What do black metal and majestic rock band Queen have in common? Nothing, most people would say, and indeed there is little to indicate there may be any connection.
The answer lies not in the music, but in the fact that Queen is the band that local musician Martin Ciappara is (literally) obsessed with, and metal act Prayer of the Dying (POTD) is his primary musical project.
I use the word primary because, much as POTD qualifies as a one-man band, Ciappara is certainly not a one-band man. A dedicated musician who is passionate about his work, Ciappara is, in fact, also a member of several long-distance collaborative projects, among them Sarratum, Luciferian Blood, Lustre and Black Vulture, all prominent names on the international metal scene.
It is, however, his work under the POTD banner that has made him one of the more acclaimed acts in the world of black metal.
In similar fashion to his previous POTD releases, 2013’s God’s Failed Creation, his fourth and latest full-length album, has been receiving countless plaudits from critics and fans from all over the place.
This is without any doubt a significant triumph for an act that has yet to play its first ever live gig. A proper band in the conventional sense this may not be, but each POTD album has involved its fair share of collaborations, and this one is no different.
Not for the first time, quite a few familiar names from the local scene also make an appearance, perhaps more distinctly among them Daniel Bezzina, who also produced the record.
Four months since its release, the reviews for God’s Failed Creation continue to roll in, the majority of them lauding the album’s broad vision.
Spearheaded by unbridled metal power, this album successfully blends (and occasionally bends) the principles of black metal with an atmospheric feel, setting a tone that engulfs the entire record. As the album continues to reach new audiences, Ciappara speaks here of his latest album and his plans for 2014.
You’re no stranger to collaborations. What is it about working with other people, sometimes over long distances, that you find so rewarding?
First of all, it’s rewarding to work with musicians I admire, but also to get to make new friends through working together. There are no disadvantages to long-distance collaborations really, other than perhaps a bit of a delay occasionally.
The advantages, though, are that you get to work with people with whom it would not be possible to play unless you travel, and that’s just awesome. Each collaboration brings with it a different challenge, because everybody has his own way of working. But I treasure all collaborations.
Despite its popularity abroad, locally there are still very few black metal bands....
I feel that here in Malta, most metal fans tend to prefer polished production, and since pure black metal is mostly raw, it may not appeal so much to them. I still believe there’s a good number of black metal fans in Malta, although their numbers are not particularly big. Actually, you’d be surprised to know the people who do listen to it. Believe me, you would never guess.
Versatility is quite natural to me. I do not plan what to write beforehand, so what comes depends on my mood as well
God’s Failed Creation features possibly your biggest number of collaborators on one record to date – many of them Maltese. Was this the intention from the start?
Yes, this album was intended to feature a lot of guests even before I started working on it. All the guests are musicians I like to work with and whose work I really appreciate. That said, I don’t think my next album will have any guests.
As a result, the album is probably POTD’s most versatile work to date…
Yes, I think it is. Versatility is quite natural to me. I do not plan what to write beforehand, so what comes depends on my mood as well.
This one turned out especially versatile. My thematic inspiration always concerned the journey of our lives and how humans are manipulated by their gods.
Unlike your previous work, this album was self-released. Was this deliberate, as given the positive reviews the album received, surely some labels must be interested. Or are you considering new options?
Yes this was self-released. I was dropped by my Portuguese label just a few months before this album was due for release. They decided they wanted to work only with bands from their own country. I still thank them for their support, but it was really hard to release it.
Being a one-man band does not help financially, but on the other hand, I am a lucky man because I am surrounded by friends who really help me and support what I do.
At the moment, some small labels seem interested, so maybe I will find the right one for the next album, who knows?
This album was your first to be produced by Daniel Bezzina. Will you be working with him again on future POTD releases?
This was actually the first album I’ve done which was not self-produced. Daniel Bezzina produced the album and also plays on two of the songs.
Working with him was a great experience, so yes, he will be producing the next album too. I like the way he listens and understands what your inclinations are. He is very professional.
Last year you also released a demo with Luciferian Blood. What can you tell us about it?
Luciferian Blood’s first members were Tony Sundstrand from Sweden and Invisus from Australia. They were looking for a drummer and they contacted me.
We recorded a three-track demo last year, and it’s been doing well. The plan is to record a full-length album together later this year.
Are you still holding off on putting together a live band, and what are your plans for 2014?
Well yes, I still have no plans to have a live band or to do gigs for the time being, and I don’t see that changing in the near future. I absolutely like to work on my own and, after all these years, I’m quite used to it.
Besides, I have lots to do already. There’s a new Black Vulture album, the Luciferian Blood album and also a split Prayer of the Dying release with US band Dying Messiah.
On top of this I’ll also be working on the new Prayer of the Dying album.
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