Jussi: So how are things with you and the rest of the group? With the latest release of Redefining Nothingness how has been the response so far?
Buzz: Things are going very well and I hope after many vicissitudes to have finally found a stable line-up, unfortunately the members who have come and gone over the years while making valuable contributions have wasted a lot of my time and the record releases over the years.
Unfortunately have been spotty due to these problems as well. The record was well acclaimed by critics and also by fans; we didn't go too far from our usual sound. Although, I actually wanted something more aggressive and I think we succeeded with keeping our atmospheres and adding to the gothic and progressive.
Jussi: Why the album title Redefining Nothingness? Does it have any particular meaning?
Buzz: Because if you notice the first record was called Seven Steps Into Nowhere, this one wants to redefine the concept of nothingness, what it is for us, so it basically indicates a new beginning.
Jussi: Heard that the band name MEMORIES OF A LOST SOUL got its name from a book found at the end of a 90's video game (Alone In The Dark-First Survival Horror Game), is this true? If so, what was it that made the name stand out (was it your idea or others)?
Buzz: Yes, the inspiration came to me from the book that the protagonist finds at the end of the game, he talks about a pact he made with Cthulhu that unfortunately gave him eternal life, but relegating his body to a tree that grew under the house, making it precisely damned. Lovecraft themes are always present in our songs, even in the next record there will be a track solely dedicated to Cthulhu.
Jussi: How long did it take to record this release?
Buzz: Unfortunately, this is a sore point because in the midst of the recording, there was line-up changes, the rhythm section of bass and drums left, so I had to more or less adapt/rewrite many parts. It took 3 years, taking into consideration also the covid problem.
Jussi: How would you describe the band sound to a first time listener?
Buzz: I honestly believe that the strength of our sound is the desire to surprise the listener, while still respecting our genre. The songs are normally written by me, presented to the band and then arranged by the whole band. I always use this system. We started with Swedish death, over time the keyboard was added so symphonic, gothic and sometimes progressive elements were added.
Jussi: Since this is the groups fifth release. Was there anything different that the group wanted to do differently as far as musical direction goes? Or did you keep within a certain theme of direction.
Buzz: Yes, as I wrote you before we all agreed anyway to avoid big pauses within the songs and still make melody prevail too much over brutality on the one hand, On the other hand I started singing much more cleanly than before in certain parts as we kept our opera singer and a guy was added as a guest for the singing on high tones. I'm more like Peter Steele let's say.
Jussi: Based on the sound of the album was there a certain atmosphere that you wanted to create that gave the listener a unique sound experience?
Buzz: Look, honestly it's the first record I've mixed myself, so about the sound I don't guarantee hehehe. I hope it came out well. The initial idea was about an alien attack, the awakening thanks to this of some creatures living underground, an exaltation of famous monsters from history was added, such as Dracula, Frankenstein, Death itself with the scythe closes the album (In The Eye Of Nothingness).
From the fans we got the nickname "hopeless music". I hope it still applies because this idea they have of us, we like it very much, same goes for the songs, more black/death power.
Jussi: Since the band is from Italy, there seems to be a heavy influence of metal music (such as fellow bands as Mortuary Drape, Lacuna Coil and others. Do you think that your band has something different to offer that other bands don't? Something that makes the group stand out?
Buzz: I honestly don't think our sound has anything to do with any Italian band, moreover there are very few that we esteem, and they are not among those you mentioned, maybe mostly Sadist, Dark Lunacy, Lunarsea.
Jussi: The band has a history with playing with some prior noticeable acts, do you think this has pushed the band further in its career?
Buzz: I don't think maybe a little, but at that time there was no internet, so there's not much left around, we toured with even very big bands, between Rotting Christ, Grave, several others but actually of what was done until 2000 people know little. By the way today you just need to record something even at home and anyone can hear it. It used to be much more difficult, we had a van and really traveled the world, now partly because we are old, partly because now it takes the right pushes (and we don't have them hahaha). We never do many live shows and especially we don't do any abroad anymore, too much work, too many asses to kiss. We're not newbies, we make good music and that I think is felt.
Jussi: Are there groups and/or festivals that you would like to share the stage with?
Buzz: Look honestly I really like Septic Flesh, but in general, I haven't enjoyed playing live for quite some time. I think there is a lot of "appearing" and little good "content" like what we offer around.
Jussi: Do you or other members of the group have other side projects?
Buzz: No, or nothing as important as Memories anyway...I then personally am almost always in the recording studio composing new stuff, because by now I've gotten into recording myself, so my time is all dedicated to that.
Jussi: When coming up with lyrics, what influences come to mind? When I listened to the album I sensed profound dark melancholic energies that were well versed and written. Almost like reading an atmospheric book.
Buzz: Well it's clear that we take a lot from all the horror literature, but also philosophy, science and transhumanism interest us a lot. I used to write stories as a kid, maybe that's what helped me.
Jussi: Where do you see the group in the next ten years?
Buzz: Always in the studio churning out great records ehehehem, a few live shows when it happens, only if you believe in us and our music, without spending a penny on our part, especially if we are "invited," we don't ask anyone to play. In Italy we play by paying and with recommendations. The bands you see in live shows often are not the ones that would really be worth seeing, this really annoys me.
Jussi: In one sentence how would you describe the band?
Buzz: HOPELESS MUSIC.
Jussi: Do you think the musical aspect to writing can be complicated at times? If so, how?
Buzz: I don't find many problems in writing music as much as in adapting lyrics to it. Maybe because obviously we are Italian, it's hard to think in English as we tend to think in Italian. Musically I try to vary, even in terms of words and content, just not to come up with the same thing all the time. Lately I've been singing a lot more clean and this has helped us a lot to express ourselves better.
Jussi: What do you think are the band's accomplishments to date?
Buzz: Look, we are definitely counted among the historical Italian bands especially in Swedish-style melodic death. There have always been few, usually here the famous ones are the thrash or brutal ones, we have our fans, when we make a new album they even book it, we are a band that likes to think that we make music for a certain elite, actually so we are very sectional, not everybody knows us but those who know us love us, like you ;) and that's already a very big achievement for us.
Jussi: Who designed the cover artwork for the album? Did the band want the cover art to reflect the music or something else?
Buzz: It's my idea developed and by the drummer. In records it's almost always like that, I give the concept, then we just kind of indulge. I wanted something about an alien attack, this maybe I already told you. Then there's the sea in the background with the tentacles, in short there's a little bit of everything that I wanted to get across.
Jussi: In your words, what is the strength of this album and why?
Buzz: The strong point I think is the melody, the themes, the lyrics and my voice. I also really like the work of the new drummer as I find him much more convincing than the previous one.
Jussi: Any final words or comments?
Buzz: Fortified by a stable lineup and our new recording studio, we count on making a good record every year, so as not to make our fans wait too long as in the past. I thank you for your time and don't forget guys to support the music and not the noise.
Jussi: Nocturnal Hall would like to thank Buzz for taking the time out to conduct this interview. As always much success to MEMORIES OF A LOST SOUL. |
