| Interview with Montagna By: Paula |
Paula: Hello Montagna. I want to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to do this
interview!!
interview!!
Montagna: Hey thank you for helping us spread our word and for the support!
Paula: How long have you been playing guitar
and do you play any other instruments besides
guitar and bass?
and do you play any other instruments besides
guitar and bass?
Montagna: I've been playing both guitar and
bass since 1991. Actually I started playing
acoustic guitar by myself, then bass with
Sepolcrum/VII Arcano, then electric guitar, then
again both. Must say I love playing most
stringed or percussive instrument: I'm in love
with drums but never have the time to play
them, besides @ my bands' rehearsals.
bass since 1991. Actually I started playing
acoustic guitar by myself, then bass with
Sepolcrum/VII Arcano, then electric guitar, then
again both. Must say I love playing most
stringed or percussive instrument: I'm in love
with drums but never have the time to play
them, besides @ my bands' rehearsals.
Paula: Give us a brief history about VII Arcano
Montagna: Oh well, history is long but changes were motivated just from the will to improve and play
something different. Those years I was in love with the Scandinavian death metal scene that was just
rising to be one of the most influent for the 90's death metal decade (Dismember, Entombed, etc..), and
I've been trying to put those influences in our songs. We mostly got to play death metal like the bands
we were all listneing to. We started to slow down to doomy tunes after a while, but it wasn't planned: it
just happened.
The name change was because of the similarity with Sepultura: I love their first albums, but we wanted
to have a name that was ours, nos "similar to that band". VII Arcano fitted the music we were playing
those days. The final change was made when I got back to guitar, and started working with Rob on the
new material. We've been working a lot with melodies (his influence) and with heavy and hyperfast riffing
(my influence) and we actually changed the whole band to get the new VII Arcano sound. Me and our
singer Mirko are the only 2 members who "survived" that VVI Arcano era.
something different. Those years I was in love with the Scandinavian death metal scene that was just
rising to be one of the most influent for the 90's death metal decade (Dismember, Entombed, etc..), and
I've been trying to put those influences in our songs. We mostly got to play death metal like the bands
we were all listneing to. We started to slow down to doomy tunes after a while, but it wasn't planned: it
just happened.
The name change was because of the similarity with Sepultura: I love their first albums, but we wanted
to have a name that was ours, nos "similar to that band". VII Arcano fitted the music we were playing
those days. The final change was made when I got back to guitar, and started working with Rob on the
new material. We've been working a lot with melodies (his influence) and with heavy and hyperfast riffing
(my influence) and we actually changed the whole band to get the new VII Arcano sound. Me and our
singer Mirko are the only 2 members who "survived" that VVI Arcano era.
Paula: You have two full length cds "Nothingod (2005)" and "Inner Deathscapes (2001)" plus a 2007
promo "Merciless Distortion. Are you writing new material now?
promo "Merciless Distortion. Are you writing new material now?
Montagna: Of course, we're always writing new material. Every one of us is constantly writing music for
the band, but mostly I meet with our drummer to jam on my riffs and write down whole songs. After that
we play them with the rest of the band and arrange or rewrite everything together. I have tons of stuff
that the other guys never even had the time to listen to. Speaking about Lyrics, Mirko is an endless
source of hatred and speech, so we mostly will have complete lyrics until the next decade.
the band, but mostly I meet with our drummer to jam on my riffs and write down whole songs. After that
we play them with the rest of the band and arrange or rewrite everything together. I have tons of stuff
that the other guys never even had the time to listen to. Speaking about Lyrics, Mirko is an endless
source of hatred and speech, so we mostly will have complete lyrics until the next decade.
Paula: Is there an upcoming album? If so can you tell us a little about it and when you expect to release
it?
it?
Montagna: We're trying to figure out what would be the best thing to do with all this new material. We
could cover a very long full length album with the new songs, so we are looking for a serious label who
could produce or at least promote and distribute the new stuff. We most likely will call the next album
Vintage Lvxuria, because our songs are deeply influenced by the old school thrash and death metal
bands. You can have an idea of that on the Merciless Distortion songs.
could cover a very long full length album with the new songs, so we are looking for a serious label who
could produce or at least promote and distribute the new stuff. We most likely will call the next album
Vintage Lvxuria, because our songs are deeply influenced by the old school thrash and death metal
bands. You can have an idea of that on the Merciless Distortion songs.
Paula: What are you going to do with your unreleased 7' "Postmortem Extasies"?
Montagna: That's a good question! We love the songs we recorded for that 7" (there’s also was an
extra song, a cover from an Italian metal band called Bulldozer), and we would love to record them back
with the new lineup to put them in an album, but we so love that dirty recordings, that we probably will
keep those old ones and print the 7" by ourselves.
extra song, a cover from an Italian metal band called Bulldozer), and we would love to record them back
with the new lineup to put them in an album, but we so love that dirty recordings, that we probably will
keep those old ones and print the 7" by ourselves.
Paula: So how is the "Chant for Catastrophe" video coming
along? I know you were doing some filming last Sunday. When
can we expect to see it? I’m so excited I can’t wait! Can you tell
us what the video is about? Is there a story to it?
along? I know you were doing some filming last Sunday. When
can we expect to see it? I’m so excited I can’t wait! Can you tell
us what the video is about? Is there a story to it?
