1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the solo project since the recording and release of the new album?
1 - After the release of my first album, I started advertising in order to let everyone know about my musical production, the web is a great way to advertise and in this period I'm focusing on this part that is integral to musical production. In the meantime, I'm also taking care of the artistic side for new graphics to use.
2.Recently you have released your fist full length, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?
2 - The musical style is a mix of my usual listening, since I was a kid I listen to Mayhem, Marduk, Darkthrone, Taake, Limbonic Art, Tsjuder, Emperor, Immortal and my style is a consequence of these listenings that influence me more than anything in my musical composition and production. In addition, I added an ambient effect to my voice to try to distinguish myself from other musical productions of the genre.
3.Can you tell us a little bit more about the ambient vocal timbre approach to the harsh vocals you bring out on the new album?
3 - To make my voice as cold and disturbing as possible, I added a distortion to my voice, and a delay effect combined with other effects and a really dark vocal timbre comes out. I thought that modifying my voice like this could make the song darker and more tense, imbue it with anxiety and give it that touch that could differentiate me from other vocalists.
4.A lot of your lyrics cover the Pagan traditions of Northern Europe, which aspects of this topic have you covered in the lyrics so far?
4 - The lyrics of my songs tell of Norse legends, the myth merges with the musical culture and assimilates it. I really like Nordic mythology with its magic and its deities, and so I decided to make them an integral part of my lyrics. But not only Nordic mythology, in my songs I also talk about pagan rituals in the woods and medieval demonology.
5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Ancient Ritual'?
5 - I was looking for a name for the project that could evoke many things together and that at the same time sounded very dark, I thought that "Ancient Ritual" could be a way to remember the pagan origins that inspired the lyrics and at the same time in the mind could evoke that feeling of darkness and mystery. I am passionate about Occultism and I think this name suits me very well and what I want to express in my music.
6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
6 - The Artwork represents a forest full of vegetation, nocturnal and dark. Nature in its darkest and "hellish" face, the ancient forest witness to who knows how many pagan rituals through the centuries and full of mysticism and spirituality, a mystical place inhabited by ancient spirits and entities of various kinds. Our roots and those of our ancestors pass through the forest.
7.With this project you record everything by yourself, are you open to working with other musicians or do you prefer to work solo?
7 - I have collaborated with other musicians in the past, but I have decided that I will carry on this project alone so that I can express myself better without necessarily having to compromise both musically and in thought with others. It is my way of being able to express myself freely and also in this way I can compose and record more quickly and I will continue on this way.
8.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?
8 - I am looking for a label that is close to my needs and that treats the genre with due experience, I received some proposals after the publication of the Album but I am waiting to evaluate which one can best join to my extreme musical proposal.
9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black metal?
9 - I have received many followers and good feedback worldwide, of course it is still early to better understand how my work will be received by the public but I have to say that for now "Congressus Cum Daemone" has had a good reception from the listeners.
10.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician during the future?
10 - In the future I will definitely continue to give vent to my artistic vein with this Black Metal project, I have 4 songs that I had discarded for "congressus" and that I am remixing so I could soon publish them as an EP.
These songs were not discarded because I did not like them but only because I had decided that the full length should not exceed 8 tracks, so I will publish these separately.
11.What are some of the bands or musical styles you are currently listening to nowadays?
11 - I love the Black Metal of the 90s and it is my main listening, but I have to say that in the current panorama there are new extreme musical productions that I do not dislike. I listen to many bands, every day when I can I listen to music so I listen to different bands even during the same day. For example, while I'm answering your interview I'm listening to "Twilight of the Gods" by Bathory.
12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
12 - I thank Occult Black Metal Zine for granting me the interview and I also thank all those who these days are spending a few minutes of their day to follow me and listen to me. Thank you.
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