One of the more prominent names on the local music scene in the 1980s was a hard rock band called Stratkast. The band’s diehard following ensured each of their gigs was an experience in itself.

Fronted by vocalist Joe Mizzi, Stratkast was also one of the few bands at the time to actually release a single, So Sorry.

It all seems a very long time ago, and each band member has gone his separate way since then, but music remained a big part of Mizzi’s life. In fact, it led him to move to Germany, where he joined former B3 bandmate Gino Micallef and took on vocal duties with Cologne band High ’n’ Dry.

Here, Mizzi got his first taste of the professional music industry, going on to record the Hands Off My Toy album and getting the chance to support rock icons such as Iron Maiden, Samson and The Cross. The band even performed at the Lorelei rock festival, opening for Marillion, Magnum and Meatloaf.

Mizzi moved on to other projects after High ’n’ Dry, namely a band called Ruscut, and later Jay, the latter a melodic hard rock band that Mizzi still considers to be “the best band I’ve ever played with”.

He eventually returned to Malta, staying long enough to record his first solo album, Radioed, in the late 1990s. A mixture of hard rock songs with a mainstream shimmer, the album, which saw him team up with former Stratkast guitarist Pejxa, ex-High ’n’ Dry bandmate Micallef, Robert Longo and guitarist Torsten Weber, received positive reviews.

Not long after its release, Mizzi decided to return to Germany, his musical flame burning low but not extinguished as he took time to readjust.

“I did take a few years off because there were other priorities to take care of,” he says when we meet during one of his regular visits to Malta.

Despite a comparative slump in musical creativity, those years off still played an important part in Mizzi’s career, as he took the time to build a home studio and started to learn the basics of what he calls the art of recording.

I mention that this kind of set-up has become somewhat popular in the digital age, with many artists producing their own music. “I wouldn’t go as far as calling myself a producer,” he laughs, “but I know enough to come up with a decent-sounding finished song.”

Having the means to make his own music pushed him to start playing the guitar again. “I hadn’t picked up a guitar for more than 20 years. In fact, most people only know me as a vocalist as I never played guitar onstage.

“And even if I do start performing live again, I’ll probably still bring in a guitarist as I prefer to focus on the singing.”

Being in control of everything, Mizzi says he also plays the bass parts and programmes the drums, using only authentic , of course, but says he is open to some outside help.

Other musicians have contributed parts to some songs, particularly guitar solos.

It’s a long way off from the days of Rokarja AST, the former British Army barracks that was home to a large chunk of Malta’s rock bands at the time, among them B3, Mizzi’s first band.

“Tigné was an amazing thing to be part of.” Indeed it was – a music community that actually received support at a minimal cost to the bands.

There has been nothing quite like it since; a sad fact that we both acknowledge with more than a hint of disappointment.

Back to the here and now, Mizzi talks about the various bands he rates as influences.

Listening to his recent work, an inclination towards metal is evident.

“I admit I have gotten more into metal in recent years, but my musical spectrum is wide... I love anything from grunge to extreme metal.” He mentions a long list of bands that includes post-grunge acts Nickelback and Creed as well as Nightwish, Lacuna Coil, System of a Down and Slipknot.

“Hard rock and metal have always been in my blood; there’s so much to discover in listening to different kinds of rock and metal – the energy is a constant, but the production reveals so much in different ways; it’s incredible,”he says.

The production on his albums is as meticulous as his home set-up enables him to be, but does put a lot of work into his albums.

“Studio work requires a lot of time and patience, but fortunately for me, there’s a lot of help available online and I’m always open to advice,” he says.

His willingness to learn has been a precious asset throughout, and it has led to a string of self-produced albums, the latest of which is his fifth, Angels Fall, which Mizzi describes as having “a more defined direction”.

Recorded between early 2009 and mid-2010, the 11 tracks on Angels Fall were all performed and recorded by Mizzi, except for the odd solo on some of the songs, and it is his first to be professionally mastered.

“The album has a harder, heavier direction; in fact, the only song that can be described as a ballad is Fading,” Mizzi says, adding that the style has an old-school touch.

However, he points out there are a lot of contemporary influences too. “The difference is perhaps evident when comparing a song like False Paradise with Other Side Of The Medal.”

Clocking in at just under an hour, the album offers a mixture of old and new characteristics, though the overall direction is effectively harmonised so the record sounds cohesive.

Mizzi’s vocal dexterity is pushed to the fore, giving him the space to wander and explore different avenues.

The album features some of Mizzi’s best work to date, and it is a pity that for the time being at least, these songs are confined to being played on CD or MP3 only, and not in a live setting.

“I do have plans to play live, but they’re on hold for the time being,” he explains.

“There’s the issue of finding the right musicians for the job; besides, right now I’m more concerned with working on more songs and experimenting with sounds to find where I’m most comfortable.

“When I get there, I can start to think about putting together a live band.”

Angels Fall can be downloaded from joeym.bandcamp.com in your preferred digital format.

The songs can also be streamed on Mizzi’s web pages on Reverbnation, My Space and Soundclick.

CD albums can be ordered by contacting Mizzi directly either through these websites or on Facebook.

www.reverbnation.com/joeym59

bugeja.michael@gmail.com