The Italian Melodic Metal band Marble have released one demo, three singles and three albums to date. Founded in 2003 in Mortara (province of Pavia, Lombardy region), it took them five years to release their debut album ‘A.t.G.o.d.’ five whole years. Fans had to wait even longer for the follow-up ‘S.A.V.E’. This was not released until 2021, and the third album ‘T.I.M.E.’ was released in 2024. What all three albums have in common is that the album title is the abbreviation of a song from the respective album. There have been several line-up changes in the long history of the band. On the drums and especially on the microphone. Both male and female singers have characterised the vocals. So, there are plenty of reasons to enquire about the band. Bassist Daniel Fleba answered my questions.
MHF: Hi, I’m Rainer and I write for Keep on Rocking and the Metalheads Forever magazine. I’m pleased to be able to do this interview with you. How are you doing?
Daniel: Hi Rainer, we are proud to be on your Metalheads Forever Magazine! We are completely focused on promoting the new album “T.I.M.E.”, so I’d say we’re doing great!
MHF: Marble have been around since 2003, but you are less well known outside your home country. Please introduce the band briefly.
Daniel: MARBLE was born in 2003, initially as a purely Power Metal band, after an initial demo we released our first album in 2008 and an EP in 2011 supported by good live activity. We then crystallized the project for personal reasons of some members until before the pandemic where we started recording our second album “S.A.V.E.” released in 2021. From there we launched into the making of our latest album “T.I.M.E.” which was released on November 8th under Rockshots Records. We wanted to bulk up the sound by staying true to the melodic roots but implementing the elements that each member brought with their musical influences.
MHF: In the twenty years of your existence, there have been comparatively few line-up changes (source: Encyclopaedia Metallum). The most serious changes have probably been in the vocals. You were both female fronted and male fronted. Why did you finally decide in favour of a female singer again (Eleonora Travaglino)?
Daniel: Actually, if you think about it, it’s a real return to the roots, because in the early days, at the time of the first demo, we already had female vocals, at a time when Metal bands with female vocals were still few and often still associated only with gothic. The choice of Eleonora happened almost by chance, coming from a more Rock and Blues musical background, but knowing the genre well, she fit right in!
And with “T.I.M.E.” she brought the world of theatre from which she comes, being an actress herself, into our metal world!
MHF: Did the changes on the microphone have an effect on the band’s sound?
Daniel: Yes, even just compositionally you have to calculate the tones for a different vocal timbre, but the entry of Eleonora allowed us to try more varied and complex vocal harmony work with both the previous album and the new “T.I.M.E.”, in fact the melodies are heavily structured on the vocal harmonies, we believe that already in the released singles it is quite clear!
MHF: How would you describe the sound of the band?
Daniel: Our approach is to start from a very heavy base, often influenced by more Extreme Metal on which vocal harmonies and keyboard grafts are built, sometimes more orchestral, sometimes more progressive leaning. It always depends on the lyrics of the song and the mood you are looking for.
MHF: I noticed that all three album titles are abbreviations. Abbreviations of a song title of the respective album. Why did you decide to do it that way?
Daniel: I’ll be honest: it happened by accident with the first album, when we were looking for the title Omar suggested shortening “At The Gates Of Destruction” to A.t.G.o.d. and we liked the idea. With the second album we did an anthology concept about Sins and Virtues, from there “S.A.V.E.” was almost obligatory and became our trademark. Plus, if you look at our logo and flip it 180 degrees, you’ll see that the word Marble still reads, being an ambigram. We like to keep this double reading in our productions to give an extra cue to listeners and fans.
MHF: Thirteen years passed between the releases of ‘A.t.G.o.d.’ and ‘S.A.V.E’. Why did it take so long for your second album to be finished?
Daniel: As said, there were personal motivations from some members, nothing related to music, simply personal life evolving. anyway after A.T.G.O.D. we did some live activity and an EP in 2011 which was used as a promo, then we froze the project until the reprise with S.A.V.E.
MHF: Your third album ‘T.I.M.E.’ was recently released. How do your three previous albums differ musically?
Daniel: Oh, I think they differ a lot. the first album was more Power Metal oriented as far as there were already more aggressive elements that we picked up later on. Between the second album and “T.I.M.E.” on the other hand, I think the differences are more gradual and we took everything good that we had composed before and improved on it to bring it to the new album. Plus, in this album Eleonora was totally involved in the creative part both musically and lyrically, having created all the vocal lines and all the ideas for the lyrics together with me (Daniel) and Omar. “T.I.M.E.” I consider it much more mature in all respects, also in terms of the technical side, having gained more experience with the previous works.
MHF: Are you pleased with the current album ‘T.I.M.E.’?
Daniel: Sure, it was a very heartfelt work on everyone’s part, and I think the concept about female characters in Western theatre history is really special and different from what we usually hear and read in our genre. Also, both Rockshots Records and TheMetallist are doing a beautiful job of promoting it, which makes us proud of the work done. These are great satisfactions, given the difficulty nowadays of being able to fit all the activities of everyday life and musical activity together.
MHF: What was the reaction from the press and fans?
Daniel: Overall, very good, we are getting the first reviews, and they are all very positive, a good sign! They liked the singles, and we received big compliments on the two video clips!
MHF: Who is in charge of the songwriting? Or are the songs written during sessions together in the rehearsal room?
Daniel: It really depends on the song. Let’s say for the last two albums we had a clear vision of the structure of the record, having the overall concept structured before the music. I’m usually the one who gathers all the ideas in my studio and does the editing and pre-production work. Some songs I set up, some are set up by guitarist Paul, and some are a team effort with Omar. Then Eleonora puts in her input with the vocal lines. everything is then arranged together, adding details and solos, which are never lacking!
MHF: On your homepage you write the following: ‘Let the curtain open and let the music of Marble transport you to the stage.’ Will you also be presenting your current album to fans outside your home country of Italy?
Daniel: It would be very nice, but at the moment we are only organizing online promotion for the record. There is some idea for next year but nothing definite, although abroad has not been contemplated for now.
MHF: Are there already plans for a successor?
Daniel: In all honesty: yes, I talked about it with Omar, but we are at the “bar talk” level ahahaha. Never stop the creative machine!
MHF: Thank you once again for this interview. Is there anything else you would like to say to the fans at the end?
Daniel: First of all, a big greeting from Italy to the readers of the Metalheads Forever Magazin! We trust that your readers will enter the theatre with us and be transported on our journey through the history of theatre. “T.I.M.E.” is available on all streaming services and in a beautiful Digipack CD box set with stunning artwork by Remedy Art Design to top it all off!
Marble are:
Jacopo Marchesi – Keyboards
Norman Ceriotti – Drums
Eleonora Travaglino – Vocals
Daniel Fleba – Bass
Omar Gornati – Guitar
Paul Beretta – Lead Guitar
Discography:
Trails of Dreams and Reality – Demo 2006
A.t.G.o.d. – Album 2008
Heartless Disease – Single 2021
S.A.V.E – Album 2021
Theater Is My Essence – Single 2024
The Jester Duplicity – Single 2024
T.I.M.E. – Album 2024
Social Media:
Bandcamp – https://marbleheavymetal.bandcamp.com/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/marbleheavymetalit/
Homepage – https://www.marbleheavymetal.com/
Twitter (X) – https://x.com/Marbleitaly
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxxz7Br7pYIKbPDmt6gEcMQ/featured
Marble Store – https://marbleheavymetal.bigcartel.com/
