Holy Dragons were invented by guitarist Jurgen Thunderson (ex-Kingspeed (1989-1991), Axcess (1992-95), Izverg (1993-94)) and guitarist Chris Caine (ex- GB-5 (1991-94), Lamia (1994-95) in May 1997. The first album "Dragon Steel" was recorded in 28 hours of studio time at the local 32 channel diggital studio. This album was recorded on the 19th of May in 1998 . The same year the local firm “Centre Records” released the 65 minute album “Dragon Steel” on a tape. This recording was the first and till recent times the only one official release of a rock band in Kazakhstan.

In 1999 in summer, as we had a lot of ballads, which were not used in any of the albums, we decided to make a separate album, all made-up from ballads, some of them were specially created for it. We didn't have much trouble with the name for this album it simply was called "Rock Ballads"

In September 1999 the instruments for “House of the Winds” were recorded, but the band was busy with concerts and the vocal for it was recorded later. In January – February of 2000 the band re-recorded the voice for the debut album “Dragon Steel” with Daniel’s voice. In April of 2000 the local label “Fair Play” released the collection of Holy Dragons on a tape of early songs , called “The best”.

The band continued working in the studio. In May 2000 the voice for “House of the Winds” was recorded.

At the end of 2000 we also recorded "Thunder In the Night". And it was released by the Dragonight Agency in the beginning of 2001.

Line-up changes: 1997 Jurgen Thunderson, Chris Caine, Andres Kraft, Gil Sheffield,1998 minus Adres Kraft, 1999 minus Gil Sheffield, plus Daniel Throne, Steve Dreiko, 2002 minus Daniel Throne and Steven Dreiko...

2. I know that "Thunder in the night" wasn't your first release, can you speak about your past issue?

Well, I'll just list our albums in succession. Let the names of the albums speak for themselves:

Releases:

1. Dragon Steel (1998, in Kazakhstan, 1500 copies)
2. The Best (1999, in Kazakhstan, 1500 copies)
3. Thunder in the Night (2001, by Dragonight Agency in Europe, non-limited)
4. Rage of the Dragon Lords (2001, in Kazakhstan, 3000 copies)

"The Best" was made from the albums "Dragon Steel" (with the remixed instrumental and the re-recorded vocals) and "Rock Ballads"

"Rage of the Dragon Lords" contains two albums : "Thunder in the Night" and "House of the Winds" and two bonus tracks, totally 18 tracks.

Demos:

1. Dragon Steel (1997)
2. Knights of Camelot (1998)
3. Rock Ballads (1999)
4. House of the Winds (1999)
5. Thunder in the Night (2000)

3. Your albums introduces sonorities that are not aligned to the trend of the moment, the epic/symphonic metal, but do I feel you nearest to the more classic Heavy Metal of the years '80, are you agree with me, and how you believe that your style will be evolved in the future?

Yes, the basis of "Thunder" was made by the songs, which were composed rather long ago, at that time our band was under great influence of the 80ties heavy metal. Under the influence of such bands as Iron Maiden, Helloween (early), Manowar and other great bands. Well, our style will be gradually developing towards the way Blind Guardian musical style, but of course there will be certainly our Holy Dragons's features and our understanding of this style too. We plan more heavy style in sound and music will gradually become more fantasy-like.

4. There are some details that you would like to disclose us?

Now we have recorded all the instruments for the new album "Judgement Day". This album has a transitional style from "Thunder in the night" towards the style that we want to play in the future. But now the recording session has stopped because we have some problems with the vocalist.

5. The music of Holy Dragon reminds me to the old Helloween, but what are your main influences as a metal kid and guitar player and whether have you studied music in order to improve your guitar style.

My musical preferences are constantly changing with my age and interests, but there are some values that are everlasting. These things are: music of Iron Maiden, Helloween, guitar style of Richie Blackmore and later Kai Hansen, then celtic folk music also has provided a great influence on me. Concerning a musical school I never studied anywhere, but Jurgen studied in a musical school at the department of piano.

6. Which influences have the band in its musical background? And of the most recent bands, which you have appreciated more?

Well, I've already said a lot about our musical influences, so I don't want to repeat it again. But speaking about the recent bands I'd like to mention Rhapsody and Hammerfall, then Children of Bodom are doing excellent guitar work but their vocal is awful.

7. About "Thunder in the night" I found nine good songs, and  I like more the fantastic "In the search of unicorn" but also "Fury under control", are you fully satisfied with this album?

