Recently I introduced you to one of my favourite Italian bands, First Black Pope (www.firstblackpope.com), and their new album "Advent" (Alter Arts).

I think it's time now to get to know the guys (Scar - voice and programming, Skelectric -
keyboards, and Macho - drums and guitar) a little more in depth.

These are musicians with a long experience in the music scene. As FBP, they have shared
the stage with eminent bands like Das Ich, Hocico, Kirlian Camera. They have done remixes
for names like Unternull, Death SS, Theatre Des Vampires, and more.

They have recorded a few demos, participated to a few compilations (Cryonica-Tanz vol. 3,
Italian Body Music vol. 3), and recently published the new album "Advent" nationally.
They are looking for a label to publish their records internationally.

In the meantime, you can listed to them and see their live videos on their myspace
page myspace.com/firstblackpope.

Enter the black church, the Pope himself (aka Skar) answered my questions.

First of all, where does the name come from?

"The first time I saw that name (First Black Pope) it was written in white ink on a black page", reveals Skar,
the founder of the band, "they were talking about Nostradamus and his prophecies, but as soon as I
turned the page, I saw nothing but that writing. It was in 2000 and, soon after I gave birth to five tracks
of rather disturbing electronic music, I decided to found the band and give it that name". But that's not all,
here comes the interesting part… "Later on I found out that my mother was conceived during an adventure
my libertine grandma had with a priest! I was born upside down and all black, smothered by the umbilical
cord… sometimes coincidences are not really coincidences…"

Before you formed FBP, you guys used to play together in Frükteti, a band with a very different
sound… why did you decide to change?

Frükteti was a gothic punk band born with very definite ideas on how to deal with life in the band,
artistic evolution and composition. After twelve years things started to degenerate and I felt the need
to express myself…how should I say this… with my heart in my hand.

You define your music as "harsh electro-goth"… which bands do you feel kindred?

Ministry for sure.

Is there in Italy a "scene" you feel you belong to?

There is no scene in Italy. On the Internet, we belong to a scene of bands that try to express themselves
wholly, aiming to a high artistic level, with no compromises due to the music business' trends.

How are your songs born? Do you write them all together or is there a main author? Do you write
them on the computer?

I am the main author for music and lyrics, afterwards I hand the entire bundle to Skelectric, whom has
produced all the FBP material in his studio. Macho gives his contribution, in the studio and live, for the
rhythmic parts. We mainly use synths, drum machines, computers and stuff like that.

What themes do your songs deal with and why?

The Black Pope is the narrator of the human empire's decline, a deeply negative and pessimistic vision of
the non-life that, day after day, is destroying us. Themes are varied, but all in some way connected to
the holy books.

Is there light at the end of your tunnel?

Look for yourself… do you see any ray of light? (ed: no)

Why do you hate the Catholic Church so much?

Because we have the impression they are not telling us the truth… (ed: I have the same impression…)

Are you all Christened?

Yes, and that's the beginning of the tunnel!

What's your live show like?

We bring tension to the maximum and I guarantee you, when it explodes it hurts.
It hurts with the images we project, with the speakers' racket... the excruciating screams.
The more it hurts, the more fun we have…ha ha ha!

Your look is very refined and striking… is it important to you to have a certain image?

Yes, because our image gives credibility to our words, and then com'on, blood is awfully trendy.

I guess that because of your image/ iconography you get often mistaken for a nazi band, is that right?

Yes, it's because of the hat I wear... and it's funny they think I'm a nazi when the hat I wear is in fact
a military cap of the soviet army. It seems thou like no one has complains about the priest stole I also
wear. By the way, Macho's mask belonged to the soviet navy too.

This interview will be published on the brokendollz website…what is your opinion on Broken Dollz?

Come to us, we adore.

interview by: Jessy Nix