We have to go back in time in 1996, when I and the first singer of the band Yiannis Papanikolaou decided to form the band. After a short time Manolis Tsigkos joined the band and together with Pavlos balatsoukas on drums and Akexis Leventeris on bass guitar we released our first album “Waiting for the dawn” in 1998. In 2002 we released a split CD “Realms of the night” with our compatriots Reflection. Then in 2002 and after some line up changes (that lead us to current line up) our second full length album “Silent Faces” came out under the Limb label. And here we are nowadays with our new album “Inner Strength”.

The correct one is “InnerWish” The first letter of each word is capital.

I remember that we were trying to find the right words to express our inner need for creativity. I do not remember who got the idea but we all agreed at once. That is how the band name came out.

There are so many bands that we enjoyed listening all these wears, from US metal and European metal also. I believe that all of them in a way have influenced the sound of InnerWish. The hard rock bands of the 70’s and the metal bands of the 80’s are our most beloved. But I can not tell you which bands exactly have influenced us, cause we never trying to do something like this or like that. We just compose our songs in our way.

We have worked very hard in order to be better in every new album. I believe that any one who listens to them can easily understand our hardworking.

Songs like “Bleeding soul” or “Travellers in time” are in way a typical InnerWish song. Fast double bass songs with melodic vocal lines and catchy chorus.

“Gates of fire” is my favourite at this time. It contains all these things that I like, tempo changes, good guitar riff and strong chorus, .

The recording of this album started in Germany at the “Music factory studios” under the production of R.D.Liapakis, and we recorded all the drums, guitars, bass guitars. The rest of them (vocals, keyboards) were recorded in Greece in G-studios. Afterwards we send the rest tracks to Liapakis who did the mix end mastering. The good think on this album is that everything worked under schedule and we had no problems at all. It was the easiest album I’ve ever done (as for the recordings). Of course Liapakis guidance made this album easy to produce.

We had the chance to meet each other in a festival in Crete. We where playing in the same stage with UDO, Anathema and he was there with his first band “Valleys eve”. It’s was then we got in contact for the fist time and since then we are working together. He has done a great job in the “Silent faces” album so there was no reason not to work with him again. Except of a very good producer he is a great guy and a good friend of mine.

Lyrics have always been important for us. We generally take a lot of time to create them because we feel the need to be accurate to what we are saying. We generally have to do with daily things. Circumstances we are all facing every day. Friendship, loneliness, the battle between the good and the evil etc… There is a true story behind the Inner strength lyrics. A friend of Babis (our singer) had a car accident and he was in a coma for months. But his will to live made him recover and know he is ok. So the whole think has to do with the inner strength we all need in order to stand on our feet’s nowadays.

I can still remember that when I was a teenager (many years ago) I’ve been watching all these beloved bands playing live and I was wondering if I’ll ever make it and live my dream. Know, in a way, I’m living it. I have the chance to make my music, and some times play in the same stage with my favourite bands. What else can I ask for? This band made my dream coming true.

I hope that the new album satisfies our fans and that you all enjoy it as much as we did. Thanks!!!!