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Yes, of course. We started promoting the album with two shows before the official release because we had planned for a faster schedule and already had confirmed dates. The first date was confirmed for January 10, 2025, in Roanne, but was postponed to September after our drummer fractured his shoulder in a car accident. Another in February in Châteauroux, which was still scheduled, as well as a subsequent one in March, a live broadcast on a local radio station in our region. Finally, the last date was in May. This time, the album was out, but unfortunately, we hadn't yet received the physical version of the digipack. We're looking for dates between now and September to maximize the energy we share with the audience, because that's what matters most. Without the audience, no band can exist, nor can the venues that organize it.
2.Recently you have released a new album, musically how does it differ form your previous ep?
Dave: The tracks on "Blood Tears" were a joint effort between Hervé and me. Often, I did the composition and arrangements, and Hervé wrote his guitar lines, then L. added the keyboards. For "Hate of Sorrow," I took charge of the guitar composition and arrangements. As for the keyboards, L. had started working on them. So I went back and completed everything from the audio rushes we had recorded. This album is more personal to me than the EP. Phil: It's more accomplished; some tracks were already in the works at the time of the EP, but not yet complete, so we had the time, and even more, to create them exactly according to our vision and the way we wanted the audience to experience them. The EP only had a mix without mastering, just like a demo would have been, which is what it actually was at the beginning. The album was made in the studio for the drums. The guitars, keyboards, and vocals were recorded in a home studio, together on-site for each session. The mixing and mastering were always handled in the studio; we spent some time there at the end to adjust certain levels between the instruments with the studio to our liking.
3.This is also your first release since 2016, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time frame?
Dave became very ill; he was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, for which he is still undergoing treatment today. Then Covid, which everyone suffered so hard. This put a brake on the cultural world in general. The members of the line-up were also on the move. New energies, feelings constantly on an upward slope musically, and finally, we arrived today at this result.
4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the new album and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?
Dave: Whether it's "Blood Tears" or "Hate of Sorrow," each track represents a chapter in a story. The dominant theme is madness, schizophrenia, split personality. The struggle between two entities in the same body. Phil: The theme of the album is completely a continuation of the EP: after the character was driven by his demon to murder his family in the EP, this time he is launched into a battle against his demon, who is playing with him. It happens in three parts: first, he chases it away, fights it, then, seeing no solution, he tries to work on himself, even going so far as to attempt to kill himself to eliminate the evil within him, but nothing works, so he finally gives in to evil. It's a completely imaginary universe, but who knows what goes on in the minds of some humans, like serial killers?
5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Maesitia'?
In Latin, it means dejection, a weakening of physical or mental strength. An affliction, a moral pain, a deep pain that crushes the spirit. This is what the character who inspires our songs feels, and also reflects. It's not very joyful, but if we were making laughter, we would be working on a completely different repertoire, so here it's the emotional side that counts.
6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
Georges Grie is a fantastic artist; he's one of the first surrealist digital artists. Grie is known for his numerous 3D and 2D images. He was born in the USSR during the Soviet regime. We've only known him since 2015, when he was already living in Miami, USA. His art is so emotionally connected to our world that we went back to him to ask for the rights to use his work to represent the artwork for the current album.
7.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?
I don't have much to say about the concerts surrounding the album release because we're only just beginning, and it seems essential to us to promote this album as much as possible on stage. On the other hand, I had a great time at the concerts for "Blood Tears," especially with Zornheym and Dunkelnatch in Lyon and Blazing War Machin in Eu during the Neptunalia. Regarding the stage performance, we still have a lot of work to do, but practice makes perfect!!! Afterward, we let the audience tell us if they enjoyed it.
8.Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?
Projects: Yes, we want to promote and bring this album to life on stage. If a promoter/tourist is interested, we're open to any realistic proposal. We have jobs that currently allow us to earn a living. But if something equivalent at least allows us as much in the long term, we'll go for it. A word to all promoters.
9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black and death metal?
We were extremely and pleasantly surprised by the reception of the title track "Hate of Sorrow." The number of views actually blew us away on the spot. We know that the rest of the album is of the same level, and that no one in the audience will be bored, because there is so much within each track that everyone can find something they like. We've received a few messages telling us to continue doing something off the beaten track with a true identity. We'll continue, I hope for their sake...
10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Dave: Right now, I can't say where we'll go musically. On the next album, we'll return to a more collaborative writing style. I'll still be composing, but I won't write all the instruments. Will it be more Black Metal or more Death Metal, with keyboards or without keyboards? I don't know. When I compose, I don't set any musical limits for myself; I simply write what pleases me, based on my aspirations and feelings at the time. Phil: Honestly, we don't know; dreams are dreams. Veni, veni, vinci… As long as we play for the public, we live, the rest is…
11.What are some of the bands or musical styles the band members are currently listening to nowadays?
Dave: Unfortunately, I'm not very open to the modern scene. I always listen to bands from the 90s and 2000s like Ablaze my Sorrow, Canorous Quintet, Gate of Ishtar, Unanimated, Dismember, Hypocrisy, Pain… There are plenty more, but I'll stop there. Mattéo: Cynic, Death, Dissection, Korol I Shut, Linkin Park, Silencer, Tribulation. Phil: Currently, it's more about great symphonic classical music like Ernest Chausson's 1875, it's really great, and on the metal side, always Malevolence, the best of hardcore. Re for him, Sepultura forever, Anthrax, and his friends from home, Benighted, Abcest, Aorlhac, Nephren-Ka, Jours Pales, Bovary, Profanity, Behemoth…………… etc…
12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Dave: We're going to bring this album to life as much as possible on stage, thanks to you and to the people who support us and love our music – Stay Metal Phil: Yes, for the audience, always so close and receptive.
https://maestitia.bandcamp.com/releases
https://www.facebook.com/maestitia.officiel/
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