Interview with Ale Jackson [bass] of Torzo by Dave Wolff
The members of Torzo are seasoned performers with a range of musical preferences. How long have you collaborated, and how did you take your influences into account?
We've been playing together since 2021, though the band has been active since 2013. Each of us has had a different musical path in different musical genres (rock, blues, hardcore punk, prog, thrash, death and black metal) but all four of us share a passion for hardcore punk and 80s thrash metal, so the crossover we propose came to us naturally. Power, speed of execution are always present in our songs, which come to life in the rehearsal room, where each of us can add ideas for the final draft of the song.
When Torzo originally started off, did they plan to expand? What prior band experience do the members of Torzo have?
Torzo started with a three-piece formation. The classic power trio over the years has had several lineup changes until settling on the current four-piece formation. Fabio our singer and only remaining founding member is always proactive in adding members to the group. Our musical experiences began in the late 80s and early 90s in various hardcore punk and thrash metal bands, but also with rock and alternative groups. Surely all these experiences have served to define our current musical style.
Which alternative, thrash, punk, and rock bands had the biggest influence on the group?
The bands that inspired us and that I hear most often when we meet are the classic Black Sabbath, followed by the American hardcore/thrash scene: Agnostic Front, D.R.I., Corrosion of Conformity, Zeke, Sick of it All, Suicidal Tendencies, Slayer, Exodus, Anthrax, S.O.D., Nuclear Assault. Melvins, Kyuss, Electric Wizard, Helmet and Mudvayne. Equally important for us was also the Italian scene: Negazione, Raw Power, Wretched, Indigesti, Impact, Bulldozer, Schizo, Necrodeath, Upset Noise, Declino, Nerorgasmo... all bands we have in the heart.
How much attention has Italian punk and hardcore received in contrast to the US, the UK, and other countries like Japan? Would you rather Italy be noticed more for punk and hardcore, or would exclusivity be more appealing?
Surely at the beginning of the hardcore punk movement, Italian bands for us had the same importance as bands from abroad. In the 80s in Italy there were as many hardcore/punk fans as there were metal or dark wave fans. The scene was very lively and there were many venues throughout Italy where bands could perform. However, it was a global movement and the bands, even if there wasn't the means of communication of today, were all in contact with each other. In fact our bands had the opportunity to play throughout Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States. In my strictly personal opinion the beginning of the various musical genres is the best moment, when it remains underground in all its energy. Its purity and honesty remains intact, with success these things get lost, so I'm happy with how things went.
Are your lyrics as evocative of eighties thrash and hardcore punk as your music? What categories of topics do you usually cover?
I think our lyrics respect the hardcore and thrash genres of those years. Our songs talk about everyday life experiences and aspects of today's society. Other lyrics are inspired by many films, especially the horror/slasher genres of the seventies. Finally you can find ironic and light-hearted lyrics in a full rock n roll style.
How do your lyrics rooted in punk and hardcore, convey a feeling of realism? What distinguishes them from the jovial rock lyrics you write?
The sense of realism in our lyrics is expressed by describing everyday life, facts and aspects of the current world, getting straight to the point without too many metaphors or abstract concepts. The most light-hearted lyrics are always part of life experiences, describing funny situations or particular characters met during the journey of life. Let's never forget that music is also fun, especially fun.
Which facets of life and society do you write about? When they hear these, can listeners discern that they are personal to the band?
We can say the current world is not in a good period: wars, violence, poverty, greed and egocentrism. I think today's society can offer many ideas for writing lyrics. I hope our lyrics reach people who listen to them.
Which recent occurrences—during the past five or ten years—do you believe are worthy of being written about, criticized, or brought to light?
The world has certainly changed since 2019. There are plenty of situations to describe and bring to light even if fundamentally today's problems are not that different from those of forty years ago. There have always been wars and there always will be, money rules on all fronts, and governments tell us through the media what is convenient for them.
Have you been contacted by fans who told you they found meaning in your songs?
The album has just come out and we haven't had any contacts yet, but it happened to us that at some of our live shows we saw the audience singing some of our songs. The lyrics were received, and this is already a great satisfaction.
Why, in your opinion, have metal and thrash bands—aside from punk and hardcore bands—written about social issues for such a long time?
Well... being extreme genres I think they lend themselves well to these themes. Then someone will have to deal with these themes while keeping in mind that I consider music freedom and everyone should feel free to express themselves as they wish.
What elements of horror and slasher films from the seventies influence your songs, and what about that era appeals to you?
The films of that period did not yet have special effects, they were very dark and raw, based on real feelings of anxiety and fear, and these atmospheres lend themselves well to a context of extreme music.
In your view, what seventies horror/slasher films have withstood the test of time?
Let's say for those who are passionate about the genre, these films have all survived the passage of time. As far as we are concerned, I can mention the film “Torso” from 1973 directed by Sergio Martino, from which our singer finds inspiration for his lyrics.
What was the plot of “Torso” and how did it inspire the lyrics by your vocalist?
“I corpi presenta tracce di violenza carnale” is a 1973 film directed by Sergio Martino. Sergio Martino, an explorer of numerous genres, represents one of the most valid alternatives to the Argentian thriller. Among his crime novels, a prominent role is played by “I corpi presenta tracce di violenza carnale” (aka “Torso”, 1973). Not that the others lack anything, but “Torso” has the indisputable merit of having been one of the first slashers in the world - second only to “Reazione a catena” (1971) by Mario Bava - inaugurating the genre even before the American models of “Halloween” and “Friday the 13th”. Written by the specialist Ernesto Gastaldi together with Martino, “I corpi presenta tracce di violenza carnale” brilliantly combines the classic whodunit with this new genre, making them flow into each other in a natural and exciting way. The band members are all in their fifties; these films are part of our background and therefore a source of inspiration for our lyrics.
