Talking with . . .   Opera IX

Interview with keyboardist Lunaris
Italian pagan metallers quickly developed a reputation for being creative and epic as they released their first two full lengths; The Call of the Wood and Sacro Culto. Led by the abrasive vocals and charismatic appearance of frontwoman Cadaveria, Opera IX signed with Avantgarde for their next three albums; starting with 2000's The Black Opera. Maleventum was Opera IX's first album without Cadaveria and proved to be largely disappointing. With a couple new members, including new vocalist M, Opera IX sound stronger than ever on their latest, Anphisbena. Here is keyboardist Lunaris for a spirited interview.

What is the lyrical concept presented by Anphisbena?
Anphisbena is our fifth album, out under Avantgarde Music. It is a piece of Pagan Art, surrounded by ancient atmospheres. We are very proud of it. Lyrical concept is based on The Serpent Cult, an Ancient Pagan Cult celebrated by Heathen People who live in Italy around 700 A.D. expecially in Benevento place, a city located in Italy. Benevento is the new name of Maleventum. In Benevento/Maleventum was located an Ancient Walnut, who was the most Ancient Sacred Place to celebrate Pagan Rituals, in honour of Ancient Gods and Goddess. Church didnšt like these Pagan Creed celebrated under the Sacred Walnut, and thus a bishop putted in order to uproot Walnut, in order to destroy Evil in it. Well, Anphisbena is dedicated to all Pagan Gods and Pagan Forefathers who died under the sign of the bloody cross of Christianity. Our Lands are Pagan.

How have the member changes in the past few years effected the band?
The new Opera IX line up is stronger than the past. I think that M.the Bard and Dalamar brought a lot of new influences in Opera IX's sound. M.the Bard is an active member of Italian extreme metal scene form a lot of years, I think around 1992. He has a lot of metal projects like the True Endless, Skoll, A Forest and Huginn. He is a very talented guy, who believes in what he makes. He also involved into Pagan Spirituality, that is very important for us. Dalamar, new drummer is a very talented drummer. You can listen to his work on Anphisbena. He is involved into a heavy progressive band called Atmosphere. For the previous members I think that they weren't very involved into Opera IXšs concept. Madras and Taranis were kicked out for these reasons and also for different musical points of view.

Did the departure of some members and the addition of others change or alter your direction or creative ideas during the past two albums?
Anphisbena's composition began around the beginning of 2002 with previous members Taranis and Madras. After some problems with them, Opera IX continued to compose music and texts without drummer and vocalist. After all these problems Dalamar joined the band on October 2004, and M.the Bard joined Opera IX around January 2004. In any case Opera IX warlocks are Ossian, Vlad, and Lunaris. Our creative ideas are the same sice The Call of the Wood, but today we are most prepared than the past. Our music is in a continuous evolution since Gothik demo in 1990. Anphisbena is our new release, different from the previous albums, but similar like arcane atmospheres. Every new album is a new challenge, a new step foward. If The Call of the Wood was dark, slow, obscure, Anphisbena is extreme, fast and enchanted. It is more progressive and extreme.

Was it a difficult task finding someone after the departure of Cadaveria? How did you know that M was the right choice for Opera IX?
After the departure of Cadaveria we found a male vocalist, in order to change our atmosheres amd our sound. Madras did a good work on Maleventum, but I think that the voice of Madras wasn't prefect for a band like Opera IX. I think that our new vocalist M.the Bard is the right voice for the new Opera IX path. It is very extreme, raw and full of pathos. This voice is the right voice for Anphisbena.

I enjoyed this quote from your website: "The project Opera IX not only is a musical concept but a marriage of art and religion where a style of life prevails on the daily life of modern man." Do you care to go into more detail about this idea?
Yes, sure. Opera IX is not only a musical concept, but a Pagan Path to discover the Ancient Values and Creeds, buried by Judeo-Christianity. We are pagan and we live following the Ancient Creeds of our Ancestors.Modern man haven't the pure ideals of our Pagan Ancestors, but we have the same Honour and the same spiritualityof the Ancients. I'm sure to following the pure ideals is right for me, because I feel the Spirit of the Past and the Calling of the Ancient Pagan Gods. We are Wolfes, in the Sacred Wood of Life. Our music is the voice of the Ancient Gods. We paly for them and in honour of them.

