This year has been incredibly eventful for the Italian heavy metal band Virtual Symmetry. After countless miles travelled on tour and the much-anticipated release of their latest album, Veils of Illumination, they are now taking a well-deserved breather as 2024 draws to a close. I had the pleasure of sitting down with the charismatic frontman, Marco Pastorino, who shared insights about the creative process behind the new record, the exhilarating yet challenging life experience on the road, and how he juggles his myriad of diverse projects while maintaining his passion for music.
Okay, so you've been on the road with this new record, Veils of illumination. How do you feel the general audience response has been to the new songs?
The feedback so far has been great. I mean, we just released the album a couple of weeks ago, but since the tour at the beginning of November the couple of tracks from the new album we have played have been received well. We’ve started to sell the new album. So far the feedback is great and even the singles we play live have had fantastic feedback. It’s the best feedback so far for us.
In terms like a production and from your previous records, it seems a bit more raw and a bit more authentic. I'm not too sure what the production was like for this new record. So, could you elaborate?
I mean the production was quite similar. The only big change was the fact that when we released the previous album we were still in the middle of the pandemic. So for some stuff, for example for the drums, it wasn’t not possible for us to go into a proper studio. So our previous drummer recorded everything at his place because we weren't allowed to travel, especially in Italy. That's the biggest difference, we managed to record it in a proper studio. However, since we have new members in the band, they put a little of themselves in the album. That's the main difference.
I think it was a bit of a different experience I had that I had an immediate reaction to it. It felt a little bit different to me. Like the new single “Canvas of Souls”. What's your personal favorite track for the new album?
I think it’s “Canvas of Souls”. It's a more direct and to-the-point song. The chorus is very, I don't want to say cheesy, but very easy listening I will say. I really love the way we build everything up even if it's very basic sometimes. The way the arrangements are layered, for example the vocal layers, it feels quite proggy because of the different kinds of harmonies we put in the vocal mix. We are extremely satisfied about the final result.
Yeah, yeah. So, you’ve been out on the road again with Evergrey. What's it been like to get back on the road with them as there seems to be a good synergy between you guys.
Yes, it is. I mean on the previous tour we had tons of fun and we shared tons of amazing experiences for, I think something like, 35 shows more or less. So when they started to book a new tour, we were in touch again to do it again. Unfortunately, because of other commitments, we were not able to do the entire tour and unfortunately we didn't play the UK. We did around 29 shows all around Europe from Germany to Greece from Portugal to Poland so it was a very long tour.
That’s so cool that you’ve been to so many different places. What’s this touring experience been like? Is there a difference between going to new countries as opposed to revisiting places you’ve already been to?
I mean it depends. For example, it was our very first time playing in such countries as Portugal, Greece, Bulgaria and Romania. We’ve never played in these countries before, as Virtual Symmetry. So that was a fantastic experience to finally do that
I feel like in some countries such as the Netherlands or even France we already have an audience who are trying to follow every step of our career. So if we play in Amsterdam, they will come if we play in Dover or whatever they will come and it's very, very cool. Even for a small band like us.
You said about the difference for every country for the crowd? I mean as usual in the south of Europe, for example, Spain, Portugal, Italy and in Greece. People are totally into the show and very, very loud. At the same time probably in Belgium, Netherlands, and I would say even Germany, they’re probably a little bit less loud. Yet, they are still totally into the show, but in a different way.
What's been one of your favourite experiences from this tour that you didn't expect you were going to have?
The end of the tour for us was in Greece and it was very fun. Especially the last show was in Athens. The club was extremely packed and was one of the best shows, in my opinion, of the tour. Maybe not for the number of people, because we’ve played shows with even more people but getting to play in Greece is always so fun.
The beginning of the tour in the Netherlands was special as well because we played at the Brainstorm Festival. After we had played as Virtual Symmetry personally, I played my own acoustic set on my own. It was so special, I got to play songs from my new solo album.
You do very much to keep yourself busy with multiple musical projects. Your credits are just a who's who of power, symphonic and prog metal. How do you manage so many different projects?
I think if I received one cent for every time someone asked me this question, I would be a billionaire by now. You know, the key my opinion is to try to have a very good schedule. For example, just a few days ago with Temperance, we played the last show of the year at the Sabaton Cruise in Sweden and now in January, I will have a couple of shows in the Netherlands with Serenity. There will then be another tour with Temperance. So with a good schedule, you can combine everything so that's the key my opinion, but you have to be extremely focused because otherwise will be a fucking mess.
How do you feel songs translate from going in the studio to performing live?
I think I think it's a different feeling. For example, in the studio, you can spend a whole week only on one song, you can put 300 vocal layers you can record it and if you are not 100% sure about it, it can be changed.
However, the feeling that you have on stage. The feeling that you are connecting with everyone in the crowd is priceless. Especially when, maybe they spend time learning the lyrics or even more you have to think about the fact that maybe someone took a day off work to see you. Maybe they spend two or three hours in the car to see you on stage and there's nothing like that in the world for me. At the end of the show, they will come to the merch stand and they will say, you know, there is this track taken from this album that changed my life. Music is extremely powerful.
Yeah, so talking about that feeling. What was your initial exposure to music in general? What was the first band, artist or song that captivated you?
I think it's completely from the UK because the band that moved me more and put music at the top of my life was Led Zeppelin. When I was about 13 years old, I was already able to play the guitar because of some classical guitar lessons and stuff like that. Then when I heard Led Zeppelin for the first time, with the opening to “Black Dog” something moved me. I thought to myself I have to try to play this kind of rock music. I would later get into Black Sabbath and then, while practising guitar, I got into Yngwie Malmsteen, Dream Theater… that kind of stuff.
I really loved tons of different artists and tons of different kinds of music. But yes, Led Zeppelin was my first love I would say.
That’s fair enough! Is there a song that you haven't written that you wish you had written?
Since we’re talking about Led Zeppelin, I think I would say for sure it's “Stairway to Heaven”. I think tons of people say this one, but it’s mine as well. I think changed rock history.
Finally, What is the hardest thing professionally or personally you've had to overcome and how did you overcome it?
The hardest thing you said? Honestly, I think the last few years were quite a challenge
For example, in 2020, I know everywhere was hit hard, but in Italy was extremely complicated. I remember that I was on tour when the COVID situation happened. I broke up with my girlfriend just one month before the restrictions came in and then I was a very dark moment in my life. I think this kind of situation can give you the motivation to go on in life with a different point of view. I was even stronger than before even though it was very difficult. Yes here I am now and I'm extremely excited to go on the road to write stuff, record stuff and do everything I can to to go on with the music.
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