The Piedmontese band Opera IX has come back, one of the one of the combo's that can be considered , with Necromass, Mortuary Drape and Sadist, one of the hystorical groups or cult-bands of the entire extreme italian scene. After the great debut album "The call of the wood" out on a minor italian label (Miscarriage) probably not even around anymore, the band, captained buy guitarist Ossian has published this year (1998) the good  "Sacro Culto". Album not far from it's forerunner genre; allways with the band the demonic vocalist Cadaveria (one of the rarest female presences in the whole metal scene); the band keeps on it's proposals with long and articulated sulphureous songs suported by lyrics based on occultism studies. We've interviewed the bands singer, convincing as ever.

DARK REGARDS

-(Evil S.)-   How come you've changed once again your keyboard player ? Which reasons set off Lunaris?
-(Cadav.)- Once again people end up being completely different to what you thought they were in the beginning. We fought and we dumped him. Well at least this is what happened with our second-last keyboard player Triskent. Lunaris hasn't definatly left the band. He's had a sort of composing crisis this summer but now seams back on his feet (maybe inspired by autumn). We need active members in the band and not mere shells of men and we're keeping our eyes opened for eventuall new members. We'll see..

-(Evil S.)-    How much does the band suffer the fact that, no matter many years of hard work, you're still stuck with a label that can't assure you the possibility of hitting the scene definatly, meanwhile some newborn bands without any background, end up with great record-deals with important indie-labels?
-(Cadav.)- This bothers me very much. What can I say though ? Probably majors aren't interested in an Italian Metal group with a female "frontman". This means that Opera IX will keep on playing what they do because they really love it, and not for the money.

-(Evil S.)-.  How come you've chosen Black Metal as your major genre ? What can you say to all those young bands that have been attracted to this music style in these last years only because it has become trendy ?
-(Cadav.)- To tell you the truth, I don't think that Opera IX's music is definable as Black Metal (but I'm surely not going to try and search another definition to describe our  music). Anyway our first inspiration is the will to play and to kick ass. Reguarding our lyrics, they're the product of our personal experiences and of our firm interess in occultistic observances. To all those groups that follow the trend, I send all my reguards because they cheat so well without being caught. This will allways happen untill unprepared fans will keep on buying their records.

-(Evil S.)-   Which are the things that  mostly inspire you and which inner matters combine with these ?
-(Cadav.)- Mostly Mother Obscurity e and all it's aspects in general. We are also interested in Celtism and antique medieval legends and tales.

-(Evil S.)-    Which is the bands most important feature ? When do you think that you definatly have reached the right sund for Opera IX ?
-(Cadav.)- I think that the bands most important feature is it's unique sound that  distinguishes us from the other bands. Some say that it's my voice that does the difference but I'm not the right person to say if that's true or not. Surely since 1992, when the band reached a definate line up (besides our keyboard player, of course), our sound has reached a firm and stable state. We have started our journey putting together extreme music with rithmic and vocal solutions that I think are very original. The things that have remained the same since 1988, Opera IX 's date of birth coming from  Ossian's (guitarist) one man band project,  are our lyrics based on occultism and the sulphureous glow of our songs.

-(Evil S.)-  Do you have any side projects ?
-(Cadav.)-Usually we put in Opera IX all our new ideas and diverse influences so we don't actually need any side projects. Besides the fact that our drummer Flegias is now vocalist in the re-born band Necrodeath, but as iI said, in this other band his role is completely different that it is in Opera IX, so there is no risk in contaminating the two different styles of the bands, both around since over a decade and mature enough to walk along on their own.

-(Evil S.)-   What do you feel in being one of the few ladies present in the in the whole metal scene ? Did you have any problems since this genre has demonstrated many times it beeing deeply sexist ?
-(Cadav.)- It doesn't bother me at all, it might bother others. Anyway untill now nobody has ever had the guts to say anything reguards me being the lead vocalist of a band and on the contrary I've recieved many congratulations from the metal world.

-(Evil S.)-    Do you think that in time, your sound might change or evolve or do you think that you have already reached THE Opera IX sound  ?
-(Cadav.)- I think that we will remain coherent to our sound but not deliberatly. When we compose we never ask ourselves what are going to come up with. The songs come up naturally in the studios between a sigarette and a beer.  We dedicate alot of attention to our lyrics. All our songs start off from a lyric base-line on the meaning of which we come up with guitar/bass riffs and drumming. We aren't scared in evolvong our sound, but if this shall happen it will without us realizing it, because each one of our creations is a part of us and reflects the way we really are. Progression might mean this too: playing music because it is the result of the feeling you have inside, no limit bounds.

-(Evil S.)-  Which response have the fans and critics reserved to "Sacro Culto"?
-(Cadav.)- In foreign land I'd say great. We've sold many copies in only a few months and all the reviews have been satisfying. Completely another story in Italy  where Northern Darkness, that in the beginning was responsable for the distribution of the record, had their usuall problems and dumped us. The European and States fans are very excited about "Sacro Culto"  and the italian fans (for those few that have had the opportunity to find it in the shops) have gave us good responses too. The italian magazienes seem to have appreciated our new album..

-(Evil S.)-  Which have been the main gigs (in Italy and not) that have promoted this new album ?
-(Cadav.)- In Italy, the most of the shows have taken place in the northern part. I think that Opera IX are one of the fewest bands around with 2 records already recorded, a few thousands of copies sold but without a manager. So, we have to set up gigs on our own in places that we know well therefore they are obviously mostly up north. Out of Italy we'll be playing a few shows in Belgium at the end of Novembre and then be back for other 2 concerts in Torino and Genova, probably for the first ten days of Dicembre.

-(Evil S.)- I have one question pounding in my head, do Opera IX live on music making ? Or is this status reserved only for some foreign bands ?
-(Cadav.)- Surely this second case. (besides Rhapsody, I think).

-(Evil S.)-  Where does your contribute to an Iron Maiden tribute album come from ? Have they been one of your beginning influences ?
-(Cadav.)- In 1996 we took part of a compilation CD for the american label  Dwell records that inn the states has an incredible distribution. When they proposed us this other possibility we accepted immediatly. It has probably been the only commercial move ever done by Opera IX, and I'd say that it's been worth it because since then "A Call to Irons" has sold over 15000 copies and the american fans have kept on writing us and are interested in our releases.

-(Evil S.)-    New projects an a salute.
-(Cadav.)- Our third album will be out for sure in ’99 even if we still don't know under which lucky label. The will follow up a video and a european tour. Thank you very much for this interview. A salute to all of the 'zines readers. and i remind you our web-site: http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Balcony/6345/

Rhos Macina & Luca Palmieri