HEAVEN'S METAL #62

Interviewer: Dave Muttillo

Music, like many things, moves in cycles. Presently heavy metal, especially within the Christian community, is on the down side, with few bands and even fewer good releases. A bright light amidst the sea of heavy metal gloom is Impellitteri's new album Screaming Symphony. Though only available as a Japanese import at the present time, this was just too excellent an opportunity to pass up, so hm caught up with Impellitteri vocalist Rob Rock in Orlando, Florida, to bring you the low down on their new release.
DM:Let's just cut to the chase. How does it feel to have released the album of the year?

RR: "It feels good. We finally got a record done the way we wanted it. A lot of times, you record an album, and you end up rushed. You end up rewriting it in the studio, and you're not sure until you can get away from it to decide whether you like it or not. But this album is different. All the lyrics were written ahead of time. Chris sent me tapes and I recorded all the vocals here at home on my four track as preparation to recording in the studio."

DM:So tell us about the new album, Screaming Symphony. (See the Hard News section for ordering info.)

RR: "It came out in Japan on May 22nd. We have five show tour planned for Japan, with two Tokyo, one in Osaka, one in Goya and one in Sappaoro this coming November."

DM: How did you end up singing your deal over there?

RR:"Actually, Chris already had signed over in Japan when I joined in '91. His management did that."

DM:What about signing a European or American deal?

RR:"There's a big independent in Europe that wants to sign us. Right now the Lawyers are exchanging faxes. Our managers are shopping us in America."

DM: Describe the sound of your new album.

RR: "Probably like an aggressive Dokken meets Yngwie. Does that sound right?"

DM: I thought it was a faster version of Joshua's Intense Defense album--real melodic, but a lot faster and a lot heavier.
DM: Now, is Impellitteri a band or is it just Chris Impellitteri and Rob Rock?

RR: "Actually, it's both. We play with the same guys we record with, but Chris and I write the songs and do the promo tours. We can't afford to keep the other guys on retainer, so they're free to do what they want. Ken Mary, our drummer, (ex-House of Lords, Fifth Angel, Alice Cooper) is actually pursuing a vocal career. He's cut a demo with Michael Wagner, and he's shopping it around. It sounds kind of like INXS. And he's doing studio work as a drummer, but his main thing is to get signed as a singer."

DM: What sort of role does Christ play in your concerts and promotional tours? Is He simply left to lyrics as some do, or is it a more vocal and open approach?

RR: "It's a vocal, outspoken thing. We don't have altar calls, but we thank the Lord Jesus Christ and praise Him. On the promo, we bring things back to Christ, especially with questions about the lyrics. They're starting to call us a Christian band now. It's like when we were over there doing an interview for a radio station in Thailand, they said 'So, you're now a Christian band?' And we're like, 'No, no. We're musicians and we're Christians', and because we're Christians, we want to tell people about it. So we end up coming in from that angle."

DM: Do they allow you that semantic difference, or do they just label you anyway?

RR: "They allow it, because over there the record company's pushing us as a guitar hero. I think the language barrier is there also. They speak English, but I've learned that it doesn't always come across in translation. We're working with a pastor over there to help us overcome the problems with translation. "One thing that's big over there is signing boards. It's a 12 by 12 piece of cardboard with a nice gold outline, and you sign them and write little things. I'll write Bible verses or 'Jesus is Love', or some little reflection like that. And when we get questions we answer it like that. I don't think they'd even understand 'Would anyone like to accept Jesus Christ' approach. Right now we're beginning to explore how to deal with problems with the cultural barrier."

DM: Both you and Chris, with Impellietteri in its early years, and you with M.A.R.S., were a substantial presence in at least the underground metal scene. What's it like to go from that to relative obscurity?

RR: "I'm really grateful that we've been able to survive, and make a living of it, and not be a factory worker."

DM: Is there anything else that you'd like to say to our readers?

RR: "I think it's very important to know the Bible. I think it's very important for them to be sure of their salvation for themselves so they can share it with their friends. I don't think it's enough just to give 'em a Christian tape or CD or magazine and say, 'I hope you like Jesus.' Or be all gung-ho about Jesus, and then not really believe. I think they need to study the Word and be able to help someone come to Christ. The Lord wants us to be fishers of men. I think that by preparing themselves in prayer and in Bible study, it helps them to grow in faith."