There were a lot of great albums released in 2023 as can be seen from Ave Noctum writers Top 20’s Here
My top of the tree was occupied by two albums Going Off’s “What Makes You Tick?” and Further Into Evil by Marthe. Here is my review
I wanted to talk to Marzia Silvani the sole musician behind the project to find out what makes her tick. Here is the result.
AN: First off congratulations on ‘Further In Evil’ – it was my number one album of 2023 – but aside from that it is a damn fine album.
Marthe: Thank you!!!! <3
AN: The album is a perfect blend of Black Metal, Doom and Punk – in my review I picked out some influences that I got hints of but it feels like this album is probably influenced more by life than just musical influences. What was going on for you when you wrote these songs?
Marthe: Bingo. I’m glad you got it, I was pissed and screaming my guts out as an outlet to keep me sane. I was enraged by a few elements such as injustice and betrayal. I faced the worst time of my life and experienced loss on every level. Not only loss but also the feeling of being dumped, it has been a very hard bunch of years where I discovered I had to find the strength in me to keep balanced. It is not over yet, I’m in the middle of a life turmoil that at least has the great power of inspiration. The result is more isolation and introspection.
AN: The opening track “I Ride Alone” is an epic – 11 minutes plus and it oozes eerie melancholy and icy bleakness. The drums though are fucking huge – you are a drummer by trade – was it a conscious thing to have the drums, especially the toms so loud and proud?
Marthe: Yes, I was digging for a specific lo-fi result because I don’t like the polished drums sound in metal, I hate “technicisms” and I love raw drumming so yes, if I had the means I would have done Marthe back in the 90 but in this shithole I live it took me forever to be independent and even try, so I wanted to make things similar to what I would approach it in my imaginary 90s possibility. Drummers are always like “put the drums up a bit” hahah so since I was alone I told it to myself many times 🙂
AN: You have a history within the Anarcho punk and Riot Grrrl movements and these shine through in the album. I get thrown back to Amebix and Bikini Kill in equal parts. How has it been making an album which crosses so many genres?
Marthe: To be honest, anarcho punk and riot grrrl have been (still are) part of my very first punk journey, in the middle 90s. The biggest of my experience has been in crust/dbeat that has been the follow up because I loved the extreme sounds of metal but I was not interested in the lyrical themes. I started identifying myself in punk and crust had the heaviness of metal plus the political message I was looking for. That’s what I did for almost 20 years and that’s why some themes such as feminism and equality are still so important to me. Marthe is not a political band because I have no political lyrics nor I do any form of band activism, but me – the person – I have specific political view so the crossover between genres I guess happened spontaneously, merging all the elements of my experience and turning them into energy, words, moods, vibes etc. You can tell I’m not a professional singer not musician, but as you said, making an album that crosses different genres has its peculiarity in the DIY approach, that goes along the aforementioned ideals and over.
That’s what I learned more during my experience: doing in the first place, self-promoting, self-recording, without particular skills. I love this active and synergic approach and punk helped me in discovering it.
AN: Is there a reason why this is a solo project and will it remain so – are there plans to take it on the road with other musicians? Dead to You has a chorus that deserves to be shouted along by a crowd somewhere.
Marthe: Ahaha I agree! I love being alone and since I have another band (Horror Vacui) and had many more in the past, I’m really enjoying this time for myself writing, composing, getting inspired by lonely hikes etc. I will never change it and I’m no longer interested in negotiating anything. Maybe it will make a live back-up band but who knows…
AN: As a vocalist myself I found myself mesmerised by your voice – the switch between Black Metal rasps, punky cleans and melodic singing gives the album a texture and atmosphere missing from a lot of releases. How do you keep your voice so versatile and is there any style you feel most comfortable singing in?
