”Pathosray” is your debut album, and quite an impressive one. How has the
response been on the album and what kind of expectations do you have for it?
The Band –
We would like to thank you very much for these words! Even if “Pathosray” has
just been released, it’s obtaining great responses, strating from the reviews
and arriving at people that write us every day. We’re very happy to know that
now our music is spreading all around the world. We expect the album would take
us playing in new places and let us become much known, also in view of our next
releases.
If you should choose one song on the new album, which represents the essence of
Pathosray, which one would that is…Personally I would pick ‘Emerald City’, a
song, which I feel captures the essence of Pathosray pretty well.
Ivan –
Great! I used to say the same thing! Emerald city was born long time ago, and
this is why it has all our true influences. I think one of our strenghts is
trying to create a specific kind of atmospheres, full of emotions, and this song
is the right example. By the way, I’d like to thank you for havin’ underlined
this aspect…
If you had
to describe your music to a complete musical ignorant – what would you tell him?
In my review I draw references to great bands like Fates Warning, Dream Theater,
Nevermore, Evergrey and Symphony X and calls your music progressive power metal…
Marco – In
my opinion it’s hard to label our music in the right way. Apart from the bands
you’ve just named, and where we’ve surely got inspiration, I can say that in
“Pathosray” you can also find a lot of 70’s influences, strarting from italian
progressive rock and arriving at typical rock&roll sounds.
How important is the lyrically side of Pathosray – and what has inspired you on
this album?
Ivan – The
lyrical side has a lot of importance for us. We’re carrying the main theme of
the album since from the beginning. Most of the lyrics deals about real
situations and feelings, that I didn’t want to change during these years, in
order to keep them as natural as possible.
One of the main
theme is the relationship between nature and man, and how much he’s inert in
front of its strenght.
Tell us a bit about the album art work, Mattias Norén is one of my favorite
cover work artists, and I really like the dark and atmospheric cover he has
created for your album.
Fabio –
Mattias is also one of our fav cover designer and he has created the most
impressive artworks in the market. It’s true, our artwork has a dark taste and
infact it exalts the relationship between the littleness of human being and the
greatness of nature, as Ivan said before.
Gianpaolo –
The image of the dead body on the river, near the man bent down to the water,
means for us to leave behind any period of life, and its following mutation. We
would like everyone who don’t know exactly this interpretation, to feel free to
give its own meaning.
The
production is very good, you recorded it in Italy, but decided to get mixed in
Denmark, and let Tommy Hansen handle that aspect of things, why and wasn’t that
a rather expensive decision to take?
Fabio – As you’ve
just said, we recorded here in Italy, at the Angel’s wings studio, with Nico
Odorico and Mattia Sartori. Together with our label, the american Sensory
Records, and our managers Intromental Management, we decided on Tommy to mix and
master the final product, cause we knew he could give it the right sound and
touch we were looking for. The label gave us the full support, so it was simple
for us…
I label
you as ‘the best kept secret in metal for years’, but where do you feel you fit
into the scene today? And where to you fit into the Italian metal scene?
The band –
Maybe it’s to soon to say that at the moment, even if we appreciate your words…
We’re coming from
a small area that grows up every day more, thanks to bands as Elvenking,
Raintime, Slowmotion Apocalypse, Tystnaden and so on…and we hope we could also
give this process our help.
Any story behind your name Pathosray and why did you chose to call the band
that?
Ivan – the
meaning behind this name is a sort of emotional stream, and perfectly synthetize
the music we’re writing and playing…then, anyway, it sounded good ahaha!
Fabio – I
also think it’s progressive as well! Ahaha!
What do you consider to be the biggest accomplishment for you and Pathosray?
Gianpaolo –
We would like most of people to listen our music, obtaining always new good
appreciations.
Marco – We
would also like our trademark becoming always much recognizable, trying not to
be compared to anyone else.
What are the strengths and where can Pathosray improve?
Ivan – I
think that our strenght is the ability of meeting both metal fans tastes and
those who’s listening to other kinds of music, thanks to the contrast between
heavy riffs and romantic and melodic moments.
Alessio –
Another point of strenght is also the speed we arrange the songs with, due to
the feeling between the whole members of the band.
Fabio – One
thing we’re trying to improve for the next album is the impact and the immediacy
of our new songs.
What immediately tasks lay ahead of you, any touring plans?
The Band –
We were just confirmed as guests at next ProgPower USA in Atlanta! Then, our
management is working as well to organize a tour around Europe and some other
important gig. Meanwhile, you can find us around Italy, promoting the album from
the beginning of 2008.
Name an album, person or event that has had a huge influence on your life … and
why?
Marco –
Russel Allen, simply the best! Apart from his incredible talent, he’s a great
stage animal!
Alessio –
Angra’s Temple of shadows, and italian progrock band Area, for giving me a lot
of inspiration during these years.
Ivan –
Garden Wall’s Chimica, a melting pot of power, sensations and melodies, that
signed my songwriting…then also Milke Oldfield, simply a genius...
Gianpaolo –
Tony Banks, for the inspiration: few notes, put in the right way, and great
emotions..
Fabio – My
childhood’s music teacher, Pasquale Di Maio. When I saw him playing for the
first time, I understood music would have been my life...
Give me your shot at some albums you’d rip for your iPod if you were to be sent
to the ISS space station tonight…
Alessio –
Be (Pain of Salvation)
Gianpaolo -
Fear of a Blank Planet (Porcupine Tree)
Ivan –
Tubular Bells (Mike Oldfield)
Marco –
Paradise Lost (Symphony X), In Search of Truth (Evergrey)
Fabio –
The Perfect Element (Pain of Salvation)
Which album(s) have put a big smile on your face and has made you bang your head
in the past year?
Alessio – I
can say Angra’s Aurora Consurgens…
Fabio –
Yeah, I would say the same thing..
I thank you very much for participating in this interview and sharing this
information and your thoughts with us - these last lines are entirely for you.
Any final words you would like to round off with?
The band –
We would like to thank Powermetal.dk and all its readers, we hope to play soon
in Denmark and we also hope you would appreciate our album!
Interviewed by Kenn Jensen. | 
