xAwaken Demonsx

Ok guys who are you all and what bands have you all been in previously?

AD: we are 5 guys, 2 came from Sentence, 1 come from Reprisal and 1 from a local band called Shall I Die.

Cessna, Italy have you got a good hardcore scene there and what are your local shows like?

AD: Well, we have some good bands, and the shows we do are really nice. But the whole Italian scene sucks, is not good.

I was in Venice recently & have been to both Rome & Florence in the past few years, the geography & history of Italy is pretty interesting and it’s a beautiful country how do’s the area you grew up in compare and do you appreciate the European landscape when your on tour (France is awesome also!)

AD. Italy is awesome; like every European country is full of History and every time you cross it you can learn something new. Like I said before the Italian scene sucks but there are 2 good things while you travel to play a show in Italy. 1) Meet friends and 2) see the country from your van's window. We've been also in France, Belgium, Sweden with Sentence and Awaken Demons and all these countries are amazing above all Sweden. We're proud to be part of this beautiful continant called Europe.

I take it you’ve all toured extensively with your previous bands and now with awaken demons, how would you describe the state of European hardcore at the moment?

AD: European hardcore is really great, with Sentence we saw almost all the EUR countries and the HC kids were really great with us. While Reprisal went all over the Europe and they got a good answer every time.

So tell us about the messages you are bringing to the forefront with your music, you’re all passionate about straight edge and living a drug free lifestyle, why do you see that as such an important issue in society?

AD: Yes we are all passionate about straight edge but this is our way of life, we don’t force people to join us. I mean we are not a straight to your face band, we have this belief in common and we think is important today. You know society try to force you consuming drugs, alcohol being a slave you know, straight edge for me (cos I can't talk for the other members) is like a salvation. Or something like that.

What’s sorts of issues do you deal with in your lyrics and what do’s being involved with the hardcore scene mean to you all?

AD: Usually our lyrics come from our personal feelings, of course straight edge but the 80% is focused on the hardcore scene who needs a lot of help, above all in Italy, talking about respect, family, friends, important things that are part of our life.

Involved in the hardcore scene today is not easy, I mean here in Italy, our nation is very beautiful but the scene is sooo fucked up, I mean we are not united we are split in different groups and people prefer talk shit though internet instead of going to the shows and help bands. Honestly I don’t like this shit I’d like to see a whole united HC scene but as long as is impossible, we focus our love to all our friends and people who support us, nothing more.

When did you first get introduced to the edge and how many years have you been strong? Have you all got straight edge tattoos?

AD: Well I got my edge 7 years ago, some members got their edge 9/10 years ago other 8 years ago and other earlier. Nope at the moment we don’t have any sxe tattoo yet, but there's something on the way...

Can I come on tour with you? My cartwheels are getting pretty vicious haha I hope you have plans to make it to the UK!

AD: heheh no sorry man, we already have someone who come with us helping us out, but thank you for the offer. We'd love to come over there, maybe next fall/winter; we have def to fix something over UK.

What sorts of bands get you excited these days? Which bands from by-gone days inspired you to get involved? Hardcore is one of those scenes where you kind of have to be involved in to help it expand and grow and that’s one of the things I adore about it, it’s a lifestyle

AD: Exactly that what hardcore means to me! If you want to hear what hardcore means to me, grap Hold It Down from Madball and listen the intro...it explains everything I feel about hardcore. The bands that have inspired us are: All Out War, Merauder, Earth Crisis, Madball, Hatebreed, Integrity, Ringworm.

You must be pretty stoked about the US tour that’s going to be fucking amazing I’m sure, have any of you been over to the states before and has it all been organized by Seventh Dagger (Can you take me?…please haha…I can pay my way lol)

AD: Yes we have already been in the States before but just for vacation. We are very stocked about this upcoming tour and we can't wait. Seventh Dagger is really helping us a lot with everything and we don't know how to thank Danny and all the SxD Family. hahah sorry man but we are full hahah.

What do you think of the influx of the crew mentality into hardcore? I used to love it when singers gave speeches about stopping the set if there was a fight. Keep violence out of hardcore I just don’t see the point.

AD: The meaning of CREW, in my opinion, is something great! Because it means stay united, helping each other etc, being a family you know...but like you, I heard bad stories about crew beating up people, killing people for unvailing reasons and that’s not cool in the hardcore scene.

There's too much violence today in the hardcore scene and not...yes I know that the hardcore scene come from the underground but sometimes being violent for unvailing reasons don’t make you part of this scene, defending your family is right, but being an asshole not.

Do you have any particular goals with the band and ambitions to tour the world? Any particular destinations you’ve always wanted to tour?

AD: Going in the States is our main goals but we wanna do also a good Euro tour a Japanese tour and an Australian tour.

What’s the funniest move you’ve ever pulled in the pit? (Somersaulting off some-ones head / shoulders is my personal favorite)

AD: hahah I don’t know how to explain that, but we have tons of funny moves...

What do you all do to relax away from the band? Where do your interests lie? Any of you do any sport?

AD: It depends I usually go to the gym, other ride a bike, some swim but honestly I don’t know what they do haha.

Do you all keep a check on your fitness or do the shows pretty much sort that out? I kind of see healthy eating and sport going hand in hand with living a straight edge lifestyle I regularly go down the gym, swim, run etc its all about strengthening the body as well as the mind!

AD: Yeah is pretty healthy but of course we keep us involved in fitness and shit. I hope to have the time, this summer, to go to the gym haha.

How were you approached by seventh dagger? Did you know the guys anyway?

AD: I know Danny (the boss) since ages and what I had the chance to get a sxe band I’ve tried to give our demo to Danny...fortunately he loved it and we are now part of this family. We are very happy.

Any final comments? Last words?

AD: thanks a lot man for this interview, please check www.myspace.com/awakendemons for the latest update. XXX

Thank you for the interview guys

Phil Edge Lifestyle

Myspace Check It xxx