Marthe: It took me the whole journey from “Sisters Of Darkness” to the last one composed “Don’t Step On My Grave” to learn to get used to my vocals. It felt absolutely weird in the beginning, I had no clue on how to sing, never done before, and you can tell the difference from the demo to the LP. I have no specific technique but I struggle in using my muscles and not only my throat. I’m lately enjoying clean singing a lot (like in the album I teamed up with The Lord for two tracks) but I love when I’m warmed up and can scream because the vocals just come out so naturally I usually make one take only. Thank you for your nice words btw.
AN: You have mentioned in the past that you are inspired by the Italian horror masters- this is evident in the way you create beautiful but chilling music. Are there any films in particular that provided a muse for the album and are you a fan of the original scores for the greats like Fulci et al?
Marthe: Absolutely, especially as you say in some parts like the synth or the soundscapes. Italian Gothic Horror inspires me a lot of Dungeon Synth ideas that I also use for other projects. I love “La Maschera Del Demonio” (Black Sunday) and also “I Lunghi Capelli Della Morte” (the Long Hair Of Death) not just for the goth setting but also for the empowered female characters that seek for vengeance, live in these dark castles alone or fight for their freedom and justice.
AN: Forgive me for mishearing Curse Myself in Further in Evil as “Kiss Myself” the first time I heard it and having a James Brown moment. There is a dirty doomy groove to this song that gives me Darkthrone/Bathory and Cathedral vibes. Am I close?
Marthe: It is absolutely “kiss myself” ahah! The meaning was like you know, when you bid someone farewell and wish the best you kiss each other. The metaphor was kissing myself as from outside wishing me a good descend into evil” aka becoming stronger.
I didn’t get the James Brown moment haha but I’m pretty much sure that kiss myself reminds me something else I can’t recall since that moment I wrote it. I wanted the song to be more groovy and fast but that’s the song that took me longer because I was never satisfied. I changed the central bridge’s clean singing many times before writing the perfect words for it.
AN: Talking of Doom – Victimized is dripping in purple velvet and bell bottoms with its Sabbathy riffs – did this feel like a track to really let the doom flow on?
Marthe: I still think it’s my fav song and I’m still amazed when I listen to it. I really like it and being alone i also need to look at myself from outside and see how do things work.
The doomish was not intentional but I loved it so I decided to go on and see how I could make it together, I love the final part that is more epic, that’s why I call in “valkyrian metal”.
AN: To Ruined Altars – I don’t know how you manage to mix dark bleak anarcho punk stylings of Amebix and mix them with a catchy Kathleen Hanna sing a long section and make it work. Witchcraft.
The sense of melody is evident throughout the album – when you write what comes first the lyrics, the main riffs or the vocal melody?
Marthe: Vocal melody always after except “Sisters Of Darkness” where it all started from the lyrics of the (soon to be) chorus. Usually is the main riff/riffs, than binge listening, then changes, then drums, than solo guitar and in the end the vocals. Melody is usually provided by the singing (I get bored of monotone scream) and by the solo guitar but I absolutely wanted melody.
AN: To top it off you covered a Banshees track – Sin in My Heart – what made you choose this track? Are you a Siouxsie fan (silly question)?
Marthe: I am absolutely, I have a post punk band (Horror Vacui) where I do drums now but played guitar for 12 years. That song is my dancefloor moment and it’s so sad and powerful at the same time that I love it more than the other. In the beginning I imagined it in a metal way so the original guitar was perfect for solos or bending but then I decided not to ruin a masterpiece in it’ original shape and I changed my mind, deciding to make a personal version for it.
AN: Lastly what have you been listening to in 2023 and what are your tips to look out for in 2024.
AN: I’m a terrible listener, I work in school and the urge of silence is becoming more and more a necessity ahah I loved Astio, Ego, Kekth Arakh, None, Lustre, Terminal Filth, Warkrusher, Lathe Of Heaven.
Cheers for a fucking great album.
THANK YOUUUUUUUU <3
Interview: Matt Mason
Leave a Reply