Good evening, thank you so much for answering these questions. How's everything going in Florence?
Thank you for your interest. All fine here, just back from the weekly Barbarian practice, we never rest.
1. 2009 is the year Barbarian began its journey. How did the idea for Barbarian come about? Why did you choose the name Barbarian?
I had been playing in many bands in the previous years, I just felt the need of a pure raw metal band with a back-to-basics approach. The name fit naturally as a reflection of the savagery of the music. A barbarian is an uncivilized person, as is not able to speak correctly (the word comes from Greek, it stands for a babbling person), deprived of moral and manners and, moreover, deprived of religion. That’s exactly us!
2. The work over these years has been tireless, as evidenced by the release of your sixth full-length album, "Reek of God." Looking back, how would you describe the band's trajectory? What good and bad moments have you experienced with Barbarian during this time? Did you ever consider throwing in the towel and leaving Barbarian?
Definitely, six albums, two 7” Ep’s. a split and a live album. Well, when we started the Hellhammer/Celtic Frost influence was quite strong. But we soon started walking our own path, focused not on emulating other bands, rather on incorporating all the metal we listen to (basically ALL the metal) in a sound shaped by our own personality. Without the ambition of inventing anything new, but with the awareness of being players of the game with 100% dignity. We incorporated a lot of classic heavy metal elements in our sound during the years. With Reek of god it all probably turned sour because I think is our most aggressive album ever. There’s no respite, it’s an all out attack of riffs and tempo changes that reflects the aggression of the lyrical concept, more blatant and angrier than ever. Never considered for a second to quit Barbarian, it’s existential for me. There might have been some difficult moment during the first line-up change especially, but now, with the solidest of line-ups and after all the efforts put in Reek of god, it’s definitely a great moment.
3. "Reek of God" is your latest creation. What was the songwriting and recording process like for this new album? How do you think your sound has evolved compared to four years ago when you released "Viperface"? What brands of instruments did you use in the process?
We took our time, we always practice regularly preparing our live shows and working on new songs, this is our routine from day 1. Songs are shorter compared with our previous albums, but packed with an awful lot of riffs and tempo changes. Keeping all together flowing nicely is been a hard but rewarding work. As I said before, the new album is our more aggressive than ever, music-wise but also vocals and lyrically-wise. To us is heavy metal, but definitely a hostile, belligerent and sinister one. We recorded everything in our practice room with the aid of our faithful audio engineer Niccolò Gallio. No big pre-production and almost no post-production, clean but raw sound as to show the energy of our live shows. We use a Gibson Flying-V plugged in a Marshall JCM 800 through a Tube Screamer, Tama drums and Ufip cymbals, Jackson bass and Bugera amp. And for those curious about details, we are one of the few bands in our genre E-tuned.
4. That blend of thrash, speed, and black metal that has always been present in your sound was a true reflection of the influences of classic bands like Hellhammer and Celtic Frost—influences that you've never denied. However, it's also true that your sound has been enriched with each new release, and while still retaining those recognizable influences, there are also many elements that give the sound a very personal touch. How would you describe the sound of the new album? Where did the inspiration for the songwriting come from?
You’re right, lots of influences have been incorporated in our sound and I’m happy that you recognize the personal touch, that’s the most important thing. This time the aggressive edge I’ve already discussed has flown also through mid 80’s death metal I guess, we could say less Judas Priest and more Death Strike and Death. There’s also a stronger punk influence, the likes of Discharge or English Dogs have always been faves of ours. Also, and this is a surprising yet an indirect influence, we’ve listened a lot to the first two Atheist albums, the rapid pace of the new songs is probably somehow influenced by them.
5. Where you make no concessions is in the subject matter, which is more or less centered on themes related to death or anti-religion. Do you think these themes are inherent to a style like yours? What references did you look for when writing the lyrics? Do you compose first and then write the lyrics, or vice versa?
This kind of lyrics fit the music perfectly. It’s not the only kind of music they fit. But savage music demand savage lyrics, and vice versa. We usually write the music for a song and then the lyrics for it. Metrics and specific subjects need music first. At the same time the extremely angry mood against religion, for some reason angrier than ever, was there first while working on riffs and tempos. A mutual influence, because it all goes together. While with Viperface the main reference has been the Chants of Maldoror by Lautreamont, this time we took no indirect way to strike at religion. It’s all in the face with no half-measures, and Shit He Forgives, with lyrics inspired by Crass “Reality Asylum” are the best example.
6. You've partnered with Dying Victims Productions for the release of the new album. How did this opportunity to join forces come about?
We chose to focus back on Europe after three albums on Hells Headbangers. A partnership based on friendship, respect and admiration was just natural, Dying Victims was the most fitting label for us underground cultists and in return they appreciated our work. Deal!
7. Regarding the mixing, mastering, and recording process of the album, there isn't much information available. Who handled this aspect for the new album?
Niccolò Gallio recorded and mixed the album, as he did on all our previous releases starting from the 2017 US-tour 7” EP. He knows what we want by now and we know each other, so everything flows in the smoothest way. He doesn’t work that much with metal bands maybe, but he’s a veteran of the early 90’s italian death metal scene and he knows his and our shit. The mastering was done at Toxic Basement Studio, famous for his work on FOAD records releases. Carlo Altobelli has worked also on all the reissues I’ve done on my small label Ripping Storm, as well.
