Doomed Confessionary: Francesco Bucci (Ottone Pesante)
Photos by MirkONE
Ottone Pesante from Italy is probably the first “Brassmetal” band in the world, with a unique line-up composed by trumpet, trombone and drums, making a huge step beyond the traditional idea of extreme metal, based on the classic sound of bass and guitar. With almost 400 shows all over Europe under their belt, Ottone Pesante are currently destroying a lot of boundaries between metal, jazz, brass, and avant-garde genres.
They have released 3 studio albums, 2 EPs, a split and have collaborated with notable artists such as Travis Ryan (Cattle Decapitation), Sara Bianchin (Messa) and Calibro 35.
Ottone Pesante’s fourth studio album »Scrolls Of War« will be released on October 18th, 2024 via Aural Music. Expect 7 incredible tracks full of ferocious dissonance! Also featuring Shane Embury (Napalm Death) and Lili Refrain.
Can you say a few words about your band?
Ottone Pesante is an instrumental, experimental trio with the following lineup: trombone (Francesco), trumpet (Paolo), and drums (Beppe). Our sound is characterized by the extensive and increasing use of electronics on brass instruments and equally recognizable drumming with strong roots in both grindcore and rhythmic/timbral exploration. We’re almost 10 years old and we’re about to release our 4th full-length: »Scrolls Of War«.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
Survive to the pandemic… We are mostly a live band, we used to touring all around Europe to spread our music. We were forced to stop for years and this made us feeling that we had to stop definitely.
But we are still here!!!
What can you be most proud of so far?
We’re proud to have been able to change perspectives, to destroy boundaries and be accepted in a world that thinks that there’s only black or white. Yes, music got this power!
What was your biggest regret?
Just one. I would have getting started earlier with this project, when I was younger.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
I would mention 3 concerts that were really great for me.
First one: Brutal Assault 2022. We played in front of about 2000 people that were there exactly for us and we didn’t expect that!
Second one: opening show for Thy Catafalque in Budapest, last February 2024. The venue was beautiful and the crowd was fantastic and made us feel at home. In that concert I felt that we were really doing the right thing and that we were ready for every stage.
Third one: Gothenburg, years ago (I don’t remember exactly). We played in a squat with other three bands, not many people in the crowd, but it was the most intense so far. I felt very explosive on stage, I was totally concentrate like never. I was totally in my world and I didn’t understand what happened and neither where I was. I just enjoyed doing what I was there for.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
Really a lot… But I’ll try to mention just a few , some artists that changed my life in different moments when I knew them.
Tool, Opeth, The Mars Volta when I was a teenager.
Colin Stetson, Sons of Kemet in the last years.
Green Milk From The Planet Orange last week.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
In the last period I’m listening mostly to these artists: Colin Stetson, Green Milk From The Planet Orange, Maria Bertel, Brutus, Meshuggah.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
Make the music that you feel and don’t care about the “market”. That’s the only way to consider yourself a musician.
What are your guilty pleasures?
Ok, I’ll tell you: I would love to become a bass player and stop playing the trombone.
Can you say something more about current music scene in Faenza / northern Italy?
The situation here is very difficult. Less and less people are interested in alternative / underground music, clubs are quitting and it’s very difficult to survive as a musician.
But from the other hand there are many very good artists that are “conquering” Europe (and not only) with their music. I would like to mention: Lili Refrain, Messa and Dalila Kairos.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
Our tour is gonna start exactly on the 17th of October in Ljubljana and it will bring us to Slovenia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Belgium and Netherlands. But we’ll be touring also next year and I’m sure we’ll come back to Slovenia once again.
(Find all the upcoming dates HERE)
What are your plans for the future as a band?
»Scrolls Of War« is the first chapter of a trilogy, so we’ll have a lot of work to do in the near future.
We are also working on a new split.
So the point is that we’ll be very busy in making new music (and that’s what we love).
How can people best support your band?
People can support us by coming to our shows, sharing our music, and buying some merchandise.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Keep on searching for good music, you will always find it!
Links:
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well