The first is one questions that I have to make. Why did you leave Opera IX?
Hi Federico and all Music Extreme! Well, there is not one exact reason. Simply, around one year ago some problems started inside the band, regarding the direction the band must follow, the ideology, the music, the compositions. For these reasons the relationships among the band members began to deteriorate. Instead of wasting our time in stupid arguments, me and Flegias decided to take the only possible and intelligent decision and we left the band. Some weeks later we founded CADAVERIA, a new and free project where every member can discharge his metal instincts and express his ideas, without ideological restriction.
How did you choose Frank and Killer Bob to play with you? What have they brought to Cadaveria´s music?
Me and Flegias already knew Killer Bob and Frank and we were sure we could trust them as persons and musicians. All new members are experienced musicians: Frank and Baron Harkonnen have played often as tour men, while behind the name Killer Bob there is John, Necrodeath bassist. We already were in contact with Frank 'cause he is in the musical underground, he has got his own recording studio (the studio where we recorded The Shadows' Madame) and have helped us in the past, with Sacro Culto album. He plays since he was a child but, as I told, he always played as session man and he never had a steady band. For him CADAVERIA represents the opportunity to be really part of a band, to cooperate with other people to compose his own music, and to show his talent. Killer Bob is a person open to new experiences, and even if he already plays in other two band (Necrodeath and DyNAbyte) he was glad to participate to our project as bassist and sound engineer. They are all open minded people and everyone has a different musical background (thrash, classical heavy metal, nu metal). The brought a fresh air in the band and a new energy in our sound. The union of five different minds and of five different musical tendencies is the main responsible of the many contaminations you can find in CADAVERIA music.
What can you tell me about the way in which "The Shadows Madame" was composed?
Some songs from The Shadows' Madame came from my and Flegias' past musical experience. Some ideas we didn't expressed in Opera IX are now developed in CADAVERIA. Some songs have been built on some voice melodies I had worked on during the last year. These melodies have been the first point where to start from. Other ideas come directly in the rehearsal room, brought by the new members. When the main songs' structure was ready, we entered recording studio. Having a studio at our complete disposal, with no time restriction, allowed us to care about all details. Here the arrangements were set, some songs were modified and keyboards were added. Then we started studying the details of the sound and finally we started recording.
Why did you choose Scarlet Recs. to release the album?
Among the labels we contacted, Scarlet was the one that immediately showed to appreciate our musical proposal and to be truly interested in the band. We had already been in contact with Scarlet some years ago, when Opera IX had to decide for which label to sign for The Black Opera album. Even if the band had opted for another label, me and Flegias had maintained good relationships with Scarlet (that is also Necrodeath's label). The fact to already know Scarlet stuff made negotiations be more easy, and we quickly reached an agreement. They were positively impressed by our music, they trust our potentialities, they were ready to put CADAVERIA among the label's priorities and to give the band the proper promotion. With these premises, there wasn't the risk, for us, to be one of the hundreds forgotten and "left-to-their-destiny" bands of a big label's roster. These are the main reasons that led us to sign for Scarlet.
What are the lyrics in "The Shadows Madame" about?
Well, all lyrics have been written by me and they deal with my personal interests, with my believes, my memory, my dreams and nightmares, my credo. Darkness, magic, death, existence are the main themes. "Spell", for example, talks about a young witch who places trust in cosmic energies for her rituals, it deals with meditation and natural elements, while "Declaration of spiritual Independence" deals with the power of mind, it hymns to self confidence, to freedom and to action. "In memory of Shadows' Madame" is a sort of epitaph ante mortem, dedicated to a charismatic lady survived to the jokes of fate, while "Absolute Vacuum" contains my personal meditations about evil and death. Some sentences I wrote belong to my past, some other lyrics have been composed in a second time, after the most part of the music was ready. The Shadows' Madame lyrics can be considered as the mirror of my personality, some songs have been influences by my readings, above all by Charles Baudelaire and William Butler Yeats.
Are Baron Harkonnen´s keyboards one of the main points in Cadaveria´s music?
I don't think so. In the beginning we thought not to use keyboards in CADAVERIA, then, when the main songs' structure was already set, we decided to introduce some keyboards parts in order to amplify and sustain the atmosphere of the tracks. So keyboards strengthen the atmosphere of our songs but aren't the basis of our music. I think the main point are represented by the guitar and by the voice.
Are there any songs that were left out of the album and maybe will be released in a Mini CD ?
There were some ideas for a eighth song, just made of acoustic guitars, keyboards and voice and an half idea to make a cover, but finally we opted for a different solution. There are no project for a mini CD now and I don't know if these ideas will be developed in the next album. Actually we are just thinking about some new riffs and only in June we will start the composition process for the new CD, so now it is early to say which direction we will take.
Do you have any plans of touring to support the new album?
We will play some live dates is Italy in April and May. Another live show is in preparation for July and we received an offer to play at a festival in summer, but nothing is sure at the moment. Please, check out our website for any updates!
Any final words?
I would like to thank you for this interview and all old and new fans for their never-ending support! Keep the metal flame alive and let you be enveloped by the shadows of darkness.
CADAVERIA WEBSITE: www.cadaveria.com
