Interview by Robert Cavuoto
The Defiants have just released their third album, Drive via Frontiers Music. It’s a testament to their rebellious spirits that drives these finely crafted songs, which rip with emotion and melodies. The band consists of three Danger Danger members; Paul Laine [vocals], Bruno Ravel [bass], Rob Marcello [guitar], and drummer Van Romaine.
Paul takes listeners on a roller coaster ride with his never-ending stream of ingenious positivity while Bruno and Rob deliver propulsive rhythms and catchy riffs. Together they celebrate the kind of melodic hard rock that has been missing since the ’80s. Songs like “Hey Life,” “Go Big or Go Home,” and “Summertime” showcase the best of their abilities. Drive raises the bar for the band and will leave listeners breathless by the time it reaches the last melodic power chord.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Bruno Ravel about the creation of Drive during the pandemic, why the release took four years, his love of creating songs about a well-spent youth, the type of songs that do not make it on a Defiants’ album, the harsh physical and financial realities of touring, and why Steve West did not play drums on this latest release. Remember that for more interviews and other daily content, make sure to follow My Global Mind on Facebook and Twitter and subscribe to our YouTube channel to be notified about new content we publish daily.
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Best known for being the D2 vocalist on four studio albums over the course of 12 years, Paul Laine came back to work with his former bandmates Bruno Ravel and Rob Marcello, who are the other two pillars of THE DEFIANTS, for the band’s self-titled debut in 2015.
The guys reunited at the suggestion of Frontiers’ President & Head of A&R, Serafino Perugino, who really wanted these current and former Danger Danger members to offer fans of that band some new music. The resulting album was pleasing not only to the D2 fans, but also to ALL the fans out there who are into the classic sound of the era from which D2 emerged.
THE DEFIANTS’ debut album was greeted with a great acclaim as a glorious return to the “in your face” melodic hard rock that enraptured millions of fans back in the ’80s and ’90s and is currently enjoying a renaissance here in the 21st century. Within the first two weeks of its release, the album entered Billboard’s Heatseekers Chart in the Top 50. Also that same year, the album claimed the #1 position on Classic Rock Magazine’s ranking of best AOR albums of the year.
Their follow up album, ‘Zokusho’ was released to critical acclaim in 2019 and needless to say, it had all the ingredients to continue to thrill THE DEFIANTS’ fans. A BIG melodic rock album with huge choruses, hooks, and soaring guitars and vocals.
Now, after another four year wait between albums, THE DEFIANTS return with ‘Drive’, perhaps their greatest musical achievement…so far.
“Drive” track-listing
1. Hey Life
2. Go Big Or Go Home
3. 19 Summertime
4. What Are We Waiting For
5. Miracle
6. Against The Grain
7. So Good
8. Love Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
9. Another Time, Another Place
10. The Night To Remember
11. Nothing’s Gonna Stop Me Now
Line-up:
Paul Laine: Vocals
Rob Marcello: Guitar
Bruno Ravel: Bass
Van Romaine: Drums
Written by Paul Laine and Bruno Ravel
Produced by: Bruno Ravel
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