Interview with Norsemen band
As of today, i had the chance to take a closer look within the Lombardy's metal scene, and I've discovered Norsemen, an amazing death/black metal band, who's got its musical roots in an the ancient Nordic traditions and, as the Latin sun has been warming up my soul, dark ink has been filling these pages.
Therefore, I bring you one of the most promising death/black metal bands of Italian metal scene...
Ipsissima verba - Shadows : Greetings. Thank you for doing this interview. I'd like to know more about you, as a band, as a team. Who you are and how your story has begun.?
Norsemen : Hi! Norsemen here... Our story begun back in 2014 when Beppe and Anto decided to put together a death metal band.
They started to write the first tracks (which would eventually end up on Warrior's Fate our first EP) and started to seek out people interested in the project.
So Fede came as vocalist an then, after many line up changes, Paolo and Guido join the band.
Once the line was complete we started together to works on new material and then, in 2019 Bloodlust came out.
Shadows : Your project is called Norsemen. How and why did you chose this name?
The name came up before everything.
Norsemen : At the time we only had the idea of making a "viking" band and we were searching for a name that would stand for what we wanted to do. So we decided to choose Norsemen.
Shadows : Up to this point, you've released an EP, Warrior's fate, in 2017, and an album Bloodlust, in 2019. What can you tell me these two albums and how have they changed your lives as individual artists, and as a band?
Norsemen : Both albums are for us something to be proud of. The First EP was a very incredible experience because that was the first time we entered in a recording studio and we really didn't know what to expect.
Norsemen : Hi! Norsemen here... Our story begun back in 2014 when Beppe and Anto decided to put together a death metal band.
They started to write the first tracks (which would eventually end up on Warrior's Fate our first EP) and started to seek out people interested in the project.
So Fede came as vocalist an then, after many line up changes, Paolo and Guido join the band.
Once the line was complete we started together to works on new material and then, in 2019 Bloodlust came out.
Shadows : Your project is called Norsemen. How and why did you chose this name?
The name came up before everything.
Norsemen : At the time we only had the idea of making a "viking" band and we were searching for a name that would stand for what we wanted to do. So we decided to choose Norsemen.
Shadows : Up to this point, you've released an EP, Warrior's fate, in 2017, and an album Bloodlust, in 2019. What can you tell me these two albums and how have they changed your lives as individual artists, and as a band?
Norsemen : Both albums are for us something to be proud of. The First EP was a very incredible experience because that was the first time we entered in a recording studio and we really didn't know what to expect.
Although Warrior's Fate was a little bit immature, we strongly believed that the song were very powerful so we decided to put them also in the following work.
Bloodlust was produced in a more professional way, we had more time available to record the songs and more definite ideas.
Both albums taught us the way we want to work and changed our approach to songwriting and recording, we are now more aware about what we like to play and much more determined on some choices we've to take.
Shadows : I know that you've played on the same stage with well-known bands such as Eluvetie, Nanowar of Steel, Furor Galico. Describe me your experience to share the stage with such bands. What can you tell me about the Italian metal scene, as a whole?
Norsemen : Every time we play on any stage is a great experience! It seems obvious but play live is what we like the most.
Of course, having the opportunity to share the stage with great bands is a source of pride and it is amazing because you can always learn from those who are more experienced.
The metal scene here in Italy is great because we've a lot of international band and here you can find any kind of live gigs to attend.
Also the underground scene is amazing, full of bands that are giving their best although here in Italy is not as easy as can be in others countries.
Shadows : I understood that some of your most influential bands are Amon Amarth, Burzum, Metallica, Cryptosy, just to name a few. If you think about it, they're quite different in style and musical view, up to a point. Why these bands? In which way did they influence you when you were writing the songs? And if you could name a band, what was the most influential band for each one of you?
Norsemen : It's hard to name the bands that have influenced us the most because we listen to very different bands or even very different genres!
Of course the names you listed are bands that maybe we like to listen more than others, but we usually don't focus only on one breed of band.
As we told we listen to a very wide range of genres and band so, when we are writing something new, is easy to acquire input coming from bands you are listening at that moment. That's why you can find so many different influences in our songs.
Shadows : After listening your work, I think my favorite one would be Evil Master. A perfect musical mix between old school death metal, with a powerful hint of traditional melodic vibes, deeply flavoured with a Viking theme. So, tell me, what are your favorite Norse legends and why, as an Italian metal band, did you choose Norse/Viking mythology as your main theme?
Norsemen : The fact that we choose to talk about Norse mythology is mainly because some of us are deeply fascinated about it.
Not only about the mythology itself, but also for their culture.
Mostly believe that vikings were rude people only capable of raid and rape, but the truth is that they were also a very advanced culture for their time, and it's very amazing to think how willing they were to sacrifice themselves for what they believed.
Anyway we don't have a "favorite" legend because each of them tells a different story and it's always enlightening spending time trying to find the meaning hidden in it.
Shadows : I'd like to know more about an important aspect of your music. Now, as musician myself, I'm curious in your set-up. What instruments are you currently using, recording and on the stage?
Norsemen : We are very "old school" about our set-up on stage and in the recording studio, we love to use the good old amps and cabs.
We believe that the sound it's more "warm" and powerful; we don't use digital instruments or VST which are very popular nowadays.
