by Alexandra Mrozowska
— Senior Columnist —
2020 was a year to remember for all the wrong reasons, and the music industry is an exhibit A in terms short- and long-term effects of the coronavirus pandemic, lockdowns and restrictions imposed by governments. However, we should also remember 2020 for a significant number of high quality music releases from the artists older and new, recorded and released both before and in the midst of the madness. One of those was Through Hell And Back by the Italian Hard Rock ensemble 17 Crash. And as many reviewers noticed, it was quite an appropriate title for an album released in 2020… But what was the real meaning behind naming the third release in the group’s decade-long history Through Hell And Back – and what’s changed within 17 Crash during these ten years? Hardrock Haven caught up with the band’s drummer Phil Hill to find out that and more…
Hardrock Haven: If you had to describe 17 Crash using just three words, which would they be and why?
Phil Hill: Loud, catchy and kick-ass!
Hardrock Haven: You’re celebrating the band’s tenth anniversary this year. What do you think was the achievement of the decade for 17 Crash?
Phil Hill: This is year is very important for us. We celebrate ten years of 17 Crash – hell yeah! We have so many cool moments to mention and many achievements we keep inside our hearts. It has been a long trip, but the best is yet to come. By the way, the best thing we have and always have had is our strength and determination towards our work. Despite all the ups and downs, we are still here to do our thing – as best as we can.
Hardrock Haven: What’s characteristic about 17 Crash is that you use stage names, which might not be that common with bands these days even in your genre. Why?
Phil Hill: We are sons of the ‘80s Hard’n’Heavy scene, so we can say that we are oldschool inside and we kinda like this fact (laughs). Our stage names should be our real names, cause they fit perfectly with how we are, act, play and perform.
Hardrock Haven: Speaking of the ‘80s, I guess your influences are pretty obvious, but are you also influenced by the current European Melodic Hard Rock scene? Any bands in particular?
Phil Hill: Well, that’s correct. The ‘80s scene is our biggest ingredient, but of course we do love also more recent bands such as H.E.A.T. and Crazy Lixx etc. With the Lixx guys we are also friends, cause we shared the same stage here in Italy years ago and after that we became good pals. That’s what rock n’ roll is about!
Hardrock Haven: Definitely. So, coming from Italy, what do you think about your homeland’s music scene?
Phil Hill: It’s full of good bands that are working their ass off to keep the flag flying as we do. Actually, it has always been a country with great underground bands and of course we deserve more voice and room.
Hardrock Haven: Italy was one of the countries that were hit the hardest by COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020. What was 2020 like for the band, especially in terms of playing live?
Phil Hill: Yep, not a year – a nightmare. We got hit so bad in thousands of aspects and music disappeared completely. It’s almost one year now and there’s no words to describe it… Simply terrible. For a musician it’s like no breathing at all 24/24, 365/365… but we gotta be tough and purposeful – always! We’ve had so many things in store to promote the new album, including a very cool European tour plus some gigs here in Italy and some very cool summer festivals. Plus radio/TV shows, interviews… all gone for now.
Phil Hill: Around the moment the pandemic hit, you released your new album Through Hell And Back. What are your feelings about the album and are you satisfied with the final result?
Phil Hill: The album was released in the exact moment when the world faced the big start of this pandemic, so all the scheduled gigs were cancelled. But we are very satisfied with the good feedback on Through Hell And Back. The album sold in every corner of this world and the three video singles we releases on YouTube gave us great numbers and major visibility. Our fanbase increased a lot and also, magazines and webzines showed more interest on what we do and what we have to say.
Hardrock Haven: We’re glad to be one of them. For the second time around, your album was released via Volcano Records & Promotion. Are you satisfied with the label’s support?
Phil Hill: We got a good connection with them and they really do love what we do. As for Hit The Prey, we had a very good teamwork.
Hardrock Haven: What’s the meaning behind the album title?
Phil Hill: It’s like an autobiography concept album. It speaks directly about the desire and the will to continue our trip – even during the hardest times and when facing terrible moments. You always have to show your balls and strength to carry on, whatever it takes.
