Interview - Acid Mantra


Interview with Marcello "Rockin' Druid", lead singer of Acid Mantra.

- Hi and welcome to this interview. Tell us about your latest release Cold stare.
Hi, thanks. and thanks above all for the wonderful opportunity you give us.
The album "Cold Stare" was born during the lockdown period, when me and Berry, the guitarist and main composer, decided to record some musical ideas, helped by the drummer friend Pietro Vecchi. The tracks were all recorded in our private studios at home, then I went to record the vocals and backing instruments in a larger recording studio. later, after having launched the work as a self-production, we began to receive numerous contacts from distribution and record companies, and in the end we began the wonderful collaboration with the legendary Jack and his label Wanikiya Record/Promotion.

- How would you describe your sound?
We are very proud of the sound we have created. Berry, the guitarist, is a deep connoisseur of Doom / Stoner, and heavy metal in general. I have always been passionate about Indian music and culture, in fact in addition to being a vocal coach, singer and actor, I am a teacher of Yoga and Meditation, and I also studied music in India. I have always wanted to blend together my great passions, Metal, ethnic music and spiritual topics. I'm happy with the result.

- What do you write about?

The recurring theme of the lyrics is that of the individual's inner search, his need for light and certainties in dark times, represented as dark forces always lurking.

- What do you listen to when you are home?
I personally consider music the soundtrack of my moods, so my ratings are variable. However I don't have a defined boundary of genres, I go from the most extreme metal to blues, classical and ethnic music.

- Your favourite live performance so far?
Lately, given the period, I have not attended any noteworthy Live. As for us as a group, I think our best Live is always the one to come, huh huh.

- Tell us a funny story that happened in studio or on stage.
A funny episode happened when we went to the studio with the guitar and drum tracks to do the editing. Everything ok, too bad that Berry and Pietro had not agreed on the names of the files, so we found ourselves with the pieces mixed up like poker cards. Now we laugh about it, but that afternoon...

- Your favourite albums?
Berry loves bands like Monolord, King Buffalo etc.
I would bring the first Black Sabbath albums to the desert island, almost all of Zeppelin's, a splash of Metallica and a few other scattered titles, like Roots by Sepultura, which was a source of inspiration. Ah, I don't want to forget Motorhead.

- A musician you would like to meet for a beer?
In the past I have met Lemmy and Steve Harris, great men as well as superb musicians. I'd like to have a chat with Edgar Allan Poe, but I'm afraid it's difficult, at least for the moment.

- What would you ask for backstage, if you were the most important band on earth?
I could stay on the classic, saying women, alcohol and ...
I personally would like mugs filled with the blood of my enemies. Eh eh

- What are your plans for the near future?
For a few days we have been working on the second album, which presumably will be released around October, with the new line-up that includes two new elements, Daniel on bass and Marco on drums. We are also creating a Live situation that combines readings from authors who inspired us (Poe, Lord Byron etc.) with live music. Also on the second album we have a lot of interesting guests planned, we always have great news. Rock on!!!


Giovanni Gagliano

Passionate about music I wrote my first article for "Given To Rock" in 2012, reaching now 30K global followers. I am also a musician, gigging around London.

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