There are some bands that like to evolve and although they have the chance to stay musically still they do prefer to try out new things and take their music a step further… in this specific example… a step into the darkness. Valkiria are presenting their newly completed, wonderful, gloomy, atmospheric, melancholic metal album. Be sure that you will find several new elements the previous albums didn’t have. Valkus, the mastermind, of Valkiria… told us about the band’s second era, his new music buddies, his philosophy and the new album… in this very interesting interview below…
Hi Valkus… I think that “Here The Day comes” is a huge step forward for the band… and a great album indeed.
V: I agree with you, every album must be a step forward or is better to wait the right inspiration, we worked for two years on it eventually we did it at our best.
So, first of all tell us about the line-up changes. Who is the new guitarist & why did the previous singer leave the band?
V: Mike is the new guitarist, he’s been a very good buy for Valkiria he brought a lot of positive changes. We often say, If only we have met before… As regards Mancan, our previous singer, since I had to move up in Northern Italy for work, our collaboration has become more difficult and at the end he decided to leave the band and concentrate on his own project Ecnephias.
It’s was weird that you decided to handle the vocals… but eventually it was the best thing to do… you should have done it a long time ago. Why did you decide to do so after so many years?
V: I definitely stop singing after the “Blood on blood” album because I wanted to focus on guitars and, to be honest, I also found many difficulties dealing with screaming vocals. This is a singing style that requires a strong emotional approach, I was lacking this force, so I had to delegate this task.
I think that those hellish/black metal vocals are fitting your music better … and on the other hand, I’m glad I didn’t listen to the “classic” brutal doom/death vocals again. Those vocals make your sound more distinguished… I think.
V: When I realized I was able to sing again I worked a lot, searching to find the right compromise between rage and emotion. We wanted to create the right contrast between the melody of the guitars and the power of singing. In the studio we tried for two weeks different styles and at the end I decided to use a growl voice under the screaming lead vocals, while I parsimoniously used clean vocals only speaking and not intoning. I think clean vocals for this genre are a double cut weapon, at one hand they make the disk easier to be listen to & on the other hand they end up with giving the disk a shorter life.
It was also a great idea to cooperate with Giuseppe Orlando. You were totally in need of a real drummer. I really can’t stand the drum machines any more… maybe, they were OK for some bands in the early 90’s… but a real drummer can make the overall sound much better. What do you think?
V: The drum machine let us keep Valkiria alive. Indeed we are very grateful to that, since even if we agree that it isn’t the perfect choice we kept on with it since we hadn’t the chance to find the right drummer, and mostly because of budget. In the past we were able to offer our music for free download because we didn’t spend anything on recording.
A real drummer like Giuseppe is, without any doubt, a huge step forward for the sound, he has a unique style playing the drum… I think he’s one of the best in this kind of music.
The sound is also amazingly good. Very tight and heavy. Recording the album at Outer Sound Studios in Rome, was the best thing you could have done… right?
V: Since Giuseppe joined the band, it was a natural choice to delegate him the entire production. There are a few people in the world expert like him on this genre. He knows very well how to bring out the best from any single instruments, in terms of melancholy and darkness.
Who suggested reaching Jens Bogren (Paradise Lost, Opeth, Katatonia etc.) for the mastering? Great job indeed.
V: It was me, I’ve always admired him ‘cause he’s able to create a different sound for each band. He gave a touch of modernity and clearness to our sound.
Do you believe you’ve taken the right decisions concerning Valkiria the last period? Can we say that this is the second era of the band?
V: I think there have been more than two eras for Valkiria, this is a new one as you said, a step forward and for sure we don’t miss the past. We did a lot of albums with the same formula, it was a must to change, to move on, even if we think we didn’t change so much, but we like if people perceive that, we don’t fear changes. (i.n.: the fans do understand when a change is for the better eventually…)
How did you come up with the name Valkiria back in the mid-90s?
V: I took it from a videogame I played on “Commodore 64” called “Archon”, Valkirias were among the strongest warriors of the game, some years later when I had to choose the name of the project that name came up into my mind. It’s simple and easy to remember, that’s what I wanted.
