GOTHIC KNIGHTS – Up From The Ashes… Interview with Kuzin Dan

With 14 years in the business and 2 albums under their belt, US Power Metallers GOTHIC KNIGHTS released their 3rd album “Up From The Ashes” last year through Limb Music Products here in Germany. Time to find out what's going on in the world of Gothic Knights now! Rhythm guitarist Dan Castro (http://www.kuzindan.com/) brought us up to date:

Hello Dan! “Up From The Ashes” was a KILLER album. How have been the reactions of the fans so far?

The reaction has been great, we've been getting rave reviews and the fans have been saying great things about the album.

Please describe “Up from the ashes” with your own words.

My own words.. hmmm.. ok, “Up From The Ashes” means alot to me, not only as a band member, but as a fan. I was a big fan of the band for 6 years, and John was my guitar teacher during this time. When the CD came out in October, I bought it through an online catalog (www.theendrecords.com) and was totally in love with it. It blew away the band's 2 previous releases, and it totally surpassed my expectations for a new Gothic Knights album. It's all I was able to listen to! Then a month later, John told me that he was thinking about adding a second guitar, so that we can do harmonies, and beafen up the rhythm live, and have the rhythm under the solos, as he has done himself on the albums. So he asked me to try it out, and he loved how I sounded with the band.

That should have been my next quesion. So, are you a firm member of Gothic Knights now?

Yes, they are happy with my playing and sound in the band, and the fans have been saying great things about the live shows now.

Will you be involved in the songwriting process in the future?

I am not sure yet.

Let´s come back to “Up from the ashes”: Which is your favourite song on the album and why?

[iright:Gothic KnightsBandpic.jpg]

It is difficult to say, I love and enjoy playing them all. I think I would say “Sleepy Hollow” because I love the speed/thrash essence of it, and the Halford/Manowar-esque high screams of Rick.

What do the different lyrics of the album tell? Where does the band get the inspirations?

I think that would be a question for Rick, but I would say that he seems to get inspirations from great movies like “Sleepy Hollow” and “The 13th Warrior”. Hence the songs of the same names. I believe some of it comes from personally within him as well, like “Guardian Archangel”.

Let´s talk about the past: Gothic Knights had a lot of line up changes. Why that? And do you think, Gothic Knights have now a constant line-up?

Gothic Knights have had some misfortunes in the past, like the original drummer Brian Dispost being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and Rick leaving the band after the first album, before returning for “Up From The Ashes”. I believe this lineup of Gothic Knights is very strong, and I am happy to be a part of it. I hope that this line-up will last forever as we all have a brotherly bond and mission for metal.

Is this strong line-up, like you have called it, already working on a new album or new songs?

Yes we are heavily working on and rehearsing all-new material, and we hope to release a new album some time next year.

Great! And is there any chance to see Gothic Knights live in the near future? If yes, where?

Right now we have no shows booked, as we are heavily at work on the next album. We hope to book a few shows in the NY/NJ area soon though, as we love to get out there and feed the fans their lethal dose of heavy metal!

**UPDATE: Gothic Knights currently have a show coming up, opening for guitar legend GEORGE LYNCH of DOKKEN and LYNCH MOB, Sunday, October 3, 2004 at Don Hill's – 511 Greenwich St. @ Spring St. in Manhattan, and Gothic Knights are selling discounted tickets for only $10: kuzindan@aol.com

That sounds great! Last question: What equipment do you use exactly?

Me personally? My favorite of my guitars is my Wayne (Wayne Charvel) Rock Legend guitar with the George Lynch Bengal Tiger design. My amp of choice is a VHT Pittbull 100 head.

Thanks for the interview, Dan! We hope to see you as soon as possible here in Germany live!

This is an interview done on July 26, 2004. It is translated from German and the original can be found at Metallic Zine Germany