Q1: Lets start with the “classics”, shall we? Tell us as few things about the band. I saw in the bio you have at your website that you brought Martiria “out of the ice” after some years of activity with some other bands. Can you tell as a few details about the early days of Martiria and what you did all these years?

(Andy speaking) Okay Giannis, we can say that at the beginning the “Martiria” were playing a metal that was way more “doom” Our music was inspired pretty much by bands like Candlemass or Black Sabbath, the singer we had at the time (Massimo Di Vincenzo) had a voice that was very similar to the one of Messiah Marcolin. We were a young and inexpert band, we made just two demo-tapes and a few live exhibitions and in a few years our activity stopped.

Q2: What reasons led you to activate Martiria again?

(Andy speaking) One year ago I was working on some pieces and I asked to Maurizio (drums) to listen to them. He liked them immediately and we decided, just for fun, to try to send our material to some labels. We had to introduce ourselves someway so we had the idea to resurrect the “Martiria”. We thought it was a pity to let that name disappear!

Q3: Now lets move on to the musical part. Your love for Warlord's music is obvious. I mean the way you write your songs reminds me a lot of the work of Bill Tsamis. Great melodies on both guitars and vocals with an epic feeling. Great music! What does Warlord's music mean to you?

(Rick speaking) You are correct when you say that the song writing is similar to what Bill Tsamis wrote for Warlord. Bill wrote great, epic songs that musically and vocally demanded a lot from the musicians, as well as, the vocalist. Andrea's writing reminds me a great deal of Bill's writing. That is a very good thing. They are both very talented writers. It was a pleasure to have worked with Bill as one of the vocalists for Warlord and now for Andrea as the Lead Vocalist for Martiria.

(Andy speaking) Well, first of all, thanks to Rick that's always very generous with me! ;) Anyway, I think that what Tsamis made in a few releases with Warlord it's the most important of my musical influences. In Warlord's music I find power, passion, honesty, sadness all feelings that match exactly with my personal conception of music. Nothing arrives anywhere, if it doesn't leave from heart!

Q4: Was it your love for Warlord that led you to get Rick Anderson as your lead vocalist?

(Andy speaking) It was mainly a consequence of the need to get a special voice. I was searching for a “different” vocalist, but in the Roman underground music world I didn't find anything that could fulfill that need. So I tried to send e-mails to the top singers of the 80's, from Tony Martin to Joey Belladonna, but in the end it was Frank Andiver (Wonderland, ex Labyrinth) to suggest me to try to contact the ex singers of the Warlord. Between them I was really curious to get in touch with Rick, since in all the Warlord's Bio he's mentioned as a great singer, but I had never had a chance to listen to his voice. So I asked to Bill Tsamis to help me to get in touch with this mythic Damien King III, very kindly, Bill sent me his email address so, finally, I managed to send him my material.

Rick's answer was positive!! And the rest… is history.

Q5: I suppose that you didn't meet at all with Rick during the recording sessions. How difficult was it to accomplish the final result (that in my opinion really rocks!)?

(Rick speaking) The process was not too difficult because Andrea gave me the freedom to interpret the lyrics and melodies as I chose. If he hadn't liked what I had done, I would have changed it but he was pleased with it. It was important to sing what fit the music and lyrics The new project takes it even a step further in this process. I spent a good amount of time working on the vocal parts to be sure that they were correct in style, as well as, performance. I feel that we accomplished what we set out to do.

Q6: Lets move on to the lyrics. I saw that the person responsible for the lyrics is a guy named Marco Roberto Capelli. Can you give us a little info about Marco and his work?

(Andy speaking) I think that the best option is to let Marco answer!

(Marco speaking) Thanks Andy! There's not too much to say ‘bout me, indeed. I have always had this passion for writing, since I can remember. Many of my stuff, poems or short stories, can be found scattered around the net, some have been published on magazines and ebooks. Actually… I donno if I can be defined a “writer” or not, nevertheless, when Andy contacted me after he had read some poems I posted on the net I was immediately interested in being part of his project. I had a strong feeling that the Martiria could go very far. I think Andy's enthusiasm and passion for music are contagious!!!

Q7: Did he write the lyrics especially for this album or was it material written throughout the years?

