Answered guitarist Stefano, thank you!
Translated by Duzl, thank you!
Questions prepared Jakub Asphyx.
Recenze/review - BLOODTRUTH - Martyrium (2018):
Ave BLOODTRUTH! I have never found any interview with you in Czech language. I will ask you first to introduce the band to the readers who do not know you yet. You can start from the beginning and take us throw the whole history of BLOODTRUTH.
Hey guys! I am very happy to release this interview for you! I’m Stefano, guitarist of the band Bloodtruth. The band was born in 2009 in collaboration with Paolo and Francesco of Fleshgod Apocalypse. I wrote three songs, Coerced to Serve, Suppurating of Deception and Summoning the Heretics and we recorded guitars and drums. These songs we never released so that we decided to call it quit soon because of the huge amount of job that F.A. project needed at that time. I had to wait three long years to put together a new crew able to record a demo in 2012 that allowed us to finally sign a deal with the label Unique Leader Records. In 2014 we released our first album "Obedience" with which we were able to play in two European tours together with bands such Nile, Suffocation, Antropofagus and Devangelic. In 2016 we decided to make a line-up change so that we decided to assign the vocal duties to our current singer Luis Maggio and we even decided to include a second guitar player, Stefano Clementini. In September 2018 we released our second album called Martyrium and we immediately started supporting it headlining a brand new European tour. That’s the whole story.
This year, you have just released the new album "Martyrium". Again, it's a dark, harsh and honest death metal. Did you access to the recording process differently than last time or did you choose verified practices?
As in the album Obedience, we recorded guitars and bass parts in my home recording studio. It’s an established practice that works well. Drums were recorded in the band studio too, for the first time. it was really hard because we reduced the editing process to the minimum that was possible. We sent all the recorded parts to Stefano Morabito at the 16th Cellar Studios in order to reamp, mix and master them.
The new album seems to me more complicated, perhaps initially less accessible, at the same time incredibly dark and evil. Was it intentional? How did the album originate and how did you compose the music?
Yeah, it was our purpose to create such effect. We worked really hard on the songwriting process, during almost three years. Usually me and Riccardo on the bass, we write some riffs then I start working on the arrangements; this process is long and slow and it is an intense and close collaboration that involves all band members.
I have a "Martyrium" in my MP3 player and I have to say that this album literally engulfed me. These are not just great ideas but also sound is simply devastating. I'm sitting in the tram, and suddenly I find myself shaking my legs. I have a feeling to start moshing. If I weren’t so old, I would probably start to. Where did you record and who is signed under mastering?
16th Cellar Studios mixed and mastered it. We really love to work with the producer Stefano Morabito, we finally found a personal sound that is unusual between brutal death metal bands; it is definitely darker and gloomier if compared to the Obedience sound.
Who is the author of lyrics on "Martyrium"? What are they talking about? Where do you get inspiration for themes?
Our singer Luis wrote them all but Peste Noire, that our previous singer Luigi Valenti created. We always put under the spot the issues Church Inquisition historically created. In the new album lyrics are based on historical events; they are also referred to literature masterpieces such as Umberto Eco "The Name of The Rose".
Who is signed under the cover of "Martyrium"? I like his work very much. How did you choose the motif for cover?
We really love it too! Josè Gabriel Alegria Sabogal made this painting, he is a very talented Peruvian artist that created it exclusively for Bloodtruth. We needed a change of direction, we wanted to follow the XV Century’s artistic style and I found this talented artist searching for artwork on the Metal-Archives.com internet page. We commissioned him about 10 paintings about different tortures used during history, then we picked this image as a cover. Recently we released a very limited deluxe version CD the band directly produced, with a book that includes all the original images Josè painted (uncolored version too). If anyone is interested, it is possible to order it at our webstore www.bloodtruth.net
When we look back at the beginning ... What was the first impulse to found the band? And why the brutal death metal? It's not the typical style which can would give you great "glory".
In the past I was playing bass in different bands with different music styles, anyway, as I love to play guitar too I realized I was able to play fast riffs and articulated songs. That’s why I love playing brutal death metal. I really don’t care about glory, I love to play my music and to share it with other people around the world.
You come from Italy and you play extreme death metal. Our readers would certainly wonder how the death metal scene works in Italy. To tell you the truth, so lately I hear only the great bands from there. Does this mean that the scene there is so strong at the moment? What about concerts, how many people coming to them?
Actually, there are a lot of underground death metal bands here and the level is really high. I love to listen to new bands and I suggest you to listen to bands such as Psychotomy, Pit of Toxic Slime and Posthuman Abomination, they really kick ass! About shows, I’ve to tell you that the masses are attending big shows only, a bunch of people is the maximum amount expected for underground shows. It is a bit depressing, but that’s it.
I have to ask. You live in Italy, which is considered a strongly Catholic country. Do you have any problems with it? The cover of the novelty "Martyrium" also refers to the faith. Do you get space in TV or in newspapers? How is life in your country affected by Christianity?
We live in the middle of Italy in a region called Umbria in which there is a big connection with the Christianity (San Francesco from Assisi, one of the most famous saints, was born here). I really love to visit Churches or religious places because it is part of our history and culture. You can feel the walls talking about medieval stories, tortures and you can imagine people publicly executed after summary judgements decided by high priests. Every place here could be a source of inspiration for brutal music and lyrics.
From your music is possible to feel that you are influenced by American death metal school and as well by the old European bands. How do you feel about it as a fan? Do you prefer the original death metal of the 1990s or do you get inspiration as well from the new albums? If yes so I am wondering which bands had the greatest impact on BLOODTRUTH.
I am 42 years old and I started listening to death metal more than 20 years ago. My favourite band was Suffocation, then Morbid Angel, Death and all the American death metal music from the ’90s. I love to listen to new brutal death metal bands too, I usually listen to new albums in my car while I am going to work. That’s why I love new and old death metal bands both and it’s a huge inspiration for me and Riccardo as well.
What about you and concerts in general? Are you a band that goes for concerts anytime you can or you are picky about where you will play? Do you have a dream, maybe a group you would like to go with for a tour or festival, a city where you would like to perform?
Usually we love to play live and we try to find a way to accept every proposal. We are always searching for gigs, so please, whoever wants us to play and listen to our music don't hesitate and get in touch with us. I have to say we have toured with Nile and Suffocation and that was one of our big satisfactions. We would definitely love to take part in some European festival like MetalDays, Hellfest or tour America.
I'm going to listen again your new album "Martyrium". I have to say that for me personally, this is basically a perfect death metal work. Totally inferno. I wish big success to your record and to get this album to as many people as is possible. This album deserves it. I wish you all the best in your personal life. Whatever you do and the last words are yours. If you want to tell something to fans, labels, promoters, you have space here..... Thank you for the interview and I am looking forward to seeing you live!
Thank you so much Jakub, I really appreciate your words! I want to send a message to the readers and to our fans: please connect to our social media for further news, I really hope to see you soon in one of our live gigs. Thank you again for such a great opportunity and keep up with your great work!
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