Italian folk turned folk metal, a experimentation if you will, worked out for Krampus. They releasing a debut efforts of sorts titled "Survival of the Fittest" then following that with their current release "Counter//Current". The band took sometime to discuss said release, and some info about themselves as well.
1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?
It just came like that, at that time they looked for something cool and bound to our tradition, as northern Italians Krampus was an obvious choice.
2. You guys started off as a folk act, but decided to change things up, so why the change of pace? Do you think you will stick to this "new" approach or return to the classical approach?
Right after the end of “Survival of the fittest” recordings I felt the need to try and experiment. Folk metal was always something that I felt restraining, to be honest I don’t like to stick on a genre at all because boundaries are always a bad thing when it comes to creativity, even if metal is an unforgiving movement when it comes to change and experimentation. I think music an ever-evolving thing, so it’s unlikely we’ll take steps back.
3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?
We’ve been through a lot of lineup changes during the years, basically only Marika and Davide remains from the first iteration ( I joined as the second singer) and they knew each other since they were together. :P
4. What has influenced your sound and style?
That’s a tough one. Basically everything I listen. And I listen to A LOT of stuff. I’d say a range that goes from Katy Perry to Dillinger Escape plan.
5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?
Sometimes I listen to something that triggers the need to try something else, maybe a note progression, or a drum pattern. Sometimes I find myself humming riffs that sticks into my head and that I try to convert into songs. It might sound strange but there’s nothing that inspire me in particular since everything does.
6. You have released your newest album "Counter//Current", so can you tell me a little bit about it?
It’s been a long journey. We had just finished our collaboration with our previous label to be able to experiment new music since they wanted us to stick to what we did in “SOTF”. We were alone and I had a huge mess in my head since I had so many ideas that I couldn’t put together into something organic. We were all a bit stressed because of the many changes and the uncertainty but we figured it out. Slowly we started to understand what we wanted to say and how we wanted to say it and we finally entered the studio. It wasn’t easy because we didn’t have enough time to record. Since SOTF life moved on and some of started daytime jobs that drained all the daylight hours so recording the album took us twice as much as we expected. After this spiky climb we might say we are very proud of what we did.
We managed to make an album that is heterogenous and touches everything we like, an album that is heavy but with melody all over the place, feelings and punches. I am very proud of the lyrics, as I always say I think music is a way of communicate and talk to people and that’s what I do. I wanted to give messages, to express how I felt during rough times in my life and how I dealt with it. When I was a kid a lot of music helped me through deep shit and I felt the need to return the favor.
7. What is the concept behind the album and how did the idea come about?
As I said the album doesn’t have a real concept, It’s more a collection of different angles on a single view, it’s a journey through oneself.
8. How about the album's title, what does this mean and reference to the album's musical material itself.
Counter current is what the album was meant to be. Metal is a static genre that rarely accepts the break of canons. Musically we tried to scramble everything that was supposed to be and mix things that are not supposed to be mixed. It’s like chocolate with salt, it’s not supposed to be done but when you try you realize it empowers the flavor.
Counter current it’s also how we view life in general, how we handle things. I think life rewards who try the less traveled path, doing what others tend to avoid because “That’s not how it’s supposed to be done”. When you step out of your comfort zone there is where you can improve yourself and achieve things that you thought were out of reach.9. Who was the one to design the album's artwork, does it relate to the music or it's concept or is it just artwork, nothing more, nothing less.
The artwork is a Picture from the great talented photographer Matteo Guariso (http://www.matteoguarisophotography.com/). We respect him a lot as Artist so we just gave him the album and asked him to express it with a picture. I think he did a great job cause the cover art and the music matches perfectly.
10. What can the fans and people who have never heard of Krampus before, expect with "Counter//Current"?
It might sound like a pun but “expect the unexpected” it’s the best description I could give. There’s pain, passion and strength. And something to think about.
11. Have you gone on to write or record any new material in terms of a follow-up to this release or nothing as of yet.
Not yet but I have some ideas I want to try. Who knows, maybe a Gospel choir somewhere. :P
12. What do you guys have planned for the next year?
We’ll promote Counter//Current and try to play a bit more since the last 2 years have been busy years.
We’ll see what the future will bring to us.
13. Anything else you want to say or add on?
Thank you for the chance you gave us and for the great chat! And…Fear the Krampus!
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