Hail to Thee! What is the story behind your bandname? Would you agree with me if I say that it reflects the music you play…?

- YES, THE NAME OPERA IX  MIRRORS THE BAND’S EVIL SOUL: 'OPERA’  MUST  BE INTENDED AS ‘CREATION’, AS A RITUAL TO MOULD AND RULE  THE MATTER,  THE OUTCOME OF A LABOUR,  THE REALIZATION OF A THOUGHT, OF A WILL AND OF A WAY OF BEING... 'IX’ IS A MEANINGFUL NUMBER (LIKE 3 AND 6) AND FOR A LONG TIME IT HAS BEEN  SYNONYMOUS OF MAGIC: IT HAS THE POWER OF 3 TIMES 3, THE PERFECT NUMBER, IT IS THE MORE DISTANT NUMBER FROM 1 (ONE, THAT REPRESENTS GOD), IT IS THE LAST SOLITARY NUMBER, OVER IT  THERE IS NOTHING, THE BOUNDARY NUMBER OVER WHICH  THERE IS MYSTERY. WE JUST COULDN'T CHOOSE ANOTHER NAME!

How would you define the style that you play in and what are your inspirations in terms of music and lyrics? What do you think about other bands playing in a similar style to yours?

- SINCERELY I THINK THERE ARE NO BANDS PLAYING A STYLE LIKE OURS. IT  IS NOT SO EASY TO EXPLAIN OPERA IX MUSIC WITH FEW WORDS ‘CAUSE WE DON’T PLAY BLACK METAL NOR DEATH. OUR MUSIC IS BORN SPONTANEOUSLY FROM OUR SOULS, THE INSPIRATION COMES FROM OURSELVES AND WE DON’T CARE TO BELONG TO ANY PARTICULAR KIND OF MUSIC. EACH SONG IS BORN FROM THE  LYRIC, THEN WITH MUSIC WE TRY TO AMPLIFY THE EMOTIONS EXPRESSED BY WORDS, SO WE LOOK FOR THE RIGHT RIFFS AND KEYBOARDS SOUNDS IN ORDER TO EVOKE THE GENERAL ATMOSPHERE OF THE LYRIC. THESE ONES COME FROM OUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES IN OCCULTISM AND FROM OUR INTERESTS. EACH MEMBER CAN WRITE A LYRIC IF HE IS INSPIRED, THEN WE DISCUSS IT TOGETHER, WE FIND THE RIFFS, THE BEST WAY TO SING IT... AND ANOTHER CIRCLE IS COMPLETED. EVERY TIME THE RESULT IS A SONG OVER 10 MINUTES, BUT IT IS NOT A CONSCIOUS CHOICE, IT IS JUST OUR WAY TO COMPOSE.

“The Call Of The Wood” CD contains 5 songs only, although they are extremely long and musically rich. What is the main idea of the album and what did you try to show us through your art?

- THE SONGS OF "THE CALL..." HAVE BEEN WRITTEN IN DIFFERENT TIMES,  SOME OF THEM ARE VERY OLD AND THERE ISN’T A CONCEPT BEHIND THEM. THE  MOST REPRESENTATIVE SONG OF THE ALBUM IS THE TITLE TRACK THAT SHOWS OUR INTERESTES IN MAGIC, CELTISM AND OUR RESPECT FOR NATURE AS A SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR MEN. THE SONG I LIKE MOST IS “SEPULCRO”, THAT TALKS ABOUT THE ACT OF PROFANATION OF A GRAVE AS A WAY TO BRING TO LIGHT WHAT IS FORGOTTEN, COVERED BY COBWEBS, ABANDONED IN THE ABYSS OF MEMORY. AS YOU CAN SEE THE SONGS EXPRESS PERSONAL OPINION, BUT THEY CONTAIN NO MESSAGE, WE DON’T WANT TO TEACH ANYTHING TO ANYONE, WE JUST WANT TO PLAY THE MUSIC WE LIKE AND EXPRESS OUR WAY OF BEING THROUGH IT.

What are your political and religious beliefs?

- PERSONALLY I’M NOT INTERESTED IN POLITICS. ITALIAN ONE IS SOMETHING IMPOSSIBLE TO FOLLOW AND UNDERSTAND. WHEN YOU THINK TO HAVE UNDERSTOOD SOMETHING, THE CHIEF CHANGES AND YOU HAVE TO START AGAIN FROM THE BEGINNING. I HATE LOSING MY TIME... ABOUT RELIGION, WELL I HAVE A VERY PERSONAL ONE: I RESPECT ALL OPINIONS BUT I DON’T FOLLOW ANY PARTICULAR WAY. IF A GOD EXISTS IT IS INSIDE ME. I BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF MY SPIRIT, WITH MY MIND I CAN DO EVERYTHING.

What equipment do you use to achieve the sound you have?

- IT WOULD REALLY BE TOO LONG TO EXPLAIN... ANYWAY FOR THE VOICE I DON’T NEED SO MUCH: A LITTLE REVERB IS ENOUGH.

