OMICIDA is an Italian word that means “Killer”. When I was looking for a name I wanted to find something that was both easy enough to chant and that would do justice to our aggressive sound. A name that at the same time would show my Italian roots.
What is your name and what do you do for the band?
My name is Giovanni Durst, drummer of OMICIDA and so far pretty much I am doing everything in this band. Literally everything. But I really hope this will change sometime in future! Moving forward with this band I really would like to share more in terms of music collaboration with the other guys in the band too since they are all amazing talented musicians.
2.Tell us where you are based and describe the scene. How do you
think where you are located influences your sound.
I first formed the band back in Los Angeles (2014)after my days in White Wizzard were over. Later on due to logistics issues I had to relocate to Europe about three years ago. Actually moved back to Italy and since then I have been flying back and forth to London. I guess the best idea to continue OMICIDA was to actually bring the band over there…as the Italian metal scene is quite dead. So London in 2018 became the band’s new HQ. Giovanni Barbieri actually kept his place behind the mic in the new formation (and really glad that happened!), adding new guitarists Will Wallner (ex White Wizzard), Dan Baune and bassist Dan Bate. The band's main influences have been mostly from those bay area Thrashers like Slayer, Testament, Exodus. I would not say that the UK scene so far has had a big influence on our sound. It’s just the sound that I liked to play. So it came out this way.
3.Who influences your sound that would surprise people?
As I just mentioned in the previous question, our main influences have been mostly from those bay area Thrashers like Slayer, Testament, Exodus. There are more of course in the whole cauldron of styles and bands. Other would be Overkill, Kreator and a band that I personally love. Coroner! All those bands were my go to in high-school and still now! So I think it is easy to find that sound in OMICIDA’s music.
5.When you started what was your ultimate goal? And how close to the goal are you now?
Well the goal of every band is to be out there making it. It is a harsh reality though especially for Thrash bands today as we are not in the 80’s anymore. So far we have been working hard to bring OMICIDA out to the world as much as we could and spread the word out. It has been working well. Our new release “Defrauded Reign” so far has received very positive reviews and for being pretty much an un-know band I think we already went beyond our expectations. Ultimately, more than getting signed by a label we really would need to find a solid booking agent that would believe in us and get our asses out there on the road. That is our ultimate goal.
6.In today's digital environment it takes creative strategy to keep things moving. What creative ideas do you have to keep your band relevant over time?
Indeed, it is mandatory to keep the ball rolling once you start. Yet again though, it all depends on many different factors. For smaller bands like us it would be 10 times harder to constantly come up with new material to feed all our socials. You need constantly new music, new videos. In terms of production it is a huge deal and you face a lot of expenses! Those become quite a problem especially when you are not signed and have to get it straight out of your pocket.
To keep us going… well, I can say that OMICIDA already has a new single and a second album ready to be recorded. So there won’t be any problem in terms of lack of material in the near future. 2019 has been great to us already and 2020 I am sure it will be even better.
7.We've all seen a terrible live band that is awesome on CD. Is that cool with you or do you lose respect for bands that cannot pull it off live?
True…today you can make a turd sound great on album especially with all this progress in recording technology. But the “Fake it till you make it!” deal is not what we are doing… all I know is that when you decide to go live out there and get your music on a stage, you better be ready and be damn sure you can pull it off. We all worked hard to reach the level of musicianship that we all have in OMICIDA.
9.This is a tough question but a very real reality, Is your band actually talented or just popular? Many bands make it with a cliche or publicity stunts etc. Would you accept fame even if it was just because of being the “ in” thing or is it actually important to you that you gain favor with talent?
True… but especially with Thrash metal you do not gain popularity because you get publicity or whatsoever stunts. Thrash metal is becoming more and more of an underground genre in metal. And to get recognition would be to get your band playing live. Build your fan base from there.
OMICIDA ain’t popular at all. I wish we were, as it would make things easier for us to move forward! But for sure we are a talented band. Musically speaking we have the right combo of great skills on our instruments and delivery live and on album.
10.Tell us what to expect from you live. Nothing is more boring than watching bands stare at the floor and bob their heads to music nobody but the band knows. What can your band offer in a live setting that people will remember?
Oh man, you should have been out there to our show in London at the Dev last March and see it yourself. We are a Thrash band. We do not fuck around. We do not have stage props nor pyros… all we have is our aggression and power in our music. For sure, we are not shy to be out there and kill it.
Best moment of your career so far?
Career with OMICIDA? We are still too young to say… so far it would be our new release of “Defrauded Reign”
Career as a drummer? Probably playing Download fest 2010 with White Wizzard opening second stage in front of a packed place.
15.Your message to the fans?
Buy our album “Defrauded Reign” goddamn it! You won’t be disappointed.
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