The young italian Thrashers released their debut full-length "Human Key" in Januar 2009 and had quite a bit of live-thrashing going on since then. Singer/guitar-player Paolo Porro about what was moving the Dome in 2009:

Hi Paolo, first of all, could you tell us a bit about ANCIENT DOME`s history - when was the foundation? When did you do the first demo-recordings and the first gigs? Did you have many line-up changes?

First of all, thank you Nick for the time spent in preparing this interview, and thanks to the Thrash Never Dies staff for supporting us since the release of "Human Key"!!! Well, Ancient Dome's embryo was born in 2000, thanks to me (Paul, guitars & vocals), Gabriele Borghi (guitars) and Cuzzo (bass guitar). Syra (drums) joined the band the same year. At the beginning, the proposal was much more concentrated on classic metal, until it finally came to the construction of a new sound, based on the Bay Area Thrash. In 2004, before the recording of the first demo "Once Were Thrashers", Gabriele decided to leave the band, being replaced by the actual lead guitarist Ale. In 2005 Ancient Dome recorded the first EP, which obtained good responses from the reviewers, but first of all from metalheads, who started to follow and support the band. In 2006/2007 the band began to play live continuously, supporting great realities from Italian underground. In June 2007, Syra decided to quit the band for personal reasons, and now Joe is behind the drum set. In November 2007, we started the recording session for the debut album, entitled "Human Key", out since the 15th of January 2009 for the Italian independent label PUNISHMENT 18 RECORDS.

What were the main influences on ANCIENT DOME - bands, styles, general themes, etc.?

Thrash in Bay Area style is the primary influence for the band, being supported by the roots of heavy metal, US Power and Power Thrash movement. Up to now, I'm still listening to the bands, I always list as principal influences in AD songwriting: I'm speaking about Metallica, Megadeth, Heathen, Testament, Coroner, Forbidden, Slayer, Exodus, Overkill, and obviously a lot of other acts... In the meanwhile, underground movement is absorbing me, driving me crazy with a lot of new hot stuff (impossible to listen to every good band existing on the face of the planet nowadays!!!). The other guys are attracted by modern sound, like Nevermore, Killswitch Engage, Slipknot, Avenged Sevenfold, also Dream Theater and so on, without losing the passion for old metal. As regards general themes you're speaking about, I must admit that we play without connecting ideals (politics, religion or everything else in that way) to music... Music must be the soundtrack of life, without concerning other arguments but thoughts and feelings (not related to politics, religion, etc)... but that's just an opinion, no absolute truth!



Ok, "Human Key" is now out for more than half a year. How where the reactions - in the press and amongst the fans?

As you can comprehend, our proposal is doing old school thrash (not conformed to canons at all, but old school in concept), "Human Key" could be a good listening for the "new 80s thrash generation" and for nostalgic of the genre (and fortunately we can say that a lot of people like it!!!), but the album got also bad critics from supporters of all the modern ways to see and play metal music. I can understand what their feelings are, but I know that we play what we love since 2003/2004, before the advent of the “new wave"; so, that's not just fashionable, but a great passion. Why do I have to change my point of view? The press is divided, even if a higher number of webzines and magazines have just kind words, telling metalheads what they can hear in "Human Key"; here in Italy, Ancient Dome was also added by some reviewers to the so called "New Wave of Italian Thrash Metal", really a great step for us!!!

As a person, who had the opportunity to listen to the pre-production material, I have to say, that the final mix for the album was a cool improvement. Have you been satisfied with the result too, or did you have issues with it?

I'm totally satisfied, it sounds like a thrash anthem, ah ah ah!!! Joking apart, the recording session was so cool (but also so long), and the guitars were recorded without changing live setup: that's the reason why you can hear a "direct sound", far from the actual standards... Not everyone has the same opinion; in fact, you can read more than one review, that is unsatisfied with the final mix, telling us that "Human Key" could be a demo version, but not a real full length!!! Opinions...

The album has a concept in lyrics and artwork. Can you tell us something about it?

"Human Key" was born as an EP, but I was forced by my band mates, to record other songs; they were sure about the quality of the songwriting, thinking that we could get a contract for its distribution... excellent intuition!!! So, you can find songs that doesn't suit with the leitmotiv of the central theme, plus the yet introduced "Human Key Saga". Sci-fi inspired, the Human Key is the only way to escape the machine's dominion, and five songs explain how the facts evolved ("The Defeat", "Tyrants", "Human Key", "Aeons" and "Fall of the Dominion")... the cover artwork tries to sum up the whole concept...

One thing that is a bit sad, is the fact that "Human Key" might not got the attention that it deserves, in my opinion, because the album might go under in the flood of albums from the "New Wave Of Thrash Metal". Though you`re certainly playing old-school (Power-) Thrash, your stuff has a different emphasis, than most of the other young bands have. ANCIENT DOME has a lyrical concept, some epic moments and a songwriting-structure that is not to be compared with most of the straight-forward bands that worship Exodus and Slayer. Do you see it in that way too and do you think that it`s a drawback for your possible success?

