Holy Shire, powerful and emotional band

Six years have passed from the second album “The Legendary Shepherds of the Forest”, and many things have happened in music world and within the band, first a pandemic that has marked a setback for everyone, cancelling live performances and, in
many cases, creative inspiration too. From this journey of reconstruction, even within the band itself, as many members left in the meantime, a new line-up was born and, once set, could write this third work titled “Invincible”. Invincible is the desire to make music, to compose it and play it, to continue the search to get to the heart and mind of the listener, the tireless need to create something new that has the original imprint of the band, but that it bears the fruits of new mixtures and new ideas brought by those who previously were not there. Ten new tracks born from Maxx (drums), Tia (guitar) and Kima (flute), with melodies and lyrics by Aeon (dragon vocals) and Julie (unicorn vocals) and the contribution and arrangements of Ste (guitar) and Leo (bass), which have joined the line-up more recently. The orchestrations on half of the songs were composed and performed by Federico Maffei (Folkstone).

Musicwebzine – Hi guys, who are Holy Shire?
We are Holy Shire, a symphonic-fantasy metal band from Milan, Italy. Our music combines symphonic arrangements, powerful metal riffs, and fantasy storytelling to create an immersive experience. We’ve been active for over a decade, always aiming to take our listeners on a journey through epic and magical worlds.

Musicwebzine – Tell us about your latest release!
Our latest album, Invincible, was released worldwide on June 28, 2024, by Ghost Record Label. It’s a powerful and emotional work that deeply explores our fantasy and imagination. The album featured two singles so far, M9 and The Seduction of Hollowness, which were both accompanied by videos, which have received great feedback from our followers.
Each track of Invincible has its own unique story and style, yet they together form a cohesive, epic narrative which fully shows the band’s view and inspiration. We’re incredibly proud of the result!

Musicwebzine – Which guest would you like to get for your next album?
There are so many talented artists we admire, but working with someone like Tarja Turunen, Simone Simons or Hansi Kursch would be a dream come true. Their incredible voices and presence would perfectly align with our vision and blend in our way of making music.

Musicwebzine – Which bands influenced your style?
Our influences are very diverse, ranging from symphonic and power metal, to more modern and aggressive metal genres, to composers like Hans Zimmer and Howard Leslie Shore. We also have a soft spot for more classic sounds, which occasionally shine through in our music.

Musicwebzine – How many styles can we listen to in your music?
Our music is a blend of several styles. You’ll hear the epic symphonic arrangements, the energy of power metal, the aggressiveness of nu-metal and touches of folk and progressive elements. We like to experiment and create something unique, that still feels connected to the fantasy metal genre and our previous work, which remain a milestone for our composing.

Musicwebzine – What about the cover?
The artwork for Invincible was created by our drummer, The Maxx, who also designed the covers for our previous albums, Midgard and The Legendary Shepherds of the Forest. His work perfectly captures the themes and atmosphere of our music. For Invincible, he crafted a powerful and visually stunning design that reflects the strength and magic within the album.

Musicwebzine – How is the music scene in your country?
The metal scene in Italy is full of passionate musicians and fans, but it can be tough, even for good bands, to gain proper recognition, especially on an international level. However, the community is still strong and supportive, and there’s a lot of incredible talent out there. We’re proud to be part of such a dedicated scene.