From the unlikely metal scene of Durango, Mexico, Steel Night is bringing classic heavy metal to a global stage. Blending influences like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest with their own fire, they’ve risen fast—from local gigs to Wacken Open Air.

In this interview, frontman Raúl Peña talks about forming the band, breaking out of a small-town scene, and carrying the torch for traditional metal in the modern age.

Interview

TheNwothm: Raúl, as the founder of Steel Night, what inspired you to start a traditional heavy metal band in 2017, especially in Durango, Mexico?

S.N: My biggest inspiration to begin with a Traditional Heavy Metal Band was thanks to bands like Iron Maiden, Tokyo Blade, Judas Priest, Virtue (among others) and when I started listening to NWOTHM like Skull Fist, Enforcer, Steelwing, Blackslash and some Mexican bands. Also, when we found out that there were not many heavy metal bands in Durango (our hometown) I tried to find a motivation. I imagined making something that could transcend even further from Durango… Something national or even international and that’s when I stopped playing in cover bands and began writing my own songs gathering all the inspiration I could get and focusing on what I really meant to do.

TheNwothm: How did the five of you come together, and what was the early dynamic like when forming the band? 

S.N:The dynamic to play was easy, but the way we got all together was not. On one side I already knew what it takes and what I wanted but it was not an easy thing to find the right people due that Heavy Metal is not a common thing in Durango, so what made it possible was that I got recommendations from friends until we integrated all our band members and thankfully we are already complete and on the same page. 

TheNwothm: What challenges have you faced as a heavy metal band coming out of a less internationally recognised city like Durango?

S.N:During the formation of the band, we’ve faced plenty of challenges—not only because we live in a kind of no man’s land, but also because in Mexico, genres other than metal are far more popular, which already makes things harder. Speaking specifically about Durango, one of the biggest issues is travel distance. Durango is located in the north of the country, and its territory is quite large, so when we travel by land, we lose hours just trying to leave the state.

For example, if we want to play in Mexico City, which is in the south, it takes around 13 hours by road. If we want to go to Chihuahua or the northern border, it’s another 8 hours trip. This also causes collateral damage: even though we’re a great metal band, many times we can’t compete for shows in major cities like CDMX. There are other bands at or below our level, but because their travel costs are much lower, promoters usually go with local acts. Still, even with these challenges, we’ve managed to establish ourselves in these cities thanks to the quality of our music.

TheNwothm: How do you see the Mexican heavy metal scene evolving, and where do you see Steel Night’s role in that movement?

S.N:Great question. Based on our experience and the friends we’ve made across the scene in Mexico, we’ve noticed that genres like death, black, and various metalcore fusions are very present and widely played. However, traditional heavy metal and cleaner styles aren’t far behind. In fact, bands that bring a more classic sound are starting to stand out more and more. For years now, you can see the growth—not just in exposure, but in the quality of the music itself. Mexican bands no longer have to envy European or American acts—we’ve reached a brutal level of musicianship and identity.

Just to name a few beyond Steel Night, there’s Jet Jaguar, who won the Wacken Metal Battle in 2017, and of course Voltax, a staple in the scene. As for Steel Night’s role, we firmly believe we can be a symbol that proudly represents the current wave of Mexican metal, both nationally and internationally.

To complement your question on a more local level, Steel Night has been a driving force in Durango. Through our music and live performances, we’ve not only helped put our state on the map, but we’ve also inspired other bands to grow and start creating original music.

There was a time when most bands were just playing the same cover songs at the same bars, but we’ve noticed that ever since we took part in and reached Wacken, many local bands have started following the path we’ve carved with our actions. They haven’t quite made it yet—haha—but the intention to grow and offer more than what they were used to is definitely noticeable

TheNwothm: You draw influence from giants like Iron Maiden, Dio, and Judas Priest—how do you balance honouring the classic metal sound while making it your own?

