Vacua Interview

 

1. Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording of the new album?

Right after finishing the recording sessions for the new album, we started writing new material and playing several live shows. It’s been a year full of opportunities and creative growth.

2. In November you have a new album coming out, musically how does it differ from your previous EP?

First of all, we moved away from the raw black metal style of the previous EP, going for a more modern sound and production — though without over-polishing it, keeping the grit that defines black metal. The songs are also generally faster, whereas the EP leaned more toward a depressive atmosphere. This time we aimed to strike a balance between melody and aggression.

3. Can you tell us a little bit more about the lyrical topics and subjects you explore with the new album?

As the title suggests, Mater revolves around the concept of the Mother — Mother Earth — who, in her final days, takes revenge on humankind by destroying herself, ending all life in a mix of pleasure, regret, and despair. The lyrics explore this theme from different angles: sometimes focusing on the Mother herself, sometimes personified as a Janara — a witch figure from the Benevento area central to our previous EP — and sometimes from the human perspective, reflecting on mankind’s madness, ignorance, and arrogance in the face of death, praying for Charon to lead them to the underworld. Overall, it’s about humanity’s constant violation of nature’s sacredness throughout time.

4. Some of your lyrics cover Paganism themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

Elements of Roman paganism occasionally appear in our lyrics — for instance, the figure of Charon — but what interests us most is how paganism was reinterpreted during the medieval era in the Benevento region, where our vocalist comes from. The Janare were women accused of heresy and witchcraft, often simply because they tried to preserve ancient rites tied to the worship and respect of nature’s sacred power.

5. Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?

The artwork depicts a woman — Mother Nature — walking away while looking back toward a burning city, the symbol of human civilization. Her expression could be read as regret, satisfaction, or perhaps both, embodying the duality of destruction and sorrow.

6. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?

Some of our best shows so far include our appearance at Rome Carnage Extreme Fest III on October 18, where Desaster headlined, and our recent opening for the U.S. black metal band Unholy Altar in Pescara on October 15. We see our live performances as ritual acts — we begin by lighting candles and burning palo santo to purify the atmosphere, allowing our music to serve as a bridge between the human and the divine.

7. Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?

Yes, we do have plans, including festival appearances, but we can’t reveal any details just yet.

8. The new album is coming out on Hidden Marly Productions, can you tell us a little bit more about how you came in contact with this label?

Some of us were already familiar with and admired Hidden Marly Productions’ releases. We reached out to them out of respect for their consistent quality in black metal and the chance to bring our music and concept all the way to Japan — literally the other side of the world from Italy.

9. On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black metal?

So far, the response has been very positive — both to our debut EP and to the new single “Dies Funeris Terrae”, which will be featured on Mater out on November 7. We’ve been pleasantly surprised to see listeners and buyers from all over the world — North and South America, Central, Eastern and Northern Europe, and Japan.

10. Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

Our direction seems quite clear, but we don’t want to impose any limits on ourselves.

11. What are some of the bands or musical styles the band members are currently listening to nowadays?

We mostly listen to black metal in all its forms — from the classics to the newer waves. Two contemporary bands we’ve been listening to a lot are Begotten and Cult of Fire. We also listen to medieval music, which sometimes serves as a source of inspiration.

12. Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

We invite everyone to stay tuned for upcoming news — most importantly, the release of our first full-length Mater on November 7, available on all digital platforms and on CD (including a Japanese edition with an obi strip) via Hidden Marly Productions. We would also like to thank Occult Black Metal Zine for giving us this space.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vacua_bm/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/VACUA-Band/61554966924958/
Bandcamp: https://vacuabm.bandcamp.com/album/vacua
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deneCypqol0
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/intl-it/artist/0LjOz3O3KSdLNNiqTbApkQ