To be honest, I know nothing about DIAMANTIDE. But then again, the band was formed only two years ago, in 2023. So please write down a short biography of the band.

“DIAMANTIDE was formed by Max, our guitar player. It was his long-time passion project, and now at last the time has come to show the world this melodic progressive metal infused with powerful techniques and emotional storytelling. Despite being a relatively new band, in just one year or less we are releasing our self-titled debut album, and we’re thrilled about what the future holds.”

After the release of the debut album, DIAMANTIDE got picked up by Wormholedeath. On February 21st they are going to re-release “Diamantide”. To its original shape or with some modifications? How did you get in touch with Wormholedeath?

“The release of “Diamantide” will stay true to its original essence with no modifications. Thanks to Wormhole– death, our music will now reach a larger number of listeners. As for Wormholedeath, they discovered us through our independent release of some of the songs. They recognized our potential and reached out with an offer that aligned with our vision. It’s an incredible feeling to have a label that supports our music and wants to bring it to a larger audience.”

With opener “Madness” you make your position instantly clear: we are DIAMANTIDE and we make melodic progressive metal! The music in combination with you voice is a suitable match. Have you been compared to other progressive metal bands yet?

“Yes, we’ve heard a few comparisons! Some listeners have drawn parallels between us and bands like Evergrey, Kamelot, and even elements of Symphony X. Others have mentioned that our sound carries a modern twist, blending progressive metal with cinematic and emotional elements. It’s always interesting to hear what people pick up on, but at the end of the day, we strive to create something that feels uniquely ours.”

My first acquaintance with DIAMANTIDE’s music was the single and video for “Faces” and it immediately tasted for more. Do you encounter a lot of people in your life who are not what they claim to be or who they say they are?

“Absolutely. “Faces” is a song about deception, hidden identities, and the masks people wear in different situations. I think we all encounter individuals who present themselves in a way that doesn’t align with who they truly are. It’s a theme that resonates deeply with me, and we wanted to capture that duality – the contrast between what people show to the world and what lies beneath.”

“Fear” is a unique combination of beauty, musical power and anxious vocals. It feels like an example of ultimate perfection. But what scares you so much that you have to sing about it, or in general?

““Fear” is such a powerful emotion – it can drive people to greatness or completely paralyze them. The song “Fear” explores the anxieties that creep into our minds, the doubts that hold us back, and the battle to overcome them. For me personally, one of my biggest fears is stagnation – the idea of not evolving, of being trapped in a cycle without progress. That’s why this song carries so much intensity – it’s about confronting those inner demons and pushing past them.”

On “Born Again” we hear Evergrey’s Tom S. Englund and Roberto Tiranti from Labÿrinth. Both big names in the progressive power metal world, but on Napalm Records and Frontiers Music respectively. Did you hear from them now that “Diamantide” will be out on Wormholedeath?

“Not yet actually, we will see what the future holds, and we are extremely happy to be with Wormholedeath for the album distribution. This song is extremely important, it is about Max’s son struggle with the move to the US from Italy as a middle schooler. Tom Englund is one of Max’s musical heroes. Max always says that Tom’s vocal warmth and his lyrics are touching his heart in a way that only his own inner-thoughts can, it is extremely intimate, so for Max having Tom singing such a deep and delicate subject was really a dream. Well, sometimes dreams come true. Max and Roberto are friends as they are both from Genoa and they have known each other for decades. Roberto is for Max a clear example showing that if you have something to say, if you have a pure heart, if you have talent, and you don’t give up, you can make it. So, again, spot on with the lyrics of the song.”

“Fragments Of Innocence” is another example of what DIAMANTIDE stands for: beautiful clean vocals supported by powerful guitar riffs, hard keyboards, modest bass lines and extreme fast drumming. Can you shed a little light as to what the lyrics are about?

“The song is about loss – particularly the loss of innocence and the realization that the world is not as pure as we once believed it to be. It’s a reflection on experiences that shape us,  both the  beautiful and  the painful

ones, and how they ultimately transform us to who we are now. The dynamic shifts in the song mirror this emotional journey, from the fragile and melancholic moments to the intense and defiant ones.”

About “Take Me To Life”, I can only say: “Wow! What a beautiful ballad!” It’s sort of a cross between Evanescence and what Angel did in the mid-70s. Who wrote this masterpiece?

“Thank you so much! “Take Me To Life” was a collaborative effort. The initial idea came from our guitarist Max, who brought in the haunting melodies and the full music of the song, and then I worked on the vocal lines and lyrics where we added some musical parts. The song has been written as a tribute to Tuomas Holopainen from Nightwish and as a tribute to our muse: music. The intention was to create something deeply emotional and cinematic, a song that could really take the listener on a journey and profoundly touch his heart and soul. It is definitely one of the most emotional tracks in the album.”

Why are there two versions of “Madness” on the album? The bonus track may have Mark Basile from DGM on vocals, but I think another new song would have been much more welcomed (no offence).

““Madness” was initially performed by Mark Basile long before we did it. And it’s actually the first song Max introduced to me for starting a project, and I can tell for sure it’s the sound of DIAMANTIDE.”

Are there any plans for a tour after the release of the album?

“We are currently in discussions about potential tour dates and festival appearances. Our goal is to bring DIAMANTIDE to as many live audiences as possible. Performing live is one of the most important and exhilarating parts of being in a band, and we can’t wait to share this music on stage. More details will be announced.” ■

Henk van Nieuwenhoven