Neurasthenia
Thrash Attack, Italian Way

31.03.2009

The Italian thrash scene is a kind of mystery. Apart from the cult act Bulldozer, this country can hardly boast any famous thrash metal bands. There are many local acts indeed, but how many people know about them outside the country? I am not saying there are no decent bands at all in Italy, quite the contrary – many Italian bands are well-known throughout the world, but they play gothic, doom, death, power (usually with the “sympho” prefix), etc… But all of a sudden we caught the side of a melodic and a bit anarchic thrash act under the morbid monicker of Neurasthenia, which definitely deserves attention and coverage in Internet media. Our questions were answered by founding member, bassist and singer Matteo "Lehmann" Grazzini.

As not many people know your band in Russia, could you tell us a bit about it? I mean, the band’s history, musicians…

Neurasthenia was founded in 2004 by me and frontman Neil (Claudio "Neil" Loprieno - vocals, guitar). After two years and various line-up changes, the band became complete with the new two members, Steve Rivolta (drums) and Phil (guitars). Having added these two people, the band released the first album “Possessed”, which introduced the band to various situations, mostly good ones, such as playing with some of the biggest bands in the world, finding a booking agency and a manager. With the new album “Your Omen” we have found the first serious label, My Graveyard Productions.

What were the reasons for changing the band name? If your official website does not disguise me, your previous name was dark and menacing – Animalator, but in 2004 you decided it change it to Neurasthenia.

It’s because Animalator was the first band of Neil that gave us the opportunity to sit down and think like, “How about making a BIG thrash metal band?” And well, we have done it…The last promo of Animalator was entitled “Neurasthenia”, so we took the name from it…

An obvious question – what are the main influences on your music? As far as I understand, Bay Area thrash is closer to you than the German thrash scene, right?

Well, we listen to so many different kind of music - rock, jazz, heavy metal, thrash, death, black, classic music etc…..Your suggestion about Bay Area thrash is not fully right, because Neil is very close to the German and Swedish sound, but I do like the Bay Area style mostly…

Your interpretation of thrash metal is very interesting – even though it’s very powerful and aggressive, you manage to create great and catchy melodies. It is a trend nowadays to mix thrash with melodic death metal or stick to old-school thrash, but you chose a different path - why?

We play how we feel, and the Neurasthenia sound is a mix of thrash and heavy, but I think we have an absolutely individual sound.

How is the creative process going within the band? What comes first – music or lyrics? Who is responsible for the heavy and aggressive edge, and who is bringing in melodies?

First comes the music, and sometimes after a long time comes the lyrics. The songs are composed by me, Neil and Phil, we work so much in our studios and when we meet to play, we work together on the new songs. Neil composes the aggressive parts of the music, and me and Phil the most melodic riffs.

Who did the artwork for your album “Possessed”, and what does this skull with horns sticking out of its eyes mean? Is at a result of an accident in hell?

(laughs) No!!! I’m the art work maker, I made the logo and the skull, and this was supposed to represent our individuality… and our band… We like it!!

Lehmann, can you say a bit about your second band Kreas, where you play brutal death metal? Is the project suspended or still active?

No, it is absolutely active! We are at work on the new album - me, Neil and Vellacifer (Francesco "Vellaciferion" Vella, drums). Kreas has been around since 2000, but only me and Vellacifer still remain from the original line-up. You will hear what we can do with this amazing band!

What is the situation with thrash metal in Italy? When it comes to Italian thrash scene, I am only familiar with cult band Bulldozer, as well as with Death Mechanism from Verona, but now Neurasthenia has joined this list…

Thank you very much, we are honored! The thrash scene is very good in the north of Italy, and a little bit in the center, but in the south the most popular genre is death metal, or rather brutal death…

What kind of music do you listen to when you have some time off from rehearsals, gigs and recordings? Do you focus on extreme music only, or can you sometimes relax listening to melodic rock or maybe even disco? (smiles)

Ah ah, no disco!! I like to listen to some rock or heavy metal…..but my favorite music when I’m relaxing is “Spiritual Black Dimensions” by Dimmu Borgir!

How much have you felt the impact of the global economic crisis – are you affected or is everything the same as before? Do Italian people still go to concerts and buy CDs, like they used to do a year ago?

The difference is so much evident! The people in Italy do not go to gigs like before!

Your MySpace page contains an impressive list of bands whom you have shared the stage with. Who were the most pleasant gig partners, and who made a bad impression on you?

Well, for us the most pleasant gig was the one with Exodus and Forbidden. To be honest, Stratovarius are assholes, not so funny guys at all…

What are your preferences in the new breed of thrash metal? Young bands are now abundant in this genre - Fueled By Fire, Evile, Strikemaster, Bonded By Blood, Violator, Released Anger etc.

Honestly, I prefer the old bands, I haven’t heard a contemporary thrash metal band that I would like as much…

What can you say about music downloading from the Internet? Are you for it or against it? On the one hand, the number of potential fans increases when they have free access to your music, but on the other hand, does it make sense to release CDs, when everybody’s just downloading stuff and not buying it?..

I think that nowadays Internet downloading is a normal activity for the young, ‘cause we are so accustomed to do that. We like the fact that we got a lot of fans who download our music, and maybe when they come to our gigs and become proud of us, they will buy the CDs…

You have signed a record deal with My Graveyard Production – why did you choose this label? Is it tour temporary home, a kind of launch pad for you, or do you plan long-term relations?

I don’t know. So far we have a good relationship with the label, but I think that for us is a kind of launch pad. Anyway, who knows?!

Do you have any plans to re-release your demos and the single? Isn’t there enough material for a full-length CD, is it?

Yes of course, we will do a re-release for sure. Maybe we will introduce some songs from “Full Force Of Thrashers” demo in the next album!

What are the first thoughts that come to your mind when you hear the word “Russia”? Have you received any feedback or fanmail from Russia? Or will our webzine be the first to express interest in your band?

No, you are the first fan from Russia! Ah ah!...When I think about your country, certainly, I think that it’s very cold! But I’m so eager to visit it!

Let’s finish with a traditional question – what are your plans for the immediate future?

Well, for the immediate future our plans are to organize a European tour with some bands, but for now it’s only a plan. We also plan to create new material for the next album!!

Thank you very much in advance for taking your time, and let’s hope that you will get fans in snow-covered Russian wastelands, too!

Ah ah ah!! Thank you too guys, for me is a really pleasure, and we hope to visit your country as soon as possible!! Russia under Italian Thrash attack!!

Neurasthenia on the Internet: http://www.neurasthenia.it

Alexei “Panzer” Arbuzov (with a little help from Roman “Maniac” Patrashov)
March 22, 2009
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