Hardrock Haven: Do you feel Through Hell And Back is a step forward in comparison to the band’s past output? In what ways?
Phil Hill: Sure it is. The sound got bigger, the chemistry between us got stronger and the songwriting is more mature and introspective than before. Our approach on how to write and build our sound and produce a record changed a lot. We learned a lot and we grew as a band and also as individuals. The street is still the best school for us though.
Hardrock Haven: Alessio Lucatti (Vision Divine, Deathless Legacy) produced the new album, mix and mastering being done by Simone Mularoni (Domination Studio, DGM). Is it the first time you collaborated with them and why did you choose them for Through Hell And Back?
Phil Hill: Nope. It’s the second time because they worked with us also on Hit The Prey. We won’t absolutely change a winning team like that. We know their potential and fully trust their experience. They did a terrific job twice and we are very happy to work with these two fellows. They are super professional artists, great musicians and very cool people. Since the beginning, they always understood what we wanted and how. Now we became close friends and you know that the magic improves a lot when you also have fun while working. There’s a mutual personal and artistic respect between us and we won’t change a thing of what we did together.
Hardrock Haven: 17 Crash seems to be have a pretty clear vision of what you guys want the band to be. How is it reflected in the way you work with a producer, especially if his vision of certain things is different than yours?
Phil Hill: We always find a deal with a beer in one hand and idea on our minds. We do love to confront the band’s visions with the producer’s visions. Mix ‘em all up and boom, the game is done. It comes out pretty naturally for us to find out the best solutions while producing the new material. We shape up the songs and give them to the people.
Hardrock Haven: Speaking of collaborations, you co-operate a lot with Andrea Falaschi (Deathless Legacy) on visual side of things, from album artwork to videoclips. What do you think makes his works so special?
Phil Hill: He’s a cool cat. Great artist and a very genuine, intuitive guy. We had a couple of meetings with Andrea just before starting this collaboration. We talked for a while and explained him a couple of hints of what we wanted from this record in terms of visuals – videos and graphics. We let him think about it for a couple of weeks and then all of a sudden he came to us with amazing solutions. He found the right ideas to apply to our new album. We were totally impressed about how fast and accurate he scored it out.
Hardrock Haven: Which of your songs reflects best what 17 Crash is about musically and lyrically – and why?
Phil Hill: For me, it’s the title track “Through Hell And Back.” A hard world needs an hard attitude, to be weak means to be eaten. We believe in this band since day one, so whatever happens, we will always be here to continue our journey. The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man’s determination.
Hardrock Haven: While promoting the video to one of the songs off the new album, “Bite the Freedom”, in your social media, you named freedom “the most important thing we have.” Is it really so for you, both from a personal and artistic viewpoint?
Phil Hill: ‘Cause freedom is the coolest thing on Earth and we mean it. “Bite the Freedom” was written of course before this pandemic situation. Kinda prophetic, isn’t it? So it came out pretty naturally to release it as a single in a moment like this. What’s a better time to talk about it – all the things we miss, all the things we want and how we feel inside in a time like this…? Freedom is everything..
Hardrock Haven: Rumor has it that you’re already working on the follow-up to Through Hell And Back Again…
Phil Hill: Sure we are and it’s not a secret. During the two months of lockdown we decided to do something. That something was a new record. So we were catching up on Skype every night and writing down the structure of our fourth album. We did an incredible job and we are very proud of what we did. You have no idea what we got in store for you all.
Hardrock Haven: We’re all looking forward to it. So, apart from recording the new material, what are your plans for 2021?
Phil Hill: Hope to get on stage as soon and as often possible. Live gigs for us means a lot. During our gigs you can experience what this band means, breath and inhale our essence and keep it inside of you forever.
Hardrock Haven: Is there anything you’d like to add in the end?
Phil Hill: I wanted to thank you guys for this cool interview, wish all the people out there the best in the future. Keep on listening and supporting good music, original bands and live acts. Always follow us and go find 17 Crash on socials pages and music platforms. Cheers!
Visit 17 Crash online on their Facebook page