(Andy speaking) All the lyrics have been written specifically for the album. I used to gave Marco an idea about the emotions and the themes of the music, on this “idea” he developed the words and the story. He's as well the author of the lyrics of the next album, that will come out in a few weeks for the Underground Symphony.

Q8: Can you tell us where the lyrics are inspired from?

(Marco speaking) Some of the lyrics have been inspired by the atmospheres of Ireland, where I have lived for four years. And I am talking about the mist, the rain, low gray skies and ancient landscapes. There is something naturally epic, and deeply melancholic, on the West Coast of Ireland. You just have to sit down on the shore of the Ocean in a rainy day, all the stories you wish are there, in the wind. Just relax, and listen. Lyrics like “Celtic Lands”, “The ancient Lord”, “Romans and Celts” or “Fairies” come directly from my Irish experience. Other lyrics are more connected to my Mediterranean side, like “Babylon Fire” or “The soldier and the Sky”. I am particularly proud of “Winter” and “The gray outside”, because they come directly from my heart, with very little mediation (but, obviously, for the fact of being transposed in an epic environment). But mainly, I am very grateful to Andy that left me the freedom to work following only his music and my inspiration.

Q9: There are some guest musicians that take part in some of your songs. They give a touch of traditional Italian music to the final result that I find great. Can you tell as a few things about it?

(Andy speaking) I love Italian Opera (Verdi, Puccini) and so it's natural that some opera-like elements appear in my music. Moreover, I wanted to experiment the possibility to mix modern and ancient instruments like Accordion or Lute.

Q10: Which are your plans about the future? I mean are there going to be any live shows?

(Andy speaking) We just finished to master the new album, now we would like to go live... but honestly the proposals we received till now weren't even enough to cover Rick's travel expenses! We are available for live shows just for the fun of it, but we need at least to be able to cover the expenses!

Q11: I saw that you have finished the recording of your new album! That's good news! Can you give us some info about it? When is it going to be released?

(Andy speaking) Yes, the new album will keep this epic aspect, with some doom moments and opera-like insertions. I really feel it's going to be a great album. And it will be available in a couple of months.

Q12: Is it going to be in the same style? Are there going to be any changes in the line-up?

(Andy speaking) I think it's not correct to talk about “style”. Since I compose music following only my heart inspiration so I am sure that our fans will always find something new in each song. Even if the line-up is the same of “The Eternal Soul”.

Q13: This time the lyrics are inspired from the Holy Bible. Which are you beliefs about the Bible, the Church and Christianity?

(Rick speaking) I believe that Christianity is true and that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I believe that the Holy Bible is the inspired Word of God. I believe that the only way to Heaven is through accepting Jesus and the sacrifice He made for us.

(Andy speaking) I think that everyone of us has a personal idea about the matter (as I think its right, being such a delicate theme), personally I believe. But in the lyrics of this album, I think there are many things that can be found: feelings, passions, doubts and also history, epic, revelations, and again love, sadness, suffering… in a word, it's The Bible.

(Marco speaking) I just would like to add a word, I think Andy got exactly the point. Writing the lyrics, being such a delicate and personal theme, I have tried to deal with it pointing out mainly the human figures involved. Their doubts, their hesitations, their fears. They are, yes, actors in a play ruled by God, but mainly they are, before anything else, just men, in whose feelings, hopefully, people listening to the song will be able to see their own reflection.

Q14: Are there going to be any live shows for the promotion of the new album?

(All) Let's hope so!!!

Q15: I want you to comment the words I'm going to give you: Warlord & Epic Metal. All yours!

(Andy speaking) It's the band that made of Epic Metal a real music gender. I don't think there is much more to add!!

Q16: Do you know any bands from Italy that you like?

(Andy speaking) Yes, I know Wotan, Domine, Labyrinth and Wonderland but my favorite group is Doomsword. I like a lot their sound and the way they approach to music.

Q17: Do you know anything about the Greek Epic Metal scene? Is there a band that you like in particular?

(Andy speaking) No, I am sorry, I don't know very well Greek metal bands. I promise I will get some CDs in the early future!

Q18: Well I would like to thank you for your time and your patience (I'm talking about the delay). I'm looking forward to listen to the new album! Please add everything you'd like to say! Take care

(All) We would like to thank you, Giannis, for the interest shown in our regarding and then we would like to say “hi” to all our Greek fans. We really hope to be able to organize a live exhibition In your beautiful and ancient land!