Interview with

ZANDELLE - The premier NY power/speed metal band. Drawing influences from old HELLOWEEN and QUEENSRYCHE, this band has started an out of control fire in the metal underground. Vocalist George Tslaksis gives some insite on the workings of ZANDELLE. True metal forever!!

Interview by - Anthony DeLuca

Hey Anthony

It's a pleasure to do the interview. It's great to see that there are still people out there who appreciate true Metal.

U.F.- You previously sang with the Gothic Knights, but left in order to complete college and free up some time. What made you decide to return to the metal scene?

Basically I was getting really sick and tired of the crap I was hearing on the radio. The clincher however was when I went to see Page and Plant perform at Madison Square Garden. Although they were really great, the opening band completely sucked (it wasn't Rusted Root - I can't remember who it was). I remember sitting there thinking, I could do better than this. I'm not one to be all talk and no action, so I started looking for a band to join. I jammed with a couple of bands but it didn't seem to work out with them. Finally I decided to form my own. I really just wanted to record some of my material. I didn't expect it to grow into a full-time band. After getting a hold of two friends of mine (Amit Lahav and Kirk Passomonti), we went into the recording studio and recorded the debut album. The rest as they say, is history.

U.F.- When you left the Gothic Knights, did you leave on good terms? Any regrets?

We definitely left on good terms. I never had any regrets because at the time I had to focus on other things and they needed someone to dedicate a lot more time to the band.

U.F.- For the people who have never heard of Zandelle, please describe your musical style and influences.

I have to start off by saying that Zandelle's musical style has evolved since the first album. Fortunately, unlike some sell-outs (and all the true fans of Metal know which bands I'm referring to), Zandelle has kept true to it's Metal roots, adding to the complexity and structure within the writing while still holding on the the power and intensity of the music. Our main influences now consist of classic bands such as Iron Maiden and Helloween as well as newer European style Power Metal bandssuch as Hammerfall, Stratovarius, Gamma Ray, and Iced Earth.

U.F.- Originally, you played bass as well as singing. How did you find your new bass player?

That was easy. After over four years of searching and practically giving up all hope, a person my drummer works with approached him and expressed very eagerly that he wished to join the band. Bill is actually a guitarist who switched to Bass just so he could be in the band. Now that's dedication for you. He had the right attitude from day one. We knew from the start he would work out.

U.F.- Zandelle has a pending record contract with Sentinel Steel Records. When can we see a new release, and what are your plans for this new album?

Unfortunately, not as soon as we would like. The band is ready to go. All the new material is written and we can go into the studio tomorrow if we had to. However, Denis is very busy and is finishing up current business. He's very professional and wants to focus 100% on us when the time comes. I admire the fact that he doesn't want to do a half-assed job. We are looking to start the project in the fall. Hopefully the album will be out before the new year (keep your fingers crossed).

U.F.- Zandelle has already been to the Millwalkee Metal Fest, and are returning this summer. Do you have any plans to play a European Festival (ie. Wacken Open Air, Gods of Metal, etc)?

We would love to. In fact, I'm going to be looking into hooking up with a European Festival for next summer perhaps. There is a lot I'm going to have to research however before taking on such an endevour. Unlike Milwaukee,there are a lot more things we're going to have to plan for a European show. If there is anyone out there who wants to hook us up with a European tour, we're willing to negotiate a deal.

U.F.- On your second album, Shadows of Reality, there's a bonus song called "Creature of the Dark". It states that it was originally recorded by the Gothic Knights. Apparentlly, you wrote this song. Are there any other songs you wrote with the Gothic Knights that are not released yet? If so, have you considered releasing them?

There are only three other songs I can remember that I used to perform with Gothic Knights that haven't been released, but I think both they and I will agree that they're not really worth releasing. I wrote one of the songs, the other two were written by John (the guitarist of the Knights). We were a lot younger then and our writing styles weren't as polished back then.

U.F.- How has the fan reaction been to Zandelle? Where do you draw the largest crowds?

The fan reaction has been great and recently has been getting better and better. Unfortunately, with limited promotion, I don't think we've hit a majority of the Metal scene. I've noticed that when we open for international acts, the crowd really gets into our music. Just a few weeks ago we opened for Armored Saint at L'Amour in Brooklyn and at one point I had the entire club singing along with one of our songs. It was really great. We draw pretty well in Brooklyn of course being that's where we're from, but I have been noticing that we're picking up more and more fans outside the NY area. I also feel we have a larger fan base in Europe thanks to Sentinel Steel for it's kick ass distribution of our first two albums.

U.F.- Any final comments, or something I missed?

I just want to say that Zandelle will always stay true to Metal. We are not in it for the money so there is no way in hell we would ever sell out. Metal to me is more than just music. It's a lifestyle. That is why I have no respect for the posers (to coin a term from the 80's) of the world. I have no respect for anyone that listens to music simply because it's the in thing, or because everyone around is listening to it. To us Metal is something we love and will always play regardless of what the media says.

METAL FOREVER!!!!!

UPDATE-08/28/2000

Last Night, Zandelle played an aesome six-song set of power metal to a crowd at the infamous CBGB's in New York City. The set consisted mainly of new songs ( the older songs were from the "Shadows of Reality" cd)and the new songs were better than the older songs in my honest opinion.

Of the new songs, the best were "Lord of Thunder", an kick ass classic speed metal song which reminded me of Helloween if they had Michael Kiske on the "Walls of Jericho" album, and "The Hero's Quest", a mid-paced song with a great vocal delivery and an awesome rythym, showing off the work of their bassist and drummer (sorry,I don't have their names, but goddamn,they kicked ass all night).

As a band, they are electric on the stage. Lots of movement by the vocalist George Tsalikas and the guitarsts,ocassionally standing side by side or facing each other during their lead guitar attacks of pure fury. Fucking awesome!

If you live around the New York area, go to a Zandelle show and see why they truly are "New Yorks Premier Power/Speed Metal Band".

SETLIST: 1-Shadows of the Night, 2-Immortal Realm 3-Lord of Thunder, 4-A Hero's Quest, 5-Delusions, 6- Flight of the Dragon

Chris O'Brien and Anthony DeLuca

DISCOGRAPHY

Zandelle-1997

Shadows of Reality-1998

LINKS