We love to interview bands from all over the world and this time round we have the mastermind of the Chilean metal band Merciless Law, Pancho Ireland to give us an insight into the world of Merciless Law.

TheNwothm: Merciless Law it is a pleasure to be interviewing you! How are you doing?

Pancho: Hi Rob. I’m fine, thank you!

TheNwothm: For our readers who do not know who you are, can you introduce your self and where you are from!

Pancho: Hello everyone! I’m Pancho Ireland, I’m from Chile. I’m the vocalist and guitar player of Merciless Law.

TheNwothm: Merciless Law is originally from Chilean city of Los Ángeles! Can you tell us more about the formation of Merciless Law and how the heavy metal scene in South America helped to shape the Merciless Law that we know?

Pancho: Merciless Law was born from the ashes of my old band called Kaizer. I used to play with some friends, but after some years rehearsing, things didn’t work and we split up. So, after a year or something, I started to chat with Cederick, and some months later we started to work together on the recordings of Troops of Steel.

I have heard a lot of heavy metal bands from South America, from different eras like; Panzer, Inquisición, Riff, V8, Angra, Viper, etc. Lots of great stuff, and all of them helped to me to shape my style through the years in some way or another, or some more than others. 

There are many of great bands doing their thing in Chile now, which is great. A lot of them have accomplished big milestones in their careers that make this journey more exciting and interesting.

TheNwothm: So you are based in Los Ángeles, how would you say the metal scene in the rest of Chile compares with Los Ángeles? Do you feel like their are more opportunities in Los Ángeles?

Pancho: There are not too many opportunities in the city where I live, but there are a lot of extreme and thrash metal bands. There are more opportunities in the capital, Santiago de Chile.

TheNwothm: You have only been around since 2020? Yet have managed to be so incredibly productive with two full length albums and a number of other releases. Where does that drive come from and what keeps you going?

Pancho: Actually three releases so far, since I already released a 4 song EP called “Grimoire for the Ultimate Sinner” on December 15th.

That started because I spent so much time working on “Troops Of Steel” that I really needed to start writing new songs and also to prove myself as a musician. Cederick (from Blazon Stone) encouraged me to do it also, to be more confident about my skills as a songwriter.

The songs from ToS were written when I was in Kaizer, so for me, it took eight years to finally release that material, so that’s why I had the urge to release new material in such a short time.

TheNwothm: So if someone was to listen to you for the first time, how would you describe your take on metal and what songs would you send them to listen to first?

Pancho: I think Merciless Law delivers “right in your face”, melodic and catchy heavy metal in a complete traditional way, but I think there is also some fresh vibe in the sound of my music.

TheNwothm: You released your debut album “Troops of Steel” in 2022! What can you tell us about your debut and was that created in the midst of the pandemic?

Pancho: As I said before, those songs were created when I was in a band called “Kaizer” and we actually recorded them in a studio but were never released, except for “A New Order” that appears as a hidden track in the cassette version that I released with Burning Sun Records. It is the only place where you can actually find that version. I wrote the songs in 2014 and started to rehearse those songs in November of that year.

The debut album was a big step for me because, it was the first time that completely unknown people listened to those songs, and it was interesting to read good and bad comments, about, ToS (mostly good, tho). I had the chance to work with one of my heroes (Cederick Forsberg), who was an inspiration for me to dare to release music without depending on bandmates or whatever. It was just him and me working and talking every day about the recordings, he taught me a lot and ToS is what it is because of his vision. I’m proud about it!

The recordings started in March 2020, and we finished the album in October 2021.

TheNwothm: Looking at putting together records, how do you approach writing and recording music? Do you have any particular methods that just work for you?

Pancho: Well, at first, I had a different way to do it. I used to think “I will do 8 songs for an 8 song album” but then, Cederick appeared and taught me a completely, different way to work on my songs. So now I write as much material as I can, the more, the better. He always said, “there are always better songs around the corner” so, now I’m more selective with the songs I release.

TheNwothm: And speaking of instruments, what is your axe of choice and what other guitars do you have in your collection?

Pancho: I’m using a Jackson Kelly guitar which is great, it works very well for me, and it’s my main guitar now. But I still use my Washburn and my Squier guitar, I don’t have expensive instruments, but what I have works for me and that’s what matters.

TheNwothm: As a vocalist who have been your biggest influences and do you have any particular exercises or things you do to look after your voice?

My main influence as a singer is Kai Hansen. I mean, I know that I don’t sound like him, but I read in an interview that he didn’t have a great technique or whatever, but he has the guts to do it. I went to see Helloween in their reunion tour and I cannot describe how it was for me to listen to his first scream when they started to play “Starlight”, it was unbelievable. So, yeah, I know I’m not the best singer, I don’t have the most beautiful voice, but I have the determination to do it and to be willing to get better.

