Novembre pour l'album "The Blue"

1. Hi Carmelo! We already had an interview last year and I didn't think I would have an occasion to ask you some questions so fast. But it's here: for the main part of Europe (except France of course), your new album called "The Blue" will be released on November 5th (not a surprise for… Novembre), at the same date than the new live album of Opeth, "The Roundhouse Tapes". I remember the credits in the "Novembrine Waltz" booklet where you referred to this famous Swedish band. Do you still listen to their music? Did you listen to their last albums and what do you think about them?

Of course we do! We think they're a great band! We're friends since 1992, when all we were teenagers into real Death-Metal and they'll always be in our thanx lists.


2. Because you're used to nostalgia, here's the "nostalgia question": I recently learn that Novembre was called... "Catacomb" at the beginning, in the early 90's. Under this name you released 2 demos and an EP, "The Return of the Ark" before changing the band's name to Novembre in 1993. What music did you do at this period (this name really sounds manly death metal ;) ) and what do you keep in mind of this period?

Well our first demo “Unreal” (1991), if we exclude an even older rehearsal tape (which stood as pre-demo tapes back then), was Death Metal the way it was meant in those years; the influences varied from Terrorizer, Carcass, Entombed, Schizo, BoltThrower, but the Paradise Lost factor was already there and you could really notice it in the instrumental song “Chrysanthemums” (which are the flowers of the dead here in Italy).
Then, with the vinyl 7” EP "The Return of the Ark" we turned into what we're today and our musical-prog side enhanced furthermore. Then we changed the name into NOVEMBRE because Catacomb didn't fit our music anymore. But we actually never felt it as “ours” because it was chosen by a guy who was not in the band anymore. Then there was another band with the same name, a French band, a great Death Metal band and we wanted to get out from the ambiguity.
That were the top times of the underground scene; no Intenet, real paper mail only, about 20 letters a day, 100 times re-used stamps, thousands xeroed zines, lots of effort and determination, lot of competition which resulted in quality. None of this has left today!


3. Last year, I forgot to ask you a question that I always wanted to learn more about it: why did you choose the name of "Novembre" and what does it evoke to you?

I think this is the most FAQ! I'd understand from Italian and French interviewers but it's been put by many others from other parts of EU and the world. And it confirms what I always thought; words have a sounding on their own, regardless of their meaning and provenance. It's something I can't quite explain but I bet if our name was November, no one would have asked me what you asked me.
But just swapping the R and the E, you get a deep sounding word that sticks deep in your mind and you don't even know why!
By the way we choose this name for the foretold reason, and because it sounded original compared to the trendy blood soaked Death Metal names! Its meaning is so vast and doesn't bond you to any specific genre and time.


4. During a long time, a bassist was missing in the line-up but Luca Giovagnoli has now join the band. What did he bring to your music and to the band? Do you think the line-up is complete and stable now in spite of all the side-projects of the members?

Oh Luca :) he's such a spontaneous and frank guy; He doesn't ever say things at your back. That's probably his best quality; he's like our conscience; if something is wrong, he tells you boldly; no compromises and we learned to trust his advises. A real great bass player and a strong element, then he's a great musician with our same attitude and musical tastes.
He settled right way participating to both the song-writing and recording sessions.
What can I say we're finally a foursome again.


5. Only one year after "Materia", your new album is already on the way. It's a big change after we had to wait 5 years for the previous one! So I wondered if some of the new material was already written when you released "Materia" (I suppose you took some time to compose after "Novembrine Waltz"...) or if all these songs were totally new?

Yeah, totally new! I'm not saying I haven't written exceeding tunes for the Materia sessions but I don't like to use old riffs, if there are new ones.
For some reasons I happened to write lots of music in a short time. So much that we could have written till 20 songs, if they fit in a cd. But we had to stop at “only” 12 :)
We were never lacking of creativity.


6. If I asked you this previous question, it's because I found that "The Blue" was something like the dark part of "Materia". I felt the same feelings and the same atmosphere listening to it but it's very much harder contrary to the calm of its predecessor (the softest Novembre album since "Arte Novecento" I think). Was it important for you to come back to a strongly metal album?

I really understand what you say about the dark part of "Materia"… and I agree with it. I think that we still were warmed up by Materia and the new songs came out as the continuation of it. Just darker, more enraged, distraught.
When it's about song-writing, we don't question the music that comes out. That would mean disnaturing it and we hate doing that. Whatever comes out is welcome. That's a formula we've been using since the beginning and will keep on using it.


