Back in the Nineties, the guys from Wolfgang — vocalist Basti Artadi, drummer Wolf Gemora, guitarist Manuel Legarda and bassist Mon Legaspi — stormed the heavy metal and hard rock scene. Influenced by Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Metallica, their self-titled album in ’95 produced classic hits like Halik ni Hudas, Natutulog Kong Mundo, Arise and my ultimate fave Darkness Fell.
I even remember the first time I watched the band in Sanctuario San Antonio Plaza. Yeah, I was only 13 but Basti then in a white shirt and jeans, shoulder-length curls almost like the locks of the Golden God, perfectly channeled Axl Rose’s high-pitched screech in the band’s rendition of GNR’s Welcome to the Jungle, which brought down to my sha na na na na na na knees.
From the original lineup — now without drummer Wolf Gemora (admittedly their still friends and, fingers crossed, that their paths will meet again) — Wolfgang is back with their sixth studio album. Expect “Villains” to be loaded with precision riffs, emphatic beats, power-drenched vocals, colorful licks, driving ostinatos, occasionally jazz-styled basslines and imaginative breaks merge with razor-sharp interplay in Wolfgang’s unique style of American-influenced hard rock, heavy metal, grunge and blues-rock.
Thanks to Lizza Nakpil, The STAR got to interview Basti about their latest album and the concert, with Francis Aquino joining the threesome.
The Philippine STAR: It’s been six years after Black Mantra, what is the concept behind Villains album?
Basti Artadi: There really isn’t a concept behind “Villains.” These are all a collection of songs Manuel and myself wrote over the period of a year. It just so happens that the songs seem to be connected by an underlying theme, which is villains or bad guys in some form or another. All this happened subconsciously, it wasn’t something we were trying to target.
All three members are in different parts of the world, how did you work together for the new album?
All online. It was actually very easy using this process because we were doing everything at our own pace — we weren’t racing to meet any deadlines and a song would be finished when we decided that it was done and we were happy with the end result.
How did the title “Villains” come about?
I was writing or fixing some lyrics for the song John of the Cross and it just came to me as I was writing a line in the song that goes “and the villains win” I was like, “Villains,” yes! I suggested the title to the guys and they all liked it, so that was that. Later, I noticed that the name started with “VI” and it being our sixth album, just added gravy on top.
Not much people know you’re an artist, can you tell me something about the album art?
Well, originally the cover was actually different. It was a painting I did to mesh all our influences throughout the years, sort of a historical collage in oil, but it didn’t go over too well with the guys so I placed it in the inside of the album where I think it fits better nga. The cover was just something I was sitting on, it was an image of a skull that I had made into a vector image, I liked the way it looked and when I showed it to the guys they all liked it so that’s how it became our cover. I think painting is a soothing experience. That’s why I do it, not for the whole artist thing. It’s very therapeutic because when you are painting, you are just in that moment of you and the paint and pushing the paint to get some reaction in yourself. There is nothing else in that moment except you and what you are doing.
What was the recording process like for the album?
Recording was a breeze. I’m speaking of the vocals, because we had already worked everything out online and knew what we were going to be doing. I tracked in the States and sent the files to Manuel. He suggested I find time to do additional tracking back home, which I was able to do.
What bands did you listen to, get inspiration from?
Metal!!! Lots of metal. Old Priest and Metallica, Death Angel, Maiden, Slayer and new and old Anthrax, Testament, Children of Bodom, Zep….
Describe the chemistry/friendship you have with Mon and Manuel?
I think we have changed a bit from the older days. Before, it was more of a working relationship where we would just get together for the gig and then go do our own thing. Now we hang out together more because of friends and family.
How did Wolfgang get involved in making the theme song for the Level Up online game Rising Force?
Patrick Pulumbarit was working for Level Up at the time and they asked him if we wanted to do a song. They suggested we pick a race and go to town but we were like, why pick one? Let’s do a general one that kinda sums up the whole thing. I think it fits perfectly.
Since your semi-reunion from “Alive 2006” last year without Wolf, what are your plans after “Black Christmas Project”?
Right now, I’m just focusing on the show. Everything is still up in the air for me.
In 2006, you said goodbye to music. After studying and working in the US, what convinced you to come back to rock ‘n’ roll?
Manuel, RP Deathsquad and the “Alive” shows. I really wasn’t enjoying it anymore in LA — it became work and wasn’t fun, so I said to hell with it. After writing that new song (RP Deathsquad) with Manuel and playing the shows with Razorback, it all came back to me why I had done it for so long.
How did you evolve as a musician from your De La Salle Zobel-Welcome to the Jungle singing days to “Villains” now?
I think my singing got better. I actually auditioned for Razorback before and I sucked so bad they gave the job to Cuervo, which I think was a good choice in the end. I can also say I’m more open to other stuff, back in the day it was all-hard and nothing else.
* * *
Wolfgang’s “Villains” album will be released this month. The “Black Christmas Project” concert will be held on Dec. 10, 7 p.m. at the Eastwood City Central Plaza, Libis, near Ortigas Ave. A second date has been added on Dec. 12, at the UP Cebu grounds, Cebu City. For tickets, call Ticketnet at 911-5555 or visit www.ticketnet.com.ph.