OK let’s focus on the new album. “Here The Day Comes”… Which is that day the title refers to? When will it come… and what shall it bring?
V: I am aware that people are always ready to believe promises of a day or a better world, but I don’t talk about a new day. I would like people to stop living waiting always for something else. We have just to realize how our lives are short. Every day is a life, every life is just one long day. Here the day comes to understand how stupid is to suffer, the night is coming and will bring it all away.
How is the title of the album related with the very good and atmospheric artwork?
V: It looks simply and natural like it must be to fully represent the concept. That ray of sunshine filtering through the trees is a new life that soon will break in the dark of the night. I had no doubt it was the right cover, since I saw it for the first time.
The song titles refer to the day phases… Please give us a hint about each one of them…
V: “Dawn”: A slow arpeggio introduces the day/life…
“Sunrise”: Song with an immediate attack, light is spreading on the world…
“Morning”: The heart of the disk together with next song, the angriest one representing the youth…
“Afternoon”: An angry riff again in the introduction, the desperate scream of whom realises his fatuity…
“Sunset”: Is the time of wisdom and resignation…
“Evening”: A harrowing intro leads to the final “moment”…
“Night”: Spirited attack for the final chapter, the end has a sweet taste for those who were able to love it...
You have also released your first video clip ever. Feels good, right? Are you satisfied with the final result? Is that what you had in mind?
V: Yes I am satisfied, even if I was a bit sceptic about the final result, I though that with a limited budget it was impossible to make a good job, eventually we were able to use the best way all the locations, bringing out all their suggestiveness. The video is obviously inspired by the concept of the album, we had to synthetize it in a few minutes and that’s for sure not easy.
The single scenes were, in a certain sense, improvised following a storyboard that changed time to time. We shot a lot so we could choose the most evocative scenes. It was a hard job to edit! The principal scene among which we built the whole video, is the birth from water… when I explained the storyboard of the video to the model she was enthusiastic to shoot it, but when it was time to dive completely into the freezing water she was not so sure anymore and we mercy her. We used a layer of water in postproduction.
I think you should have made a video for every song… just to showcase the different day phases and the feelings you get by each one of them… but I know such things cost very much… and it could have been like a movie or something… what do you say?
V: It would be great to do it, even if I think we did a good job synthetizing it in that single videoclip. In any case you were smart reading our desires and also our budget limits, but who knows what happens in the future... never say never.
It seems that working with a new label, Bakerteam Records, inspired you in every level and you do give the best of you. Are you satisfied with your cooperation with them?
V: Bakerteam has definitely opened us new doors, but it was not the cause but the effect of that new approach I mentioned. It’s clear to us, the great part of the work has to be done by the band. In all these years I learned to do all by myself, so everything good comes from other people it’s a plus. (i.n.: surely, the band does all the hard work… but when it have a label that supports the band things are even better…)
Have you faced any problems with the previous labels you have worked with? Is it hard after all for a band to find a good label to deal with?
V: Labels with which we came in contact do not even deserve to be remembered, eventually there’s a reason if we were so far a self-produced band. It’s for sure nowadays ever more difficult to find the right label, even the bigger ones are in crisis. That fatally means that the quality is lower than the past. There are many reasons but nobody seems to be able to invert this trend. We are in the middle of decadence and nobody really knows how to come out.
Can you honestly say that “Here The Day Comes”… is the best work of the band so far at any level? I strongly believe that… by the way…it is also written in my review…
V: Without any doubt we agree with you, otherwise we wouldn’t have published it, it makes no sense to release an album which isn’t at least a little better than the previous ones. (i.n.: yeap, that makes sense… but it does not happen every time though…)
I’ve written that: “this release will be your ticket to gain more popularity than before” in my review as well… do you agree with that?
V: Popularity is not our priority even if we don’t mind it. The only thing we really hope is keeping playing our music apart from everything and against all odds. Of course we like the increasing support of our new and old fans.
The official press release says that you will be touring to support this album. Have you found any session musicians to help you and if yes who are they?
V: We are working on that, unfortunately it’s not so easy. Playing live is becoming increasingly difficult for everybody. For the moment I only can say we are rehearsing a lot, Giuseppe will be our session drummer even if the geographical distance between us doesn’t help a lot.
