Interviews: Rising Sunset

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Blackened Death Metal band Rising Sunset from Malta. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

I (Carlo Calamatta) came up with the name ‘Rising Sunset’ in 2001 when the band was formed. “Rising” represents the beginning and “Sunset” represents the end. So Rising Sunset refers to the beginning and the end of creation. Hence, the Alpha and Omega.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

The early years and previous albums such as the EP Rhema and the full-length album Equinox had more symphonic power metal influences. Eventually, we shifted to symphonic gothic genre with Decretum. Now with De Mysterium Tenebris we once again changed our style embracing our roots and focusing on symphonic blackened death. So, this time we just wanted to follow our hearts and recreate the style we are used to listening to and introduced some tweaks of our own.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

No, the band has gone through numerous line-up changes. Apart from me as being the guitarist founder of the band, Cliff Smith (the bassist) is the oldest member and has seen various line-up changes since the album Equinox himself. Then Ian Spiteri joined forces on keyboards in 2014 prior to the album Decretum. Joseph Camilleri featured on Decretum’s track “Desert Fathers” as a second vocalist. Since then he was asked to join on guitars and then we all moved on to complete De Mysterium Tenebris with this current line-up.

4. Each band member favorite band?

Carlo Calamatta: Carach Angren, Septic Flesh, Wolfheart, Death, Insomnium, classical music to name a few.

Ian Spiteri: Insomnium, Septic Flesh, Carach Angren, Wolfheart, Soulfallen, Dimmu Borgir, Eternal Tears of Sorrows, classical music and movie scores. 

Joseph Camilleri: Flesh God Apocalypse, Behemoth, Dark Funeral, Xerath, Soulfallen. 

Clifford Smith: Paradise Lost, Type O Negative, My Dying Bride, Anathema, The Gathering, Candlemass Septic Flesh.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Mystical stories and the Book of the Apocalypse were the themes that inspired De Mysterium Tenebris. However, we can say we were also inspired by the genre itself as we followed the vibe that we were being given in the composition process, and proving to be an additional ingredient for the recipe of De Mysterium Tenebris.

6. Where was your last gig?

Our last gig was in Malta at Shellshock Metal Fest event which happened to be on the 7th of February 2020. We were searching for overseas festivals to go and venture outside Malta but the Pandemic Covid-19 problem came about and had to temporarily halt communications with overseas clubs and promoters.

7. Where would you like to act?

Any place that would fit out style would go. ‘Metal Days Festival’ is one of our Metal Fest targets. Who knows? Maybe one day we could play there. The plan is to start having live performances in Europe, then eventually start playing around the globe.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

Carach Angren, Insomnium, Septic Flesh, Wolfheart.

9. Whom not?

We are not so picky and choosy but we prefer those bands that fall under the same genre as ours.

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

We are always excited before each and every event but technically we never had any stage frights that paralyzed some of us from giving the 100% on stage. My tip is to remain focused and believe in yourself and to rehearse the set-list thoroughly. Rehearsals with your band mates make you feel safe and united as ONE. You have to prepare yourself before performing on stage and I propose that prior to a gig the band should invite people they trust at their rehearsal rooms to listen to their songs and see them performing. These friends can see or listen to things that the band mates will never notice. Also present yourselves very well on stage. We deem stage presence to be very important. 

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

The inspiration comes from many sources however Carach Angren, Septic Flesh, classical music and movie scores are amongst the most important sources that have inspired us.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

Well, after one of our performances a girl wanted our signatures on her body. She came to me with a black marker and asked me to sign on her arm. Then the rest of the mates followed suite.

13. What do you think of your fans?

The fans are one of the most important reasons why we create music. We love the human interaction while performing live and their participation during our gigs is the biggest gift they can give us.

14. What do you think of our site?

It’s a 360 degrees of metal genres focusing on awesome bands. Keep up the good work and keep the metal flame burning.

15. Something add?

The album ‘DE MYESTERIUM TENEBRIS’ will take you on a journey through brutal, black & death metal riffs, melancholic melodies and orchestration, growls and screams & solid drumming intertwined with elaborate song writing. This is an album akin to the ‘Book of Revelation’ taking you into the dark, apocalyptic and prophetic journey. The more you listen to the album the more you cherish the dark journey, the mysticism and the stages of metamorphosis that will happen on Earth as the souls of humanity are aligned with the supreme being or condemned for eternity.