Klimt 1918 were probably the best surprise of 2003 for me: a sincere, honest band, playing beautiful simple music. They don't try to sound in some certain way, their music is not complex, but quality is always there. Their debut album, "Undressed Momento" gained a very much deserved 9 (issue 0022) and I obviously didn't miss the chance to talk a bit with the band.

Hello, and lots of congratulations on your brand new album, "Undressed Momento"! First of all, I don't know if you've read my review, you received a 9 out of 10, and I would like to know if you find both the review and the grade just...
Marco:  Very very good!! Thanks a lot!

So, "Undressed Momento" is your debut, isn't it? And since you're a new band, I would like you to introduce Klimt 1918 to our readers, with a few words about your members & history!
Marco: Klimt 1918 was formed by me (Marco) & my brother Paolo (drums) in October 1999. We were the only two members left of Another Day, an Italian act dedicated to progressive Death metal sonorities.
In 2000, after the split of A.D. we recorded "Secession Makes Post-Modern Music", first demo of the band, more focused on different sonorities and suggestions. The musical influences can be indicated with the Swedish and English Avantgarde Metal (Anathema, Opeth, Edge of Sanity, Katatonia), the 80'ies Wave (The Cure, U2 - early years, Police, Japan, Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, The Smiths) and The Beatles (years 1967-1970). "Secession Makes Post-Modern Music" was acclaimed with great reviews by media and, after an important promotion, the band chose to accept a deal for two albums with My Kingdom Music.
In July-September 2002 the band entered again the Outer Sound Studios and, under the precious supervision of Giuseppe Orlando and Massimiliano Pagliuso (Novembre), they recorded their debut album "Undressed Momento". That's all, by now.

So, ROCK is the magic word! Melody, atmosphere, not much heaviness. Isn't it strange to see this music coming out from musicians who started off in a death metal band...!?
Marco: Not too much! You know, many great avant-garde bands started from death metal. Just see acts like Tiamat, Katatonia, Anathema and Beyond Dawn. We can say that 'extreme' music is a big 'box' for different styles and sonorities. For example I discovered melody and dark atmospheres thanks to great death metal bands like Septic Flesh, just to name one. "Mystic Places of Dawn" is an extraordinary album! It's a death metal album, but at the same time it contains melodic and atmospheric passages extremely excellent. More excellent than many gothic-rock bands… I mean: a lot of metal musicians can have a great melodic touch. 

But of course, then, music is one, global and one can always find something good in every genre as long as he keeps his mind and eyes wide open. What's your opinion on this thought? Are you in favour of variety in music you both hear and compose? 
Marco: Yes completely, I think you're right. It's important to be open-minded to find something good in every musical genre. The famous Duke Hellington was right when he said that music can be divided just as 'good' and 'bad' one. Independently from the nature of the sonorities. 

So, which artists would you name as your main influences for this band? 
Alessandro: Well, we listen to a lot of music. I can mention Depeche Mode, Tears for Fears, Police, Duran Duran, The Smiths, the album "Joshua Tree" from U2, Radiohead, R.E.M., Luigi Tenco, Gino Paoli, post-electros,'80 synth-pop, Darkthrone, Emperor, Cure, Katatonia, Opeth, Anathema, Novembre, Beyond Dawn, The Beatles, future-pop/EBM stuff… too much to be reminded!!

By the way, is this your only/main project, or do you belong to other bands as well?
Marco: Actually I'm working on a project with some friends from Rome. It's death metal in the vein of Opeth, Septic Flesh, October Tide and old Katatonia. Melodic, violent and melancholic stuff. 
Alessandro: I also play in another band called Spiritual Front. It's pop-folk stuff, check the official site if you want to know more (http://www.spiritualfront.com/). 

Anyway, back to the album now. Which songs do you find that turned out most successful? Do you think that all songs have the same quality, or are there some which stand out? 
Marco: My favourite songs are "Parade of  Adolescence" and "We don't need no music" (en: mine, as well). I think they perfectly represent our music: melody, pop attitude and elegy. Both lyrics of these songs deal about nostalgia and the end of adolescence. They are all remembrances, uncertain and contrasting feelings that bring an emptiness you cannot fill when you find out an old picture signed by the time. The evidence that someone or something dies inside of us slowly without disappear completely.

Will you release any single(s) or video(s)?
Marco: Actually nor video neither a single…. maybe in the future… who knows…..

Do you believe that your music could be successful in wide, or is it limited to a small 'community'? I mean, it's a bit hard to expect that a brutal death metal band will appeal to people outside metal, but what do you think of your own music?
Alessandro: Mhh... don't know! The most important thing is that our music could reach more audience possible, that's what we hope! For sure, it's important to be 'open-minded' to appreciate our album... but nowadays I think the musical tastes of metal audience are getting more mature and various.
Marco:  I think metal audience is less closed than the past. Just have a look at bands like Anathema, Katatonia, Beyond Dawn, Tiamat: they haven't too much in common with metal, but they still have great success in the metal scene... a significant fact for me.

How much does (and how much must) an artist care about commercial success? There's a number of opinions, from those who claim that success is some kind of crime to those who just sell out everything to become primadonnas, but I guess the truth is somewhere in between...
Marco: I agree… I think that obviously success changes the life of an artist. Rock stars who claim that 'I am always the same person I was before' just make me laugh… I prefer artists who recognize their success and the money they gain.

Your compositions are generally simple and straightforward, while (almost) always very good, but many other artists choose to work very hard on having strange, difficult to understand compositions in their albums. But, is it really that they need to express themselves in such a complicated way? Sometimes I think that composing something really good is difficult and so some people use the masque of complexity, just to hide the fact that they can't come up with something good. I don't doubt of course that some people compose complex stuff in a genuine way, and I don't refer to them....
Alessandro: Well, I totally agree with your analysis. As Klimt1918 I can say that we try just to write good songs in a very spontaneous way! We like simple melodies that enter in your ears and brains giving you emotions – that's all..

What about musical studies? Have the members of Klimt 1918 taken lessons concerning their instruments and musical theory? Do you find this knowledge helpful/essential?
Alessandro: We all take some lessons in the past, but not too much. For sure they can be helpful, not essential however…

As a last question now, how did you come up with the name Klimt 1918 - and please tell us a few things about that name.
Marco: 1918: The first world war finished and the '800 as well. Klimt died; he represented most of all the Wien secession, the epocal passage between decorativism  and espressionism. The post-industrial civilization was born, the bases for post-modernism was placed. The 1918 was the Finis Austriae for occidental world. It represents an elegy for the dying 'old' and the excitement for the 'new' that comes out. Our music embodies all these suggestions.  Songs of ruins and post-war period, full of vitality, homesickness and a lot of hope.

So, what's the future like for Klimt 1918? Any touring ahead?
Alessandro: We are managing for some dates all-around Italy and abroad. For updates check out our official website http://www.klimt1918.com/ . However, anyone interested  to manage some dates with us just get in contact!

Is there anything planned concerning your next album, yet?
Alessandro: We are rehearsing brand new songs for our next album; we'll record this one in late autumn 2004. Actually we have just four complete songs... imagine a fusion between first U2, English wave with high-distorted guitars and double bass drum! (en: I just can't wait to listen to it!!)

Anyway, I think that's all I had to ask. So, thanks so much for your time, and best of luck for the future. Congratulations again, and I just hope that your next work will be equally good!
Alessandro: Thanks to you for this funny & interesting interview! Just enjoy our emotional and uncomfortable rock music!!!!