S.N:Well, to be honest I try to mix several inspirations in a single song… you know: A Little Iron Maiden here, a Little Dio over there, adding an Accept-styled riff and of course our own style to give a different touch at the same time. It gets complicated sometimes due that I always try to find a style that doesn’t sound like a copy. 

TheNwothm: What do you feel the New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal (NWOTHM) movement brings to today’s metal scene?

S.N:The NWOTHM movement brings a breath of fresh air to today’s metal scene by reviving the essence of classic 1980s heavy metal without sounding outdated. It puts the spotlight back on powerful riffs, melodic solos, high-pitched vocals, and that straightforward style that made the genre great, but with modern production and a renewed attitude. It has also built a strong community of fans who value both nostalgia and authenticity, inspiring many young bands to take influence from the legends of the past and create something of their own. In a landscape dominated by extreme or highly experimental subgenres, NWOTHM is a reminder that traditional heavy metal still has a lot to offer.

TheNwothm: Is there a particular era or album from classic metal that you constantly find yourselves returning to for inspiration?.

S.N:I could say a lot of them, but if I could choose just a couple of them I would say: Somewhere In Time and Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son from Maiden, Night Of The Blade by Tokyo Blade and Sacred Heart by Dio. Of course, we always have something from all the other bands we love and it also helps that all the band members carry their own inspirations, making it an even richer experience.

TheNwothm: Your debut EP “Steel Night” reached audiences in countries like Germany, the UK, and Japan—how did that level of exposure affect your direction as a band?

S.N:It truly helped us to be known faster in the metal scene and grow as a band. We could play in some places near Durango as much as being possible and we were able to play in a HammerFall concert in Guadalajara, Mexico just 9 months after we started playing together and next year after that we were chosen to play in Mexico’s Metal Battle and we played with international-known bands. 

TheNwothm: Your album “Fight Till the End” was distributed internationally—how did working with Iron Shield Records shape that experience? Do you feel it was a step up from your EP?

S.N:Yes, it was a huge step for us in every aspect involved, they are a german label with awesome bands like Blackslash, (one of my favorite bands), and being distributed and listened in Europe and Japan truly helped us to be heard in Mexico and other places. 

TheNwothm: What was the creative process like for your EP “Last Warrior”—was it more experimental or a return to your roots?

S.N:I think this was a little bit more experimental, at least talking about that song specifically because it was more a Heavy Metal song mixed with a Power Metal touch, all this trying to keep all that a Heavy Metal song should have. On the other hand, our song I´m The Evil is more like “Dream Warriors” by Dokken or “Screaming” by Heir Apparent.

TheNwothm: “Keepers of Time” is your newest release! What can fans expect from the new record in terms of themes and lyrical ideas?

S.N:It will have a little bit of everything: fantasy, horror, conspiranoic, some love and even true-history based lyrics and we are considering a song in Spanish! All this was trying to keep the Heavy Metal we love to do and we believe you will too. 

TheNwothm: Can you tell us a bit more about the recording and writing process for the release?

S.N:Well, all the lyrics and music were done by Raul. During his free time gathers some inspiration and tell the other band mates: “Hey I got another idea, what do you think about it? I would like it to sound something like this”. After this we proceed to listen to and rehearse it several times, adding our creativity or change something if it is required to let the final structure and arrangements to be done. Then we start recording instrument by instrument, listening to all of them separately and together, being careful to notice any change or modification if needed and in case we require to add something we check it during the next steps like the edition process.

TheNwothm: Wacken Open Air is a dream for many bands. What was it like to play such a prestigious festival so early in your career?

S.N:It was a remarkable experience. Being able to be on the other side of the world sharing our music with so many people even when we were not playing together for so long was truly an amazing experience! Even though we did not win the contest it was an outstanding level up, it gave us a huge auto critic capacity and it let us know what we needed to improve and of course motivated us to keep going in this hard and long way we got  ahead.

