While Neonfly prepare to set fire to our cold November nights opening for Freedom Call with Arthemis across the UK, Amanda Leek talks to Neonfly’s new singer and modest metaller Willy Norton about the new line-up, first performances and debut album Outshine the Sun.

 The gigs

New singer Willy Norton fronts Neonfly while Fredrick Thunder and Patrick Harringdon shred guitars, Paul Miller smashes the bass and Boris Le Gal rocks the drums. Willy is excited at the prospect of his first full live performances with the band this month.

“We hit the road on November 18^th in support of Italian shred-heads Arthemis and the German melodic maestros Freedom Call. We love the thrill of an audience and spreading the word about what we do.

“I sing cool songs to cool people – that’s really exciting. Unfazed for sure, as a band we walk into this with eyes wide open… no time for doubt. Grab the moment and rock it into submission.”

Their YouTube video on the road is being hit more and more as people wake up to their storming the UK.

“Music excites and enthrals us,” says Willy. “If it does the same to you then we probably have something to talk about. Come to a show and we’ll start the conversation – it’s gonna be a beautiful ride!”

 

The singer

While Neonfly’s original singer was about to part ways, Willy Norton headed up the band at Bloodstock Festival last August. He nailed his first live performance so well that founder, main songwriter and guitarist Frederick Thunder offered him the gig almost as soon as he was off stage – and that was only with one week’s preparation.

Willy says, modestly, they must have offered it to him to hear him get the songs right.

But Fred knows he made the right decision: “Our previous singer was good but his heart had never really been 100% into it, and you can only take it so far under those circumstances. With Willy fronting the band, every show we do is full of excitement and he really delivers night after night on stage.”

“It’s only got better since! Willy’s perfectly integrated into the band and he is really involved in everything now.”

 

The album

Willy describes their mission: “Ambition is key to what we do always bigger, better, stronger, faster – hence the title ‘Outshine The Sun’: Aim for the stars it doesn’t matter if you fail, at least you tried!  We leave it up to the dear listener to decide if we succeeded – and thats how it should be!!”

Neonfly locked themselves away in February at Remaster Studios surrounded by sleepy plains outside Venice, Italy, this year. They enforced a gruelling schedule, dividing days into vocals, guitars, bass or sting, often with different parts of different songs banging out of different rooms.

“It was extremely demanding,” Willy recalls. “My lungs were hanging out of my ears by the end of it – lucky I love doing this!”

It took four months to come up with the lot – and the result was an 11-track album quickly spotted by UK label Rising Records and they shook on a record deal by spring. Outshine The Sun was released September 6 and it has sold out fast.

Admittedly prog rock, metal and lyrical intellect are my cup of tea. But the polished production and infectious energy easily smashes any expectations. It. Absolutely. Blew. Me. Away.

Willy explains the ass it kicks: “It’s ABBA with attitude, Journey on steroids, Foreigner after 15 cups of coffee. It’s a badass slice of modern metallic rock with a tone of heart, a pile of soul and a brain, thank God, in its lyrical head.”

It is a fighting first album they have every right to brandish without fear. It’s jam-packed with punches reminiscent of Whitesnake, Def Leppard, Djent and Bon Jovi for those who know their old school but it still bursts with fresh delights on par with cited influences Helloween, Edguy, Angra, Avantasia and Ayreon. Researching Neonfly’s influences opened up a whole new world. These guys KNOW their art.

Willy said: “Everything sounds loud as hell on this record…and that’s a good thing.  A pal of mine told me they fell off their chair when they first put the album on. That’s exactly what I want …a million people falling off their chairs to our music!”

‘Spitting Blood’ and ‘The Messenger’ were co-written by Fred and Willy, inspired by a fascination with historical conflicts and the people entangled in the carnage. They leave us to decipher which specific period they are bashing their guitars, drums and vocal chords over.

I couldn’t get A Gift To Remember out of my head – in the best, most spring-in-my-step inspiring way. I could (head) bang, dance or simply sing along all day to its flawless composition of each distinct instrument working to present pure passion. And it’s irresistibly catchy – like every other unique hit.

Kicking off with confrontation – “your empty eyes are looking my way” – the album pulls you in to tumble you fiercely down through every single genius track. By the end it leaves you satisfied, breathless and wanting more.

I dare you to deny it.

See tour dates at their website http://www.neonfly.net/index3.html

Article by Amanda Leek