I always do some warm up before start recording, I do it for a few minutes, and it works for me. I don’t force my voice, as some people may think.

TheNwothm: What can you tell us about your other releases (singles/EPs) that have you put out since forming. Do any of these tracks have a special place in your heart and have any of these become fan favourites?

Pancho: I’m enjoying my latest release “Grimoire for the Ultimate Sinner” and my favorite song on that record is “Rulers of a Sinful World”. It’s one of the most difficult songs that I have written so far.

I love how the intro grows and then everything explodes in a very aggressive triplet pattern. The riffs are clearly inspired on Running Wild. That song has something special, while it is not easy to “digest” but it is a great opener. I’m very proud of that one. It still is very difficult to play on guitar, the riffs are just great.

Soul Eater, from “The Holy Company”, is another song that has a special spot on my heart, and it’s also very difficult to play.

I guess that I like those songs the most because I feel that I had to prove myself as a composer, I don’t know, I just really like playing them.

TheNwothm: In 2022 you wrote the track “Victims of War” which featured on the compilation “All For One” where proceeds went to reporters without borders. How did you get involved with that compilation and what was its goal?

Pancho: Well, I didn’t know too much, about, what was going on with the war between Ukraine and Russia because I live at the other side of the planet and the info can be very manipulated by the media, there’s a lot of disinformation.

Mina Walkure invited me to be part of it and I wanted to help in some way, and she thought that “Victims of War” was the right song for that compilation.

TheNwothm: Your second album “The Holy Company” is a beast of an album! How did it step up from your debut album and would you have done anything differently?

Pancho: Because I spent so much time of my life working on the ToS songs, I was eager to write completely brand new and fresh material. Those songs were written FOR Merciless Law, since the first album was written when I was in another band. So, it was such an important step for me, too.

At the beginning it was going to be an EP, but then I decided to make a full album because I had the songs, and it was the best for me at the moment.

I worked on those songs in a more methodical way. I tried to avoid some clichés while I kept using other elements that you just need to make this type of music, it’s part of its DNA. Furthermore, I think the songs are a bit more difficult than the songs from the first album.

It was the first time for me to take charge of the production, mixing, and recording process by my own, without a guide. So, yeah, it was a milestone for me, also because I had the chance to release that album in vinyl, which is great.

I would have liked to work a little more on the drums because, there are not too many interesting fills or details, but on the other hand, I was learning how to use the program, so I think it is good enough.

TheNwothm: Do you have a favourite track from the album?

Yes, I have! It is “Soul Eater”. That is absolutely a killer song, I think it represents what this project is all about. I love it. The mid-section is great, I never get tired to listen to it, and it was inspired on “Alexander the Great” of Iron Maiden with those triplets and riffs.

I just regret not having put it somewhere else on the album and not as the last song because now it is one of the less listened songs.

TheNwothm: And what is the story behind its awesome artwork? Who created it?

Pancho: The artwork was inspired in an old legend called “La Santa Compaña”, which is a procession of lost souls that basically are seeking to take possession of the soul of a mortal, who has a debt with some authority from beyond. I thought it was cool, actually.

I wrote the song, and then I started to think it would look great as the artwork of the album. Iordan, from Stormspell, thought the same, and then he asked Yannick Bouchard to make it.

TheNwothm: Musically how do you see the future of Merciless Law? Where would you like to take the music next?

Pancho: That’s difficult to answer, haha. But what I can tell you is that I’m rehearsing with some guys, so I can start to play some gigs. The guys who I’m working with are great, they have great skills, and everyone has the same goal, which is important.

TheNwothm: What are your gig plans for 2024? Will you be hitting the road?

Pancho: We want to play live! We hope so! And I’m already writing new songs, so I expect to release the third album, but I will work on it a lot before that.

TheNwothm: And where can fans buy your music and merch?

Pancho: They can buy the CDs via Stormspell, they just have to go to the web store and there are also some European distributors such as Hellion Records, High Roller Records or Sonic Age. There are vinyls of “The Holy Company” on the Alone Records website too.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MercilessLawBand

But! I will upload some merch on Bandcamp soon, so they can also get in touch with me. Follow Merciless Law on Instagram and Facebook!

TheNwothm: Is there anything else you would like to mention?

Pancho: Listen to my new EP “Grimoire for the Ultimate Sinner”. It is available in different streaming platforms such as Spotify, Tidal, Deezer, YouTube, and more! You can also get the CD version via Stormspell records; there are European distributors too (which I mentioned above).

Thanks to every one who believes and supports this project!

And thank you, Rob, for the invitation!