Frostmoon Eclipse, one of Italy’s pioneering black metal bands, has been crafting dark, melodic soundscapes for nearly 30 years. In this interview, founding member Claudio Alcara takes us back to the band’s early days, discussing how they’ve stayed true to their vision despite the ever-changing music landscape. He also opens up about the challenges of revisiting and remastering their seminal album “Death is Coming”, and shares his thoughts on the enduring importance of physical formats in an era dominated by streaming.
Claudio Alcara
© Massimo Borri
Greetings, Claudio! It’s an honor to have the opportunity to speak with you today. Frostmoon Eclipse has had an incredible journey over the past three decades, and with the upcoming remaster and premiere of “Death is Coming”, this seems like a perfect moment to reflect on the band’s legacy and future. To start, Frostmoon Eclipse has been active since 1994, making you one of the oldest black metal bands in Italy. Can you take us back to the founding days; what was the vision behind starting the band, and how has that vision evolved over the past three decades?
Claudio Alcara: Oh, thank you very much… Well, back then was more or less rehearsing, writing letters, going to the post office, copying tapes… Tools have changed but things are pretty much the same.
Given your long history in the black metal scene, how do you feel the genre has evolved, both globally and within Italy, since the early days?
Claudio Alcara: For sure we got older and it’s easy to romanticize your younger days. We always sort of do our thing, in spite of fashions and stuff like that. Wasn’t a good idea, after all.
Celebrating 30 years as a band is an impressive milestone. Looking back, what are some of the highlights of Frostmoon Eclipse’s journey?
Claudio Alcara: I think every release or every gig is a highlight, it doesn’t care if you’re playing a big festival or a local show or if you’re releasing a vinyl or a dubbed tape. I have learned the hard way that nothing is to be taken for granted.
Your music blends old-school black metal with melodic acoustics, which is quite unique. How did you come to develop this distinctive sound, and what influences have shaped your approach to music over the years?
Claudio Alcara: The first song I ever composed for this band was the “Cold Silvery Eye” intro which is totally acoustic. I have always been into the acoustic interludes of the old metal albums like King Diamond‘s “Them” or Morbid Angel‘s “Desolate Ways”. Guess it comes from there.
Congratulations on the upcoming remaster and premiere of “Death is Coming”, as part of the deluxe edition featuring four of your classic albums. Remastering and re-releasing albums is a way to breathe new life into older material. Can you talk about the process of revisiting and remastering “Death is Coming”? Were there any challenges or surprises during this process?
Claudio Alcara: The main challenge was to stay awake during the drive back home since “Death is Coming” was recorded in less than 24 hours: drums were done in the morning, guitars and bass in the afternoon and vocals session lasted till 4am. I almost fell asleep at the wheel and crushed against another car rearviewmirror.
“Funerals of Old” will be available on CD and Vinyl for the first time. How important is the physical format to Frostmoon Eclipse, especially in an age where streaming dominates the music industry?
Claudio Alcara: Physical format is the only way of course. Speaking of which, all these four albums will be available on LP for the first time, something that I wouldn’t have never imagined back then.
“Funerals of Old”
© Frostmoon Eclipse
The new artwork for the remastered albums is striking. How did you approach the visual side of these re-releases, and what was the inspiration behind the new designs?
Claudio Alcara: Since “Worse Weather To Come” our artworks are done by View From The Coffin, which has our undivided trust. We discuss briefly about the themes and then let him do his, always great, job.
Frostmoon Eclipse has consistently explored themes like death and the negative aspects of life in your lyrics. What draws you to these darker themes, and how do you channel these emotions into your music?
Claudio Alcara: We are all going through dark times, we all have bad days or weeks or years, so it’s not hard to find inspirations here and there in our everyday life. The same goes for the music too.
How do you envision the future of Frostmoon Eclipse? Are there any new directions, projects, or collaborations you’re excited to explore?
Let’s see what happens day by day. The best way to keep up with us is to check the usual pages like Facebook or Instagram. Thank you for your interest.