TheNwothm: You’ve supported legendary acts like Hammerfall, Rata Blanca, and Ángeles Del Infierno—any standout stories or lessons from sharing the stage with these bands?

S.N:Uff, we’ve got a lot of stories—really good ones, haha. For example, when we opened for Hammerfall, the first major band we had the chance to work with, it was more of an adventure than just an anecdote. It was December 11th in Guadalajara, eight hours from Durango. We traveled in a van for eight people, but we had removed several seats to carry equipment since Hammerfall’s team didn’t allow us to use the venue’s backline.

It was winter and freezing cold through Zacatecas—people said it was one of the coldest days in years. Our plan was to go and return the same night to avoid extra costs. We got to the venue, played our set, and the crowd went wild. We could see Hammerfall by the side of the stage, nodding in approval, as if saying, “these guys are beasts.”

After our show, during Hammerfall’s performance, we got the best damn spot—just past the security barrier. During “Natural High,” there was a moment straight out of the movie Rockstar: Jahaziel was singing, and Joacim Cans came up and pointed at him, and Jahaziel pointed back—it was pure magic. Later, during another song, Mr. Cans came down to sing with the crowd, and one of our former members ran up and grabbed his butt, haha. The intention was good, since Cans was leaning against the barricade with no support behind him, but his reaction was hilarious when he turned around and saw the guy’s hands.

After the show, the next day—December 12th (a national holiday in Mexico for the Virgin of Guadalupe, in which no one works)—our van broke down and we were stranded in the middle of nowhere, in freezing weather. With no seats inside, we slept however we could—some on top of the gear, Raúl and Jahaziel crammed into a single seat—while we waited for a mechanic shop to open so we could get a replacement part. We finally managed it after walking several kilometers, but our hearts were full from everything we had experienced.

We’ve had other wild moments with Timo Tolkki and Aquiles Priester when we played with Edu Falaschi—but we’ll save those for the next interview.

TheNwothm: Which show or tour date would you say has been your most unforgettable performance so far—and why?

S.N:We’ve got a few stories that have shaped our philosophy, but two in particular come to mind. One was in Torreón, Coahuila, where we performed for just one person. He paid to see us, so we gave it our all—an entire concert just for him. And of course, Wacken—seeing thousands of people who didn’t know us headbanging, screaming, waving Mexican flags in Germany—that was brutal. We gave it our all.

That’s the philosophy of Steel Night: deliver the same show, with the same energy, whether it’s for one person or thousands.

TheNwothm: What are your goals for the next few years—more tours, more albums, or something unexpected?

S.N: Our goals for the coming years are more music and more shows. We’d love to play at more festivals outside of Mexico—Colombia, Europe, Japan, anywhere! We want our music to reach far and wide, to show people that in a time where everything is disposable, there are still bands making quality music with love—bands that aren’t just prepackaged copies.

To make this happen, we’re working on Keepers of Time, and beyond that, we’re also looking for a new label that can help us knock on more doors and keep growing professionally.

TheNwothm: How can our readers buy your music and merch?

S.N:You can do it via Bandcamp or listening in all the digital platforms like Spotify, Facebook, Instagram, etc. You can find our merch sending a message to any of our pages.

TheNwothm: Where can fans follow you online?

S.N:You can follow us in Facebook as “Steel Night”, and our Instagram is @steel_night_band, and we can be found in our Youtube channel or in Spotify.

TheNwothm: Anything else you would like to mention?

S.N:We invite you to listen to our music if you haven’t yet. If good Traditional Heavy Metal is your thing, we suggest you to follow us and of course we would like to thank you for your time to invite us to this interview. We feel honored of being considered and we hope we get the chance to meet you all soon once we are done with all our new stuff. Thanks to you all, to our fans and thanks to you if this is the first time you listen to us… Big hugs from Steel Night! 

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steel_night_band/

Bandcamp: https://steelnightofficialband.bandcamp.com/

Iron Shield Records: https://www.facebook.com/IronShieldRecords