FEAR OF ETERNITY Interview

Few bands in the black metal scene today portray the dramatic flair and atmosphere that spirals into utter despair like Moribund's FEAR OF ETERNITY. Italy has never produced such a product of cold, grim black metal. Italy's Andrea Tileni explained to the Gauntlet what factors shape his cold, dark music and life. The following interview is especially directed towards fans of ambient, depressive black metal similar to BURZUM and XASTHUR, and fans of behavior modifying doom metal.

The Gauntlet: You live in Italy, which is not regarded as a black metal hotspot. Considering this statement, is it hard to get recognition for your music?

Andrea Tilenni: It means that music counts more then where are you from.

The Gauntlet: Do you often come under fire for the music you create because you live in the Christian capital of the world?

Andrea Tilenni: Christian mentality doesn't leave place to difference, it doesn't accept the coexistence of other ways to see the world and the life. Then I come under fire not only
for the music I compose, but also for the thought I express.

The Gauntlet: Besides the track "Illusion of Purity" the rest of the songs on "Toward the Castle" appear to be about death and sadness, and not about the typical black metal topic of hatred toward Christianity. Are any of your song lyrics anti-Christian/satanic?

Andrea Tilenni: In my passages there is only sadness and desolation, nothing against anybody.

The Gauntlet: You paint a bleak picture with songs like "The Valley of Sadness" and "Melancholy Rain." What inspires you to create such dismally toned music?

Andrea Tilenni: I draw inspiration from my sad and solitary personality.

The Gauntlet: Moribund Records is an American label that features mostly American bands. Most of the bands in their catalogue consist of low-fi, old school black metal bands. Do you feel you fit in with this label? Are their any other bands on this label you admire?

Andrea Tilenni: I think that the Moribund is the correct label for me, they understood the true essence of my music and I am very thankful to them, besides they have also some good bands which I like.

The Gauntlet: "Toward the Castle" is your Moribund debut, but your website shows a couple of your past albums? What are the names of these albums? How did you release them? How do they compare to your latest one?

Andrea Tilenni: I composed different albums which are not released yet." Toward the Castle" is the first one to see the light, while the others will be released in 2006 with a more interesting sound, and a very high quality.

The Gauntlet: Right from the beginning, "Toward the Castle" sets a feeling of trepidation and uneasiness with the album's cover art. Who created your cover art? What is this a picture of? Who is the figure in the castle's watchtower?

Andrea Tilenni: That's an old castle which is located a few kilometers from my home; after photographing and touching it up, with a bit of imagination, the cover for "Toward The Castle" came out. In the tower dwells a ghost.

The Gauntlet: How does a song begin for FOE? Do you start with a lyric, with music or with both?

Andrea Tilenni: It starts with a melody in my mind, since lyrics are not used in my songs.

The Gauntlet: Considering you are a one-man project, how do you record an album? How do you record the layers of keyboards?

Andrea Tilenni: I have a small recording studio where I use a sequencer that allows me to record the whole work.

The Gauntlet: Some black metal bands use a low-fi, analog recording to achieve a cold and distant sound. Sometimes it works, other times the recording is pure shit. The production on "Toward the Castle" sounds great. How do you produce this sound? What kinds of equipment did u use?

Andrea Tilenni: I use musical instruments, a mixer, and a computer.

The Gauntlet: The beginning keyboard passage on "Departure" sounds like it could have come off a John Carpenter movie like "The Fog" or the slasher classic "Halloween." The next song, "Flying over the Mountains" rhythmically sounds similar to the musical score on "Phantasm." Do horror movie scores influence your keyboard sound?

Andrea Tilenni: Right, the keyboards are very influenced from Horror movies.

The Gauntlet: When did you first start playing music? What was the first instrument you played?

Andrea Tilenni: I began playing drums when I was 16 years old, followed by the guitar, bass, and the keyboards.

The Gauntlet: Could you possibly form a band to play live in the future? Why do you prefer to be the lone member of FOE?

Andrea Tilenni: I don't know if it would never be possible since I am alone playing all instruments. But this is not essential, because the main point is to somehow transmit emotions.

The Gauntlet: What would you like to achieve with FOE:

Andrea Tilenni: I would like to compose some soundtracks for dramatic films and horror films.