Do you prefer working at the studio or playing live and why? I believe you have a guest synth-man on “Call Of The Wood” CD as well as lots of special effects… How does that sound live?

- PERSONALLY I LOVE TO WORK IN STUDIOS AND I WOULD LIKE TO SIGN FOR  A BIG LABEL TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECORD IN A FOREIGN AND SERIOUS STUDIO, WHERE THERE IS A PROFESSIONAL PERSON WHO KNOWS HOW TO RECORD AND MIX. I WOULD LIKE TO ENTER STUDIOS AND SING ONLY, WITHOUT TAKING CARE OF OTHER MILLIONS OF THINGS I MUST DO IN A SMALL ITALIAN STUDIO. I LIKE ALSO PLAYING LIVE, BUT THE MATTER IS THE SAME: IT IS COOL WHEN THERE IS A PROFESSIONAL GUY AT THE MIXER AND YOU CAN HEAR WHAT YOU ARE PLAYING ON STAGE. ABOUT GUITAR-SYNTH, FORTUNATELY WE HAVE CHANGED THE KEYBOARDSMAN AND NOW LUNARIS USES NORMAL KEYBOARDS.

What was the reason for using drum-machine on “Sacro Culto”? As  far as I know you have a ‘real’ drummer…

- WHAT??? WE DIDN’T USE A DRUM MACHINE ON “SACRO CULTO”. I ASSURE YOU: FLEGIAS PLAYED A NORMAL DOUBLE BASS DRUM! (maybe, but it sounds like programmed drumset anyway… - ED)

If I’m not mistaken, you have one full-length video behind you… Could you please tell us more regarding it?

- WE DID TWO VIDEOS. THE FIRST ONE "TRIUMPH OF DEATH" CONTANIS TWO  VIDEOCLIPS OF TWO SONGS FROM 7"EP, IT IS A BIT OLD BUT IT HAS BECOME A MUST FOR ALL THE FANS ‘AND IT IS THE ONLY WAY TO LISTEN TO THE 7"EP.  THE SECOND ONE CONTAINS SOME LIVE TRACKS + A NEW VIDEOCLIP OF "FRONDS OF THE ANCIENT WALNUT" FROM “SACRO CULTO” CD. IT IS A VERY PROFESSIONAL CLIP REALIZED IN 1998. IT HAS ESCORTED THE OUT OF THE SECOND ALBUM AND THEN IT IS AVAILABLE IN MERCHANDISE. THE SOUND QUALITY OF THE LIVE SHOW IS ALSO VERY GOOD.

What about the female vocals? Certain girl singing in a ‘raw’ voice strikes as rather weird thing when it comes to black metal…

- WHAT CAN I SAY. THANK YOU. BUT YOU MUST LISTEN TO WHAT I DO IN THE  NEW TRACKS WE ARE COMPOSING NOW! AH! SURELY IT IS NOT COMMON IN BLACK METAL, BUT THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM. WHY WE MUST BE COMMON? THERE ARE TOO MUCH CLONES IN BLACK METAL. AND THEN WE DON’T PLAY BLACK METAL ONLY...

Do you have any fears and what are they?

- I DO NOT HAVE STRONG FEARS BORING MY MIND, BUT LITTLE FEARS LIKE THE FEAR TO FLY BY AIRPLANE . THEN I CONFIDE YOU MY HEART BEATS FAST WHEN I HAVE AN EXAMINATION AT UNIVERSITY, BUT IT IS JUST A MATTER OF ADRENALINE. BUT THOSE AREN’T BAD EMOTIONS, I THINK ALSO FEAR CAN BE POSITIVE: IT MAKES ME FEEL ALIVE!

Does the wood ever call you and can you hear it? What is it all about?

- I LOVE NATURE AND PARTUCULARLY I LIKE WALKING IN THE WOODS. THE VOICE OF THE WOOD IS THE WIND BLOWING AMONG THE TREES. FRONDS SEEM TO BE ALIVE AND IT SEEMS TREES WANT TO SPEAK WITH YOU REVEALING SECRETS. THE WOOD IS THE HOUSE OF ANCESTRAL SPIRITS, IT IS ALIVE AND IT CALLS THE WITCHES TO THE CROMLEC’H  WHERE THEY GO AND CELEBRATE WITH CHANTS, DANCES AND FIRES.

What is going to happen to you when you die? Why do you think so?

- I HOPE MY SPIRIT WILL SURVIVE! MAYBE IT WILL BE REINCARNATED IN ANOTHER PERSON. SURELY THE MEMORY OF MINE WILL SURVIVE AND THERE WILL BE SOMEONE WHO WILL ASK ME TO COME BACK. I THINK SO ‘CAUSE I BELIEVE WE ARE MADE NOT ONLY WITH FLESH BUT ALSO WITH ENERGY.

