1. The band started around 2021, and a couple of members joined the lineup later. What led you to create the band? Why the name Kybalion, and what connection can we find with the work of Hermes Trismegistus?
At first the band was only meant to be a studio project, a way to finally record and express some of our musical and personal ideas. While the name “Kybalion” is obviously linked with Hermetic philosophy, it’s not about the message of the book itself, but rather about what the work aims to be: the key to understanding reality and its laws. We take that concept and make it ours, in a more grounded, down to earth way.
2. You've just released your second EP, which follows a live performance, a split, a demo, and the subsequent EP. What was the songwriting and recording process like for "Make the World Bleed"? How do you think Kybalion's sound has evolved throughout your career? What brands of instruments did you use in the process?
"Make the World Bleed" is kind of a middle point in our evolution, our first works focused on rawer sounds with a more “punk” approach to the rhythmics. We’ve started introducing more dissonant riffs and a somewhat atmospheric quality to some sections. These new influences are more present and recognizable in the full length album we are currently working on.
We always have used the same gear - a 2010 Gibson Explorer with custom electronics, a 2017 Yamaha BB734 bass, and a 2008 Yamaha Stage Custom drumkit. All samples and sound effects are crafted by Seditio, our bass player.
3. Your sound presents a fairly contemporary vision of black metal, something you've been working on since your beginnings. For this release, you've expanded your influences into almost more avant-garde territory, with dissonant and somber elements that blend with such disparate styles as film noir. How would you define the sound of "Make the World Bleed"? What bands or styles influenced you when composing the EP?
We like to think about it as a “cold modernity” - something that’s not out of the nineties, but that keeps the sheer raw attitude of that kind of black metal. We were looking for very analogic and natural sounds, but we weren’t interested in making it sound old on purpose.
I think Shining, Ondskapt, Odraza were huge influences both in our style and in the songwriting for “Make the World Bleed”.
4. "Make the World Bleed" contains four tracks, which revolve around the content of Friedrich Dürrenmatt's novel "Suspicion." What led you to want to develop the concept of this novel in your EP? What was the process of adapting the lyrics and atmosphere of the novel to the EP's content?
I think it’s more fitting to start answering the last question: the process in which we wrap our minds around a concept and write lyrics for it is always pretty natural, we draw from stuff we read and watch that inspires us. “Make the World Bleed” makes no difference, as we tried to create the right soundtrack to this Swiss masterpiece. “Der Verdacht” is as simple as it is impactful in its rawness - a novel that digs where no one really wants to dip their hands into. It is a piece of extreme art and we were captured by how it explored the idea of an “absolute individual” in such a unique way - the only one we consider fitting to such a theme. There is no lesson to be learned, and that is the point. The absence of morality is here channeled in a perfect form.
5. There isn't much information available about the entire recording process for the EP. How did you approach recording "Make the World Bleed"? Did you handle it yourselves, or did you use a professional studio?
The EP was recorded independently in a local studio, we handled most of the process, with some final touches by a professional in our circle.
6. You've always worked with a record label to release your music. This time, you've partnered with Non Serviam Records. How did the opportunity to work together on "Make the World Bleed" come about? Will there be a physical version of the EP in the future?
We got in touch with Non Serviam Records after the recording was done, seeing that they had many interesting BM bands in their roster. They’ve been handling the digital release and the promotion for “Make the World Bleed”, but we are planning to have some physical copies available in the near future. So far our experience with the label has been flawless.
7. The EP cover features Sascha Schneider's painting "The Astral Body" (1903), a work that explores metaphysical duality and theosophy. Why did you choose to use Sascha's painting to illustrate the EP? How important are these metaphysical concepts to you, and how are they represented in "Make the World Bleed"?
The “Astralmensch” in Schneider’s painting struck us as the perfect allegory for the absolute individual we tell about in the title track. It is a horrifying figure that spreads dread, but it is also drenched in glorious light - as to show the duality of absolute freedom. It is always depicted in its monstrous form, but we believe it has some kind of undeniable appeal, almost inspiring.
8. Although you're a relatively new band, you seem to maintain a fairly active presence within the Italian black metal scene. Regarding Rome, what can you tell us about the scene in your area? How do you see the state of Italian black metal lately?
The black metal scene in Rome is on the smaller side, but still quite active. We’ve worked with many of the currently active bands across a wide variety of events, from underground gigs to live performances featuring international guests of varying calibre. Particularly over the last couple of years, a number of recurring events have emerged, which we hope will continue to provide a platform for less experienced bands to perform.
The Italian black metal scene has a number of hubs, each with its own local events and festivals, I wouldn’t say that there is a single united scene. Most bands opt for a more traditional sound, with only a few outliers more open to experimentation.
9. “Make the World Bleed” has been out for less than a month, but you've already started its live presentation with a few concerts. What has the audience reaction been to the new EP? What can your fans expect from one of your shows? What upcoming concert dates do you have scheduled?
So far, we’ve been pretty satisfied with the reaction to our latest shows - the songs from this EP were refreshing to our live set.
We always try to build a setlist that represents all the different sounds and styles we can bring to the table - and often work on different setlists, regarding both sheer songs and soundscapes. There is also a slightly theatrical aspect to our gigs, which is in constant evolution.
We’re working on a couple shows in autumn, and we can proudly say that we will be in the line up of the third act of the Hymns to Lucifer Fest in January 2027 - a true gem in our country’s black metal scene. For this Summer, we have our hands full recording our first full length album.
10. How did you get started in music? What were the first concerts you attended? What were the first albums you bought? What event in your lives pushed you to want to become musicians?
We all started playing at a young age - and got to know each other in what were probably the first concerts we were at: Mayhem, Taake, Impaled Nazarene, and a billion other extreme underground gigs that took place in Rome some years ago. We don’t live in the Eternal City, so it took us time and money to get there. You can say we have been maniacs for this kind of music for a long time, hah.
It’s hard to tell exactly if there has been a specific event that got us into writing and playing music - I think it has been more of a process that is still going on these days.
11. Which album represents the essence of black metal for you? What are the most recent albums you've bought?
We all have our personal preferences on which style of black metal is the “best”: some of us are a bit more into the raw and traditional side of the genre (Nord by Setherial, A Blaze in the Northern Sky by Darkthrone, …), some dig more modern and melodic stuff (Menschenmühle by Kanonenfieber, Noktvrn by Der Weg Einer Freiheit, …), or experimental acts such as Oranssi Pazuzu (Värähtelijä is a perfect album in its weirdness).
I recently purchased Death Saturnalia from Ensanguinate - a solid black metal act from Slovenia with which we shared the stage - and Devourer of God From Below - a classic from Italian black metal veterans Infernal Angels.
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 Kybalion fans, this is the place. I hope you enjoy the questions.
To our fans, we say:
“Against the still, terrifying tides of a shiny slow demise
Always oppose an aesthetic of violence and fervour”.
Thank you for having us.
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Aegrus – Invoking The Abysmal Night 29,99 €
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