Are there any booked live shows yet?
V: We don’t have dates yet.
Have you ever thought of going as a full band? Is this on your future plans? You already have a drummer… so you just need a bassist… and the line-up is ready… what do you think?
V: You are right, and that's what we want to realize in the next future.
If you were to describe the sound of your new album to someone that has never heard you before… what would say to him?
V: Metal full of melody and darkness with an epic touch. A sort of new wave of gothic doom metal. But I always end up saying it’s better if you don’t listen to it if you don’t like nocturnal and atmospheric metal.
V: I agree with you, every album must be a step forward or is better to wait the right inspiration, we worked for two years on it eventually we did it at our best.
So, first of all tell us about the line-up changes. Who is the new guitarist & why did the previous singer leave the band?
V: Mike is the new guitarist, he’s been a very good buy for Valkiria he brought a lot of positive changes. We often say, If only we have met before… As regards Mancan, our previous singer, since I had to move up in Northern Italy for work, our collaboration has become more difficult and at the end he decided to leave the band and concentrate on his own project Ecnephias.
It’s was weird that you decided to handle the vocals… but eventually it was the best thing to do… you should have done it a long time ago. Why did you decide to do so after so many years?
V: I definitely stop singing after the “Blood on blood” album because I wanted to focus on guitars and, to be honest, I also found many difficulties dealing with screaming vocals. This is a singing style that requires a strong emotional approach, I was lacking this force, so I had to delegate this task.
I think that those hellish/black metal vocals are fitting your music better … and on the other hand, I’m glad I didn’t listen to the “classic” brutal doom/death vocals again. Those vocals make your sound more distinguished… I think.
V: When I realized I was able to sing again I worked a lot, searching to find the right compromise between rage and emotion. We wanted to create the right contrast between the melody of the guitars and the power of singing. In the studio we tried for two weeks different styles and at the end I decided to use a growl voice under the screaming lead vocals, while I parsimoniously used clean vocals only speaking and not intoning. I think clean vocals for this genre are a double cut weapon, at one hand they make the disk easier to be listen to & on the other hand they end up with giving the disk a shorter life.
It was also a great idea to cooperate with Giuseppe Orlando. You were totally in need of a real drummer. I really can’t stand the drum machines any more… maybe, they were OK for some bands in the early 90’s… but a real drummer can make the overall sound much better. What do you think?
V: The drum machine let us keep Valkiria alive. Indeed we are very grateful to that, since even if we agree that it isn’t the perfect choice we kept on with it since we hadn’t the chance to find the right drummer, and mostly because of budget. In the past we were able to offer our music for free download because we didn’t spend anything on recording.
A real drummer like Giuseppe is, without any doubt, a huge step forward for the sound, he has a unique style playing the drum… I think he’s one of the best in this kind of music.
The sound is also amazingly good. Very tight and heavy. Recording the album at Outer Sound Studios in Rome, was the best thing you could have done… right?
V: Since Giuseppe joined the band, it was a natural choice to delegate him the entire production. There are a few people in the world expert like him on this genre. He knows very well how to bring out the best from any single instruments, in terms of melancholy and darkness.
Who suggested reaching Jens Bogren (Paradise Lost, Opeth, Katatonia etc.) for the mastering? Great job indeed.
V: It was me, I’ve always admired him ‘cause he’s able to create a different sound for each band. He gave a touch of modernity and clearness to our sound.
Do you believe you’ve taken the right decisions concerning Valkiria the last period? Can we say that this is the second era of the band?
V: I think there have been more than two eras for Valkiria, this is a new one as you said, a step forward and for sure we don’t miss the past. We did a lot of albums with the same formula, it was a must to change, to move on, even if we think we didn’t change so much, but we like if people perceive that, we don’t fear changes. (i.n.: the fans do understand when a change is for the better eventually…)
How did you come up with the name Valkiria back in the mid-90s?
V: I took it from a videogame I played on “Commodore 64” called “Archon”, Valkirias were among the strongest warriors of the game, some years later when I had to choose the name of the project that name came up into my mind. It’s simple and easy to remember, that’s what I wanted.
