After two decades of relentless thrash metal, EPIDEMY return with Confessio Diaboli — a fierce, emotional and uncompromising new chapter. We sat down with the band to explore its creation and impact.
1. Congratulations
on the release of Confessio Diaboli . How does it feel to
release this new record after 20 years of thrash metal history?
It's a huge relief, joy, and pride all rolled into one. Looking back, those
twenty years flew by quickly, but there was a lot of hard work, concerts,
changes, and lots of miles on the road. The release of Confessio Diaboli
represents a moment when all that effort materialized into something you can
put in people's hands and say, "This is EPIDEMY, and it's fucking
good." After all this time, it's a very emotional feeling—we started over,
and the energy of this new album will knock you all off your feet.
2. The
album has been described as “cutting under your skin” — energetic and intense.
What kind of emotions or themes did you want to capture with Confessio
Diabli?
From the beginning, we went for rawness and a certain darkness, which has
always been the essence of EPIDEMY lyrics. We wanted
to capture moments when a person struggles with themselves, with the pressures
of the times, with demons—whether external or internal. We actually like the
word "piercing" because we really tried to get the most emotion out of
the music: anger, defiance, but doubt too. Confessio Diaboli is about how even
chaos can have its own logic.
3. Your
sound has deep roots in old-school thrash. How do you manage to keep that
classic energy alive while still sounding fresh and relevant in 2025?
It's about balance. We grew up listening to old thrash albums, so we simply
have their DNA in us — and we don't intend to change that. But at the same
time, we listen to a lot of new music, from modern metal to more experimental
stuff. We try to keep our riffs punchy, but also give them a contemporary
drive. We don't want to copy the past, we just draw energy from it and move it
forward.
4. Can
you tell us more about the songwriting process behind Confessio Diabli?
Was it a collective effort, or did certain members take the lead in shaping its
direction?
We worked on this album collectively, as always. We brought in a bunch of riffs
and basic song ideas, and each member of the band gradually shaped them into
something that made sense. Sometimes we argued, other times it came together
naturally. For some songs, someone came up with an idea for a theme or rhythm,
and then we built riffs around it. It's a kind of metal alchemy—and I think
that's why the album feels so cohesive
5. After
two decades as a band, how do you feel your chemistry and creative process have
evolved over the years?
It used to be very much up to the band leader. Today, everyone is involved in
the creative process, and we know that the best things come about when we can
say everything straight out. The band has been through good times and bad, and
it's still here. The creative process is calmer and more efficient—we know what
to expect from each other, and we trust each other.
6. The
title Confessio Diabli is intriguing — “The Devil’s
Confession.” What inspired the name, and how does it tie into the lyrical or
conceptual themes of the album?
We wanted a title that was powerful but not overly obvious. Confessio Diaboli
symbolizes for us an imaginary "confession" of the dark side of human
nature. Not about Satanism, but about the fact that we all carry darker sides
within us, fears, anger... and sometimes we need to control them so that they
don't control us. The title thus connects the main themes of the album —
conflict, freedom, and inner struggle.
7. Thrash
metal has always been known for its raw energy and live intensity. How do your
live shows capture the spirit of this new album?
We play the new songs with greater intensity than ever before. They are harder,
faster, but more melodic at the same time. What's more, they fit perfectly with
EPIDEMY's older work. Live, we try to
give aggression even more energy and dynamics, because Confessio Diaboli simply
requires total hell on stage. The audience gives it back to us — they like the
new songs, they're made for the moshpit.
8. The
Czech metal scene has produced some powerful acts over the years. How do you
see EPIDEMY’s place within that scene today?
We are kind of old school, but we refuse to be stuck in the past. The Czech
scene is full of great bands, and we are happy that we still have our stable
place in it. We are not a band that wants to outdo everyone else—we want to be
a band that maintains its unique style, authenticity, and honesty. And I think
our fans appreciate that.
9. Finally,
what’s next for EPIDEMY after Confessio Diabli? Are there plans for
touring, videos, or perhaps another release already in the works?
We definitely don't want to sit in a corner and pray for a miracle. We have so
much to do and we'd like to release a new music video as soon as possible and
more songs and more. New ideas are starting to form in our heads, so who
knows... Maybe the next album won't take as long as the previous one. In any
case, we want to get Confessio Diaboli out to the people and play it live
properly.
Epidemy - Czech metal band (@epidemy_official) • Photos et vidéos Instagram
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