Many adventures and changes. Soon after the recording of 'Hermeticus', early 2017, we had to salute our drummer Antonio Grassi after 4 years of cooperations, and we permanently welcomed Antonio Lacoppola (aka Eversor), who already played with us on the occasions of several gigs. Between spring/summer 2018 also our guitarist Niko Lucarelli parted ways with the project after 7 years with us, due to his new life's plans. Meanwhile these couple of structural changes, we moved forward with our aims and arranged the mastering of the album, joined the coven of Naturmacht Productions, designing together all the subsequent production and promotional steps. More recently, we recruited a new guitarist in our clan, Nicolò Fanelli (already member of Zolfo), rehearsing the full setlist with him from the beginning. On October 4th, at the 'Hermeticus' Release Show in Bari, our hometown, we were ready to blast with the new line-up and spread the first copies of the album.
2.Recently you have released a new album, what are some of the things you fell you have done different musically with this recording that you where not able to do with your previous releases?
We perceive 'Hermeticus' as our mature work. Musically it is composed of a powerful and evoking black metal sound coming from oldschool european roots. Compared with Dewfall's previous releases the songs show higher speeds as well as heavier downbeats, darker atmospheres, stronger plots, wider influences gathering music, history, literature and folkloristic traditions which, melt together, strongly shaped the new songwriting.
3.This is your first release since 2013, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time span?
VITTORIO: "Our previous EP 'Painful Death Lake' was promoted through an intense live activity for about 2 years. On the other hand, each phase of the production of 'Hermeticus' has been very meticulous; because of this, the 'pregnancy' of this album has taken around 2 years and half since the first pre-recording were taken. Mix it with the line up changes mentioned before by Flavio and you got the 5 years span. As they say, 'Good things take time'… and this was not an exception: we are very satisfied about the final product."
4.Originally the band started out playing a more traditional metal style, what was the decision behind going into more of a heavier black metal direction?
You know man, there's not a real decision behind this style evolution. Just a stream of consciousness in letting the new creations moving towards a natural direction. It belongs to our own inner artistic impulse. Our music is a wide weird canvas, painted by many brushes melting dark colors and unexpected lightnings.
5.The new recording is a concept album, can you tell us a little bit more about the story you have brought out with your lyrics?
Sure. 'Hermeticus' concept merges history, nature and literature in a symbolic portrait tributing the esoteric myth of the Emperor Frederick II, the medieval Suevian sovereign better known as “Stupor Mundi”, who ruled for a long time in Italy and mysteriously marked Apulian culture. The work is a personal metaphor bearing the ancient hermetic heritage of our homeland, connected with traditional atavistic heathendom. The story is narrated through eight songs composing two main historical and spiritual chapters ('Vivet Draco Magnus' and 'Vitae Mortisque Mysterium') and it is also performed with several Latin and medieval original Italian Poetry inserts.
6. Your lyrics go very deep into Esoteric, Hermeticism, Qabalah and Heathendoom, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in the occult arts?
Well, in a such a way we consider ourselves special warlocks. Our ritual is performed in and with music, our secret formulas are our lyrics and symbolism. Our spellbounds are emotions we try to evoke in our listeners, both in private and live sets. Personally, I am a deep wandering researcher, since my academic times I've been involved in these fields. But all Dewfall's clansmen carries a serious commitment in preserving and transmitting our old cultural traditions.
7.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Dewfall'?
I'm always a bit secretive about this topic. But I can say the name 'Dewfall' is linked with human macro-microcosmos, with the Axis Mundi, also represented in our logo and stage scenic design elements. It is the continous dichotomous dialogue between life and afterlife, sun and moon, pure and impure, perennial spirit and evolving body. Quod Superius, Sicut Inferius.
8.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
The artwork has been painted by the Serbian illustrator “Khaos Diktator” (Horna, Nordjevel, Saor...) based on our concept. We have been really thrilled for cooperating with this artist as we have been strongly impressed by his talent in painting with a majestic dark style, perfectly fitting with our theme and character. The front cover shows the Emperor Frederick II mummified on his throne, holding the symbols of power and desecrating those of false systems (the Church in this case). He's surrounded by a metaphysical octagonal element possessed by the ouroboros and everything is under his Hawk's surveillance. The wooded octagon stylises the numerologic redundance materialised in the back cover with “Castel del Monte”, the august octagonal monument symbol of Italy, cryptic heritage of the "Stupor Mundi", whose mysteries are part of 'Hermeticus' tales.
9.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?
VITTORIO: " Well, it’s not easy to say, but for sure there is one concert that remains fixed in my mind: it was in May 2014, we were touring with Taake and the last stop of the tour was in our hometown in Bari. As the live-machine was perfectly operating at the end of the tour, we played a really remarkable show, and it was the first time we heard a spontaneous, powerful roar by the crowd saying “Dewfall, Dewfall” at the end of the concert. You know, the first time can’t be forgotten!"
10.Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?
VITTORIO: "On 22nd December the last of the 7 shows of the 'Hermetic Courts 2018' will take place in Napoli. We are currently working on an European Tour for the next spring, and on some other single appointments: we would like, for sure, to reach as much audience and places as we can."
11.On the new album you also had a few guests, can you tell us who they are and also there contribution to the recording?
Historical sources describes the 'Hermetic Court' of the Stupor Mundi as an eclectic, multicutlural and multidisciplinary one. The imperial entourage was composed by many characters, artists, intellectuals and scientists. Thinking of a certain parallelism, we tried to reproduce that scenery involving many artists coming from different geographical areas, which could infuse a diverse and precious contribution to our opus. This way we committed the illustration for the new logo to Moravian artist Vojtěch Doubek - Moonroot art (illustrator for Nokturnal Mortum and more).Herbrand Larsen (ex-Enslaved) Conclave & Earshot Studios (Bergen, Norway), produced by Herbrand Larsen. Moreover, we decided to involve several international artists within the project for releasing new band logo, artworks, live set design and featuring
12.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black metal?
VITTORIO: "The reaction was absolutely good. In particular, we noticed with satisfaction that almost all the listeners of “Hermeticus” (I mean, not only “pure” blacksters) recognized a great value in it: we are very happy about this!"
13.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?
VITTORIO: "With Tales of Deliria (in which both me and Saverio play) we are taking a sabbatical, while Zolfo (where Saverio and Nicolò play) are spreading Doom Tunes at full force. They are actually recording their first album, and I’m sure we will hear soon some positive news from these guys."
14.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
FLAVIO: "I'm going to make an official revelation to you and your readers: 'Hermeticus' has already an heir. We have started working at the new songs which will compose our new full-length. It will be even darker and more extreme in intents and sound, minimalist and progressive songwriting at the same time. The rest is suspense. Looking forward to entering the studios again."
15.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?
FLAVIO: "We try to express our music based on our own style. Of course European heritage, being black metal or epic metal, true metal, old school death and doom metal, plays a huge role in our 'education'. But we are sons of many various artistic bloodlines, from the Italian progressive rock to the classical and ancient Italic music. Last but not least, some forms of punk and blues. What are we listening to nowadays? Tons of underground bands. Underground hides so many talents, so much quality works and genuine attitude which deserve the deepest attention. And independent labels like Naturmacht Productions know this and it is strongly praiseworthy how they dedicate time and resources to the underground dimension, that's why we are very happy for working with Robert Brockmann."
16.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
FLAVIO: Thank you mate for guesting Dewfall in your webzine. And you guys, do not stop to support real music, attending live events when you can, and getting digital and physical albums from the bands you like by official and legal channels.
VITTORIO: "It was a pleasure to talk with you; hope to meet on the road each one of you, readers!"
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