After four decades with Italian extreme metal veterans Necrodeath, drummer and songwriter Marco Pesenti has embarked on a new musical adventure with Peso666. With the debut album B(l)ack in Time, he explores darker, more tribal and slower-paced sounds while remaining faithful to his underground roots. Entirely self-produced and driven by artistic freedom rather than commercial ambitions, the project reflects his desire to create music, share ideas with friends and continue performing live.
In this interview, Marco Pesenti discusses the origins of Peso666, the meaning behind B(l)ack in Time, his songwriting process, his attachment to the early days of extreme metal and his plans for bringing the album to the stage.
Marco "Peso" Pesenti's answers were originally provided in Italian and have been translated into English for publication.
Asmoth: After your long career with Necrodeath, what led you to launch Peso666, and what did you want to explore with this new project?
Marco "Peso" Pesenti: After 40 years with Necrodeath, I am entering a new era in the underground metal scene with the awareness that I don't want to achieve any particular goal. I simply want to play music with friends because it makes me feel good. The album has no record label, no managers, no press office and no distribution. The Peso666 album and project were born purely out of an artistic need, nothing more, with the hope of playing a few concerts and having fun along the way.
Asmoth: Your debut album is titled B(l)ack in Time. What is the meaning behind this title, and what inspired the album?
Marco "Peso" Pesenti: The title comes from the phrase "Back in Time", which, to me, means returning to the past and starting all over again. When I was 20, I dreamed of becoming a rock star and conquering the world. Now, at 61, I like to think that, despite my age, I am still fortunate enough to play my favourite kind of music, with a touch of "black" in it, compose songs and share them with friends so we can perform them live.
The inspiration for the entire album came after Necrodeath's farewell tour. A wave of ideas swept over me. Just like a painter who picks up a brush and paints to create a picture, I did the same with my ideas and music, without having any particular goal to achieve. That's why I handled everything myself through a fully self-produced process. The album is currently available on all digital platforms, and I have also had 300 copies of the CD printed as a limited edition.
Asmoth: How does Peso666 differ from your work with Necrodeath, both musically and in terms of artistic freedom?
Marco "Peso" Pesenti: Since I was the main composer of both the music and lyrics on Necrodeath's 14 albums, it is obvious that some of Necrodeath's influence can be heard in the compositions on B(l)ack in Time. However, I think the rhythms and the departure from the classic thrash drummer's style are more noticeable here, even though I have not abandoned my dark roots. It's a very tribal and, at times, dark album, with slower, more measured rhythms and less speed than a typical Necrodeath album.
Asmoth: As a drummer with decades of experience, how has your approach to music and songwriting evolved over the years?
Marco "Peso" Pesenti: My approach is still the same: very instinctive. When a wave of ideas comes to me, I don't stop it. I write down the first idea that comes to mind without making too many adjustments. Then I might go a whole year without being able to write a single note, before that wave of inspiration returns. I can't explain this phenomenon that happens to me.
Asmoth: Extreme metal has changed considerably over the decades. What is your opinion of today's scene, and do you think it has lost or gained something compared to the past?
Marco "Peso" Pesenti: I am too attached to the 1980s, when the entire extreme metal movement was born, so I find it difficult to make comparisons with the excellent new bands around today. I will always greatly prefer the old school, even if it was perhaps less mature and made up of musicians who were not necessarily highly skilled technically. The ideas and songwriting from that period were unparalleled.
Asmoth: With so many bands releasing music today, what do you think makes an extreme metal album stand out and leave a lasting impression?
Marco "Peso" Pesenti: There are too many bands, and the market is saturated. Everyone plays, and everyone records. In my day, records were only made by those who deserved to make them.
Asmoth: What are your plans for Peso666 following the release of B(l)ack in Time, and what would you still like to achieve as a musician?
Marco "Peso" Pesenti: As I mentioned earlier, what I would really enjoy is playing live shows and presenting the album with my live band, consisting of Luca Masperone on guitar and vocals, Valentina Rosasco on bass, and Oscar Morchio on second bass and percussion, alongside me on drums.
We don't have an official website, and I don't even want to create one. We have a small Facebook page called Peso666, which allows us to stay in touch with the world, but that's all.
Thank you for your time and support.