A fan of Manowar and Kiss, a lover of true heavy metal music with a warriors spirit, Gengis Khans leader Frank gives TheNwothm an insight into the world of the band!

TheNwothm: Hey there thanks for agreeing to this interview! Can you tell us your band name, who is in the band and where you are from

Frank Leone: Hello , we are Gengis Khan, we come from Bologna Italy , this is Frank, leader of the band, main and only songs writer guitarist, bass player, singer and sometimes drummer, the rest of the band is Gemma on drums, Clemente guitar, Alexis guitar, Lyon bass and Lee Under Keyboard.

TheNwothm: Can you tell us about the origins of Genkis Khan? How did the band come together in Bologna, Italy? 

G.K: We were born in Forli 12 years ago, me and Alexis from Bologna and the rest of the band is a bit faraway from us, so, you know, sometimes happens…no fear…it s not a problem for us.

TheNwothm: And how has the heavy metal scene in Bologna influenced Genkis Khan’s sound and style over the years?

G.K: Bologna is a shit mate! The cradle of shit for Heavy Metal, but if you want to eat tortellini, lasagne, spaghetti bolognaise is super cool dude! So, no influences here!

TheNwothm: What inspired the name “Genkis Khan” for your band, considering its historical connotations? 

G.K: It’s not about history, it’s about  spirit, we wanna bring the Gengis perseverance into the Heavy Metal world, we gotta fight for our rights and Heavy Metal is the key!

TheNwothm: What are some of the major influences on your music, both within the heavy metal genre and beyond?

G.K: Black Sabbath, Manowar, Old Sepultura,Running Wild, Cauldron, Grave Digger, Mercyful Fate, Death SS, Rex Inferi, Gun Fire, Sabotage, Vanadium, Renato Zero, Edoardo Bennato and Enrico Ruggeri, Motley Crue, WASP, Danzig and Sex Pistols.

TheNwothm: How does it feel to be signed with Stormspell Records, and how has the partnership influenced your musical journey?

G.K: At the moment we are without label, Stormspell has released “Possessed by the Moon” and nothin else, the labels are labels..I got no influences from partnership labels.

TheNwothm: As a band, you’ve been together since 2012. What do you think has been the key factor in maintaining your cohesion and creativity over the years? 

G.K: We have had a break between 2015 till 2018, after that the cohesion it’s  in my blood and into my veins, I’m the leader of the pack together with my troopers, creativity is a good thing, and I need it like water to live…

TheNwothm: ”Gengis Khan Was a Rocker” was your debut full-length album released in 2013. Can you tell us about the creative process behind this album and how it set the tone for your future releases? 

G.K: To be honest , that was a very rough demo but MDD record has said: Ok We print this!…mmm, I don t like our debut album, for me the first is Gengis Khan Ep 2019! 

TheNwothm: When you are away from making music what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

G.K: Drink, sex, food and you know, I like soccer! My real job is basking music in the streets!

TheNwothm: Can you tell us a little bit about each of yourselves?

G.K: I Just can say about me and Lyon, the rest of the band is new and I’ve played with them a couple of shows, Lyon is in action since 1983, a real pioneer of Metal and what about me? If you read between the lines of my songs you will discover! 

TheNwothm: Your EP “Gengis Khan” came out in 2019. What was the significance of releasing this EP, and how did it differ from your previous work?

G.K: As I mentioned before, this is the real debut album of the band, so I think is aggressive more than the others and with the right barbarian spirit !It’s a little diamond  in our collection.

TheNwothm: What is your opinion on the current heavy metal scene in comparison to how is was say 20 years ago?

G.K: My Opinion? I think to much bands and most of them without spirit, I see a lot of posers….2024 sucks…thats true but we are immortals! I don t care about technology and shit like that, we are fuckin immortals!

TheNwothm: In 2021 you put out “Colder Than Heaven” and in 2022 “Possessed By The Moon.” What do these albums mean to you and do you each have any favourite tracks from them? 

G.K: They are the main progression of our career since the beginning, I love both albums..like sons, my favourite track are “He’s the King” from Colder and “Possessed by the Wolf” from Moon.

TheNwothm: As a band you have a really cool image! So what inspired it?

G.K: Glam and Epic, I love kiss as I love Manowar, that s my point of view!

TheNwothm: Do you think it is important for bands these days to be the “whole package” if they want to get far in the music industry?

G.K: Stop believing that success is a good thing ,that’s the real problem, I think you have to be honest with your self and nothin else

TheNwothm: You’ve recently released two impressive EPs, the first titled “Masters of My Sins,” followed by the newly dropped “Arrows & Flames!” Could you delve into the themes explored in both EPs, both musically and lyrically? And do these themes carry over from one EP to the other, creating a seamless progression in your artistic narrative?

G.K: No it’s not a concept, this is a declaration of war! So stay tuned because the Gengis Khan soldiers are hot and ready to kill! 

TheNwothm: In reflection of your current releases and past how do you approach writing and recording your music? And are there any producers, engineers, studios etc that you have worked with over and over?

G.K: Just a friend of mine, Alex, he s a Metal warrior, he record, mix and everything, I know him since 2004 , Convolution studio! it s really cool mate!

TheNwothm: And a similar question, who creates your artworks? Have you worked with multiple artists?

G.K: Lee Under the keyboard player!

TheNwothm: Can you tell us about any memorable or standout moments from your live performances or tours?

G.K: Sorry no.

TheNwothm: How does your touring plans look for the rest of 2024

G.K: No tours , see you in 2025!

TheNwothm: Where can fans buy your music and merch?

Bandcamp: gengiskhan1.bandcamp.com

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

TheNwothm: Anything else you would like to mention?

G.K: I just want to say this: believe in your self, fuck the world, fuck off shit power and long live rock n roll! rock n roll is inside of you! not outside!