Metalville Artist Opera Diabolicus Interview is up

http://operadiabolicus.com/

1.Tell us a bit about Opera Diabolicus as with 1614 this is the 1st

time I've heard of this Avant Prog Metal force..

Opera Diabolicus was formed as a concept in 2006. It all began when I (David Grimoire) met Adrian (de Crow) during a stage play of Umberto Eco’s “In the name of the Rose” in Gothenburg Sweden in 2006. We began to talk about music and theater and what it would be like to combine those two things together. I’ve always been into musicals like Jesus Christ Superstar, Les Miserables and theatrical metal bands so I was very pleased when I met Adrian who had almost the same conceptual ideas.  

2. With listening to 1614 a few times now actually many times I hear

elements of Goth, Prog, Symphonic Doom Metal and some Death metal going

on. I get the same feelings form bands like Dimmu Borgir, Arcturus and

Therion. These bands must play a role in the bands sounds.

In a matter of fact none of the mentioned bands is really an influence because I’ve never really listened to them (I’ve never even heard of the band name Arcturus before). My main influences (when it comes to metal music) are King Diamond, Mercyful Fate and Candlemass and perhaps a pinch of old school death and black metal from the early nineties. Old 70s stuff like old Alice Cooper and Uriah Heep is also an influence. The symphonic influences perhaps comes more from movies and stuff like that.

3. I read its says that Opera Diabolicus has been around since 2006 but

the 1st release is in 2012 . What have the last 6 yrs been setting up

this massive release?

Yes, we started this journey back in 2006. The main reason that it has taken us so long spells “record label related problems”. First back in 2006/2007 we were signed to a little French label called Mourning Records. Unfortunately the owner of the label died in a car accident. After a year or so we signed to Dutch label Vic Records and after that everything stagnated. The label kept us on hold for almost 2 years before I pushed them until they admitted they didn’t have any money so they didn’t know when they would be able to release the album. After some discussion we agreed to rip up the contract so we would find another label, and we did, Metalville Records.

4. I see your working with Snowy Shaw of King Diamond and Therion fame

is he a full time member or is the main band just the duo of David and

Adrian?

Opera Diabolicus is not a regular band in the sense that it’s five guys standing in a rehearsal room practicing once a week. Very early on we decided that for us to be able to do anything that we want and to be so creative as possible we shouldn’t be restricted by the normal band standard and the limitations and pitfalls that lie there in. It was a real aha experience when I realized that I now could write any music that I wanted without the interfering of others and I guess Adrian felt the same thing regarding the lyrics. Opera Diabolicus should more be seen as an act/ensemble with me and Adrian as the foundation.

5. Your video for "Blood Countess Bathory" is as visually stunning as

musically will be be seeing a long form DVD at all your music fits it

so well?

That would have been awesome to do a long form DVD. We really liked to work with the visual elements and the guys that helped us with the video production (11Frames Production) were great, but as for now we have to put that idea on hold because it would be too expensive, but in the future with a good budget then who knows. Hopefully we could make that kind of thing happen.

6. I really wondering is Opera Diabolicus a full time touring project

or most a grandious studio event?

We have intentions of taking this to the stage. Everything depends on demand and economy.

7. How did you come to work with Metalville ( A very up and coming

label in Metal world)?

When we were signed to Vic Records Chris Bolthendal (front man in Grave Digger and former employee of Metalville) contacted me to see if we were interested in a deal with them, but we were under contract with Vic Records at the time. After the break up with Vic Records I remembered his proposal and so I contacted Metalville to see of they still were interested in collaboration, and luckily for us they were.

8. The mix of Clean and Harsh Male vocals and Classical Female vocals

works so well with the complexity of the music from Delicate acoustics

to full on Symphonic black metal. Is this how the band has been since

2006 or have there been many changes?

The songs and the music has more or less been the same since 2006.

9. Before 1614 album where there demos or smaller releases for people

to hear?

We did a pre-production thing that we used when contacting records labels and so on, but no official demos or any other releases are available.

10. The artwork of the album 1614 is very impressive how does it play

into the theme of the record?

Yes, the concept of the art work is related to the lyrical concept of the album, which is the story of Countess Elisabeth Bathory. She’s the main figure on the cover and it’s Adrian and I standing beside her. The art work was made by Gyula Havancsákand and we think he really captured the essence of Opera Diabolicus and the album †1614. 

11. Your website http://operadiabolicus.com/ seems to be just a portal

to social media sites do you feel this is the best way to promote music

in 2012?

We haven’t really given that any special thought. I guess the social media is very important nowadays. The reason our website is like a portal is that we wanted be able to direct the fans in the right direction and make it easy for them to find the right information.

12. You have a theatrical side many bands in this genre have used in

the past.. Do you feel image and sound need to go hand in hand to make

things more interesting?

It doesn’t have to be so, but I think that for this kind of music it really helps.

13. What is the vision you see for Opera Diabolicus in future releases?

We’re working on material for a sequel at the moment, but we don’t want to give away anything so early on in the process, but I can assure you, it will be a killer.

14. Thank you for your time any closing thoughts here..

Thanks for the interview and I would really recommend people to go to YouTube and look up the video clip for the song “Blood Countess Bathory”, put it on HD and with full screen because it’s a real thrill to watch. And of course if you like the music, buy the album. That’s the best way to ensure that there will be a sequel.