OK let’s focus on the new album. “Here The Day Comes”… Which is that day the title refers to? When will it come… and what shall it bring?
V: I am aware that people are always ready to believe promises of a day or a better world, but I don’t talk about a new day. I would like people to stop living waiting always for something else. We have just to realize how our lives are short. Every day is a life, every life is just one long day. Here the day comes to understand how stupid is to suffer, the night is coming and will bring it all away.
How is the title of the album related with the very good and atmospheric artwork?
V: It looks simply and natural like it must be to fully represent the concept. That ray of sunshine filtering through the trees is a new life that soon will break in the dark of the night. I had no doubt it was the right cover, since I saw it for the first time.
The song titles refer to the day phases… Please give us a hint about each one of them…
V: “Dawn”: A slow arpeggio introduces the day/life…
“Sunrise”: Song with an immediate attack, light is spreading on the world…
“Morning”: The heart of the disk together with next song, the angriest one representing the youth…
“Afternoon”: An angry riff again in the introduction, the desperate scream of whom realises his fatuity…
“Sunset”: Is the time of wisdom and resignation…
“Evening”: A harrowing intro leads to the final “moment”…
“Night”: Spirited attack for the final chapter, the end has a sweet taste for those who were able to love it...
You have also released your first video clip ever. Feels good, right? Are you satisfied with the final result? Is that what you had in mind?
V: Yes I am satisfied, even if I was a bit sceptic about the final result, I though that with a limited budget it was impossible to make a good job, eventually we were able to use the best way all the locations, bringing out all their suggestiveness. The video is obviously inspired by the concept of the album, we had to synthetize it in a few minutes and that’s for sure not easy.
The single scenes were, in a certain sense, improvised following a storyboard that changed time to time. We shot a lot so we could choose the most evocative scenes. It was a hard job to edit! The principal scene among which we built the whole video, is the birth from water… when I explained the storyboard of the video to the model she was enthusiastic to shoot it, but when it was time to dive completely into the freezing water she was not so sure anymore and we mercy her. We used a layer of water in postproduction.
I think you should have made a video for every song… just to showcase the different day phases and the feelings you get by each one of them… but I know such things cost very much… and it could have been like a movie or something… what do you say?
V: It would be great to do it, even if I think we did a good job synthetizing it in that single videoclip. In any case you were smart reading our desires and also our budget limits, but who knows what happens in the future... never say never.
It seems that working with a new label, Bakerteam Records, inspired you in every level and you do give the best of you. Are you satisfied with your cooperation with them?
V: Bakerteam has definitely opened us new doors, but it was not the cause but the effect of that new approach I mentioned. It’s clear to us, the great part of the work has to be done by the band. In all these years I learned to do all by myself, so everything good comes from other people it’s a plus. (i.n.: surely, the band does all the hard work… but when it have a label that supports the band things are even better…)
Have you faced any problems with the previous labels you have worked with? Is it hard after all for a band to find a good label to deal with?
V: Labels with which we came in contact do not even deserve to be remembered, eventually there’s a reason if we were so far a self-produced band. It’s for sure nowadays ever more difficult to find the right label, even the bigger ones are in crisis. That fatally means that the quality is lower than the past. There are many reasons but nobody seems to be able to invert this trend. We are in the middle of decadence and nobody really knows how to come out.
Can you honestly say that “Here The Day Comes”… is the best work of the band so far at any level? I strongly believe that… by the way…it is also written in my review…
V: Without any doubt we agree with you, otherwise we wouldn’t have published it, it makes no sense to release an album which isn’t at least a little better than the previous ones. (i.n.: yeap, that makes sense… but it does not happen every time though…)
I’ve written that: “this release will be your ticket to gain more popularity than before” in my review as well… do you agree with that?
V: Popularity is not our priority even if we don’t mind it. The only thing we really hope is keeping playing our music apart from everything and against all odds. Of course we like the increasing support of our new and old fans.
The official press release says that you will be touring to support this album. Have you found any session musicians to help you and if yes who are they?
