1. How did the idea for Moon Wisdom come about? Why did you choose this name, and what does it refer to?
To be honest, Moon Wisdom was born from my dream of having a black metal band, which is my favorite genre; it’s where I feel I can best express myself. We chose the name “Moon Wisdom” because it reflects a mysterious and introspective nature, but also for philosophical and symbolic reasons. The moon represents cycles, darkness, and emotion, while “wisdom” conveys reflection and insight. Together, the name captures the atmosphere and ideas we want to express.
2. Despite being a new band, you haven't wasted any time, deciding to go live and release your first album right away. How did the songwriting and recording process for this debut album unfold? Did you know from the start that you would release a full album, or did you consider releasing a demo or an EP initially? What brands of instruments did you use during the process?
Everything happened very quickly; we didn't even expect it ourselves. We had many ideas during that period and felt a need to release our deepest and most negative emotions.
It is a spontaneous album; nothing you hear was pre-planned. It is like a river of emotions flowing naturally.
Kaelos used Ibanez for both the guitar and bass parts. I also used an Ibanez bass on some tracks; I think it’s a brand that adapts well to black metal, and many of the black metal bands we listen to use it as well.
3. The album's sound encompasses different styles and influences. Starting from a traditional black metal foundation, there are varied elements, from punk and blackga to melodic black metal, more ambient sections, and even elements that might evoke a certain symphonic tone. How would you describe the sound of the new album? What bands and styles influenced you when composing "Let Water Flow”?
The new album grows from a black metal, but it’s not confined to a single language. We see black metal more as a starting point than a boundary. From there, the sound expands and contracts depending on the emotional need of each song: some parts are raw and confrontational, others are more melodic, atmospheric, or ritualistic, and moments that lean toward a dark, almost symphonic sensibility, not in a bombastic way, but in terms of layering, dynamics, and dramatic tension.
Rather than focusing on genre fusion for its own sake, we followed flow and imagery. The album moves like a landscape: harsh passages give way to ambient or introspective sections, then rise again into something more violent.
For “Let Water Flow”, the influences were especially tied to atmosphere and contrast. On the black metal side, bands like Emperor and Dissection were important for their melodic moments, tremolo-picking riffs, and raw spirit. We were also strongly influenced by the second wave of black metal, with its cold aesthetics and emotional intensity.
At the same time, bands such as Nocturnal Depression, None, and other acts within the depressive and atmospheric black metal spectrum played a role in shaping the song’s more introspective and desolate side.
Beyond metal, the song was shaped by non-metal influences as well: ambient music and cinematic soundscapes contributed to its sense of movement and release, allowing the composition to breathe and evolve organically between tension and openness.
4. The song titles have a somber and dark feel. What specific themes do you explore in your lyrics? What inspires you to write about these themes, and why do you choose to address them? Do the lyrics adapt to the music, or vice versa?
My lyrics originate from poetic verses I wrote some time ago; they tell the story of the things that surround me, my emotions, and myself. To talk about who I am or perhaps more to describe myself and certain situations—I make extensive use of comparisons. In 'As Rain,' for example, I identify with the rain. I specifically used 'As' because it’s as if I were the rain; it represents how I feel against the world, which I compared to the impact of hitting the ground.
When Kaelos wrote the main riff of the track and played the recording for me in the car, it happened to be raining, and those verses I had written immediately came back to me; they fit the song perfectly.
I had to adapt some of the other lyrics in certain parts to fit the music so that everything sounded right, but they were actually short poems we had already written during moments when we needed to vent our emotions. Chance or perhaps destiny wanted them all to end up here.
I also frequently used contrasts to talk about my emotions, following the musical concept of balancing raw elements and melodic parts. For instance, I chose the title 'Solitude' for a rather high-energy song. Normally, a listener would expect a depressive or quiet track, but instead, I decided to describe how I experience solitude: with a certain anger and intensity, as it stems from being misunderstood and is, in my case, an unwanted condition.
5. How did the opportunity to release the album with the Canadian record label Hypnotic Dirge Records come about?
Here too, I think it was destiny. It was actually Friday the 17th when I received the email from Dirge. They liked our music. I still can't believe it, because Dirge has a special place in my heart, they launched one of my favorite bands.
