Italian prog metal band touring in support of new album
Featuring a collection of seasoned metalhead from Italy, Walls of Babylon (WOB) has released a new full length album on Revalve Records. A Portrait of Memories gathers searing riffs, epic vocals and interesting arrangements together in a meaningful way. Their’s is a mature progressive metal sound. WOB pays homage to great prog metal pioneers, especially those from their homeland, yet this is no Dream Theater clone. Opting to write and perform the band’s vocals in English, singer Valerio Gaoni stands out in the crowd. We caught up with Gaoni while WOB is out on tour promoting the new album (released 4/13/2018) and got the low down on A Portrait of Memories, the legacy of great Italian wine, why the band enjoys partying with fans and whole lot more.
Walls of Babylon interview.
Questions answered by Valerio Gaoni.
Walls of Babylon on tour in April 2018. The band is on tour in support of the album, A Portrait of Memories.
Slickster: A Portrait of Memories is your new album available now. After several listenings, I can definitely say there are many bad ass tracks on this record. Track #2, Starving Soul, in particular, has gotten quite a few plays on my iTunes. Can you describe the process how you and Walls of Babylon (WOB) composed and recorded this song?
Valerio Gaoni is the lead singer of Walls of Babylon.
WOB: Well, Starving Soul, had the same process of production and songwriting than the other tracks. Francesco, our guitarist brings to us the riffing and the structure of the song, then any of us give to it personal arrangement and ideas. Then came the recording session of pre-production, after this we play it in the rehearsal room many times until the groove and the sound are ok.
Slickster: So many of these power prog metal bands have great drums, guitars, and even keyboards, but they fall short in the vocals department. Nothing is worse than hearing a smoking hot guitar riff followed by some half-assed singing. WOB is based out of Italy, but you have chosen to sing all of your lyrics in English. By the way, speaking of the vocals, Valerio Gaoni, absolutely nails it. Sorry for the rant… let me get to the question! Why did you choose to make the lyrics in English instead of Italian?
WOB: Thank you very much man!!!!! We have chosen to sing in English because metal, and especially progressive metal, doesn’t have a great audience in Italy. Not enough to become popular to sing metal songs in our language anyway. But our choice is due to the target of our music and ambitions. We hope to play and to be listened to not only in Italy, but also in Europe, Japan and America.
Slickster: It’s pretty clear from your Instagram page that WOB likes to have fun when they are on tour. Do you remember how back in the day heavy metal bands had to look super serious and pissed off all the time? When do you think that image and attitude changed? Can you still create heavy music and laugh?
WOB: We love to play, get drunk and laugh at our concert and we hope that our fans love it too. Playing is a party for Walls of Babylon, but this doesn’t mean that our professionalism as a musicians comes in second place. We like to rock and give to our fans all the entertainment that they need to relax and to listen to good music. After the stage we still enjoy that party atmosphere and spending time with the people who were just headbanging in front of us. This is metal. This is the life we like.
Slickster: Italy has always been groundbreaking when it comes to prog music. Back in the day, it was the band Goblin and all of the zombie horror movies that Italian filmmakers are known for. In the modern era, bands like Walls of Babylon and DGM continue the trend of crafting superior prog metal. What do you attribute this uniquely Italian trait too?
WOB: As you’ve said, progressive culture is deeply rooted in our DNA. This is due to Goblin, PFM, Banco del mutuo Soccorso and recently in progressive metal with DGM. In italy, if you begin to play metal or any other underground genre you are almost forced to follow these artists. Also, in an almost unconscious way, you must follow them because it’s a strong, deep, influence. Our path is strictly linked to them too, however it is in a more natural way! ;D This is our music, our culture, our inheritance, and like good food, beautiful women and most of all great wine we embrace our own culture.
Slickster: WOB is actively touring in support of Portrait of Memories, including the Power Regressive Tagliata Party on July 15th 2018. Will this be your first time playing at this prog metal festival?
WOB: AHAHAHAH the Regressive Tagliata!!! IT was a 2016 event, when almost nobody knew of Walls of Babylon, but anyway, it an awesome gig 😉
Slickster: Uh oh, looks like we’ve got some wrong notes in here. Sorry for the mix up, but is it pretty safe to assume the Power Regressive Tagliata Power festival was comprised of 98.9% dudes wearing black leather jackets and <0.01% chicks? (Lol) Basically, what we’re saying is that prog metal festivals are total sausage fests right?
WOB: Yeees! It was a great night but none of us remember anything about it… Do you remember what I just said about Italian culture? It has great wine!
Slickster: So if a metal band wanted to get chicks, then they could play shitty music like Nickelback or Coldplay. Would it be considered metal to do a Coldplay cover, or does that just cross the line? (Lol)
WOB: NO! NO! NO! This is the bitterest question of all times. I respect every kind of music (no wait; that trap could kill me), but what I want to play is the music with my band, with our own music, and for everyone to know. I’m still continuing to learn and grow as a musician everyday, and in my own way, my focus it’s all referred to it. Naturally the chicks are welcome, but the music comes first.
Slickster: What advice would you like to share with young musicians who are interested in learning more about progressive metal?
WOB: Just listen to it everyday of your life, but also listen to every “pop” song that plays from a radio or a radio ‘in your head’. Listen to learn, listen to grown. Everything that you don’t expect can make you a better musician.
Slickster: Thanks again for talking with Slickster Magazine. Is there anything you’d like to discuss that maybe we didn’t touch on? Anything goes!
WOB: Thanks to you guys! We only hope everyone that listens to our music will be happy, crazy and so fucking drunk 😉
