old hands in the genre with this new blood is making the scene really dynamic and productive and all this really bodes well for the future of doom metal worldwide.

What are your future plans regarding Nomad Son?

Our immediate plans are to ensure further in-roads in the doom metal community by playing as many gigs as possible abroad and locally and moreover by releasing new material as soon as possible and as our resources and constraints permit. So the forthcoming months should see Nomad Son continuing to remain as active as we have been ever since our inception if not more. Perhaps, we have to find some more balance between playing gigs and time for song-writing as a strong follow-up to the debut is a huge priority for the band. But I am confident that we can achieve this and enter the studio with the right frame of mind for the recording of the next album.

Dear Albert thank you for speaking to our webzine. We wish you all the best.

hank you my friend for providing this opportunity once more. As you know, it's always a great pleasure for me to talk to you and get across to your readers, and your interesting and provocative questions always ensure this. Good health to all, and I hope that we can get the chance to share a few beers with many of you reading this somewhere on the road in the near future. Meanwhile, you can check the latest on the band at our myspace page at www.myspace.com/nomadsonmalta.