7. Is there a song that touches you particularly in this new album? Why?

Zenith for sure. Although I deeply love the whole of it. Zenith is the instrumental one, and the final part of Cantus Christi plus it, make a monumental piece. You already know when a song is gonna be difficult to realize, and it fucking was. Such a challenge.
Perhaps a too big challenge. And I often feared we couldn't make it. But hell we did it, with the right arrangements, the right solutions, the right keyboards, the right flutes, the right march drums… The result went beyond any expectations and each time I listen to it my breathing stops.


8. In the song "Nascence", we can hear a female voice singing with you. I think it's the first time you do such a thing. And what a voice, very complementary to yours! Who is she and how came the idea to add female vocals on one song? Do you think you'll renew the experience in the future (I hope so)?

Yeah, great result uh? That was another winning bid. "Nascence" was simply born to be sung with a female vocalist but as you mentioned we never did it before and we were afraid to screw up. But again, we did it! She did some parts for a band from Rome called Oblivio, who happened to record their debut at my brother's Outersound studios.
So he mentioned her to me, we did an audience and it worked out! She's called Francesca Iacorossi and she's really talented. How much I envy her. Always in perfect pitch :)
If I'm doing it again? If another song demands it!


9. "The Blue". What an enigmatic title, almost as vast as the music itself! Listening to the album, I think I understand why you choose this title but I would like to have a key of the mystery from the genitor. Can you give us some explanations about it and about the lyrics too?

Well as you know, in the Anglo/Saxon world, the word ‘blue' is commonly used as a synonym of sadness, so the title and the album in general, is about this feeling and related. It's the color I see when most of my tunes come out, it's the backdrop for our music from the very beginning. As I said, it's made of 12 songs so I thought that a “generic” title was the best choice.


10. Since "Novembrine Waltz", you give the artwork realisation to an illustrator we really appreciate on Thrashocore: Travis Smith. I didn't have the chance to see the new one in real but it seems to be really careful (as usual), deep, blue and enigmatic like the content. Is he also THE illustrator of Novembre? Did you give him a direction to work (an idea, a concept or something) or did you let him go with his imagination?

Yes, Travis Smith was in charge again for it and he did his best cover for us so far (if not the best at all). And oh, you should really see what he managed to do for the inner sleeve and the rest of the cd (which is gonna come as a digi-pack); you'll really remain speechless.
No, we didn't give him nothing but the music and lyrics. He made us wait for a while and out of the blue (hehehe) he came out with the cover! Amazing, that man must be telepathic. Being the title so generic, we didn't have a clue. But he found what needed.


11. Do you know if there will be a tour to promote this new album? Do you have an idea about the bands you would tour with?

We're gonna play a few shows in UK with Paradise Lost in December and much more is on the pipeline but I can't really more about it right now.


12. I didn't find a lot of review on this new album on the web yet. Did you receive any feedback about it?

Reviews are beginning to pop out now as I write and they all are outstanding. People seem to love it. I guess it appeals to more “Metal” people, because its obvious increased aggression. Just take a look a to the Novembre Myspace page and you could realize the real feedback THE BLUE is getting.


13. The band exists for almost 15 years now and I remarked that Novembre still remains unknown for a lot of metalheads... Is it something that saddens you? Did you see your audience growing through the years even though?

I don't quite agree with this (ndlr: oops!). Novembre are world-widely recognized as one of the most important bands of this genre. Fans from the USA are popping out like mushrooms.
The only thing is that as you know, we had a 5 years lag between Nevembrine Waltz and Materia and I reckon it was just too much. So I think we've some ground to recoup.
But it's just another challenge we're gonna win.


14. What are you listening to these days? Any metal (or not metal) albums to recommend?

Lot of historical bands like Slayer, Entombed, early Darkthrone, very, very early At the gates… then, non-Metal, Radiohead new album like a crazy, Dead Can Dance, The Cure, Sigur Ros, God id an astronaut, Editors, The Smiths, Duran Duran.


15. To finish, how will be the weeks to come for you? Promotion? Concerts? Daily work?

Totally! All of the three :) It's gonna be terrible! But it's ok.


16. Thank you for the interview and I hope to see you in France. The last words are yours!

Thank you so much for this cool interview and truly hope to come to France again. I love your country (even if you voted the wrong one!)