8. The cover art maintains a somewhat recognizable tone and is, to a certain extent, a continuation of your past work. Does this more violent image reflect a more direct style in your music? Who designed it, and what is it intended to convey?
Yes, the blatant act of behading a crusader definitely reflects the style of the new album. The message is clear, a no frills attack on our enemy. It retains the epic feeling of our four previous albums (the first one had a Beksinski painting as cover, instead), this time even with a more direct reference to the work Frazetta. It’s a painting of the extremely talented Claudio Elias Scialabba, we couldn’t be happier of his output.
9. Related to what I mentioned earlier about the more personal style you've managed to achieve in your sound, I suppose the inclusion of a cover of an L7 song, as well as lyrics based on a Crass song, and the intro that covers an Ice-T track, has something to do with it. Can you explain a bit why you decided to incorporate these references into the new album? Where do these influences in the work of these bands come from?
We are music maniacs. Not only metal. And they are all artists we appreciate although they are no metal. This time we also aimed at displacing the listener with names that are no part of the usual raw metal curriculum and at showing that we are able to incorporate anything into our sound, the atonal riffs of that specific L7 song, the anti-religious ferocity of the pioneers of anarcho-punk and the subtle humour and no-bullshit attitude typical of Ice-T. Still, mantaining the usual Barbarian sound alive and fresh. Those elements are not that far from metal though, isn’t it?
10. When Barbarian was formed, I imagine there weren't many bands with a similar style, something that has changed somewhat today. What's your opinion on the trajectory of bands like Midnight, Lucifuge, Bünker 66, or Butcher in terms of sharing a somewhat similar style? How would you describe the current Italian extreme metal scene?
When we started in 2009, in Italy I remember Bunker 66, Noia, Vesper, Satanika, Baphomet’s Blood, Hatred, Extirpation, to keep close to our sound. And besides Vesper, they are all still active. Nowadays we also have great bands like Hellcrash or Strikehammer, but the backbone is still there. Talking worldwide, I guess you’re right, Midnight on Metal Blade speaks loud about the popularity of the sub-sub-genre, same goes with Hellbutcher. I have seen Midnight live in 2008, they actually opened for an old band of mine while touring the US (that was weird already back then), I have all their albums and I’m definitely a fan, but the formula is still exactly the same since the beginning, maybe too many albums now and less and less anticipation. But still is a band that I appreciate. Bunker 66 are our half-brothers, our split in 2012 is there as a witness. We share the same all out love for metal, and their discography springing from it can’t be less than great, they have their own sound which is a mandatory element. And yes, Lucifuge and Butcher are excellent, they are in the front raw in this kind of metal of ours, not forgetting Hellripper, Cruel Force, Eurynomous, Zoldier Noiz and also newer bands like Nuctemeron, Diabolic Night, and of course Desaster. They are just the first coming to my mind, the scene worldwide is big and alive. As for Italy and it’s whole extreme metal scene, there’s a whole lot of bands getting recognition worldwide, think about Fleshgod Apocalypse for instance (not my thing, but they are famous nonetheless). Out of bands that I consider cool, besides the ones already mentioned, I would call out for Miscreance, Sickening, Assumption, Marthe, Grumo, Thulsa Doom, Fulci, Necromorbid, Taxidermia, Abhor… but there’s a lot more. Also, there’s a good number of venues but the general attendance could be better. And several great labels like FOAD, Terror from Hell, Despise the Sun, Everlasting Spew, Iron Tyrant, Dusktone, Avantgarde. We can’t complain at all.
11. How has the live presentation of the new album been going? What dates do you have confirmed for next summer for the live presentation of the new album? What can your fans expect from your live performances?
Our concerts are always extremely energetic, and the crowd usually feel it. Live shows must be something that don’t make you long for your couch to listen the LP from. Would you imagine actors standing still on a stage reading their scripts with no action at all? Music is the same, the stage is a pit of fire to engulf the audience as well. We’ll play at the Dying Victims festival in April, in the meanwhile many shows in Italy as well , and in August will tour Mexico, quite a plan!
12. How did you get started in music: the first concerts you attended, the first albums you bought? What event in your lives pushed you to want to become musicians?
My first album ever was Europe’s “The Final Countdown” around 1987, haha! But the game changer was Metallica’s “And justice for all” soon followed by their first three, as well as Kreator “Extreme Aggression”, Sodom “Persecution Mania”, Bathory “Blood fire death”, Venom “The Singles ’80-’86”, then Megadeth, Slayer… I can’t remember my first concert, I used to live in a remote part of Italy and it wasn’t easy to move, so in my formative years I was more focused on records actually. Might have been some hardcore concert, though. Loving music so much was the main reason, air-guitar wasn’t enough anymore, I just wanted the same noise to come from my hands, simple as that.
13. Which album represents the essence of black metal for you? What are the most recent albums you've bought?
If I had to choose only one, I’d randomly pick one among the first three Bathory, they set the standards forever to come. As for my most recent purchases, considering only new releases and not reissues of old stuff: the new Violator, the new Desaster, Hemorrhoid, Septage and the latest Bat.
14. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions for Black Metal Spirit. If you'd like to add anything for Barbarian fans, this is the place. I hope you enjoy the questions.
Thank you so much, we hope to come back to Spain soon, it’s been a while since the last time!
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