Yes, in general I'm satisfied with this album, but not fully. The reason is that there are some moments, which as I think now could have been done better, but at that time it was impossible to make it the way I wanted. But anyway the album is 100% of pure, energetic heavy metal stuff. By the way, an interesting thing about the song "Fury Under Control", together with the song "Glory War", they both were composed just in the process of the recording session. These two songs were not planned and they appeared just on the spot. It took only about 5 minutes to compose both of them. And surprisingly the result was good.

8. According to you whether there exists a particular track that is able to represent at the best the spirit of  Holy Dragon?

Hm... Well, from this album, I think the song, which best expresses our spirit is "Thunder" itself. But Jurgen says that in music the best expression of our spirit is "X-Files" , in lyrics - "Glory War".

9. Again about your releases, is the band satisfied with these and which responses have you achieved for the fans and the critics?

Well, the fans liked it immensely. And the critics didn't like much the vocals.

10. Today the concepts album, especially fantasy stories, are usual for many bands of Epic/Power Metal. Have you also opted for this choice? What about your lyrics?

Of course, I thought much on the subject of a concept album, especially as I'm a big fan of fantasy. But I think it's better to take a good fantasy story and illustrate it with a concept album, than to write an own one. But such an album is a very, very serious thing to be done and I'm very careful about it. But in future I promise that our band will make such an album. And as a person, who is writing lyrics I really prefer to write songs about different fantasy things and stuff like swords, magic, battles, fight of good and evil. Plus I try not to forget about philosophical things, which are troubling many people's minds.

11.  In the Mr.Drunkenstain song I've heard strange backing vocals that remands me to UDO, is him?

Well, it's not UDO. It's Jugen's voice, who was copying his vocals, just for fun. And we decided to leave this variant.

12.  It's difficult be a "True" Heavy Metal band in the Kazakhastan? Can you named some other classic metal bands from your country?

Yes, it's VERY difficult to be a "true" metaller here in Kazakhstan. And the fact that the history of heavy metal here begins from our band proves that. ( I mean the classic heavy metal, not taking into consideration death, doom and others) What we're trying to do now is to raise the heavy metal movement in Kazakhstan. There started to appear some young bands, but they are too young and we try to support and promote them and if there will be some great ones in future I'll be only glad. As I I'm a DRAGONIGHT representator in Kazakhstan I'll present them into DRAGONIGHT as soon as they do something interesting. But now it's too early to speak about something definite, as it's the things with them leave much to be desired and I can not present any of them yet.

13.  Are you often playing live in your area?

Once a month or two. Many people dealing with musical business don't believe that heavy metal is necessary for anybody here, but when the concert hall is full with people, they start to grumble that there were too many people, everything was too loud, the public always breaks something or behaves in a violent way. Plus the prices to rent a concert equipment are too high and we are hardly ever able to earn the concert equipment by our own efforts. The same problem is with the organising trips outside Kazakhstan and in the country itself, as there is a great difference between the prices here and abroad.

14.  Why Holy Dragons don't use a true drummer? It's difficult to find in Kazakhstan?

Well, again a very difficult question. We've been searching for a good drummer since the beginning of the history of our band and still haven't found one. So the situation with drummers here is very difficult. There are some beginners 16-17 age, but they don't meet the necessary professional requirements. Musicians, who are able to do any thing are all involved into some commercial projects and as heavy metal is not a commercial thing in our country it's very difficult and sometimes almost impossible to do anything with them.

15.  About Italy,  what do you know of this metal scene and what do you think about? Have you received letters or e-mail from my country?

Well, first thing that comes to my mind is Rhapsody, then Labyrinth. Sorry, I can't name any more bands as I don't have a lot of information here in my country. And I'm glad to say that our band is on the very good terms with the Italian band Berserker. And I think that Italy has given the world very good musicians, especially vocalists and guitarists.

16.  How do you deal with songwriting in the band?

The main role is played by Jurgen as he is the main songwriter in the band and of course he deals with all the things connected with the arrangements and recording producing. I'm in charge of all the ideology and all the lyrics and I'm very keen on inventing names for the songs and for the albums :-).

17.  What are your current plans and future perspectives for Holy Dragons?

Well, the most vital current plan is to finish the recording of the "Judgement Day". Most probably it will be recorded with the new voice. Now our line-up is changing, as our bassist wants to play pure commercial music. As for the future plans, we want to sign a contract with some serious label with "JD" and probably to make a European tour and a tour in Latin America. As for the very distant future plans, we'll do more fantasy style projects. But in contrast to many other modern metal bands we'll not use so many keyboards, purely guitar sound style.

18.  Can you make a special greeting to our readers?

I think that the best words for your readers will be the words from our song "Glory War"

"Feel the power of the stell

We will get the score

We were born to fight and win

In Glory war!"

( Holy Dragons/Glory war)

Thanx Beppe