V: We are working on that, unfortunately it’s not so easy. Playing live is becoming increasingly difficult for everybody. For the moment I only can say we are rehearsing a lot, Giuseppe will be our session drummer even if the geographical distance between us doesn’t help a lot.
Are there any booked live shows yet?
V: We don’t have dates yet.
Have you ever thought of going as a full band? Is this on your future plans? You already have a drummer… so you just need a bassist… and the line-up is ready… what do you think?
V: You are right, and that's what we want to realize in the next future.
If you were to describe the sound of your new album to someone that has never heard you before… what would say to him?
V: Metal full of melody and darkness with an epic touch. A sort of new wave of gothic doom metal. But I always end up saying it’s better if you don’t listen to it if you don’t like nocturnal and atmospheric metal.
What are the secrets of composing beautiful atmospheric melancholic doom metal music? What are those things that inspire you?
V: I think you have to be in a particular state of mind, I can’t describe it properly, I just feel ready to compose something, it grows in my body, it could be night or a sunny day there’s no difference, everything around me goes away and I start playing. If I can feel this sensation when I listen again to what I composed, that riff or complete song will be part of the album.
What’s your opinion of people downloading free music from the Internet? What shall an artist do in order to avoid losing money and time?
V: We have always agreed with free downloads, we have put our albums for free download on our website since 2001. This system allowed us to achieve a certain degree of popularity within the underground. The real problem is that unfortunately people are now accustomed to play MP3s and purchase the physical CD is deemed unnecessary. However, the free download has blamed the true value of music.
How can a band differ and separate itself from the thousands other bands out there… that due to youtube, myspace, facebook… are “bombarding” the fans with new music and info every minute…?
V: There’s no formula, we should all have the right to make music, but we should have the decency to self censor when it is not good. Unfortunately, it happens often to see poor performances on you tube etc…These individuals end up stealing space to those who deserve it. This makes it much harder for good bands to reach potential fans. (i.n.: yeap, that’s so true)
And some weird Questions now!! Are darkness and melancholy as appealing as they appear to be in your music eventually?
V: These are themes that inspire me, but I do not impose any feeling in my music, what listeners perceive it depends on their own sensitivity. I think that people who listen to this kind of music have similar state of mind, they exactly know what they want from an album in terms of feeling, the challenge is to bring them on a higher level. Eventually if listening to HTDC you perceive darkness and gloom is only up to you. It could be one of the doors to another dimension you have only to find the courage to pass by.
Were you obliged to give just one album to extraterrestrials that would represent the whole human music evolution, which album would it be and from which band/artist?
V: It has not been written yet. One day the music can really connect humanity with other realities, nowadays we are just at the beginning, the first album that manages to do this will be worthy to represent of all humanity.
Which is your best book that also became a movie… and why?
V: I shall mention the “Lord of the Rings” as regards movie based on book, the other based on comics are: “The Crow”, “Della morte dell’amore” inspired by Dylan Dog and “Paz“ taken from the Andrea Pazienza comics.
Who is your favorite fantasy author and why?
V: This kind of literature has born and died with Tolkien. All the others have tried to follow him in spite of themselves, but I think they are pure boredom.
Who is your favorite philosopher and why?
V: I try every day to build my philosophy, reading philosophy would pollute my thoughts, I think that, if you want to understand something in this world, you have to grow by yourself nobody can teach it, learn it from others is impossible and counterproductive. Reading philosophy you risk of undermining their way of knowledge. You can not simply read a book, it is necessary that the philosopher is there beside you to start discussing, Philosophy is comparison. The philosophy and religion in a sense die with the author of those ideas, later risks of misinterpretation are significant. Let our thoughts naturally come to the right ideas, if they are truly prevail.
Is religion (any religion at all) a way to control and manipulate people from having power over them?
V: The lyrics of my previous albums were taken from “The cycle of Velmhar” which is my first book which talks exactly about what you’re asking. As I explain there, I don’t believe men manipulate people minds with religion, but I consider that there are Gods who do it through out corrupted men, the mean of the Gods is to keep mankind divided because they fear the cohesion of man which could kick them out.
In my book I state that the Gods sabotage the force of human actions with conflicts.
