1. The band started around 2021, initially as a studio project. The influence on the creation of Svart Vinter is also related to the band Veil of Conspiracy, of which some of you are a part. How did the idea of creating Svart Vinter come about in the midst of all this? Why did you choose the name Svart Vinter and what does it refer to?
Svart Vinter was born in 2021 as a side/studio project of Luca Gagnoni and Emanuela Marino, also involved in Veil of Conspiracy as former members. While Veil of Conspiracy leans toward doom/death metal, Svart Vinter was conceived to explore something colder, more atmospheric, rooted in black metal’s raw emotional essence. The name Svart Vinter, which means “black winter” in Norwegian, captures the spirit of the band: bleak, frozen and introspective. It’s a tribute to the Scandinavian winters and the solitude they symbolize.
2. It's interesting because if we look at the origins of the musicians who make up Svart Vinter, we see that they have belonged to other bands and that the styles they played were very eclectic, from raw black metal to power, doom, heavy metal, and progressive. How confident were you when it came to defining what Svar Vinter was in relation to the other bands? Is there any influence from these bands on Svar Vinter's sound?
Yes, we’ve played in a range of genres, from doom and death to more, but black metal has always been a shared core for many of us. Svart Vinter is perhaps where we allow that passion to manifest in its purest, most atmospheric form. Naturally, the depth and dynamics we bring from other genres influence the compositions, especially in pacing, layering, and emotional weight, but Svart Vinter always circles back to that cold, evocative black metal feeling.
3. You'll soon be releasing your second album, "Isvind." How did the writing and recording process for this new album go? How do you think the sound has evolved between the two albums? What brands of instruments did you use in the process?
The writing of Isvind took place over the course of 2023 and early 2024. Each track was carefully constructed to maintain emotional intensity while refining our musical identity. We recorded guitars and bass at Mørk Natt Studio, drums at Bit Music Studio and handled vocals recordings, mixing and mastering at Decomposed Design Studio. This separation allowed us to focus deeply on each element.
Compared to our debut Mist, Isvind is colder, sharper and more immersive. We used Solar guitars – of which brand Luca and Emanuela are endorsers –, GHS strings, Swiss Picks, DI bass guitar and Janara drums with Diril Cymbals, R Stick and Blue Drum Heads — all chosen for their clarity and aggression, which we then enveloped in reverb and atmospheric layering to create that icy, windswept sound.
4. "Isvind" manages to deliver a sound that, in many ways, is reminiscent of classic Scandinavian black metal, with a non-negotiable atmosphere when forging that sound. How would you describe the sound of the new album for those who haven't heard it yet? Which bands and styles have been a reference for you when composing this album?
Isvind is a journey through bleak landscapes and internal voids. It’s melodic but unrelenting, atmospheric yet rooted in tradition. The influence of early ‘90s Scandinavian black metal is undeniable: bands like early Ulver, early Satyricon, Darkthrone and recently Mgła shaped the foundations. But we also draw from the more introspective side of atmospheric black metal and doom, injecting a reflective melancholy that we believe sets us apart. It’s not just aggression, it’s catharsis.
5. Your lyrics may contain references to nature, but you also leave room for the listener's interpretation, allowing them to explore their depths, their darkness, etc. How do you approach the lyrics of your songs? What do you want to convey to the listener with them? Do the lyrics adapt to the music or vice versa?
We write lyrics after the music is composed, once we’ve understood the emotional mood of each track. Nature is a recurring theme — not just as imagery, but as metaphor for isolation, decay, rebirth. However, we avoid overly descriptive or direct storytelling. We prefer indefiniteness, allowing listeners to immerse themselves and find their own meaning.
We aim to provoke introspection, to act as a mirror for the listener’s inner turmoil or serenity. The lyrics follow the music: they are shaped by the landscapes the melodies evoke.
6. You've worked in different recording studios, namely Decomposed Design Studio, Mørk Natt Studio, and Bit Music Studio. In each of these, a specific aspect of the recording was worked on. How did you decide to record separately from different aspects of the album? What do you think this approach has contributed to the final sound of the album?
