1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording and release of the new album?
“Breeze of Memories” was actually recorded during 2013 and 2014, but it was only released this spring, so a lot of things have changed. Firstly, we modified half of our line-up with two new guitarists, Stefano and Jacopo, then we immediately started working on a different approach on the songwriting and evolved our sound with more influences and experimentation. You’ll hear everything on our next album.
2.Recently you have released a new album, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording and also how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?
Compared to the previous, this album is a completely different thing. The first one is just a report of our early years. With “Breeze of Memories” we have found our own sound, we mixed different influences and tried to create a more emotional approach to the music itself.
3.In the beginning the band played more of a traditional and melodic style of black metal but have evolved more into a post black metal band on the new recording, what was the decision behind going into this musical direction?
Actually, nothing was decided, it was just a natural evolution. “Seventh Genocide” was raw, immature and naïve, it’s probably a regular release for a novice black metal band with some good ideas, but without the right maturity for realizing them. The biggest error was probably releasing it as a full-length and not as a compilation of demos. ” Breeze of Memories” represents the moment when we started to make music seriously, it’s the first step of an evolution that will continue with the new material.
4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer music?
Lyrics are about the immensity and purity of nature as the only guard of men’s spiritual roots. Death is another important topic; it represents the liberation from physical existence. This concept in particular will be examined in a more transcendental and spiritual way on the next album, including out-of-body experiences and astral projections. In the first album, lyrics were mostly inspired by 800’s French and Italian dark poetry, that’s one of the things we still like about that record...
5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?
In the past we played some great shows here in Rome including a gig with Irish legends Primordial. Unfortunately, with the old line-up live performances weren’t always perfect and it was a big limitation. Now that Stefano and Jacopo joined the band everything is completely different, they are excellent musicians and we have a common goal as a band. Our shows are like a ritual experience: we usually play with lights off, scented candles and various scenic tools.
6.Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?
Our plans now are all focused on the making of our next album, which is actually complete for an half. After its release we’ll surely try to promote it with live gigs and tours.
7.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?
“Breeze of Memories” was already released on CD by Naked Lunch Records, an experimental music label from northern Italy. On days also a tape version will be available through US based label Red River Family Records., which is perfectly suitable to our attitude. For the release of the next record we don’t have any information, we’ll see when it will be complete.
8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been t your music by fans of post black metal?
For an underground band like us we think it’s fine.
9.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that some of the band members are a part of?
¾ of the band is also involved in a post-rock project called Angew, which is currently on hold. Rodolfo and Valerio are also part of Dreariness’s live line-up; the band is preparing some shows and releasing a new album soon. Valerio is also a member of progressive/post-rock band Odd.
10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
We don’t know, but we don’t preclude anything.
11.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
“Breeze of Memories” was clearly influenced by post-rock, post-black metal and American “Cascadian” black metal scene. On the next record we’ll explore also progressive rock, ambient and atmospheric music in general. We are very open minded listeners and avid record collectors. We listen to a lot of various musical genres such as atmospheric, experimental music, extreme metal, post-rock, 70’s rock, folk, pop and even classical music or jazz.
12.What are some of your non musical interests?
For this question, different answers by each singular member are probably better:
Rodolfo: Beside music I use to watch tons of movies which also influence me during composition of music and lyrics. Some of my favourite directors are Kim Ki-Duk (his Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring is probably my absolute favourite movie), Takeshi Kitano, Lars Von Trier, David Lynch, Sion Sono (Love Exposure is just crazy), Andrey Tarkovskij, Lav Diaz (We used a sequence from his 7 long “Melancholia” as visual during one of our shows). Bela Tarr (Satantango), Hayao Myiazaki, Satoshi Kon, Katsuhiro Otomo. Speaking of books I’d like to mention Richard Adams’ “Watership Down”, Haruki Murakami’s “In the sign of the sheep” and the esoteric book “Life After Life”, very influent on my lyrics.
Jacopo: I’m a lot into anime, manga and hentai. Some of my favourite artists are Hiromu Arakawa (Full Metal Alchemist, Arsian Senkin), Masashi Kishimoto, Sui Ishida and I’m also influenced by visionary painter Takato Yamamoto. Speaking of movies, I like many works by Quentin Tarantino, Sergio Leone, Takashi Miike (Sukyiaky Western Django, Gozu) and many others. Another thing I really like are videogames, I have some favourite titles from 90’s Nintendo masterpieces (The Legend of Zelda, the Pokémon saga) to modern ones (Darksouls, Bloodborne)
Stefano: I’m a big fan of sci-fi and literature in general, some of my favourite authors are Philip K. Dick (Eye in the Sky, Clans of the Alphane, The Penultimate Truth), Isaac Asimov, Stanislaw Lem (Solaris), but also Haruki Murakami, Franz Kafka, Michael Ende (The Mirror in the Mirror), George Orwell and Aldous Huxley. I also love western cinema (Sam Pekinpah, Edwin Sherin) and contemporary painters like Salvador Dalì, Renato Guttuso, Giorgio De Chirico and Giorgio Morandi.
Valerio: My interests includes Martial Arts, Videogames of every genre, Bauhaus architecture, philosophy (Immanuel Kant, Friederich Nietzsche), European languages, cooking and movies, in particular dystopian and utopian films.
13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Thanks a lot for the opportunity and for the kind words on the review. Occult Black Metal Zine has our full support
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