Doomed Confessionary: Hel (Obscura Amentia)
Obscura Amentia is a two-piece black/doom metal band from Apulia, Italy. Founded in 2005, Obscura Amentia consists of Hel (vocals) and Black Charm (guitar, bass, keyboards).
After an obscure and prolonged absence of seven years, marked by personal events and tragic circumstances that deeply affected their journey, they officially announced their return in 2025.
The gates of oblivion have been thrown open: the band is back in the studio to forge its new musical chapter.
The hiatus, though necessary and painful, acted as a crucible, transforming the sorrow and perseverance into pure sonic essence. The creative core of Obscura Amentia has reunited, channeling the darkness and tumult of recent years into compositions that promise to be among the most intense and visceral of their career.
Can you please say a few words about your band?
Our band was born from our passion for music, but over the years, the band itself has dug deeper and deeper into our souls. It is no longer just a musical project (which in itself, of course, is no small thing), but it expresses, at least for us, something more sacred. It is a private and intimate ritual. And as such, we want the listener to take part in it, always within their own intimacy, in the darkness of their favorite place, so they can fathom the very depths of the human soul with us. That is what it has become now: an intimate quest. We know that human beings are layered, and that within them lies something extremely instinctive and wicked; we want to tell the story of this seed of evil that germinates within each of us.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
Our biggest challenge is getting ourselves known. We don’t aim for fame, but of course, we would love to share our ritual with as many people as possible. We don’t play live; in the chaos of streaming, our music loses a part of its essence. To experience it the way it was born, you would need to set aside an hour, turn off the lights, and surrender yourself to it. So for us, given how music is currently experienced in society, it is incredibly difficult. In fact, we will never be able to make money from our music, that would be a utopia. We only care about dragging you into the deepest darkness of the human soul.
What can you be most proud of so far?
Of the depths we have reached. Meaning, in the search for this seed of evil. We feel like travelers intent on discovering ever-darker places. As if we had decided to descend into an unknown abyss and uncover its mysteries… Mysteries, a word that echoes Greco-Roman antiquity, nothing could be more perfect for this line of thought.
What was your biggest regret?
Having been on hiatus for so long, musically speaking. Unfortunately, it was a difficult period, both on a human and a professional level. The passing of someone deeply important to us, my mother, and the work we immersed ourselves in. We had too little time left, and we couldn’t keep the band going, but now that we have found a balance, we are back. Yet, there isn’t a single day that I don’t regret our silence.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
In our minds. What we imagine while creating our music and listening back to our tracks. But not a classic live show. Darkness and screams.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
Rediscovering gems of the past, finding old interviews that take us back to a time that is now all too distant. Musically speaking, I wouldn’t say I’ve been surprised by new bands; rather, I like to imagine new coexistences between different genres and always find new inspiration. But we are tied to ’80s and ’90s metal, and I could never, ever shift our focus too far from there. Are we wrong to do so? Alas, as of right now, we haven’t had a real, genuine surprise.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Bands like Electric Wizard, Hexvessel, Kampfar, Mgła, Dopelord, Novembre, Mayhem, Venom, as well as certain tracks from theatrical plays. We still try to branch out, though; precisely because the human soul is layered, every now and then we also need classical music, blues, etc.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
Not to be afraid of making mistakes, to try and try again without ever giving up. It’s a piece of advice that works for every aspect of life; life is hard, as we know, and we must beat the adversities and obstacles, and keep going, because our only true freedom is the ability to create.
What are your guilty pleasures?
Sleeping. My dreams are extremely adventurous and make no sense. It’s always a pleasure to fall into the arms of Morpheus. At least for me, Hel. For Black Charm, it’s riding his bike, the freedom he feels with the wind in his hair… These aren’t the strangest things, are they?
Can you say something more about the current music scene in Apulia?
In our area, there are some interesting acts. Over the years, the scene has gotten a bit… if you’ll excuse the term, rarefied… Maybe I just don’t know the younger crowd, but among the people I know who used to be part of it, the desire to create music has faded a bit. They have work, family… they have other priorities. But if you venture out a bit, you see so many great people at festivals, so I still have hope for this area.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
Perhaps never. Many people ask us why we don’t play live, but I am more than convinced that our potential is best expressed in solitary, intimate listening. An old-school mindset? Maybe. We don’t create music to fire up crowds beneath a stage, nor do we make fleeting little sparks for the sake of streaming. In our own antisocial way, we create music for those who, just like us, simply want to immerse themselves in it.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
We are working on new tracks for the fourth album. I don’t know yet whether it will be under a record label or self-produced again, but one thing is certain: nowadays, so much of the communication falls directly on the band itself, so I already know I’ll have to handle that part too. So, there’s a lot to do, and I’m happy to be back at it. I’ve missed the thrill of holding our physical format in my hands.
How can people best support your band?
By purchasing the physical and/or digital formats of our albums. Our second album is almost sold out, while »The Art Of The Human Decadence« is still fully available in our Bandcamp page. There is a real need to go back to consuming physical formats like we used to, precisely to support bands like ours. Yes, we make music out of passion, but unfortunately, even passion comes with a cost, so we are happy when we see people who are truly ready to support us.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Go back to experiencing music the way people used to; forget about the easy way of streaming. Streaming is great for discovering bands, but to truly experience music, the physical format is what you need to use. We are moving toward a wrong way of consuming art, where it’s just shoved in everyone’s face. And what happens to the attitude then? The world is becoming more and more hypocritical, if you think about it, so go back to something more genuine, and underground bands will thank you.
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well