I admire the Wiccan philosophy, especially when it comes to nature, what are important elements of your Pagan beliefs and how do you think they could be applied to your life in today's society?
First at all I'm not a fucking wiccan hippy. I think Wicca is for faggots. I am involved into Pagan Spirituality and not in a pout pourry like Wicca. Then Wicca is based on the Great Mother Moon cult, Paganism is based on the Cult of Ancient Gods and Goddess. For me Paganism is War against Judeo-Christianity. Paganism is live following Ancient Creed of our Ancestors. Paganism is living near Nature and Man's Will. Paganism is WAR against Judeo-Christianity and against all fucking monotheistic scums. Sure then Paganism can be apply in today's society. I follow Paganism living into this society based on money and illusions. I find consolation walking into woods or on a top of mountain, in contact with Kosmo and Energies. Remember, Opera IX is not a Wiccan Project, but a Pagan Circle proud to be White Pagan.

It's disheartening living in America these days, especially with a president who does not care about the environment or value life, and he's also a religious zealot and intolerant of other religions and ideas; what influence does government and religion have in your country?
I am not interested in the world political problems. I am not a politician. I am a pagan man who live following his instincts and creeds. I think that the money way of life is not only a US problem, but you can find also in other states and continents like Europe. Modern man is tied to money and he forget true needs. Is Bush intolerant with others religions? Well, I am intolerant with all monotheistic religions. Bush and U.S.A. would bring a new war based on their economy, see war in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is a war for oil. Not for the so called world security. They don't fight for religion, but for dollars. I think so. I do not admire U.S.A. for their foreign politic.

Anphisbena is your fifth album so far, looking upon your career thus far what do you feel are your biggest and most important accomplishments?
Anphisbena is our fifth album. Opera IX was born in 1988. Today is 2004. We have passed under four labels, and we continue to play what we want and to speak what we believe. Every Opera IX album is a stone on the ground. We are unstoppable.

What type of literature do you recommend? Do you study?
I am very interested in all different kind of literature: novels, horror story, history books like Roman Empire, Celtic Tribes, Middle Age and Second World War. I also read Occult books and Esoteric books. Writings about Paganism and Philosphy. Culture is very important for me. Culture bring me over. Sure, I study to University.

Why do you think today's society has forgotten the value and joy of nature?
I have spoken on these themes in several questions. Today's society is poisoned. Now we are in a crossroads: man's avidity. One way bring us to a complete false satisfaction caused by modern way of life. I think that today modern man is destroyed in himself. The other way will bring us to self distruction caused by manšs avidity. Modern man like to destroy himself. Nowadays i think that several human beings must be destroy. War is not a waste of blood, but a new beginning to restore an empire. Nature agonizes under man's will. Man would slave nature to make his life more satisfied. He is totally sick. Today the only problem is the mankind.

Do you have any plans to tour or play live shows?
When Anphisbena will be out we'll plan some live shows, here in Italy and I hope in Europe. It will be great to bring the cult Anphisbena in tour. Wešll spread our Pagan Message.

What is the metal scene like in Italy? Is it difficult for cult bands like Mortuary Drape and Opera IX to do well?
In Italy there are a lot of great underground bands like the True Endless, Teuta, Gosforth, Black Flame, Death Dies and others. But also there are a lot of black metal bands formed by posers and trenders. Death to them. Opera IX and Mortuary Drape are two bands that play from a lot of years. We are asymbol of Italian extreme metal scene like Necromass and Evol ( R.I.P.), two great occult black metal bands vanished, but the Spirit of the Black Flame burns again. With the precoius help of a great label like Avantgarde Music it is very simple bring out from Italy our Art. In Italy there are also a lot of power and heavy bands, but I don't care about them. I hate power metal.

Final comments?
Thank you for support. May the Pagan Gods lead your Sword. On behalf of Opera IX, Lunaris.

Discography:
2004... Anphisbena (Avantgarde)
2002... Maleventum (Avantgarde)
2000... The Black Opera (Avantgarde)
1998... Sacro Culto (Shiver)
1995... The Call Of The Wood (Miscarriage)

Current line-up:
M... vocals
Ossian... guitars
Vlad... bass
Dalamar... drums
Lunaris... keyboards

www.operaix.it

TTM reviews of albums by Opera IX:
	2004 - 'Anphisbena'