THE FORESHADOWING (Eng.)
– Hello, thank you so much for answering to our questions. How is currently the band doing? How do you feel about being near to release your third album?
Well of course we are looking forward our album comes out, especially to understand how it will be judged by fans and critics. I guess comparisons with the previous album will be inevitable because it happened the same thing when “Oionos” came out. In any case we always hope that each of our albums will be given the proper value and merit they deserve.
– As I said, you will soon unleash “Second World”. Anyway, for all those who might be interested, could you please share some history of the band?
The Foreshadowing is officially active from the period 2005/2006. Founder and creator of the band is Alessandro Pace (guitar), who decided to engage me on keyboards and Andrea Chiodetti (guitar). In fact the band was formed long before, by the end of 1999 we had the opportunity of meet us together, trying and arrange the material we got at our disposal, but the process came to a stop for two basic reasons: we could not find people interested in Gothic Doom sound and in the meanwhile Alessandro was engaged by Klimt 1918, so we decided to suspend all. Only towards the end of 2005, after each one of us acquired their experience with major bands of the so-called «Roman scene», we gathered again to try again. The same three of us have worked on songwriting and arrangement of our debut album “Days of Nothing”, and soon after we were followed respectively by Jonah Padella (drums) and Marco Benevento (vocals).We also asked for help to our friend Davide Pesola for bass recording. With the same lineup we recorded “Oionos”, our second album, and, before the Summer Breeze Festival in 2010 we engaged, after a long and difficult selection, Francesco Giulianelli on bass. All the rest is history you already know.
– THE FORESHADOWING truly is its own universe, like a parallel reality showing the darkest human feeling but, why did you pick “Second World” for the album’s title?
We chose “Second World” as the album title because it came closest to the entire album main concept. The “Second World” we’re talking about goes back much to the Native American Hopi prophecy which states: «‘When the Blue Star Kachina Makes its appearance in the heavens, the Fifth World will emerge». From this prophecy we have developed the main theme that always sees the apocalypse as main protagonist. The apocalypse in this album is embodied by the natural disasters that are poured on mankind, guilty of having created an alienated and industrialized world. The destruction of the old world will lead to the birth of a new spiritual age and by consequence, a new world. A «Second world».
– After listening to the album, I could say “Second World” is the best description of everything you’ve done so far. The album depicts the best what THE FORESHADOWING is all about, which we could say is a great evolution but, what does this album mean personally to you?
I agree with you. I think the highlight of this album is basically just to be inspired by our first two albums, and thus we came out more renewed and strengthened. I should point out that there have been times when we experimented with new sounds, as “Colonies”, “Havoc” or “Reverie is a Tyrant”. I think we did a great job, and if I went back I wouldn’t change a thing about what we did.
– It has the darkness of “Oionos” and the huge melancholy on “Days of Nothing”, in fact I think atmospheres are even darker, more melancholic and bigger this time. What do you want to express with them? What does inspire you to create such emotional ambients?
What came out from this album was nothing but the result of months and months of intense work. Although it’s important to remember that an album, from my point of view, has a particular value only if there’s a good idea that in this case was the driving force of our latest work. It ‘s surely important working hard in the rehearsal room, making demos at home, but if there’s not a good idea in the album, it becomes itself a vacuum and uninteresting product.
– Despite all this, you have also added some new elements as acoustic parts; why did you decide to include this for “Second World”?
Actually we wanted to do that already since the “Days of Nothing” times, if I remember well, but probably had priority at that time, first of all, to acquire an identity of style as a band, and a more personal sound. We set out from the traditional gothic doom, but our intent was not so much to keep those sounds, but just the ones to stand out from other bands. So, we thought maybe that was not the right time to enter new elements. Or maybe it was simply the fact that we had ideas that went well for the acoustic parts.
– Orchestral parts are also really interesting this time around, you have managed to blended them perfectly to the overall atmosphere. Did you have clear since the beginning what did you want for this third opus?
No, when we started working on the album we didn’t make many things clear actually. Arrangement ideas came out as we met during rehearsals. We started with piano themes or guitar riff, or even vocals theme for a chorus, or a strophe, and from there we arose any kind of solution.
– This is also your most Metal album, guitar driven and with plenty different guitar riffs. Was this something you were striving for? I think it creates a great impact and is an interesting mix with the acoustic and orchestral parts. Is it easy to make a good balance between these “opposite” elements?
Well the problem is more the number of tracks you have in a song. The more are the tracks, the harder is mixing. In fact even during the pre-production of the album we knew Gregorian choirs along with the guitar riffs were good together, but we needed a masterful mixing, and from this point of view Dan Swanö was able to meet our expectations. Regarding the work of the guitars, this was the goal we wanted to achieve, that is, a larger number of massive and powerful riffs, which we weren’t able to achieve it fully in the first two albums.
– You have worked with a different artist for this effort. The cover artwork this time was crafted by well-known Travis Smith, whom I have always thought is perfect for bands with your feeling. Are you satisfied with the work done by him?
We are certainly very pleased with the work done by Travis Smith. He virtually met all of our requests and was very professional and precise. We had no doubts about this because he is a top artist and we always loved his amazing artworks. We just wanted a different work for this album, more illustrative and landscaping and since Travis Smith is an expert in this, we immediately turned to him.
– For production and mixing you have also worked with a different guy, this time (also well-known) Dan Swanö has taken such duties. How did everything go?
Working with Dan Swanö was a great experience, as well as an honor for us. We have always appreciated his works both as a sound engineer and as a musician, so we’re all huge fans of him. At first we were a little concerned because he has practically compelled to work long distance, while with Giuseppe Orlando we were accustomed to another way of working. Then we realized that he would have made his best this way, and actually we have to be satisfied with his work. He has also been very patient, despite our constant requests, but somehow we believe that it was pleasant for him to work with us, as more than once remarked on the value of this album, and it did spontaneously without being asked that.
– This being said, why did you look for a different “team” for the production and artwork after working with the sae one for your first two records? Considering all your albums seem to be guided by feelings but each one has a different vibe, is something important your covers and artworks don’t look the same either? Is something important that they don’t channel the same feeling?
Initially it was our intention to do so. With “Oionos” we thought it was logical to continue with the same staff we have relied to make our debut album. But with Second World we clearly thought in a different way. We believed Dan Swanö and Travis Smith were more suitable for the making of the album, simply because «Second World», according to the shape it was been taking, showed different atmospheres and vibrations compared to the first two albums.
– Finally, what are your near-future plans after the release of “Second World”?
We would like to arrange a tour in Europe for promoting Second World. Unfortunately, because we don’t have any booking agency that deals with us it’s a little difficult, but we will do whatever is possible, perhaps having a drop in Spain!
– That has been everything from our side, thank you once more. If you want to add something else before we wrap this interview up, feel free to do it.
Hail people from Spain ! Hope you’ll buy and appreciate “Second World”!