What can be expected from you in the future? Any new creations? What do you think about doing a tour in Russia?

- ACTUALLY WE ARE WORKING ON SOME NEW SONGS. THE 3RD ALBUM WILL BE READY IN 2000. IT WILL BE A CONCEPT ALBUM WITH 7 SONGS DEALING WITH A SORT OF FANTASY JOURNEY INTO OBSCURE DIMENSIONS. THERE WILL BE A GREAT WORK OF KEYBOARDS AND (*MODESTLY*) OF VOICE AND IN GENERAL THE SONGS WILL APPEAR MORE HEAVY. A TOUR IN RUSSIA WOULD BE COOL, AS IN ALL EUROPE. IT IS NOT EASY TO CARE ABOUT EVERITHING, I MEAN, WE ORGANIZE OUR GIGS IN ITALY BUT ABROAD IT IS THE LABEL THAT MUST THINK ABOUT IT. ALL DEPENDS ON THE LABEL THAT WILL RPODUCE THE NEXT ALBUM. TIME WILL TELL.

If you didn’t become musicians what would you be? Do you have  any hobbies and how do they reflect on your music?

- AN ARTIST, SURELY. I HAVE A GREAT IMMAGINATION AND I LOVE TO USE MY MIND TO CREATE SOMETHING (I CANNOT STOP THINKING). I HAVE A PASSION FOR OLD MOVIES, SO MAYBE I WOULD BE A MOVIES DIRECTOR OR, ANYWAY, A STRANGE ART PERFORMER.

Would you like to live forever? And if you had an ability to do so, what would you do all your life?

- NOT FOREVER BUT ABOUT 500 YEARS, YES. I WOULD LIKE TO START, EVERY 100 YEARS, A NEW LIFE, LIVING A DIFFERENT LIFE IN A DIFFERENT PLACE OF THE WORLD, BEING ANOTHER PERSON WITH ANOTHER SKIN, SEX, LANGUAGE. IT WOULD BE AN INTERESTING EXPERIENCE!

Would you like to say something yourself without me asking you questions? You can say anything right now!!!!!!!

- I DON’T NEED TO TELL ME ANYTHING ‘CAUSE I ALREADY KNOW MYSELF PERFECTLY. RATHER A WISH: MAY THE GREAT PORTAL OPEN TO ME. THANK YOU FOR THIS INTERESTING INTERVIEW & GREETING TO ALL OPERA IX FANS! ...
FROM THE DEEPEST DARKNESS.

THIS IS ALL
THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT

PAGANLY,
CADAVERIA

CURRENT LINE-UP :
 
Cadaveria (vocals)
Ossian (giutars)
Vlad (bass)
Flegias (drums)
Lunaris (keyboards)
 
BIOGRAPHY:
 
OPERA IX was born in the end of the eighties.  After two demo-tapes ("Gothik" and "Demo ‘92"), in 1993 the band recorded "The Triumph Of Death", a 7"EP (Wimp Records) immediately considered a cult-piece in the international underground scene. Some months later the homonymous video was realized. It contains two professional video clip of the songs "The Red Death" and "Born In The Grave". In the meantime Silent Bard enters the band and strengthens the obscure halo with the sound of his keyboards. With him OPERA IX records the first CD "The Call Of The Wood", outprinted in 1995 on Miscarriage Records and containing five long songs under the sign of purest darkness.  The positive reactions bring the band around Italy an Europe for a tour. OPERA IX becomes well known also overseas and the band is asked by America's Dwell Records to appear on two compilation CDs, "Awakening" and "A Call To Irons" (IRON MAIDEN tribute). In 1997 Silent Bard is replaced by Lunaris, a more experienced  keyboardsman and in April 1998 the second full-length "Sacro Culto" is out for Shiver Records: 70 minutes of devastating riffs, imposing atmospheres and possessed voices. Its out has been escorted by a new  videoclip ("Fronds Of The Ancient Walnut") now completed with four live tracks ("Live At Babylonia").
 
Recent history:  the band has just finished promoting the album with a  tour in Belgium and Italy and now it is working on the tracks of the third CD. It will be a concept album, a fantasy journey in the arcane dimensions of evil.
 
OFFICIAL  MERCHANDISE:
 
- "The Triumph Of The Death" Video - 16$ EUROPE / 18$ OVERSEAS
- "Live at Babylonia" Video (+ new video clip) - 20$  EUROPE / 22$  OVERSEAS
- "The Call Of The Wood" CD - 17$ EUROPE / 18$ OVERSEAS
- Ishtar l-s shirt - 20$ EUROPE / 22$ OVERSEAS
- "Sacro Culto" CD - 19$ EUROPE / 20$ OVERSEAS
(shipping included, IMO accepted)
 
Write to: OPERA IX - Via Don Carra 57 - 13040 Saluggia (VC) - Italy.
Or email to: opera9@hotmail.com
 
OPERA IX is on Internet at the following address:
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Balcony/6345/