Tetrarchate Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?We are getting ready to perform live in June. We haven’ t had any gigs for one and a half year; moreover, it’ s the gig where we will show our new recording definitively (even if it’ s not a real “release party”): one more reason to do a very good performance! For this occasion we are revising some songs for a better impact.

2.Recently you have released a  new ep, how would you describe the musical sound of the new recording and also how does it differ from your previous release?Compared to the Onward demo, these songs are a bit more technical and elaborate. But the main difference is in their darker mood: we think they’ re more “mature”. Generally we call them heavy-thrash metal, or US 80s power metal. But we can surely add they’ re definitely not standard heavy-thrash metal. Most of the reviews we have got so far agree: we have already drawn our personal style; or at least we have started drawing it. Obviously we’ re very proud about it, that’ s not something many bands can do with their only first official release. Unfortunately it’ s bit difficult to us to describe our style more accurately, so the readers would better listen to our songs and understand on their own. We give you a link when you can listen something: https://www.facebook.com/ tetrarchate/app_2405167945

3.The band has been around since 2006 but so far has only put out a couple of recordings, can you tell us a little bit more about the gap?You’ re right. We recorded Onward fall 2009 because we had to reach a higher technical level to make any recordings; in other words, we didn’ t feel ready enough before. It’ s different for the EP “Symposium Of The Tetrarchs”: we actually had planned a comeback much earlier, at least in 2012. But we had a lot of problems, like finding a good studio, recording problems and so on… you know, the same hoodoos a band like us has to face, ahah. We seize the day to thank our friends in Nightland (power folk metal) for helping us. Give them a chance, they’ re good as well! https://www.facebook.com/ Nightland

 4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?In the beginning we were writing about life, inner strength, stuff like this, in a very abstract point of view. Due to several things we occurred in we have changed our mind: now we prefer writing about more concrete things, like hypocrisy and deceitfulness in human relationships, all the ugly things life sets aside for us (indeed the crisis and generally the historical and social context we live in sharpens this). To sum it up, we would say the main concepts in our lyrics are cynicism and nihilism.

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Tetrarchate'?Steve has found the right name for our band. We had several other proposals, but we were perplexed about some of them. Or they had already been used. We wanted something nobody had already used; specifically, Steve was searching for something referring to the emanation of power. When “Tetrarchate” came in his mind, he was almost shouting for joy! It was perfect and absolutely original: it means “the leadership of four”, and fits us perfectly, since we are right four.

6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?We admit we’ ve never played live very much. We live in Pesaro, near cities like Riccione, Rimini… the domain of disco music! There aren’ t many places to perform live, and these few are often very bad, so it’ s very easy to get fed up with. We probably made no more then 15 gigs. We’ ll try to take advantage of the new EP to see if we can play in some better context in big cities, Milan as an example. Anyway the best performances we ever had were right in a pub near Rimini, the Dylan Dog. It is an appropriate pub for heavy metal in itself due to its “dark atmosphere” that has always influenced us positively.

Steve is really into live performance, He does love headbanging and rush around on stage; if there are good conditions the rest of the band supports him. That’ s the way we try to involve the audience: by showing them we are the first to enjoy the music. And, of course, by relying on the goodness and catchiness of our songs.

7.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?We don’ t, apart from the gig in June. Just after the releasing of the EP, we had a proposal for touring Germany and some countries in East Europe. Due to the same fucking economic reasons, we had to renounce.

 8.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?Not yet. But to get signed would be nice, of course. We’ d like to find some guys than can help us at least with printing and graphics. At the same time, anyway, we think it' s not so necessary: most times to get signed means you have to shell out, and we are talking about hundreds and hundreds (if not thousands) of euros (or dollars). So, if someone comes up with a good deal, it can work; otherwise, it doesn' t matter.

9.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of thrash metal?We got some reviews, quite positive. We know we can’ t get more now: “Symposium Of The Tetrarchs” is our very first official release, so it’ s the first step to spread our name. To be realistic we think we’ ll take one or two years more to get a general feedback by listeners.

10.When can we expect a full length album and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?We hope to release our first full-length next year. We are more optimist this time because our guitarist Nazo has set his own studio: obviously this is a huge comfort, regardless of the point of view you consider it, and it will let us shorten recording times.

Musically, we had a disapproval in reviews concerning the rhythm structure of the songs, which has been called “abstruse”. So our aim with our full-length is to write more linear songs without sacrificing our personality (the revising of the songs I touch on at the beginning of the interview).

11.What are some bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Steve: Personally, the band that has changed my life forever is Metal Church. “Metal Church”, “The Dark” and “Live” really shocked me, and it was a unique emotion when I could see those guys live in 2006. Many songs I have composed for Tetrarchate depend on this. But I must absolutely mention Slayer, Hades (the US thrashers), “Tales Of Terror” by Hallows Eve, “Deliver Us” by Warlord, Morbid Saint as well. Well, I don’ t know if you can find all these influences in our songs; anyway I feel I owe them. These days I’ m listening a bit more black and viking metal and I’ m fond of funeral doom metal. Now I’ m listening to Gernotshagen, Bitch, Burzum, Infernal Majesty. There’ s not very much I listen to outside heavy metal, apart from opera and some classical music.

Nazo: My way of writing a song is not based on someone else' s stuff. I come out with an idea and simply work on it. Naturally my songs are connected to my musical experience, to the stuff I used to listen when I was younger (The Crown, Godsmack and so on).

Max: When we started playing together I got inspired by Metallica, Iron Maiden; then I got into an evolution by playing and listening to something different. So my current way of playing drums is different now. I am oriented to a more Lamb Of God and Devildriver style now.

Ara: The same stands for me: I got from pure thrash metal to thrash-black and death-brutal: Ketzer and Aura Noir recently.

12.What are some of your non musical interests?

Steve: I practice athletics, especially endurance running, including half marathons. I take part in competitive races with good results. I don’ t practice it (even if I would very pleased to do), but I am always watching professional cycling races, even if it’ s definitely not a good time for Italian riders.

Nazo: I haven' t specific extra musical interests. But I could say home recording and videogames anyway.

Max: I have more nerdy interests, ranging from video games to table top war games, TV series and comics.

Ara: Cinema, movies and videogames.

 

13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

It’ s our first international interview. For this we thank you all very much. We encourage you to listen carefully to our music, to judge it adequately. And if by this you want to buy it, honour to you.