HAL MARABEL'S (BAD HABIT) INTERVIEW BY HEAVY PARADISE

Sweden's melodic rock super group Bad Habit has released this year an excellent album which is titled "Atmosphere". A release full of great and catchy choruses, amazing melodies and an overall 80's feeling. The mastermind behind Bad Habit is Hal Marabel. Below you are going to read the interview that Hal Marabel gave to Heavy Paradise and talked about the new album and some other interesting stuff! Enjoy...

heavy paradise : Hello Hal! I would like to thank you for accepting my invitation for this interview.

Hal : My pleasure...

heavy paradise : Firstly, I 'd like to congratulate you for your new album! "Atmosphere" is truly a brilliant melodic rock album! I guess that you have read all the great reviews all over the net. How do you feel about your new album?

Hal : I feel great about the feedback we've had so far... You never know when you write and produce an album... but I've had a good feeling about this one from the start...

heavy paradise : ‘Above And Beyond’ was an excellent album too! This was your first with the record label AOR Heaven. How so and you guys left from Frontiers Records and chose AOR Heaven? Do you think that nowadays it's difficult to get a good record deal?

Hal : Well, record deals are different today and you as an artist need to take more responsibility and risk for your production than before... We felt that AOR Heaven as a record label, would suit us well.. and so far, it has worked out well... ; )

heavy paradise : How long did it take you to record "Atmosphere" ?

Hal : About 8 months in total... from writing the songs until the master was completed....

heavy paradise : Which are your inspirations when you are writing a song?

Hal : Music and melody usually comes to me... and I just channel it through onto paper or computer... My inspiration can either come from listening to other music... or just from being in a good mood...

heavy paradise : In my opinion the strongest point in this album are the catchy/melodic choruses and the guitars. Do you think that there are also other strong parts?

Hal : Well, I also think that our rythm section is quite different in that we 'hang' a bit on the beat... compared to most rock bands who tend to drive the beat... This makes everything a bit more 'groovy' and affects the songs in a positive way...

heavy paradise : If you had to choose your best Bad Habit release, which would that be and why?

Hal : Hmmm, a tricky one to answer... also, it changes over time... All in all, my favourites would be *After Hours' and 'Above And Beyond'... apart from the new album... they are the most constistent in style and overall performance...

heavy paradise : Do you think that with 'Atmosphere" the band reached its best album to date or are we going to expect more great albums in the near future?

Hal : Well, I think it's only natural to like your latest prodcut the most... but at the same time, you always need to strive towards becoming better over time... Then it's down personal taste... everyone will not always like everything you do...

heavy paradise : "Words Are Not Enough" is one of the best tunes from the new album and my personal favourite! Which are your favourite tunes from "Atmosphere" ?

Hal : I'm also very keen on 'Words...' but also 'Everytime You Cry', 'Fantasy' and 'In The Heat Of The Night'...

heavy paradise : Over the last years, we have some really excellent Melodic Hard Rock/AOR releases. Do you think that this scene has a lot more to offer?

Hal : I think the scene has more to offer but I think it's going to be hard to widen the fanbase... to include the younger kids in a god way... Something more needs to be added to the mix for that to work... a more modern and relevant approach...

heavy paradise : Tell me the first thing that comes in your mind for these words :

LOVE: Always
HATE: Less
GOD: Personal
DEVIL: Sometimes you wonder
GARY MOORE: Respect
ATMOSPHERE: Energy
BAD HABIT: Like family

heavy paradise : Which are your favourite five albums ever?

Hal : Boston – ”Don’t Look Back” (1978), Balance – ”In For The Count” (1982), Journey – ”Escape” (1981), Def Leppard – ”Pyromania” (1983) and Van Halen – ”Van Halen” (1978)

heavy paradise : Except being a musician, do you have any other interests?

Hal: Yes, I'm into fitness and communications... two areas that interest me a lot...

heavy paradise : Are you going to perform live in the near future? I only hope that, someday, you will come in Greece for a live performance...

Hal : No full tours, but some gigs here and there... which started yesterday with our official release-party in our home of Malmö, Sweden... Discussions are ongoing for other gigs... so we'll see what happens...

heavy paradise : Hal, do you want to leave a message to your fans?

Hal: Thanx so much for supporting us by buying our new album... hope you'll enjoy it... ; )

heavy paradise : I would like to thank you again for this interview and to wish you all the best for your future plans!

Hal: Thank you for your time... ; )