Balancing The Scales With MARCO PASTORINO From TEMPERANCE

Interview by Kris Peters
Italian symphonic metal outfit Temperance have foregone convention
with their new album Hermitage - Daruma's Eyes Pt. 2.
While many bands are basing their albums around conceptual themes
and/or ideas, Temperance have decided to flesh that out even more
with the addition of several characters and a narrator, each given
life by guest artists.
Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon) acts as the storyteller for the album,
setting the scene and guiding us through a myriad of wonderment,
sci-fi and excitement, while Fabienne Erni (Eluveitie,
Illumishade), Laura Fella (Faun) and Alessandro Conti (Twilight
Force) all contribute to the sonic journey by playing different
characters across the story arc.
It is a unique and ambitious release, with guitar player and
creative mastermind Marco Pastorino joining HEAVY to tell us
more.
"This is the first concept album of the band," he explained. "The
opening process was very cool and funny also. Difficult, I would
have to say, because when you have to follow a script or story it's
totally different. I finished the work and the story of the album
almost two years ago, and then I started to collect ideas here and
there. It was a very cool journey. On this album we have six
characters who decide to have six singers. In Temperance we have
two singers but since there are six characters in this album we use
(other people)."
In the full interview, Marco talks us through the concept of the
album in greater detail, the three singles released and how they
tie in with the story line, the guest artists and why they were
chosen for their specific roles, the accompanying book and how much
extra insight it gives, whether the concept will continue, upcoming
shows and more.