Interview Interrogation: Aevum (Italy)

A decade seems a long while right? Well to most it does, but perhaps not so much for Aevum who have just last month released their second album 'Dischronia', a heavenly slab of Symphonic Metal devised by the Italian octet.

However over their decade of activity the band's world was slewed by numerous line-up changes, thus hindering the time when they would unleash their debut album 'Impressions' (2014); a full 7 years since their birth.

But for a band who hails from the city used for 'The Italian Job', Turin, their new-found blueprint certainly seems to have them on the right path and perhaps might become a shining beacon within the Symphonic Metal movement. Aevum were more than happy to let GMA into a few secrets as the interview shall now reveal....

How did Aevum start and were the members in bands previously?

     "We started in Turin in 2007, we were so young at the time... in the beginning it was like a garage band, we had no particular goals, just a huge will to play and express our feelings through the music we love."


It's been a decade since Aevum started and you've just released your second album, what challenges have you had to overcome?

     "How far ahead you can see; it took us four years to move from the first EP onto the second EP. We had to take our time to find the right set-up and the perfect line-up for our project. We consider 2011 our real year of birth.

     A band is like a big family... you have to overcome many different situations as they happen. Our hardest challenge was the 2016 line-up change... we had to find the right people committed to this project, and we made it! Now we are completely satisfied about the line-up, we are so close to each other, and Dischronia represents the amazing result of this intense teamwork."


Symphonic Metal seems to be well-represented in Italy, what made you decide to make this music and is Symphonic Metal popular?

     "The symphonic scene is an important reality in Italy. I think that this kind of music gives you the chance to express your feelings and ideas through many different musical aspects. When you listen, our music is inspired by many influences and 'Dischronia', as our previous album 'Impressions', acknowledges other music styles too... jazz beat, swing, blues, heavy metal, black metal, electro, dubstep, reggae... and many more.."


Will there be a tour in support of the new album? If so where are you playing? Is the UK in sight? Are you worried about Brexit?

     "Sure, we are working in partnership with the Alpha and Omega booking agency to get gigs in different countries this year. Actually we can't give you any more details than that, but we are preparing something special and maybe, we hope, we will be able to reach some venues in the UK too.

     What about Brexit? We are not worried but certainly we are sad about this, we think that we have lost a good opportunity to stick together to make Europe a better place to live."

Could you give us a brief overview of what each song title means?

     "You have to know that 'Dischronia' is the diary of a modern, dystopic travel. It retraces the journeys of the Romantic wanderers who, travelling through Europe to see the most astonishing views, cities and masterpieces, fulfilled their souls. The booklet is structured as an actual diary. Each song is inspired by a famous Italian painting or sculpture, especially from the Baroque age.

• 'Death of the Virgin', for instance, is both inspired and dedicated to the well-known Caravaggio's portrait.

• 'The Vitruvian Condition' refers to Leonardo Da Vinci, as well as Beltade.

• 'Inner fire' is inspired by Judith beheading Holofernes, painting by Artemisia Gentileschi, one of the few female painters in the whole history of art.

We invite you to find out or guess the sources of inspirations of the other songs!"


What can you tell us about the Turin Metal scene? e.g. venues, bands, etc

     "Wow, that's a tough and awkward question. We are not very proud of our country and in particular our town. Few and fewer people get used to following the underground scene and for different reasons too many venues have closed or are closing.

     At the same time it's getting harder and harder to find the right places to play, but still, we have lots of good bands and good musicians in Turin... so we hope that something can change in the future".


What sights / attractions should metalheads see in Turin?

     "Turin is less known than Rome, Florence, Venice, etc., but you can bet it's a wonderful town, just like the others mentioned before! Turin was a royal city, it was the first capital of the Kingdom of Italy.
I think that the streets, the squares, the buildings still reflect this royal ancestry.

     In Turin there are many things to see, from different ages: you have the Roman doors to the city, the Baroque royal castle, lovely porticoed avenues, stunning churches, trendy shops, delicious restaurants... really, tourists shouldn't miss a trip to our town!"


What are your plans for the rest of the year?

     "Our plans? Conquer the world! (lol) Certainly we would like to spread our music as much as possible around the world. We hope to play in Europe and, if possible, outside the European borders too. So... we hope to have an intense year, full of new exciting experiences, new people, new friends, new places, new venues... see you on the road!"


'Dischronia' is now out via Maple Metal Records

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