Thysia is a new and exciting black metal band and while only having one release out, I contacted guitar player Nefasto, and here is what he said to my questions
So where were you born and where did you grow up? What sort of kid were you growing up?
Nefasto: I was born in Palermo, Sicily, Italy in 1988. Although our family was hit by several tragedies during the 90s, I must say I was a generally happy, playful, and very naïf kid. I was, and still am, a daydreamer.
So now at what point in your life did you stumble across music? Not metal, but early on in your life. What were some of the early sounds or bands that you heard?
Nefasto: One of my first recollections, if not the first one, is dancing to The Traveling Wilburys’ End of the Line music video, which got regular airplay over here. Must have been 1991 o 1992. Music was always an obsessive attraction for me and I can’t remember a single time of my life without it.
What sort of kid were you in high school? What did you want to be when you were growing up?
Nefasto: When I was a kid I first wanted to be a military sniper! Then I wanted to become a virologist just because I was an avid fan of the movie ‘Outbreak’ with Dustin Hoffman, but by my early teens, I already knew that music would have been the core of my entire life. When I was in high school I was part class clown part outcast: very few people in my city were into the music and themes I liked, so I was happy to be the strange guy nobody understood.
Now when did you 1st listen to heavy metal music? What did you think of it? What were some of the early bands that you heard?
Nefasto: My dad was into rock and I’d blast his sleeveless copy of Deep Purple’s In Rock or CCR or Beck, Bogart & Appice very often. Also, I have two elder brothers and a sister. Both my brothers were into punk and metal, so I had the opportunity to be around heavy music early on. I remember my brother once saying “Check this out!” and then he played Sabbath’s live in Paris in 1970 at full volume. That was the exact moment my soul was sold forever.
When did you first discover the underground metal scene? What were some of the 1st bands that you heard? Were you into it right away or did it take a few listens until you were into it and then you were hooked?
Nefasto: I got in touch with my city’s underground scene when I was 15. I went from playing in a thrash cover band to a thrash band called Interior Demise, who were playing their songs. We’d play squats and local venues and that’s when I found out about bands like Balatonizer, Untory, Demogorgon, F.U.G., Mezz Gacano, Sonny Corleone, and more. So yes, my first contact was with my local underground, not with bands from abroad. From that, I started making friends who’d turn me into several bands from everywhere in the world.
What made you want to pick up your instrument? Were you self-taught or did you take any lessons? Who are some of your favorite musicians?
Nefasto: I first picked up the guitar out of sheer boredom. I was 11 years old, just sitting in my room on a hot summer afternoon and I had nothing to do. We had this pretty battered classical guitar on top of a high shelf, so I just climbed up, picked it up, and started hitting all the strings randomly just to see what it sounded like. My mum walked by the room and told me she’d studied some guitar when she was young and living in Spain, so she sat down and taught me the first notes of the uber-famous classical piece Juegos Prohibidos. So yeah, she was my first influence. Then I took lessons for roughly a year before moving on on my own. Speaking strictly of guitar style, my three favorite players of all time are Tony Iommi, Michael Schenker, and Ritchie Blackmore.
So what is the underground music scene like over in Italy these days? Are there a decent amount of shows and is underground music available to those who want it?
Nefasto: The underground music scene in Italy has never been so lively. We have bands of all sorts and some of them, such as Messa, are gaining some serious international recognition. We have labels, venues, and more and more people getting into the new and old sounds of rock and metal. The downside to Italy is Italy itself, though: South of Rome there are much fewer occasions to make live music happen and some very good bands have to strive a lot just to try and reach out.
Now what are some of your favorite concerts you have seen over the years?
Nefasto: Dead Can Dance, Judas Priest, Mercyful Fate, Obnoxious Youth, Uli Jon Roth.
Now how did the 4 of you find each other or were there other members before the 4 of you that recorded your debut album?
Nefasto: The guys have been friends for many years and I (Nefasto) joined them after the three of them had been playing as Nox Interitus for quite a bit.
How soon after the band got together were you starting to write songs? Were most of the songs ready before you went to record your debut album?
Nefasto: We began writing our songs right on and we only book studio time once we know we have enough material for a full-length album, which is usually around 40 minutes of brand new stuff.
Now most bands, with their 1st release, release a demo or even an EP, was there talk of that at all?
Nefasto: No, we wanted to go straight for the throat with a full album. Eps are cool but it’s getting harder and harder to have them released. To make an EP, labels have to spend more or less the same money they’d spend on a proper album but only earn half – if they’re lucky.
Now how did you end up on Chaos Records? Did you find them or did they find you? Were any other labels interested in the band?
Nefasto: We struggled a lot to find a label. The black metal circuit is crammed with self-proclaimed kings of the scene but it’s just full of shit, and most label owners don’t even take the time to reply. We got in touch with Chaos Records via email and their deal was fair enough for us, so off we went.
How did you come up with the name and the logo of the band?
Nefasto: Thysia means ritual sacrifice in ancient Greek, which is a cool concept. Our bass player Nihil drew a logo with that in mind.
So now the album has been out for a few months, how has the reaction been overall?
Nefasto: In complete honesty, we couldn’t care less. This genre is born of fire and passion and we only do it for ourselves. Quorthon was the one and only audience-conscious artist in black and epic metal we admire profoundly, but his talent was unrivaled and almost everything he touched was pure gold, no matter the listeners he had in mind while he was writing, if he ever had any.
Now have you, or do you plan on playing out live anytime soon?
Nefasto: Well, two of us are in multiple bands, so there isn’t much time left for our live activity. We’ll play live whenever the occasion suits us.
So can we expect new music from you guys in 2024?
Nefasto: We are already writing new songs but we’re taking all the time we need to, so no schedules whatsoever.
What do you do when you’re not doing band-related stuff?
Nefasto: Listen to HELS from Sweden, work on or with new music, take long walks, read, sex.
Please plug any social media sites or band-related sites and where can people pick up your debut album?
Nefasto: Look up for Thysia on Facebook if you have to. No bloody Instagram. They’re both shit, anyway.
Nefasto, thanks for doing this interview with me, and sorry for the delay in getting it finished. Any last words to say to wrap this up?
Nefasto: Thanks for your time. Hell awaits…
