Theomachia’s debut EP, “The Theosophist”, is a treat for the discerning listener. Hailing from Rome, the music is deemed “gnostic black metal” and draws influences from a vast array of sources. What’s most striking is the seamless transitions between the grim textural side of black metal and the cleaner, softer side. Hypnotic in demeanor, “The Theosophist” descends into a mystical narrative which is illuminated in part by Greco-Roman esoterica in extremis.
Your debut EP, “The Theosophist”, is a very solid release. How did this project come about? Was it an internal expression guided by a philosophical outlook that had to be externalized via black metal?
F.M.: Theomachia came to life in 2019 as a band, but due to internal disagreements we decided to continue as a duo. I write the music, while I.G.Tataru, who is also my partner, writes the lyrics and takes care of the artistic and conceptual aspects. We have total freedom in our respective roles. She writes and I put her poems to music, it’s great! Black metal is the genre that belongs to me more than any other and in which I reflect myself the most. Its principle is highly individualistic, it has a deep and ancient strength, an essential link with nature, and a timeless warrior spirit.
I.G.Tataru: When I gave the name to the project, I had a clear idea of what our message was: to strip man of all the superfluous and bring him back to his essence; an essence that modernity tries to suffocate in every way. Yesterday Diogenes was looking for man, today we have found his lantern.
Song composition is highly competent with seamless transitions between contrasting modes of black metal. Does writing music come to you naturally? How has your musicianship evolved over time?
F.M. : When I started playing guitar I only listened to metal and rap. I hated everything else but I was too young to understand. While growing up I realized that if you want to be a musician you have to open up and listen to everything, and in the end I fell in love with all the music. Even my way of composing has changed, I used to get fixated on bringing out ideas, riffs etc… while today I record and write songs only when I am particularly inspired.
I can start from a guitar riff as from a bass line or a keyboard. When I’m around, I often think of melodies that I sing and record on the phone to prevent me from forgetting them. I only write when I feel like it, without forcing anything.
What are some of your influences outside of black metal? The promo mentioned The Sisters of Mercy, which is not often found in the consumption of the common metalhead. Do you feel that black metal ethos is espoused in other forms of music?
F.M.: As I have said, I love all music. My main influences outside of Black Metal are almost all 80s sounds, especially Synth Pop, Dark Wave, New Wave, Post Punk, but also Ambient Music has made its contribution. I don’t know if today we can talk about ‘Black Metal ethics’ but if I had to tell you a genre that I find very close to Metal, I would definitely say Trap; it’s a very dark, heavy genre.
Xenoglossy Productions is an interesting underground label which specializes in music which resides on the periphery of the prevailing convention of black metal. It seems like the proper label for Theomachia. How did this relationship come about?
F.M.: Xenoglossy productions is a fantastic label founded by two wonderful guys who, regardless of the genre, release some very interesting music and not only in the field of metal, and there are many valuable bands. We were looking for someone to help us find a label with which to release the EP and Jacopo Pepe (the producer of the EP) put us in contact with Giuseppe E. Frisone (one of the founders of Xenoglossy) who was interested in our project. He also got us to work with Mark Sanders from Onism Productions, another fantastic label that will release the CD version of ‘The Theosophist’. We were really lucky!
Being you’re based in Rome, Italy, it is quite clear that you feel some attachment to ancient Rome. What does Gnosticism (ancient Roman religion) mean to you personally? Can you describe what ‘Gnostic Black Metal’ is? Is physical reality inherently profane?
I.G.Tataru: It is true, this millenary city has fueled the call of antiquity; a sort of recognition of ancient traditions, as if they had always belonged to us, and a deep sense of awe in the face of past greatness. The Gnosticism practiced in ancient Rome resonated with me for its initiatory aspects, for its secrecy and because it was practiced among the military hierarchies. In fact, I feel that Gnosis can only be the result of a harsh conflict, primarily with oneself. Knowledge, which is synonymous with freedom, must be earned and fought for. If ”Black Metal ist Krieg”, Gnostic Black Metal takes this war to an octave higher, a war of cosmic proportions. In this dimension, physical reality becomes our sacred battlefield and, whether we like it or not, it all depends on our point of view. I have seen beauty even in hell.
Moreover, the philosophical influences of this release are vast. How are Neoplatonism and Gnosticism compatible? Should the focus of education be the ideas that have lasted over centuries?
I.G Tataru: Everything I wrote is not only the result of philosophical influences, but of lived experience. Philosophy is useless if it does not implement a radical transformation within us. I find it evident that Gnosticism and Neoplatonism are superimposable in their cosmology, as they presuppose a dual reality based on the contrast between a lower world and a higher world. And it is precisely this contrast that generates self-awareness: ”I” (the inside) only becomes conscious because there is a ”you” (the outside). But let us leave conceptual speculations to scholars. These ideas will one day be taught in schools, and the main focus of education will be the teaching of self-knowledge, because, as Nietzsche said, one becomes what one is.
The Theosophist’s cover art is a William Blake painting readapted by I.G. Tataru; “The Ancient of Days”, which is a depiction of Urizen; a central figure in Blake’s mythology. What does Blake mean to you on a personal level? How does this image represent the narrative context of the release?
I.G.Tataru: I have always given a lot of importance to words. ’In the beginning was the Word’, says the Gospel of John…It’s the logos, the divine intelligence.
By associating words with images, which are portals, windows on other worlds, a magical formula is created; a kind of cathartic ritual takes place. This is why Blake’s figure continues to inspire me, he has fused poetry and painting and gave life to his own mythologies: the more one is obsessed the more powerful is one’s vision.
I chose to repaint ‘The Ancient of Days’ because of its expressive force; primordial and titanic. I have seen in it the Demiurge, the great Architect; a being that I conceive as an individual Absolute, which has the power to destroy and create worlds. This figure represents the creative principle contained within the human being, the inner God who constantly calls us to himself to be awakened. This is the purpose of the release, to act as catalyst to rekindle the divine spark.
Theosophy is an emphasis on universal “ancient wisdom” found in various religions throughout human history, which gained popularity in the US around the 1960s. Theosophists believe that the likes of Jesus, Buddha, et al are occult “masters” of enlightenment. Being that Theosophy is starkly different than Neoplatonism and Gnosticism, it makes me think that Theomachia has its own perennial synthesis of “the light within”. How would you describe your personal beliefs?
I.G.Tataru: Neoplatonism, Gnosticism, Theosophy are all terms that we chose for their evocative sense and their etymological meaning more than the historical one. Theos (God) + Sophia (Knowledge), indicates the possibility of knowing God, the various doctrines are just different ways to get to know him. F.M. and I both have our own spiritual paths, which are all-encompassing of our lives. Because of this, Theomachia has a strong push for elevation. Black metal is dark by definition, we have recognized this darkness within ourselves, because it is part of life. Darkness can become a powerful ally when you stop fighting it. On a personal level, F.M. is a Buddhist and I practice the Fourth way of G. I. Gurdjieff but I still consider myself a Christian, but this is another story.
Thanks for taking the time to do this interview. What’s next for Theomachia?
F.M.: I am currently writing new songs that will be part of an album but I’m not in a hurry. Surely, I can tell you that I am experimenting a lot using new sounds and various instruments. Thanks for interviewing us, we really enjoyed answering your questions!
The Theosophist will be released February 4th on cassette via Xenoglossy Productions and on CD via Onism Productions.