We simply worked in our personal studios: Mørk Natt Studio is run by Luca Gagnoni, Bit Music Studio is Luca Tiraterra’s one and Decomposed Design is Andrea Maggioni’s own studio.
This segmented process allowed us to treat each instrument with focus and care, resulting in a more textured and cohesive final sound. It made the album more immersive and true to our vision as we worked directly on every aspect of it.
7. You used a photograph by Autumnal Mood Photography to illustrate the album cover. What do you want to convey with this image, and how do you think it relates to the album's content?
The cover photo — a desolate, snow-covered landscape captured by Andrea Maggioni under his Autumnal Mood name for his photographs — embodies the emotional and sonic tone of Isvind. We were drawn to the stillness and the bleak beauty of the scene. It suggests isolation, but also clarity. The absence of life is not lifelessness but introspection. That’s what Isvind is about: traversing the frozen emotional states of the human condition.
8. The album will be released by Non Serviam Records. How did the contact and subsequent agreement to release the album with them come about? What does it mean for you to have a vinyl release from the start?
Our collaboration with Non Serviam Records came about quite organically. Ricardo Gelok, the label’s founder, listened to Isvind and was immediately drawn to our sound and vision. He reached out to us directly, expressing genuine enthusiasm and a strong interest in working together. After a series of discussions where we shared our artistic direction and mutual expectations, it was clear that we were aligned. Signing with Non Serviam Records felt like a natural next step for the band and we are very honoured to be part of it.
Having a vinyl release from the very beginning is incredibly meaningful to us. Vinyl has a timeless quality that resonates deeply within the black metal tradition—it’s physical, raw, and immersive. It gives listeners a chance to experience the music in a more deliberate and tangible way, which is something we value immensely. For us, releasing Isvind on vinyl isn’t just about format, it’s about honouring the atmosphere and integrity of the album.
9. Do you already have any live dates lined up for the new album? Is it difficult to capture that more atmospheric part of your sound live, or do you make up for it with other facets like intensity, for example? What can your fans expect from a concert from you?
Yes, we’re scheduling some shows for the months to come. We’ll present Isvind in Rome on June 21st and then we will certainly try to bring Isvind in other cities and even outside Italy. Recreating the full atmosphere of album live is a challenge, of course, but our goal isn’t to replicate the studio experience note-for-note. Instead, we focus on translating the emotional core: the coldness, the urgency, the reflection. Expect intensity, atmosphere and emotional weight.
10. Italy has always been somewhat unknown when it comes to black metal, with a good handful of bands, but it has been somewhat difficult for it to become known outside its borders. That seems to be starting to change. How do you see the health of Italian extreme metal today, and what aspects and facets of Italian black metal do you think have emerged over the years? Which bands from Rome would you recommend?
Italy has always had a passionate underground, but perhaps lacked international exposure. That’s changing. There’s a new generation of bands embracing both raw tradition and atmospheric innovation. From Rome, many bands are worth checking out.
Italian black metal today has different faces and we think that’s a strength.
11. How did you get started in music: first concerts you attended, first albums you bought? What event in your life made you want to be a musician?
We each started differently: some of us drawn in by bands like Katatonia and Opeth, others through death and thrash metal. The first concerts left a deep mark: the energy, the atmosphere, the communion of noise and emotion. For many of us, it wasn’t a single moment but a slow realization: music wasn’t just something we loved, it was something we had to do. It became a form of survival.
12. What album represents the essence of black metal for you? What recent albums have you bought?
Filosofem. It’s not just records, it’s a portal. Recently, we’ve been listening to new works from bands like Mgła, that continue to push the genre into emotionally resonant places.
13. Thank you very much for taking the time to answer these questions for Black Metal Spirit. If you'd like to add anything for Svart Vinter's fans, this is the place. I hope you enjoy the questions.
Thank you for the interview and for your interest in our music. We appreciate the support from everyone who has connected with our music. We hope Isvind speaks to you as it did to us while creating it.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hazelwyrm - Demo I 6,99 €
Cassette edition, limit to 16 copies, single side
.jpg)
.jpg)