Why do you think metal bands and their fans find horror/slasher films appealing to this day?
I really think so, just think that a musical genre like brutal death metal is based almost exclusively on these themes.
You mentioned all the members of Torzo are in their fifties; can you explain why you all chose to remain involved in the metal underground for so long? I assume you consider it something more than a phase.
With our genre I think it is impossible, especially in Italy, to get out of the underground circuit. Surely a greater response would please anyone, but personally the underground is what I have always followed and I am happy to be there.
In preparation for your full length “Spectri”, how many demos did the band record? How did combining your influences help you find your sound?
Before the release of our debut this year, in 2019 an EP called “Castello dell'orrore” was released. You can listen to it on YouTube and it was only released in digital form. This EP was composed and played only by our singer Fabio and our guitarist Aristide. You can notice a different style of sound, very steeped in stoner and prog rock. In 2021 with the entry of Stefano on drums and my entry on bass the lineup was completed and therefore the band took the sound direction we have arrived at today.
Did releasing “Castello dell'orore” solely in digital help Torzo financially? Was it more helpful to record it independently?
As “Castello dell'orrore” was published only on YouTube, it is completely free. Our debut was also self-produced. We are an underground band, attitude and passion for music are our driving force and even if there is no monetary feedback we will continue to play.
Which parts of “Castello dell'orrore” were best suited to the crossover between stoner and prog?
The thing that brings us closer to prog, especially the Italian progressive rock of the seventies, is mainly having kept the vocals in Italian. This brings us closer to the genre; obviously some musical parts of the various pieces and not of one in particular.
In what ways, if any, does Italian progressive rock differ from the progressive rock most people are familiar with?
I don't think Italian prog rock is very far from the genre's canons. It developed almost at the same time as foreign prog, on the “ashes” of beat influenced by the founders of the genre, from the pioneers Procol Harum and Moody Blues to King Crimson, Genesis, Gentle Giant and Van der Graaf Generator. It was perhaps the most important phenomenon in Italian pop music and managed to cross national borders, something very difficult in Italy. Among the most famous bands I want to mention are Le Orme, Premiata Forneria Marconi, Area, Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, Biglietto per L'inferno, Formula 3 and New Trolls besides many others.
Before releasing “Castello dell'orrore” you previewed it with the single “Ballando con il Demonio”. Why was this track chosen?
“Ballando con il demonio” is a Torzo warhorse, probably one of the first pieces written. It was influenced by the various changes in the band's lineup and finally we re-proposed it in a thrash version on the latest album.
When “Ballando con il demonio” was reworked into thrash, how many improvements were made? Were changes made to the lyrics, or did they remain untouched?
Having undertaken a much harder musical direction, for “Ballando con il Demonio” the classic thrash stylistic elements were inserted, fast rhythm with triplets, and a very engaging central mosh part, Fabio's singing adapted very well to this new version keeping the lyrics unchanged.
Does Torzo have an independent studio where the EP and full length were recorded? If so, does recording there allow you to express passion in your songwriting?
The EP was recorded by our guitarist, I think at his home, since he himself is a fan of electronic devices, while for the album we turned to a recording studio in Milan. Fortunately we found a perfect environment for our music in both cases.
What is the amount of recording experience your guitarist has, and how did his experience benefit your recording process?
Our guitarist and our singer have good experience in recording. Specifically, the guitarist is quite experienced in recording while our singer is experienced in mixing. This certainly helped us a lot in the studio to get what we want.
What was the main reason you recorded “Spectri” at a professional studio? At what studio did you record? Did you work with people experienced with metal bands?
We chose to record “Spectri” after having recorded a cover of “Iron Fist” by Motorhead in that studio for a tribute compilation. The studio is a point of reference in Milan for various alternative genres of punk, hardcore and metal. Since we found ourselves very well on a professional and human level we decided to record our debut there. It was definitely the best choice.
What tribute compilation did your cover of “Iron Fist” appear on? Did you record this song in a way that made it stand out from other covers of it?
The compilation is entitled “Bombers: A tribute to Motorhead”, made by various groups from the Milan area. It was released on Spotify last year, but can be found on all platforms. We chose “Iron Fist” by mutual agreement and we covered it naturally as it came to us, remaining faithful to the original. This is the link of the compilation.
Describe the release party the band hosted for “Spectri” and how much advertising was done to promote it?
For the release party we went a bit against the grain. At the end of July we presented the album in a place high up in the mountains with all our friends. We will advertise our album during the concerts we will have the chance to do. We ate and drank abundantly. Apart from a few posts on social networks, it was more of a word of mouth between friends and acquaintances.
How have your live gigs to promote “Spectri” been going since the release party?
We didn't play in August, we had our holidays, the next date will be in Milan on September 21 and we will have some in the next autumn and winter season to promote the album.
The show in Milan is in a couple of days at the time of this writing. How do you anticipate being received while you’re onstage? Will you be playing outside Italy in the autumn and winter?
The next live is a music festival we have been attending for three years. There will be many bands and friends, and the welcome is always great. We don't have any dates outside Italy for now, but we will take them into consideration.
Once your performance dates for “Spectri” are over, what does the band plan to do next? Is there anything you can tell the readers in advance?
We will continue with the formula we have always used. We already have some songs ready and will prepare some more for a new EP or full length. I want to thank you for this pleasant interview, all the readers of Asphyxium Zine and all those who will listen to our album.
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-Dave Wolff
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