METAL ARMY INTERVIEW
WITH SINGER/GUITARIST DANIE POWERS POWERS COURT
CONDUCTED BY CARLOS ALFONSO

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Danie Powers is a fighter. Her fight is for true metal. She is responsible for one of the best metal sites along the entire Net: POWERS COURT-Stronghold, with info about Powers Court and much more. She also has the URL "Mausoleum de Sangue", with gothic themes. But the work of Danie doesn't remain only in webpages. Powers Court, the group, was born to became a cult band, because they bring a heavy metal music with traditional roots, with influences ranging from Black Sabbath (old) to King Diamond and Savatage. The first album of Powers Court, self-titled, is from 1996, and obtained very good reviews in the underground of metal. Now they are working on the second full-length. In Powers Court, with Danie, is bassist/producer Steve Murray.

DANIE: This project was formed in 1988 by myself. I then had the name, "Equinox" which we changed as of 1994 I believe it was. Too many other bands with that same name, it became too confusing. Steve Murray (bassist) joined me in 1989.

METAL ARMY: What bands inspired you?

DANIE: King Diamond, Mercyful Fate, Testament, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Savatage, etc.

METAL ARMY: And you, as guitarist and singer, what are the musicians that are in the top, in your opinion?

DANIE: Guitar: Randy Rhoads, Criss Oliva, Yngwie Malmsteen, Dave Murray, Tony Iommi Vocals: Robert Plant, Bruce Dickinson, King Diamond, Dio, Halford, Jon Oliva.

METAL ARMY: Is it very difficult to play live guitar and sing at the same time? Does it require extra concentration?

DANIE: Yes, it does. I mean you get used to it, but it's a lot different than just doing one or the other that's for sure.

METAL ARMY: Still talking about shows: is the band doing shows in a good quantity?

DANIE: Right now we're recording our second CD so we're concentrating on that and not playing out at the moment.

METAL ARMY: What are the best shows that Powers Court have done? And where are the most wild & exciting crowds?

DANIE: Texas crowds are the best I've played in front of, they're my favorite so far. We've not been to Europe yet, but I would imagine they are very enthusiastic also from reports I've heard.

METAL ARMY: What do you think about the present scene? Is it better or worse that the 80's?

DANIE: Far worse. What they call 90s metal to me is not metal but grunge rock with a heavy edged guitar. Anything with a heavy guitar in it is called metal now. I suppose if the Spice Girls had Dimebag Darryl on guitar it would be called metal now-a-days. It's just branched out too much, they label "true" metal "80s" metal, the Biohazard rap crap metal, "90s" metal, then there was pop metal, on and on. I mean even Nirvana some were calling metal! And Metallica, what is that shit now? They should just change their name to Alternica in my opinion, they're not metal anymore. Look at their image. I saw a picture of Lars with a woman's white fuzzy coat on, eyeliner and black nail polish. What is THAT all about? That's definitely not metal. I mean everyone needs to change and grow and what you look like should not matter, but what they look like now speaks volumes...see my point? Even what is no longer metal they're calling metal now and what IS metal they label 80s metal like it's this has been thing, it's insulting.

METAL ARMY: Talking about past & present, what are the bands of the past that, in you opinion, remains with the energy of the old days until today?

DANIE: If you mean what artists have stood the test of time in that you can pull out their albums now and spin them and they still sound fresh. I would say: Black Sabbath, Ozzy, Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin & Savatage (first recordings). The bands that put their hearts and souls into have staying power. The current trendy, "let's all tune down" has no depth and it all sounds alike. Pull those albums out 10 years from now and they'll be laughable.

METAL ARMY: How is the Powers Court's debut CD sales?

DANIE: Great, we can't keep 'em in stock!

METAL ARMY: What is the composing process or Powers Court?

DANIE: Depends on the song, sometimes the lyrics come first, most time the music comes first and sometimes the entire song will all come out at one time pretty much. I mean I'll have to iron out the rough spots and work on transitions, but sometimes it's very magickal.

METAL ARMY: What are the preferred themes on your lyrics?

DANIE: Themes are largely occult matters and also intense emotions.

METAL ARMY: The logo of Powers Court is very beautiful. Who created it?

DANIE: I did. I maintain both websites and make the graphics. We have a viking/celtic themed band site at: http://www.powers-court.com POWERS COURT-Stronghold. That contains 99% custom graphics made by myself. And we also have a vampyric gothic site: http://www.powers-court.com/pc.html POWERS COURT-Mausoleum de Sangue. This site contains my original vampyre fiction, I'm working on a story called, "One Dark Knight," and also my poetry appears on these pages. Again, custom graphics. The sites are doing very well, I've won over 200 awards for the design, layout and contents of both sites, including a few awards for my poetry and lyrics. So I'm really happy with the response we've gotten. There are reviews, interviews, pictures, contests to win CDs monthly, soundclips, anything you could want from a bandsite and more.

METAL ARMY: Do you know something about brazilian metal?

DANIE: Sorry to say, no I don't. We live in an area where metal is largely dead, Alternative still rules. It's difficult to get any information on US metal bands even.

METAL ARMY: FIVE! Tell us what are you fave five records of all times. Mercyful Fate: Don't Break The Oath; King Diamond : Fatal Portrait; Savatage : Ghost In The Ruins; Dissection : The Somberlain; Slayer : Hell Awaits

METAL ARMY: Send a final message for Metal Army readers...

DANIE: Keep spreading the word about true metal, maybe we can convert some of these lame ass MTV watching losers! hahaha



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