Hard Talk

HO! HO! HO! TIERRA SANTA IS COMING TO TOWN!

by Don Sill

TIERRA SANTA formed in November of 1997 and have developed their sound over four albums and hundreds of live shows. They continue their sonic evolution with their fifth release, Indomable.

TIERRA SANTA released their first album; Medieval, in 1998 and toured extensively throughout Spain and France, gaining new fans from every show they performed. In 1999 they signed with Locomotive Music and released Legendario, an album loaded with some of the best metal Spain was to hear.

Continuing on their first headlining tour in support of Legendario, TIERRA SANTA performed at some of the most prominent festivals in Europe, establishing themselves as one of the foremost groups in the international metal scene.

The summary of their musical accomplishments can be captured in Indomable. In it, TIERRA SANTA have created an album brimming with majestic hymns and crushing choruses.

Ballbuster spoke with Tierra Santa’s vocalist, Angel recently about the new album and making it in the U.S.A.

BALLBUSTER: Where are you from?
ANGEL: I live in Logrono, La Rioja, Spain

BALLBUSTER: What is the music scene like over there?
ANGEL: In Spain there are many groups of Rock and there are very good groups that estan working very hardly. Bands like Easy Rider (their vocalist is from Boston), Mägo de Oz, Hamlet, Lujuria, etc.

BALLBUSTER: How important is it for a band to make it in the states?
ANGEL: Any place of the world is important for Tierra Santa. We have made three tours along Europe and two along South America and would like come soon to USA.

BALLBUSTER: How old are you?
ANGEL: I am 34 years old.

BALLBUSTER: How did you first break into music?
ANGEL: Listening to AC/DC, IRON MAIDEN, SAXON, JUDAS PRIEST...

BALLBUSTER: What are some of your influences?
ANGEL: Everything ‘80s Metal. Bands like IRON MAIDEN, ACCEPT, SAXON, JUDAS PRIEST, SCORPIONS.

BALLBUSTER: What is the meaning behind "Tierra Santa "?
ANGEL: Tierra Santa (Holy Land) is alone a name that we like the sounds. But the name of Tierra Santa has neither no politician or religiously meaning . We sing songs on classic legends but we speak never about religion or of politics.

BALLBUSTER: Did you ever imagine when you first began this band that it would become so internationally successful?
ANGEL: We never think of touring out of Spain, but you never know which is the end. Tierra Santa owes everything to their fans in the whole world.

BALLBUSTER: Tell me about this album, what would you say it the overall vibe?
ANGEL: It is our more riper album and more professional. The album is hard and totally Heavy Metal.

BALLBUSTER: How would you describe your music?
ANGEL: Heavy Metal

BALLBUSTER: How does Tierra Santa differ from other metal bands in your genre?
ANGEL: The difference between Tierra Santa and other Metal bands is our force in the music (Heavy Metal).

BALLBUSTER: What inspires you lyrics?
ANGEL: The lyrics that they speak about historical legends.

BALLBUSTER: What mind set do you write best in? (happy, sad, depressed, angry, ect)
ANGEL: I try to be satisfied but there are many things that I do not like in the world and new songs inspire me.

BALLBUSTER: What song on this album best describes you and why.
ANGEL: For Tierra Santa is difficult to choose a song of this so good album. The singles in Europe were "Alas de Fuego (Wings fire) and "El Canto de Las Sirenas" (The Singing of The Sirens).

BALLBUSTER: How has the "war on terror" and all of the other world issues effected you? Have these issues inspired you as an artist?
ANGEL: Everything they influence your mind to do songs.

BALLBUSTER: When will Tierra Santa play in the states? When?
ANGEL: Tierra Santa will go when some of there we want to lead USA to play promoter. At the moment Tierra Santa will be on tour along Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia, Chile... The best will be that you can to some promoter of your city who invites us to touch in your city.

BALLBUSTER: Tell me about an Tierra Santa show. What can we expect to see?
ANGEL: Tierra Santa is a band of Heavy Metal and our show is speed and force. Tierra Santa wants that the people when it finishes the show feel that it saw Heavy Metal's concert.

BALLBUSTER: Any pre-show rituals?
ANGEL: As all the bands of the world, Tierra Santa relaxes before going out to the stage plenary session of forces to come to the people.