Vittorio Sabelli (DAWN OF A DARK AGE) on Rock Overdose: “I wanted to create something unique, never done before and that hardly can be replicated in the future.”

 

Rock Overdose: Hi Vittorio and welcome to Rock Overdose. Would you like to start this interview by saying a few words about Dawn of a Dark Age for our readers? About its conception and its origins?

 

Vittorio Sabelli: Hello Rock Overdose and thank you very much for this interview. Dawn Of A Dark Age is a one-man-band composed by me (VK) and many guests. We’re working at the first black metal saga called ‘The Six Elements’, inspired from Stephen King’s ‘The Dark Tower’ and J.S.Bach’s ‘Brandeburgos Concerts’.

 

Rock Overdose: As you have stated, Dawn of a Dark Age will release six albums, every six months and each album will be inspired by a different element. A project that will be concluded on January 1st 2017. How come you came up with such an idea and when did you come up with it?

 

Vittorio Sabelli: I started to think about the possibility of creating Dawn of a Dark Age during a trip to Norway in front of the tomb of Euronymous. But I wanted to create something unique, never done before and that hardly can be replicated in the future. So I decided to focus the whole saga on the number six: six album composed of six songs for an exact total of 36 minutes, and all will be released six months from each other.

 

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Rock Overdose: Isn't it a bit stressful that you know that you will have to compose a new album in less than six months? What is the procedure that you follow, for the composition of every album, and where do you draw inspiration from?

 

Vittorio Sabelli: At the beginning it was, I sincerely didn’t think that I was going to be able to manage it with these times. It is stressful to compose an album? Or not, this is the real challenge. To try and develop new ideas and put them into music within a composition. I do not have a particular procedure, I simply try to isolate myself and my visionary mind from the world and then begins the flow of thoughts and ideas. The important thing is to be in places that allow this. I do not expect that a particular idea will fall from the sky, but I write constantly and all days, and then many ideas develop into music. Some will be rejected and other brewed over time, like a good whiskey.

 

Rock Overdose: In the 4 albums, released so far, 3 different singers were used. Was that intentional or was it purely coincidental?

 

Vittorio Sabelli: Pure coincidence! Each of the elements has its own identity and special characteristics, so I try to involve musicians that I think can best paint the picture I have in mind. Not to lose the habit, on the V chapter that we are recording there is a new amazing singer, instead of Lys of Enisum.

 

Rock Overdose: I saw that in the new album Aeturnus is handling the drums, while in the previous albums you handled all the instruments. Did you invited Aeturnus so that he could help you and lift some burden off your shoulders?

 

Vittorio Sabelli: Yes, I thought of eliminating the drum machine, because it took me too much energy and time. I prefer to use the time to arrange the songs in the best way and then I need to listen the real drums interact with my music. This is why I started looking for a real drummer and the choice was quite easy, as Aeternus is not only a virtuoso, but he manages to emphasize the right changes and atmosphere that the songs require. He is a natural talent and he has good taste.

 

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Rock Overdose: As we've mentioned, on January 1st 2017 the project will have been completed. What are your plans for the future? Will you continue releasing albums under the Dawn of a Dark Age name or the band will have completed its circle and you will proceed with other projects?

 

Vittorio Sabelli: It is premature to say. There is an idea to start making a Dawn of a Dark Age live, but at the same time I think that I won’t have any remaining energy, after these six discs, and then I think it is appropriate to send the band permanently retired. Only the future can tell us...

 

Rock Overdose: Apart from Dawn of a Dark Age, is there any other project that you're currently involved with?

 

Vittorio Sabelli: Actually I have two more projects: a duo with a great pianist, about the music Brazilian’s composer Pixinguinha. I love to play in duo, just clarinet and piano. And a quartet with accordion, marimba and voice about tango and jazz.

 

Rock Overdose: Let's talk a bit about you. From what I know, you are also a well-known Jazz player. Would you like to share some information on you jazz career? How come you've decided to pass from the jazz music to the atmospheric and experimental Black Metal?

 

Vittorio Sabelli: I studied in Conservatory and I play classical and jazz music from 20 years all over Europe. I recorded two contemporary-jazz albums and an anti-tribute about THE WALL and Pink Floyd. But I love metal from 1987 and I thought of using wind instruments in Black Metal music. I just needed the right inspiration. The Six Elements represents something unique and difficult to do again in Metal. Nobody had ever used the clarinet in Black Metal and when I started this adventure 2 years ago I felt it was the right time to try that.

 

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Rock Overdose: What do you do in your free time, when you're not composing music?

 

Vittorio Sabelli: I read and hear music, jazz and classical ... sometimes Metal! Moreover I’m devoted to my family.

 

Rock Overdose: Italy is a country with an important history in Heavy Metal. Are you following the Italian metal scene at all? What other bands are you listening to this period?

 

Vittorio Sabelli: I agree with you, there were some good bands in the Black Metal scene in the past, and now many bands have been created, whose proposal is very interesting and original than the average of the bands that have no identity, proposing crappy stuff, already heard and heard again. I currently listen to the new works by Selvans, Enisum, The Clearing Path: excellent propose with a personal conception of a genre that goes beyond music and simple songs.

 

Rock Overdose: Let's return to Dawn of a Dark Age. Do you intend on making any live performances in the future or the band is purely a studio one?

 

Vittorio Sabelli: Well, that would be too much to ask for now, as I am too busy with the remaining two albums. As I said you next year I’ll decide the new plan about Dawn of a Dark Age, but it’s too early to say.

 

Rock Overdose: In the previous albums, we saw that every new release had different elements, coming from different musical genres. What is the musical direction that the new albums will take and which are the two remaining elements?

 

Vittorio Sabelli: The next album will be very different from previous ones. We are currently recording with the new singer and will be a unique work, never done before in Black Metal. Stylistically, there is a continuous experimentation that is the main feature of the project, from the beginning, and in this new work we have the addition of the percussionist Marco Molino that will accompany Aeternus on drums, and the return of violinist / violist P-Kast, that already participated in the albums of  Water and Fire. Editing as always will be entrusted to Marcello Malatesta.

Rock Overdose: Thank you very much Vittorio for this interview. Any last words are yours.

 

Vittorio Sabelli: Thank you very much for this interview, I hope that many people will be curious to listen this new Black Metal concept. You can listen to our music and if you want to support us, you can do so through the page:

 

www.r-evolutionband.com

https://dawnofadarkage.bandcamp.com/

http://dawnofadarkage.bigcartel.com/

www.facebook.com/dawnofadarkage

 

See you soon.

VK

 

 


 

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