No need for grand adjectives or lofty praise. The Hellcats were simply magnificent during their concert on the 5th of October in Algiers. The first all-female band from Southeastern Europe delivered their old-school heavy metal with the force of a bulldozer and the poetry of a 1964 Harley.
On the setlist, their classics Steel Rider and Warrior Princess,
alongside tracks from their brand-new EP, released only days before, aptly
titled Unstoppable.
Guitarist Mia Marinič, who speaks
French, kindly served as interpreter.
1. Redha
Menassel: This is a truly special moment, as we have the
great pleasure of welcoming one of the best-known metal bands from Southeastern
Europe, the Hellcats, performing for the very first time in Algeria.
How are you feeling tonight?
Mia: We feel fantastic, thank you. It’s
a joy to be here, and we’re deeply grateful for the invitation.
2. Redha: I first discovered you through Steelrider, back in 2015 – which
feels like a lifetime ago. I remember that song vividly, with its irresistible
chorus: My heart is calling your name, so come and take me away, through the
smoke and fire.
Did you know there’s a rich metal history in Algeria that goes back to the
early nineties? And that you actually have a proper fan base here?
Saša
Zagorc: It’s an
honour to hear that. We know there’s a vibrant metal scene in Algiers. We’ve
seen it on social media.
3. Redha: You can actually hear it from the crowd – a lot of fans are getting
impatient out there.
Saša: Thank you, thank you. We’re here to
light it up!
4. Redha: Your new EP Unstoppable marks your return to the studio after
several years of touring. It features Black Thunder, whose video came
out a year ago.
What was the spark, the moment when you felt it was time to get back behind the
mixing desk?
Sonja Zagorc: Saša and I started this band in 2003, and it’s always been our life. The thought of stopping never crossed our minds. It’s in our blood to keep going. When Sara Simeunović and Mia joined in 2022, we found the perfect chemistry – it made us want to travel more, share our music more. Recording a new EP just felt like the natural next step.
Saša: And that’s just the beginning. Next
week, we’ll be holding the press conference in Slovenia to officially present Unstoppable.
5. Redha: That’s a perfect segue to Slovenia, since the EP includes four songs in
English – Unstoppable, Black Thunder, I am and Spiderweb –
plus two bonus tracks in Slovenian. Why that choice?
Saša: Because many of our fans love
hearing us sing in our own language.
Sonja: Back in 2013, our first album Warrior
Princess came out in two versions, English and Slovenian. Since then, we’ve
followed our instincts. If a song sounds better in Slovenian, we keep it that
way. If it works in both languages, we release both. That way everyone’s happy.
6. Redha: How did the writing and recording process unfold? Who did what on this
EP?
Saša: From the start, Sonja and I have
been in charge of writing and composing. We already had plenty of material
before Sara and Mia joined. But when we went into the studio, everyone
contributed. Maybe Sara can tell us how she approached the vocals this time.
Sara: Absolutely. The sisters write the
songs, but it often feels as if they’re writing them with me in mind. That’s
why I connect so deeply with the lyrics and can truly make them my own. The
words are powerful and poetic. They speak about energy, positivity, and the
idea that anything is possible if you truly believe in it.
7. Redha: You started out self-produced. Tell me about your producer, Sergej Pobegajlo, who, to my ear at
least, brought a more modern, heavier sound, slightly different from the
old-school heavy metal you were known for.
Saša: Sergej is one of the best producers
in Slovenia, and he knows exactly what we’re after. Everything happened
naturally, with great flow.
We also
worked hard on the guitars, chasing a sound we’d been searching for for years.
We wanted a signature tone, instantly recognisable. And for that, of course,
Mia, our guitarist, is the one to thank (laughs).
Vocals are
crucial too. We never wanted a soft or silky voice – we wanted grit,
experience, something that tells a story.
Redha: Is it easy to hand your “baby” over to someone else, after years of
doing everything yourselves?
Sonja: We’ve known Sergej for about twenty
years. He understands the spirit of the band and knows exactly what we want.
This collaboration was rewarding for both sides.
Here in Algeria, for example, we once had an all-female band called Hathor, which vanished overnight. Do you think things have changed since you first started?
Sonja: When we began, it was very hard.
There were almost no women in metal. It was a man’s world, made by men. The
girls who dared to enter it were brave. But we were lucky to have loyal fans
who believed in us and supported us all these years. Things have changed a lot
now. Europe is much more open to female metal. We meet many women musicians at
the festivals we play.
Saša: But in Slovenia, there’s still no
other all-female band. We’re still the only one.
9. Redha: How do you explain that?
Saša: Mia’s the youngest – she’s best
placed to answer why more young women aren’t picking up guitars.
Mia: I think it’s just a matter of time.
Rome wasn’t built in a day. You need pioneers, role models, and others will
follow. It used to be tough, but things are getting better. Change doesn’t
happen overnight, but it will. I truly believe more all-female bands will
emerge in the years ahead.
10. Redha: I know you’ve prepared quite a few surprises for tonight’s concert,
starting with a duet with Jugulator, one of Algeria’s rising metal
bands.
A little bird told me you might perform Highway to Hell by AC/DC
together.
Saša: We wanted to keep that a secret,
but I guess the cat’s out of the bag (laughs).
We’ll be
presenting the new EP, revisiting Warrior Princess, and performing two
covers. And to finish, as the icing on the cake, we’ll play Highway to Hell
with Jugulator.
11. Redha: A final word for your Algerian fans, who’ve followed you for years –
sometimes by pirating your albums, not that we had much choice (laughs).
Saša: (Laughs) We’ll be giving away a few
albums to your radio listeners. The most devoted fans will finally get to enjoy
our songs on an original disc.
Interview By Redha Menassel
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