In the Meet The Band spotlight this week are the Canadian symphonic gothic metal band Blood Of Indigo. Their debut album is Dawn Of The Shaded World. Vocalist Alex Centorame introduces us to his band.
Chad Bowar: Give us a brief history of Blood Of Indigo.
Alex Centorame: Myself and Mariusz started the band in 2017 because we both had so much passion for music and wanted to create something memorable. We loved video games, metal, horror, fantasy, and pepperoni pizza. Nathan joined the band shortly after and we realized how much we also had in common with him. Our collective goal became to create the most dark, modern, massive, and epic sounding symphonic metal project. We created Blood of Indigo and we make dark fantasy metal.
Describe the songwriting process for Dawn Of The Shaded World.
Each song begins with one idea. Either Mariusz starts the song with some tasty riffs, Nathan creates the most epic orchestral intro/section ever, or I’ll create a character/concept for a story. Next, we build upon each other’s strengths by contributing ideas in our own unique way. Nathan might add keys to Mariusz’s riff, I might add a concept to give the song more character, or vice versa, etc. We all have our unique roles in the band and lead each aspect with our own strengths and we also come together to make recommendations with an open mind, mutual respect, and passion for creating an excellent piece album, one song at a time.
What will be your strongest memory of the recording of the album?
My favorite memory will always be hanging out with my best buddies, Mariusz and Nathan and doing what we do best: Making cool music and eating an entire party size pepperoni pizza to ourselves.
How would you characterize its style/sound?
The best way to describe our music is dark fantasy metal. It’s like your favorite RPG video games and heavy metal bands had a baby and created Blood of Indigo.
How did Lindsay Schoolcraft’s guest appearance come about?
I met Lindsay in 2015 and we became friends. She inspired me to follow my heart and become a metal vocalist, so I wanted her to be part of this album because her influence on me was so strong and I wanted to create a full circle moment with my friend. So I asked her to sing as a guest vocalist with me on the track “Dawn of The Shaded World.” The part she sings always brings a tear to my eye because I wrote them on the day my dog Tessa passed away. Lindsay delivered her parts perfectly and with such raw emotion. We are so proud of that song and I can’t wait for our fans to hear it.
What lyrical topics do you cover?
The lyrics are grounded in the Blood of Indigo lore. My lyrics are like layers of a cake. On one layer, the album is a concept album which fits into our discography as a small piece of a bigger puzzle. On another layer, the lyrics are written in the context of the dark fantasy and a lot of topics are inspired by video games, like Bloodborne, Dark Souls, and Legend of Zelda. On another layer, I also like to weave in raw emotion and genuine feelings I have in my daily life. For example, “Angelus, the ‘Faceless’ Vampire” has many meanings. I wrote the lyrics “Winter Never Ends” while being frustrated and waiting for the bus in the brutal Canadian winter, but it also translates well into the story of Angelus as he destroys Gander, by colliding the sun and moon in his origin story. There’s lots to uncover in these lyrics.
What led you to go the independent route for the album release?
We wanted to create something that was 100 percent authentic. We didn’t want to rush the creative process. We wanted to focus on every little detail of the lyrics, lore, branding, marketing, musicianship, song structure, arrangement, sound design, the fan experience, etc. Being independent allows us to have the freedom to create something genuine, grassroots, and innovative. These things are important to us.
What are your goals and expectations for the album?
Our goal for this album was to create something that will be remembered forever. We wanted to make an album that would be the most authentic expression of our creativity and contribute something to music that would change the game forever. Our expectation for this album has been to touch as many lives as possible and introduce them to the immersive world of Blood of Indigo and dark fantasy metal.
Do you have plans to play live shows?
Yes we do, but our live shows will require plenty of planning. First, we want to release music videos. There are plans to release music videos for some songs on our debut album, Dawn of The Shaded World first. Once those videos are unleashed, the next step will be to create an unforgettable live experience for our wonderful fans. We want our first show to be extra special, so we don’t want to rush it.
How did you get started in music?
I was hosting a metal radio show at the time and I always knew that deep down in my soul, I was a vocalist. It has been my dream to walk out on stage at Wacken Open Air and feel the roar of that audience. I brought my friend, Lindsay Schoolcraft onto the show as a guest interview to talk about her music journey. She inspired me so much, that I knew for sure that I needed to make music. I told her about my dream and she simply told me to go for it, so I did. I decided to give it my everything. Shortly after, Blood of Indigo was born.
Who were your early influences and inspirations?
My earliest inspiration was Angela Gossow from Arch Enemy. I’ve always admired the character in her voice and the way that she made you feel the emotion in each lyric. She is my favorite harsh vocalist and I learned a lot from listening to her on the album Wages of Sin.
What was the first metal concert you attended?
The first concert I attended was Mayhem Festival in 2013 in Toronto. The lineup was Avenged Sevenfold, Korn, Asking Alexandria, and Trivium.
How is the metal scene in Toronto these days?
I love the metal scene in Toronto. I’ve met so many of my close friends, who are also musicians in the Toronto scene. Some of the best musicians in the world live here. I’m always mindblown by the amount of talent I am surrounded by. Toronto is a city which celebrates culture diversity. people are very supportive and open minded to all types of musical genres which makes it a great place to grow as an emerging artist.
What are some of your non musical interests/hobbies?
I love being active with martial arts like Shotokan Karate and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, playing video games like Super Smash Bros. on the weekends with close friends, and expanding my knowledge of pro wrestling history by catching up on documentaries and watching classic matches.
Anything else you’d like to mention or promote?
Our debut album Dawn of The Shaded World is available on all streaming platforms and you can purchase the physical CD of the album right now at
www.bloodofindigoshop.com. Get yours before we’re sold out!
(interview published August 27, 2022)
Listen To Blood Of Indigo – “Angelus, The Faceless Vampire”
