"All About The Album - 15 Questions" - a brand new section at the RockUnited site where a recording artist with an recently released CD is confronted with 'album'  questions (15 of them, duh!). If you'd like to have your material up here, email: urban "at" rockunited.com (simply replace "at" with your standard @ )

MOLLO/MARTIN: "The Third Cage"

MOLLO/MARTIN - "The Third Cage" - as the title suggest, the third album in a series of 'Cage' albums:  featuring Italian guitarist Dario Mollo as well  as former Black Sabbath vocalist Tony Martin (hence the Mollo/Martin monicker). Their latest offering to the Gods of Metal is a slightly darker, heavier, effort than previous attempts at world domination.  Here to answer the Q's and to inform us about The Third Cage, DARIO MOLLO...

How has the reaction to your latest CD been?

Amazing reactions, everybody says that this is the best Mollo Martin album.

How long did this CD take to make from start to finish, recording-wise?

It's difficult to tell, we composed it in 4 years between other personal projects, and also the recordings has been made in the same way.

What kind of 'sound', production wise, did you have in the back of your mind, prior to entering the studio?

As producer I have a personal sound, it's the result of all the experiments that I've done thru the years, my goal is to obtain a powerful clean natural and modern sound.

What kind of input did the producer have during the process?

I personally produce/compose/record and master all my albums in total freedom.

And are you pleased with the final outcome? (sound - production wise)

Yes I am, I put a lot of energies to obtain the best possible result to date.

Did the producer (you) use any (weird) experimental miking and/or recording techniques?

The drum reverb come from a microphone in a corridor, all the rest is traditional micing.

How did you go on about capturing your 'live sound' in the studio, or perhaps you didn't

My albums sounds very live, this is possible thanks to the powerful workstations that give you the possibilities to tweak the timing of various instruments.

Please inform us about your favourite songs and lyrical highlights and why?

I really like "Oh my soul", the way it's been composed happens very rarely, it's a magic combination of factors that I’ve experimented just few times in my career. The music was composed and recorded in one afternoon, the final solos are the guide ones performed during the writing process.

Any overall theme of mood that you're trying to capture while writing songs?

Not particularly, the tracks came out from improvisations, nothing is planned, very often I am surprised about the direction of the track.

Does your vision for coming up with music get affected at all by time?

Absolutely not, my enthusiasm is always the same. My love for the music is still intact.

Did the record company interfere with anything on your "sound" and songs?

I sorted out the deal after the album been recorded and mixed, the record company did not interfere at all.

Are there any 'crazy' behind the scenes anecdotes from these sessions that you can share with us?

Unfortunately not, mainly because I work alone most of the time.

How would you describe the sound of your new CD to any potential new fan? 

A sound capable to transmit all the emotions contained in the tracks.

Who are your influences and heroes? (music-wise)

Deep Purple, Van Halen and Led Zeppelin, My hero is Ritchie Blackmore.

If there's anything you'd like to add, say, please do:

I want to thank everybody for the support.
~
DARIO MOLLO

Interview by: Urban "Wally" Wallstrom,
Photos from the band's website www.dariomollo.com
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