6. You handled the recording, mixing, and mastering processes yourselves. Why did you make this decision? Was it difficult to reconcile your vision of how you wanted the album to sound with the opinion of someone outside the band?
Kaelos and I live in two small towns. I live near mountains, while Kaelos lives near the hills. There isn’t much around us here, just a lot of nature. A professional studio would be several hours away and is not an expense we can afford, being a new and young band. On the other hand, many bands, including black metal ones, started out this way, doing everything themselves. I like the idea of it being something pure that comes directly from us, without being contaminated by opinions, choices, or ideas from outside the group. In this album, we can truly say it is 100% us.
7. Regarding the cover art, you also created it yourselves. It features somber elements and the flow of a river, giving it a gothic feel. How did the idea of creating this cover yourselves come about? What does it specifically reflect, and how does it relate to the album's content?
The album artwork is inspired by the place where we live as you can see in our reels and photos of the River, but we added two nooses and a portal to give it a darker, mysterious edge. We prefer to leave its meaning open, allowing each listener or viewer to interpret it in their own way.
The album is called ‘’Let Water Flow’’ as a way of saying “let things happen as they must.” It has a sadder meaning too, reflecting how life can carry things away like a flowing river, taking them out of our control.
At the same time, however, it is also the place where the album and we as a group were born. It had to tell our story.
8. It seems there's been a lot of activity in the Italian scene lately, both from new bands and from veteran acts who have regained interest in producing quality work. How has Italian black metal influenced your decision to form a black metal band and release an album? What's your opinion of the black metal scene in your country?
It’s true, there is a very active scene and there are bands I admire a lot, but honestly, I only follow Forgotten Tomb and I really love Opera IX's work from when Cadaveria was their singer. Both bands, however, come from my same region. To be honest, my desire to have a black metal band stems more from my love for foreign bands.
9. Are you considering taking Moon Wisdom to the stage and sharing your music with your fans, or do you prefer to be a studio band for now? Which similar bands would you like to tour with? What can your audience expect from one of your concerts?
Yes, we like the idea of taking the stage at some black metal festivals. As for bands, I would definitely choose Thy Light, whom I had the pleasure of seeing live and it was an emotional experience; Nocturnal Depression, Dimmu Borgir, and many others. I would want a show that is both high-energy and emotional, where the audience can see themselves in the lyrics, the mood, and the music. A show that is somewhat ‘’cathartic’’.
10. How did you get started in music: the first concerts you attended, the first albums you bought? What event in your lives inspired you to become musicians?
I saw my first concerts as a teenager; there were some local bands whose names I don't exactly remember now. However, the first big concert I attended was in Milan in 2022, featuring Necromass, Mayhem, and Emperor. It was a magnificent show.
To be honest, I owned very few CDs. Firstly, because when I was little they were somewhat falling out of use, I mostly just used YouTube and put my songs on MP3 players. Also, CDs were very expensive and we couldn't afford them; I’m only starting to buy them now that I have a job.
My earliest memory is frequently taking 'Fallen' by Evanescence from my older cousin; it was the first album I ever listened to. I used to put his worn-out player in my ears. I was very very little, but it captivated me. I paid tribute to this memory in one of the Moon Wisdom photos, where I imitated Amy Lee's makeup and aesthetic, precisely because I think she somehow led me to be here today.
Then in elementary school, while many dreamed of becoming doctors or teachers, I wanted to be a rockstar, a singer; I had a toy guitar and microphone. Later, in middle school, a friend lent me Guitar Hero game, where I discovered metal more deeply and realized what I wanted to do. It wasn't easy living in a rural town and having these ideas, but with time and perseverance, I managed to make it happen.
11. Which album represents the essence of black metal for you? What are the most recent albums you've bought?
My must-haves are 'Enthrone Darkness Triumphant', 'The Somberlain', 'In the Nightside Eclipse', 'Deathcade', and 'Life has gone on long enough', though I could mention many others. Recently, we bought the latest work by Hekseblad; they are great.
12. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions for Black Metal Spirit. If you'd like to add anything for Moon Wisdom fans, this is the place. I hope you enjoy the questions.
Thank you for this amazing interview! So many memories came to my mind!
To our fans: we truly hope this album creates a deep connection with you. Our goal was to craft something that evokes strong emotions and allows you to fully immerse yourselves in the world of Moon Wisdom. We hope you enjoy the journey as much as we did creating it.
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