Montagna: We're as much excited as you are! I haven't seen
much from it, but the few parts I saw seem very good. It's taking
some time, but we're not in a hurry: we are planning to send it
around on the web and to TV shows to get some promotion out
of it. After all, I think this song is good and deserves a good
audience. The video was to be linked to a mini movie made by a
friends of ours, called In The Blue, but the whole thing got fucked
up, so we kinda rearranged the scenes and had to cut some
story parts. In case the movie will be done, we should have the
song on it and perhaps some scenes with us.
much from it, but the few parts I saw seem very good. It's taking
some time, but we're not in a hurry: we are planning to send it
around on the web and to TV shows to get some promotion out
of it. After all, I think this song is good and deserves a good
audience. The video was to be linked to a mini movie made by a
friends of ours, called In The Blue, but the whole thing got fucked
up, so we kinda rearranged the scenes and had to cut some
story parts. In case the movie will be done, we should have the
song on it and perhaps some scenes with us.
Paula: What can we expect from VII Arcano in 2008? Do you
expect to do any touring?
expect to do any touring?
Montagna: We'd love to come to the US, but it's so expensive
for a practically unknown band there, and at the moment we just
have old stuff and our promo out, so it's going to be a very hard
thing. I'm always searching for contacts that can help us touring,
for a practically unknown band there, and at the moment we just
have old stuff and our promo out, so it's going to be a very hard
thing. I'm always searching for contacts that can help us touring,
Paula: Montagna you're also a bass player for a female fronted band called 3rd Room. I’ve listened to
this band as well and Khay Lenitas has such a beautiful voice. Much different from the VII Arcano
vocalist Mirko Scarpa as you describe as a great resource of rage, throat, and endlessly flow of speech.
What inspired you to join 3rd Room with such a different style of music? Which band were you in first?
this band as well and Khay Lenitas has such a beautiful voice. Much different from the VII Arcano
vocalist Mirko Scarpa as you describe as a great resource of rage, throat, and endlessly flow of speech.
What inspired you to join 3rd Room with such a different style of music? Which band were you in first?
Montagna: Actually in both (laughs) Speaking about singers, I probably wouldn't ask for better ones:
they both fit perfectly the different bands' style. VII Arcano is my first "real" band, the one for which I
write music constantly and in which I find myself more comfortable. I kinda take a guitar and anything I
play is most likely to be something very near to a VII Arcano song. 3rd Room is a new baby with not
even 2 years of life, but guitar player Rob is the first guitar player who was playing with me in
Sepolcrum/VII Arcano when I was playing bass, so the whole thing sounds to me like a new and back to
the roots stuff.
they both fit perfectly the different bands' style. VII Arcano is my first "real" band, the one for which I
write music constantly and in which I find myself more comfortable. I kinda take a guitar and anything I
play is most likely to be something very near to a VII Arcano song. 3rd Room is a new baby with not
even 2 years of life, but guitar player Rob is the first guitar player who was playing with me in
Sepolcrum/VII Arcano when I was playing bass, so the whole thing sounds to me like a new and back to
the roots stuff.
Paula: I would like to know a little about YOU Montagna! What are some of your hobbies aside from
playing guitar and bass? What do you like to do in your spare time?
playing guitar and bass? What do you like to do in your spare time?
Montagna: Spare Time... I wish I could have some. I waste much time for both bands that I can hardly
do anything else that's not linked to them. I work for a company (an american one, btw) that sucks a lot
of time from me, but since it pays my guitars, I'm gonna keep it…(laughs)
do anything else that's not linked to them. I work for a company (an american one, btw) that sucks a lot
of time from me, but since it pays my guitars, I'm gonna keep it…(laughs)
Paula: Is there anything interesting you would want our readers to know about you or any other
members of the band?
members of the band?
Montagna: A funny thing: In the years we always had problems with drummers; both personally and
musically speaking. I told you I love playing drums, but I also love being on the front row of the stage
making noise…so in the end we looked for a good drummer with my same name! Actually his family
name is Montagna, like me, but we don't have any kind of parental stuff between us. Most of the new VII
Arcano music is the whole Montagna brothers' stuff. (laughs)
musically speaking. I told you I love playing drums, but I also love being on the front row of the stage
making noise…so in the end we looked for a good drummer with my same name! Actually his family
name is Montagna, like me, but we don't have any kind of parental stuff between us. Most of the new VII
Arcano music is the whole Montagna brothers' stuff. (laughs)
Paula: What are some bands that have influenced you the
most?
most?
Montagna: The bands I fell in love with, since I was a kid are
The Misfits (I'm talking about the Danzig years), Kiss,
Dismember, Metallica, Slayer, At the Gates... You can hear all
that in the way I play and write music.
The Misfits (I'm talking about the Danzig years), Kiss,
Dismember, Metallica, Slayer, At the Gates... You can hear all
that in the way I play and write music.
Paula: Is there anything I haven’t asked that you would want
our readers to know?
our readers to know?
Montagna: Nothing special, just... we still BUY records...
Paula: I want to thank you for doing the interview again and
let our readers know they can check both your bands out on
myspace. www.myspace.com/viiarcano and
www.myspace.com/enterinmyroom Hope to meet you when
you tour to America!!
let our readers know they can check both your bands out on
myspace. www.myspace.com/viiarcano and
www.myspace.com/enterinmyroom Hope to meet you when
you tour to America!!
Montagna: Well, thank you! Of course we will meet when we
come to America. I'm getting lots of contacts and there are so
many people I have to meet, I can't wait to get there!
come to America. I'm getting lots of contacts and there are so
many people I have to meet, I can't wait to get there!
Paula: Last rites?
Montagna: Drive slow, and don't drink too much... oh
well…screw that! ROCK'N'ROLL!!!!!! See you around.
well…screw that! ROCK'N'ROLL!!!!!! See you around.
and your decision to change the name and the style of music from doom to thrash metal that you started
in 1989. What lead to these changes?
in 1989. What lead to these changes?
and to be honest, our target is the US: our music perfectly fits the extreme metal tastes of your country.