Interviews: HARVEST

On this new occasion, we had the opportunity to interview the Gothic Metal/Doom Metal band HARVEST from Italy. Check out the interview and follow this band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name? Did you plan it or came out like that?

Both me (Omar) Fabio and I, founding members of the band, are big Opeth fans, especially the first Opeth era, so we pay tribute to them by naming the band after one of their most beautiful and representative songs of that period, which you may know is on the "Blackwater Park" album as well.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

We personally listened to Gothic/Doom Metal since the beginning of the genre, in the early 90s, when bands like My Dying Bride, Tiamat, Katatonia, Paradise Lost, Anathema, Opeth, Moonspell, and so on, gave birth to the scene with their masterpieces. Unfortunately, here where we live, even if the genre is well known and listened to, there are not many musicians with whom you can undertake this kind of music. Fabio and known each other for a very long time, and after having played different genres with our previous and present bands (Death Metal for me and Stoner for him), we decided to indulge our passion for Gothic/Doom Metal and form a band to play it.

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

Yes, as I said, Fabio and I are long-time friends, also Elisa (Bass) is a long-standing friend of ours. Emanuele was the vocalist also in my previous band, Azathoth, and present band, Orki, so I have known him for over 20 years. Different is the story of Matteo, our second Guitar/Keyboard player, who played in a Symphonic Metal band called "Golden Jubilee" in the past, and is a work partner of Fabio, and was involved in the band with him.

4. Each band member's favourite band?

Oh, it's a hard question...there's a lot of band each one of us love...having to name one for each, I can say Slayer for Emanuele, Katatonia for Elisa, Black Sabbath for Fabio, Epica for Matteo, and Opeth for me.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

We are mainly inspired by events that happened in our lives. Lately, we have all lost a loved one, a parent, a friend...here's the reason why our debut album is called "For the souls we have lost". Generally, our music talks of the inevitability of life, our fears and sorrows, and the sense of helplessness in the face of one's destiny.

6. Where was your last gig?

Although we all had played live for a very long time with our old bands, we do not have any gigs for now. The band was formed a couple of years ago, and now, with the publishing of our upcoming album "For the Souls we Have Lost", we are planning some gigs. The first one is next month, in September, and for the next year we have a couple of important events that we can't reveal yet..

7. Where would you like to act?

We would like to play at a big festival once in our lifetime, in Italy or Europe, or opening for an important band, but let's keep our feet on the ground for the moment.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

The dream is always to play with your favourite bands, but I think it might remain just a dream.

9. Whom not?

No one in particular, we are open to what destiny will (or will not) give us.

10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tips for beginners on how to beat that?

Yes, in the past maybe, in the early days, but as I said, we have now more experience on stage, having played for almost 20 years with our other bands. We don't have any tips for beginners; everyone is different and feels the emotions on stage in a different way.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

For the writing of this album, I think that Paradise Lost, Katatonia, and My Dying Bride could be considered our main inspiration.

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

Nothing in particular, we are not that famous to have crazy fans for the moment!

13. What do you think of your fans?

We have only to thank them for the support and for the attention they give to our music and our posts on social media.

14. What do you think of our site?

We think your website is well made, clear, and any content is explained well and coherent with the modern Metal movement, so please continue like this and promote new bands like us, because the underground is in good shape as ever! 

15. Something to add?

We want to thank you for the opportunity to let us know to your audience, we cannot wait to take our music on stage to the next level!