1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording of the new album?
The entire journey behind Sub Janus—from the first recording sessions to the final master and artwork—took us about a year, starting in autumn 2023. Bringing this album to life demanded a huge amount of energy, so we decided to put all our focus into the studio and temporarily put new songwriting on hold. We finally got back to rehearsals and composing last autumn, and the backbone of the next record is already standing. Right now, we’re deep into the arrangements and fine-tuning the final details.
2.You have a new album coming out in March, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?
The core of Calvana remains the same, but we’ve definitely pushed our boundaries. We’ve integrated cellos and drone sections into the new arrangements to create a richer atmosphere. However, the most significant difference for us are the lyrics. We’ve always been inspired by the mountains and with this album we wanted to solidify that tribute by bringing those themes directly into the songwriting for the first time.
3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the new release and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?
So, regarding our songwriting, we’ve pretty much stuck to our guns, but there’s definitely been an evolution from our first release to this new one. We’ve started bringing in some non-black metal stuff, like death metal atmospheres. We always try to keep the composing process as natural as possible, just letting our background and all the different music we listen to bleed into the songs.
As for the lyrics, this is actually the first record where we’re putting them out there for everyone to see. The band's concept has always revolved around the mountains, but with this album, we really wanted to push that even further. The themes range from echoes of ancient legends and the sheer power of nature versus man’s helplessness, to those raw, primal instincts.
4.I know that the band was named after a mountain in Italy, how does this name fit in with the musical style that you play?
The Calvana Mountains are basically our home turf. On one hand, they’re where you go to feel free, but they also have this eerie, ancient energy. There’s a lot of blood in the history of these valleys and plenty of local myths that stay with you. We’ve always been fascinated by how a place can be both beautiful and brutal at the same time, the sanctuary of the peaks versus the 'heavy' history of the land, so that's the vibe we try to capture.
5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
The cover is inspired by Janus Bifrons, an ancient Roman deity with two faces, symbolizing thresholds, inceptions, and transmutations. Beholding simultaneously the past and the future, he personifies transition, wisdom, and an all-encompassing perspective. We chose him because the concept of Janus is incredibly relevant today, it reflects what’s happening in the world and within our own lives. To bring this vision to life, we turned once again to our mate Coito Negato; he’s handled all our previous artwork and, as always, he never fails to deliver!
6.Has the band done any live shows?
From the beginning, Calvana has been conceived strictly as a studio project. We prefer to focus all our energy on the composition and the atmosphere of the records
7.Very little i known about the line up or band members, do you prefer to keep a lower profile?
Exactly. We’ve never explicitly revealed our identities because, for us, Calvana is a single entity whose sole purpose is to pay homage to the mountain. Disclosing the lineup adds no value.
8.The new album is going to be released on 'Adironack Black Mass', how would you compare working with this label to other labels that you have worked with in the past?
Our debut album was released in 2020 through Schattenkult Produktionen, followed by the second one in 2022 via Damnatio ad Bestias, with Adirondack Black Mass handling the vinyl edition in 2023. Our collaborations have always been positive, clear, and transparent across the board. Right from the first contact, we established clear goals, timelines, and release strategies; every interaction regarding the finer details has been smooth, ensuring everything was perfectly aligned for each release.
9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black metal?
We’re stoked with the response so far. Since we’re a studio-based project, our reach might be tighter compared to bands hitting the road, but thanks to socials, streaming, and webzines, we’re still getting our music out there. We’ve sold records worldwide and the reviews have been solid. But honestly, what makes us most proud is when people hit us up or write reviews saying they dig the atmosphere and the vibes—it’s awesome to know they’re feeling exactly what we wanted to nail with our sound.
10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
We don't really follow a set formula. For us, it's about craftsmanship; we prefer a meticulous process, focusing on quality over quantity. We’re going to keep writing the way we have been—always keeping our vision of the band as a single entity and staying focused on the music and the vibes we want to channel, always as a tribute to the mountains.
11.What are some of the bands or musical styles the band members are currently listening to nowadays?
Our listening habits are always varied... black metal, death metal, grindcore, doom, sludge, post-punk, new wave, and so on. We draw from everything, from the most extreme sounds to the darkest atmospheres, to shape our music.
12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
We want to express our gratitude to the key people who helped bring Sub Janus to life: Alex at Hill Valley Studio, Zven at Orange Recording Studio, Coito Negato for the artwork, and Eleonora Piquè for the cello sessions. Each of them played a crucial role in the process, as did our supporters and the Adirondack Black Mass label; a huge shout-out to Cianan for believing in the project and releasing the album. To wrap up, many thanks for the interview, we truly appreciate the opportunity.
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