In real life we often face inexplicable acts such as the killing of leaders who strive for peace and common prosperity, the massacre of defenceless by soldiers who should ensure that peace. This can not be simply the result of human negligence; someone up there is sabotaging us, fearing us.
Religion is created by the Gods in order to keep the man frightened and divided so they don’t come together and become aware of their strength.
This is the sad reality, religions are always means of manipulation, even if they have been created with the best intentions.
This is related with what I said about philosophers and even more about prophets: each of us is able to know and must not passively accept the thought of others. Thought is the only thing that distinguishes us from beasts. This is so worth fighting for free speech because it means freedom.
Is fiction part of reality… or reality is fiction’s flaw?
V: Fiction helps us understand better reality. Sometimes we confuse each others or we prefer to build our own world, but this can be a dangerous game for those who can not get back to reality. Madness is just around the corner for weak minds, but the brain is like any other muscle: if you train it, it won’t atrophy.
What do you think of the economic crisis that’s threatening people’s lives over the profit of some rich men? Do we need a revolution again? Living in a country that has also got so many problems as mine… your opinion counts more…
V: You can read everything in this respect. Crisis is the result of work of a few incompetent that have the power, is a story that repeats itself. People are not interested in politics and to deepen what is happening. Nowadays, with internet and all media available, it is outrageous. Crisis is preventable, but people realize to feel bad, only when almost everything is lost.
This crisis is just another opportunity to learn that you cannot delegate to others, we must act and make everyone’s duty realizing true democracy.
What’s your opinion about the activist group of “Anonymous”? Do the big ones need someone to scare them… or the whole thing isn’t so innocent in the end? Do protectors of humanity still exist out there… or some are just playing tricks?
V: I must admit I didn’t know “Anonymous” before. I still think that any form of peaceful dissent is fine. In any case, I think the big ones have become what they are thanks to people’s closed eyes. I do not know if every one has eyes to open widely (I strongly hope so), it seems there are so many blind people, who are never going to see little beyond themselves. That’s the real problem. Ignorance is mother of fake democracy and superstition that we still call religion.
Is the European Union condemned to fail in the end? That would probably cause a worldwide domino of destruction at any level…
V: Europe had already been united by the Romans 2000 years ago, millions of people lived in peace and spoke the same language but some extraordinary events broke the balance. The fall of the Roman Empire gives me the confirmation of my theory: it was Attila sent by a cruel God to destroy an example of peaceful human coexistence? It seems to me that some malevolent God gave the final coup to a dream. Europe and the entire world is not destined to remain united for the moment, we should be stronger than our destiny, to be one day really united.
Shall we wait for extraterrestrials to save us… or we must first make a stand and save our lives ourselves… instead of waiting for miracles? Are the stars our destiny eventually?
V: Unfortunately, people always expect a saviour and that is always fertile ground for new religions and beliefs that deplete our intelligence and freedom. No!! Wake up!!! There is no saviour to save us indeed there’s someone interested in exactly the opposite. We must save us by ourselves!
You are standing in front of two transparent doors. Door number 1 leads to a huge garden full of naked models running, playing and kissing around while Door number 2 takes you to the Isles of the Blessed where you can interact with some great ancient philosophers and learn the deepest secrets of life, death and universe. Which one would you cross and why?
V: I think that I can learn the wisest secrets by the inhabitants of the first garden.
You have the opportunity to sleep with the movie-celebrity of your choice. Who would it be?
V: If I only have to sleep… I rather to do it by myself…
I will give you 3 colors, and you will tell me what album you believe describes best each color...
V: I don’t know if it is a psychological test but I will answer with the first three that come into my mind…
Black: “Back in Black” by AC/DC…
Grey: “Grey Dawn” by October Tide…
Deep Blue: “The Blue” by Novembre…
Imagine that your girlfriend is selling your whole album-collection just to buy an expensive ring for herself. How would you react?
V: There’s no need for her to act like this. My girlfriends cannot even touch my album collection and they don’t need material stuff, I know how to satisfy them in other ways.
I think we’re done Valkus… Thank you for this very interesting interview... Please leave a note to Grande Rock readers… Take care!
V: Thank you for asking these questions, different than usual. Keep on supporting us, we need it!