Actually we are using Peavys 6505/Engl Fireball with ESP/Gibson for the guitars and a Spector in a Peavey Minimega for bass.
Shadows : As of 2019, you haven't release anything new. Shall we hope for more coming from you? Is the band currently working on new material?
Norsemen : Absolutely yes!
We are currently working on new material but we are taking our time because, apart from our personal commitments, we are very meticulous for what concern the songs.
We don't want to write an album every year and then find ourselves thinking that it could have been better.
When we make an album it has to be just the way we want it to be, so we are taking the time we need.
Shadows : I know it may be an odd question at this point, but as much as I know, the pandemic left a powerful mark of sorrow and pain within Italian land. Did it affect you in any way? Was the band affected, besides the lack of concerts, by the unexpected social decline?
Norsemen : Fortunately none of us was affected seriously.
It's undeniable that here in Italy the situation was particularly serious, specially here in Bergamo where we live.
Hopefully the situation is getting better although it will take some time to get back to normality, however, you can start planning the next things to do, at least.
We keep going, stronger then ever.
Shadows : Well, we've come to the end of this interview. Would you like to add a few words as a conclusion? Any message to your friends, fans?
Norsemen : First of all, we thank you for the space an time you gave us.
Thanks also to all the people that keep supporting us and be ready, because the ship is going to sail one more time!
Hail all the Warriors out there!!
Bloodlust was produced in a more professional way, we had more time available to record the songs and more definite ideas.
Both albums taught us the way we want to work and changed our approach to songwriting and recording, we are now more aware about what we like to play and much more determined on some choices we've to take.
Norsemen : Every time we play on any stage is a great experience! It seems obvious but play live is what we like the most.
Of course, having the opportunity to share the stage with great bands is a source of pride and it is amazing because you can always learn from those who are more experienced.
The metal scene here in Italy is great because we've a lot of international band and here you can find any kind of live gigs to attend.
Also the underground scene is amazing, full of bands that are giving their best although here in Italy is not as easy as can be in others countries.
Shadows : I understood that some of your most influential bands are Amon Amarth, Burzum, Metallica, Cryptosy, just to name a few. If you think about it, they're quite different in style and musical view, up to a point. Why these bands? In which way did they influence you when you were writing the songs? And if you could name a band, what was the most influential band for each one of you?
Norsemen : It's hard to name the bands that have influenced us the most because we listen to very different bands or even very different genres!
Of course the names you listed are bands that maybe we like to listen more than others, but we usually don't focus only on one breed of band.
As we told we listen to a very wide range of genres and band so, when we are writing something new, is easy to acquire input coming from bands you are listening at that moment. That's why you can find so many different influences in our songs.
Shadows : After listening your work, I think my favorite one would be Evil Master. A perfect musical mix between old school death metal, with a powerful hint of traditional melodic vibes, deeply flavoured with a Viking theme. So, tell me, what are your favorite Norse legends and why, as an Italian metal band, did you choose Norse/Viking mythology as your main theme?
Norsemen : The fact that we choose to talk about Norse mythology is mainly because some of us are deeply fascinated about it.
Not only about the mythology itself, but also for their culture.
Mostly believe that vikings were rude people only capable of raid and rape, but the truth is that they were also a very advanced culture for their time, and it's very amazing to think how willing they were to sacrifice themselves for what they believed.
Anyway we don't have a "favorite" legend because each of them tells a different story and it's always enlightening spending time trying to find the meaning hidden in it.
Norsemen : We are very "old school" about our set-up on stage and in the recording studio, we love to use the good old amps and cabs.
We believe that the sound it's more "warm" and powerful; we don't use digital instruments or VST which are very popular nowadays.
Actually we are using Peavys 6505/Engl Fireball with ESP/Gibson for the guitars and a Spector in a Peavey Minimega for bass.
Shadows : As of 2019, you haven't release anything new. Shall we hope for more coming from you? Is the band currently working on new material?
Norsemen : Absolutely yes!
We are currently working on new material but we are taking our time because, apart from our personal commitments, we are very meticulous for what concern the songs.
We don't want to write an album every year and then find ourselves thinking that it could have been better.
When we make an album it has to be just the way we want it to be, so we are taking the time we need.
Shadows : I know it may be an odd question at this point, but as much as I know, the pandemic left a powerful mark of sorrow and pain within Italian land. Did it affect you in any way? Was the band affected, besides the lack of concerts, by the unexpected social decline?
Norsemen : Fortunately none of us was affected seriously.
It's undeniable that here in Italy the situation was particularly serious, specially here in Bergamo where we live.
Hopefully the situation is getting better although it will take some time to get back to normality, however, you can start planning the next things to do, at least.
We keep going, stronger then ever.
Shadows : Well, we've come to the end of this interview. Would you like to add a few words as a conclusion? Any message to your friends, fans?
Norsemen : First of all, we thank you for the space an time you gave us.
Thanks also to all the people that keep supporting us and be ready, because the ship is going to sail one more time!
Hail all the Warriors out there!!
This concludes my interview with Norsemen Band.
Looking for some cool merch? Here: Norsemen/ Merch
You can follow, stream and support their music via the following links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/norsemenband/
Doom regards,
Ipsissima verba - Shadows
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