(interview done between dec '99/jan 2000)
It was in ’95 the first time I listened to this now well-known band with their first cult album titled “The Call Of The Wood” (released the previous year for a small italian label named at that time Miscarriage Rec.) and I felt impressed for their unique style: a killer mix of folk and death/black metal in a total dark conception. Believe me, for me that album is one of the darkest I’ve had the pleasure to listen to… After that Opera IX signed with Shiver Rec. in Holland and released in ‘98 “Sacro Culto”, another jewel that consecrated ‘em as one the best european death/black metal bands (or at least for me). However I don’t think they need any presentation ‘cause the story is well-known. For this first issue of My Heart Bleeds For You I’ve finally done an interview with them, just when they came back from Sweden for their third album recordings. The beautiful she-singer Cadaveria answered my questions… and ok: this interview too can sound a little bit old/obsolete… their third Cd is out since a bunch of months!!!
Vanish: Currently people says that’s next the release of new album by you and they call it “The Black Opera”… could you give me any anticipation ‘bout its lyrical/musical concept? You’ve been in Sweden for the recording sessions, don’t you?
Cadaveria: At the end of 1999 Opera IX signed a contract with Avantgarde Music for the new album. It seems this time we have found the right label, with the good requirements for a big distribution and promotion. In fact this allowed us to go to Sweden for the recording. We have been at Studio Underground from the 9th to the 25th of january 2000. After the mastering and the artwork will be finished, the new album will be ready. I think it will be out in april 2000. Yes, the title is “The Black Opera – Symphoniae Mysteriorum In Laudem Tenebrarum” and it is a concept album. We have imagined to do a fantasy journey in the arcane dimensions of evil, visiting places wrapped by occultism, rituals, blood and demons. As you see, also this album will be another chapter dedicated to darkness. The cd will also contain a “strange” cover of “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” (Bauhaus).
Vanish: Are you able to give an objective judgement to the two Opera IX albums underlining the main differences between them? What of the two do you prefer? What of the two gives you most satisfation?
Cadaveria: It is not difficult: “The Call Of The Wood” was recorded in a few days, without money, the label was really small and has no distribution; the result was an album with bad sound, that sold 5000 copies. “Sacro Culto” was more lucky: Shiver Records was not a major but did a good work, compared with its possibilities. Considering the sound I prefer the 2nd one, but I’m devoted to “The Call…” ‘cause it was our 1st important work, and thanks to it Opera IX have become well known in all the scene.
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Vanish: A typical question of mine: what’s your (personal?) definition for the word “art”? Do you consider yourself an artist? In which circumstances the music is not art for you? Cadaveria: Hoping not to seem presumptuous, I consider me as an artist, first ‘cause music is art, and I play music…if I’m not wrong, then ‘cause “art”, for me, is a way to express the artist’s personality with passion and constancy, and this is what I’m doing since 1992. Then art must communicate something new, I mean it must add something to existent things, without coping and repeating itself. Opera IX sound is something unique, people and magazines talk about it and this is the demonstration that our sound is something interesting and different. These are the presuppositions of art, otherwise art doesn’t exist. Vanish: I admit I could forecast, more or less, the answer you’ll give to this question, but I’d like to do this anyway: what is the meaning for “Opera IX”? Then I want ask you if there a particular reason for you have choose “Cadaveria” as war-name… Cadaveria: The name Opera IX has a very important meaning for us ‘cause is the mirror of the band’s soul: “opera” must be intended as “creation”, it may concern the plasmation of the matter, the outcome of a labour or the realization of a though and of a way of being, so it is like to say “let’s make something great that may represent what we are”. “IX” is a meaningful number and for a long time it has been synonymous of magic: it has the power of three times three, the perfect number, it is the last solitary number over which there is nothing except the dark and the mystery. In other words, it is like to say: express your devotion to darkness. Why Cadaveria? I was searching a name that represents myself (like I’m inside) and my appearance, my white skin and my look. “Cadaveria” was perfect: I really look like a cadaver, with pale skin (I really like this thing in a girl! -Ed), dressed in black and extremely reserved (a dead person brings with him all the secrets, in the coffin). Saying “I’m a cadaver” is also a way to be ironical about death. Vanish: What point do you want to reach with your music and/or with Opera IX? Where do you want to arrive? |
Cadaveria: What I want is to record two or three albums so that, when I listen to them, I can say “Oh, yeah that’s what I am, this is how I really sing, the words I’m singing are what I want to cry to the world, the guitar riffes drives me crazy” and people, listening to them will understand how crazy and sick I am (and all the band is). The album we have just finished to record is the 1st one that really satisfied me in all this points. “The Black Opera” is an open book on Opera IX, exactly what I want.
Vanish: Admitted that one there is, which is the most recurrent definition you give to your own persona?
Cadaveria: One definition is not enough: ambiguous, bastard and sensitive (Eh??? -Ed.)… surely interesting.
Vanish: “I raise my hand and touch the illusion/ my mind is powerful and my ego is high/ as the mountain in front of me”: these are the verses of all the “Sacro Culto” lyrics that impressed me mostly… to raise to power the own spirit, give off a certain kind of power that in certain cases put the individual (the victim of himself?) above anything existing and above anybody else (for counterbalance the suffered pains?)… I usually name this fact as “misanthropic principle”; I’d like to know who has written the lyrics for “Fronds Of The Ancient Walnut”, but mostly I’d like to have a clear explanation of the three verses mentioned above for understand if I’ve seen rightly…
Cadaveria: “Fronds Of The Ancient Walnut” was written by Ossian, but a very important thing I want to let you know is that Opera IX lyrics reflects the wish of all members. When one of us writes a lyric (every one can write one), its meaning is discussed with the other members and this lyric must belong to all the band. I really don’t understand those bands that, when you ask the guitar player “what this lyric mean?” he answers “I don’t know, it was written by the singer, ask him”. Anyway, the meaning is very similar to what you said. There are some experience in life where you feel yourself perfect and you say “now I can do all”. It is not a bad feeling of onnipotence, like to say “I’m all, everything, while you don’t count anything”, it is a moment of total knowledge and dominion of your possibilities. I strongly believe in the power of my mind and spirit.
Vanish: Lately I haven’t paid attention in some underground things, but from a certain mag. I’ve read that your drummer Flegias is the new singer for the italian cult Necrodeath (I’ve also had the confirmation of this thing visiting their web site!) (At that time the last Necrodeath wasn’t out yet –Ed), which are your comments?
Cadaveria: I’m happy for Flegias, Necrodeath are living the success they didn’t had 10 years ago. It’s a great thing. I wish them all the best, but I prefer to concentrate myself on Opera IX.
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Vanish: Believe it or not (no compliments such as “you’re the best ‘cause you’re in my ‘zine” or similar shit) “The Call Of The Wood” is one of the best records I’ve ever listened to. Someone has told me it will be reprinted, is it true? Cadaveria: Shiver Records is interested in reprinting it, but we received an offer from Brazil too and I don’t exclude future contacts when the 3rd album will be out. Now we’re concentrating on “The Black Opera”, then we will decide about the 1st album. Vanish: End of the interview… the word is yours… Cadaveria: Thanks for the interesting interview, wait for our new opus! Gorgot assai belem.
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Opera IX,
via Don Carra 57
13040 Saluggia (Vc), Italy.
e-mail: opera9@hotmail.com
Note: this e-mail address was own of Cadaveria which is no longer a member of Opera IX, so probably is no more a valid one. Sorry, I don’t know about the postal address, which was the Ossian’s.
