ACRES OF OCEAN

Interviews Band : Assedium Interviewed : Guido Tiberi Interviewer:SerenaMontesarchio Date: 21/10/2007

Hi, Guido. How are you doing?

Hello, Serena! It's allright, thank you very much!

Tell me a little summary of the story of Assedium. When did you join the band and how?

I joined the band at the very start, in the beginning of 2004. I just moved to Milan to attend the university, and Drake got in contact (by internet) with me because we both wanted to start an epic HM band. It was the start of a long friendship and of the band.

There are many literary references in the lyrics of your songs. Which are the main authors who inspired your works?
In our first album, there ar not so many literary references... the main source is history and legendry, so Homer and Virgil should be the first to be mentioned. Robert Howard, Michael Moorcock and the ultimate master Howard Phillips Lovecraft are of course present here, as the greatest authors of modern times, and something should be said about Indro Montanelli, whose "History Of Rome" greatly inspired me as a child!

Your first album sounds like the one of a 80s band. So, what are the bands who influenced more Assedium?
There are many, actually... more than I can mention, I think eh eh! Of course the main inspiration comes from Manowar, Manilla Road, Virgin Steele, Warlord, Omen and Cirith Ungol, the real masters of epic heavy metal, but the US metal scene is also of great importance for my guitarwork... expecially Savatage, Fifth Angel, Vicious Rumors, Sanctuary, Crimson Glory and that kind of bands (I am a die-hard fan of US sound, you know!). As a guitarist, I am very influenced by the works of Ross The Boss, Tony Iommi, Mark Shelton from Manilla Road, Kenny Powell from Omen and Vivian Campbell from Dio. I should also talk about Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Dio, but that is quite obvious, isnt'it? You can't write a book without knowing grammar!

Is there, in your opinion, a modern band who can represent well the “idea”, the concept of epic metal?
Mmm... that is a difficult question, because the concept of epic metal is very typical of the eighties. There are a number of factors and things that you can find only in 80s bands... for example, those were the years when movies like "Conan The Barbarian", "Highlander", "Excalibur", "Legend" and "Clash Of The Titans" were issued! Epic HM is not only a matter of legendry and history... it is maybe the most childish form of heavy metal! It is played by guys who love swordfights, big monsters, immortal heroes and that kind of things... and maybe that is what nowadays band lack. They all seem to concerned on being serious and literated, forgetting the importance of emotions. If I should say a band that, instead, represents at 100% what is epic heavy metal, I will say Slough Feg. They are original, simple and genuine. They don't talk always of swords and shields, but also of starships and cavemen (who the hell said that THAT is not epic???), and they are definitely the best band come out from America in the last years.

And between the bands who inspired Assedium?
No doubt here... MANOWAR. They were the greatest band in the world, everything was perfect... imaginery, music, lyrics, shows... what could be more epic? Nothing in the world, I say.

What do you think about modern metal?
Well, not so good. "modern" and "metal" are two things that, in my opinion, cannot exist together. Heavy metal is dead, that's a fact: if you wanna play it nowadays, you have to raise it from the grave. It's kind of necromancy, eh eh! Seriously, I love all the modern bands who sound like those of 20 years ago: Holy Martyr, Slough Feg, Battle Ram, Doomsword, Hyades, Rain, Battleroar, Thunderstorm, Icarus Witch, Skullview... because if you want to play heavy metal, then you play it the real metal way. If you want to play something modern and new, then you don't play heavy metal. Quite simple, huh?

What can you say about live exhibitions?
Playing live is the ultimate purpose of a rock band, that's out of question. You can arrange the finest melodies and riffs of the world, but if you play them live without passion and energy, then it's just a waste of time. As a band, we try to give our best on the stage, and that means more getting the people into it than playing without errors... I mean, no one will blame you if you don't play the 15th note of the second solo like you did in the studio, but if you look tired, confused or boring people are not satisfied. And I want the guys who like our music to be 100% satisfied!

Do you play often in concerts?
We play any time we have the opportunity to. Our label (My Graveyard Productions) books us many show, and the last year we played many entertaining concerts! Above all I would mention the times when we played side by side with Omen, Sacred Steel and the Revenge Of True Metal Festival, which was an open air gig we all enjoyed much, except our bass player Drake that was unfortunately ill and was replaced by a friend of ours.

What about concerts in foreign countries? Have you ever played out of Italy?

On May 2006 we played live in Athens, Greece, at the Up The Hammers. That was probably the greatest event of Assedium's history... it was the first time we played with Fils on vocals, the first time we played abroad, the first time we saw people knowing the lyrics of our songs... it made us feel on the top of the world, really! I can never forget those days... Greece is fantastic, greek metalheads are the craziest I've ever seen, and the whole thing meant to us that Assedium was really something good. We hope to be back there soon!

I know you played with bands like Omen. What can you tell me about this experience?
It's like a dream come true! When I first listened to Omen, I thought I would never see them live, because they were old and unkown to metalheads. I was wrong, fortunately... and playing on the same stage, drinking together... well, that was just more than I could ask.

Are you yet working on a new album?
Of course! We will enter the studio in December to record our second effort... the songs are all ready, and I think they are much better than our earlier material. More complex yet more catchy, I can say! I hope you all will like them as I do.

What are your further projects?

We are determined to grow as musicians, and to keep on playing heavy metal 'til our grave. There is no project, really, for Assedium is born from our hearts, and our hearts beat for metal. Just follow us and see what we can do!

Thank you for your time, Guido. Hail!

Thank you for the interview, Serena. I hope the guys out there enjoy it and give a chance to our music! Hail to every one of you, and fare well!