All Aboard the ‘Neverland Train’: An Interview with Marco Pastorino 

By Justin Smulison 

If you’re a fan of European melodic rock and metal you’re probably already familiar with at least one of Marco Pastorino’s active symphonic, prog or power metal groups: Temperance, Fallen Sanctuary, Serenity, Virtual Symmetry or Christiano Filippini’s Flames of Heaven.

In most cases, Pastorino is a (or the) primary creative force as guitarist, songwriter and vocalist.  

But in Neverland Train, his newest venture, the multi-talented Italian is relegated to vocals and melody arrangements with a seat beside the conductor, Jens Faber, best known as the mastermind behind Dawn of Destiny. Joined by Iron Savior drummer Patrick Klose, the trio’s debut, Alive In Hell, recently left the station at El Puerto Records for the rest of the world. This is no ordinary album, as it pays homage to Jim Steinman, the renowned songwriter and producer who once helped Meat Loaf, Bonnie Tyler, and Fire Inc. achieve worldwide fame.  

Alive in Hell is comprised of 10 originals, which – if you didn’t know better – you would’ve sworn you had heard performed by one of the aforementioned artists. This is heavy, rock opera-style music that plays like lost treasures from Steinman’s vault. The one cover, Fire Inc.’s “Tonight Is What It Means To Be Young,” best known from the cult classic 1984 film, “Streets of Fire.” 

In the first half of our interview, Marco and I spoke about the challenges and rewards of recording this ambitious album and why communication is so crucial among band members, particularly when they cannot perform in the same room at the same time.

In the latter half of the interview, we discuss all the recent and future activity of his other groups – from the recent Flames of Heaven release, Symphony of the Universe, to the upcoming return of Fallen Sanctuary and Temperance’s new album and Fall tour supporting Kamelot in the EU and the UK (see dates below). We also take a quick stroll down memory lane regarding his time with Secret Sphere and lavish praise on our mutual friend and his fellow paisan, Alessandro Del Vecchio. 

Song clips: 

Neverland Train: “Somewhere in this Universe” and “Still Alive”

Christiano Filippini’s Flames of Heaven: “Midnight Riders”

Neverland Train: Facebook | El Puerto Records: https://shop.el-puerto-records.com/de/

Virtual Symmetry: https://www.virtualsymmetry.com 

Fallen Sanctuary: https://www.afm-records.com/pages/album/terranova

Cristiano Filippini’s FLAMES OF HEAVEN: https://news.limb-music.com/cfsfoh-sotu/ | https://www.cristianofilippini.com/en/

Serenity: https://www.serenity-band.com/

Temperance:  

TemperanceBand.com | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | X

Temperance, supporting Kamelot, Dark Asylum World Tour: Europe Part I

Oct 31: Tilburg, NL 013 Poppodium [KamFest, Day 2 of 2]

Nov 1: London, UK O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire

Nov 3: Manchester, UK | O2 Ritz Manchester

Nov 5: Oberhausen, DE | Turbinenhalle

Nov 6: Pratteln, CH | Z7

Nov 7: Lyon, FR | La Rayonne

Nov 8: Stuttgart, DE | LKA-Longhorn

Nov 10: Krakow, PL | Klub Studio

Nov 11: Warsaw, PL | Progresja

Nov 13: Zagreb, HR | Boogaloo Club

Nov 14: Budapest, HU | Barba Negra

Nov 15: Belgrade, RS | Hangar

Nov 17: Trezzo sull’Adda, IT | Live Club

Nov 18: Padova, IT | Hall

Nov 20: Toulouse, FR | Metronum

Nov 21: ​​Barcelona, ES | Sala Razzmatazz 1

Nov 22: Madrid, ES | Sala La Riviera