CARLOS RETAMALES - MISKATONIC UNION

💿 Hi, it’s a pleasure for us to have on Hardrockheavymetal CARLOS RETAMALES of MISKATONIC UNION, the well-known NWOTHM band from Chile! Let’s start talking about the early days of the band...When is this all begun? Which bands have influenced you? Hello Giovanni! First of all, thank you for this interview. Miskatonic Union started on 2014 as a project of 2 friends (guitar) that had grown in the 80s, magnificent time for Heavy Metal. They started jamming together and through time that seed flourished on a variety of riffs that later became our songs. Then the other members started to appear and the band was complete and ready for a recording. The influences are many, from the NWOBHM to the german style, and all in between…Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Helloween, King Diamond, Mercyful Fate, Running Wild, DIO, Grim Reaper, Cacophony, to name a few. Every member as its own influences that don´t necessarily are heavy metal itself. In my case, I like old school death metal a lot, other members like progressive, and so on. 💿 On January 26th will be out your new album called “ASTRAL QUEST”. Can you tell us somethin’ about this platter and its composition process? We had the privilege to listening to it in preview and we’re very satisfied! We are glad that you like it, thanks! The songs were created by the guitar players Hector and Claudio (who left the band after the recording process), and the arrangements were done by all the band in the rehearsal room, getting ready for recording them. As it were many influences, there are fast songs and other songs closer to heavy - hard rock, but keeping the same line. A couple of songs were made long time ago, but we wanted to include them anyways cos´ they were part of the Miskatonic history. 💿 The album will be released via IRON SHIELD RECORDS. Can you tell us somethin’ about the relationships with them? When we got the songs recorded and mixed, we had 2 first thoughts: releasing the CD independently, but that would have supposed poor distribution (and we want everyone to listen to it heheh), or finding a label. So we better started searching labels that were serious about their work, and luckily we got a couple of offerings, but when Thomas of Iron Shield Recs replied and show his interest and goodwill, we immediately got ourselves on campaign to know all the details and close the deal. Thomas is a dedicated metal fan, very kind person, and very serious at work, he has always been very clear and professional, we are very very grateful for everything he has done. 💿 The real “news” in music industry is the return of vinyl; What’s your feeling about this classic format and the current music business? Well for we, the eighties kids, it´s great to have vinyl back, as the sound quality is better, and dedicated Metal fans will always be hungry to collect good pieces of vinyl. So we hope to have a Miskatonic Union vinyl on the streets someday! The current music business in the Metal universe is something that is hard to answer since M.U. is a very new band, and there are a variety of elements to analyze. But from our previous bands, it´s clear that you have to be lucky to get a dedicated label with a good distribution, lucky to get a good deal, and later be lucky to sell the CDs, because new formats and accessibility have made people comfortable with listening music at youtube, downloading mp3 for free (don´t buying the stuff and don´t going to gigs)… It´s the virtual world applied to music, social networking instead of face to face, virtual instead of tangible. So that has weakened the scene but there are still people, labels, fans, promoters and bands fighting to metalize the world the good old fashioned way!!!

💿 Can you tell us somethin’ about your next live projects to promote the new album? Are there some gigs scheduled? As we are a new band (just the band, not the people hehe), we are just getting gigs in our homeland, but with the release of “Astral Quest”, we hope to be more active. And hopefully could tour outside our borders. We are available to go where we get invited, so if anyone reading this likes our music, send us an email to put us in contact with promoters, that would be great! 💿 Thank you so much for your time! See you soon on Hardrockheavymetal! Many thanks to you Giovanni and Hardrockheavymetal for this interview! And for the bangers that haven´t listen to us, search for our channel on youtube, and our page in facebook.com/miskatonicunion.

Look for the CD on January 26th vía Iron Shield records!!! Also, there is a videoclip coming soon on january, hope you catch it on youtube!

(Thanks Pure Steel Promotion)

#miskatonicunion #nwothm #puresteel #chile