We reached the only success we were searching for, on the 15th of January, when "Human Key" finally saw the light... AD proposal is a bit different from the classic thrash, and surely this could be a drawback for us, but I must remark that the final intent of this band is not being famous and respected, but being satisfied with our own music... maybe there'll come a time when a huge number of metalheads will speak about us as an underrated quartet!! Why not? Using your words in the opposite way, I think that "Human Key" got the attention that it deserves, indeed, more than what we thought would be possible, a year ago...



Now, let us know a bit about the Metal- and Thrash- scene in Italy. I have the impression, that your bands stick together a lot and give loads of support to each other - is that true? Do you think the Italian scene is a good one, speaking about gig opportunities, record labels, fans, etc.?

Well, let me say that there's a sort of disease in Italy, known as "indifference"; underground is underrated, bands are not supported (apart from the most known), and Italian metalheads prefer to find out acts from other countries instead of searching amongst our great realities. Maybe it's not so different outside our boundaries, but seems to me that there's another mentality. We have a lot of great bands, Hyades, Urto, National Suicide, Planar Evil, H-George, Ground Control, Enemynside, Brain Dead, Death Mechanism, just to name a few, and the revival of thrash is assuming importance day after day. Gig opportunities are not opened to everyone, and it's sad to read always the same monikers in more than one festival. Record labels are working hard to "let the Italian metal flow", and independent realities like Punishment 18 Records (our label) and My Graveyard Productions are offering some of the most valid bands you can find here, increasing respect for Italian metal, can't ask for more... Fans? Read above, and you can answer the question to yourself, otherwise read what follows...;-)...When Iron Maiden (or Metallica, or the band you prefer) comes to our country, Italy becomes the motherland of the most representatives connoisseurs of heavy metal genre, all attending the event, but when an Italian band plays near home, it's better watching TV or navigating in the net, insulting some bands in some forums... Would you like to know what is the main problem? The fact that the highest percentage of them play in a band, and they're the first one that doesn't know what means supporting the underground movement... that's all folks, and so sad...

What I have noticed is that ANCIENT DOME had quite a few gigs in 2009 - clearly more than in the past year. How where those gigs, especially your festival support act for bands like Artillery and Whiplash? How are the fan reactions on your performance, in general?

Last gig was the 4th of July, with some friends, really cool even if there were not a lot of people... well, first of all I must say that we love to play live, but we can understand that it is deleterious for a band like Ancient Dome to play a huge number of gigs during the year; one a month is the best we can, when there's the possibility, and helps us to sell merchandise and trying to amount some money for the next recording. The Hellbrigade Fest, with two legends of thrash metal like Artillery and Whiplash (first time in Italy), was a great experience for us and a great opportunity to show our potential: believe me, at 5 p.m. on a torrid Saturday afternoon, people were in front of the stage in order to have fun with us, what can I ask more? Usually the people are satisfied after the performance and a lot of young and less young guys let us know opinions regarding the show or the CD, and that's really cool!!!

Any plans/ opportunities for a real tour (maybe through Germany...)?

It will be really great, but I must admit that is not in our "battle plans"... business engagements complicate everything, but we really want to plan gigs in your country, my friend... up to now, we're in contact with a band of friends, Dead Alone from Munich, trying to find a place near their hometown where to play, and the same here in Italy, but it's so difficult, for a country like Italy, to find a good compromise for everyone... hope to realize something someday!!! Maybe this is a good way to remember readers from The Netherlands that we'll be at Mario's Metal Meeting warm-up show on the 3rd of October, with our label mates Methedras, with Gae Bolga and with Decadence... see you in the pit guys!!!

Well Paolo, what about new song-material, recording-plans or other news on the band`s activities? Anything thrilling going on yet?

More than 1 hour of music is yet ready, we are planning to enter the recording studio again during the last months of 2009 or the beginning of 2010, after a good (and reasonable) choice between the new songs... and obviously, we hope to find new live opportunities like Hellbrigade Fest or Stonehell Fest (the 17th of July in Verona, supporting Holy Moses!!!), this could be the final compensation of 8 years spent in the underground, proud to be part of it also now!!!

Ok, Thrash Never Dies is glad for having the opportunity to present your very promising, young outfit and we hope to hear lots of killer tracks further on! Salute!

Thanks again to you, Nick, for the review and for this interview and thanks to all who read it patiently!!! Visit our website and MySpace page (http://www.anciendtdome.com, http://www.myspace.com/ancientdome), always updated with all the news from Ancient Dome`s underworld, and be sure we'll be back soon to strike you once again, thrash on!!!