Ten long active years endorse the career of this interesting doom metal band. Autumnal has only released one album, ‘Grey universe’, but is currently working on their following record. We got in contact with them, and this is what they told us.

Receive a big hail from Xtreem Music. Before we start, how is everything going around Autumnal these days?
Thank you very much. Things have been slightly calm lately, as in general terms we have took advantage these days to be with our families and that sort of things, but also looking forward to come back to work after Christmas.

After so many years as an active band, your first album saw the light of day through Xtreem Music. Would you mind to talk a little about it and your feelings about this record?
Exactly, our debut album has seen the light of day after so many years on active and a couple of previously released demos. We are aware of too many time has passed since the band was formed until the edition of ‘Grey Universe’, but actually it hasn’t been something deliberated, as we had to overcome countless obstacles during all this time. However, all of this has given us the experience and maturity needed to create an album all of us are proud of, and we have been able to communicate several feelings through it, which is what we try to do with our music at last.

How were the proceedings to find a label that wanted to release your work?
Before we started to record we had already contacted some labels that seem to have certain interest, but all of them wanted to hear new stuff, because so many time had passed since our previous demo. So we decided to record the album first, and then show it to those labels. We received some offers, but we thought Xtreem’s was the most serious of them, and they guarantee better promotion and distribution for the CD, so that’s why we finally chose it.

Why haven’t you included any song from your previous demos on ‘Grey Universe’?
It is something that, although it may sound strange, we have never considered. Our songs are written and recorded in an specific period and context, and we think that taking them away from there, maybe unconsciously, is like a step backwards more than continuity in the band’s evolution.

In my shell had a strong influence from My Dying Bride. How have you developed that personal sound which you now own?
In the beginning, when people that are totally strangers to each other form a band, usually you have to take a shared reference to start from. It our case, that main reference was, exactly, My Dying Bride. However, time gave us confidence and experience needed to incorporate personal influences from each member into the band’s music, and so we went on gradually giving shape to our style towards something, exactly, more personal.
In our case, those personal influences are too varied, so the final result improves and gets variety on details.

In your music, cello has an important role. When it comes to writing, how do you decide to add it or leave it behind in some parts?
Actually, I don’t think of our way to write, despite having this cello, to be different from any other band. We usually start from a draft with drums, bass and rhythmical guitar, and the we add the other instruments, lead guitar, cello and vocals based on our own feelings and depending on what we want to communicate in every moment.

María Ingelmo is nowadays the cellist in the band. Was it hard to find a musician with her profile to fill the gap, since they usually have a musical background far away from metal music?
It was easier than we thought it was going to be at first, because it only took us a couple of months. It is true that this kind of musicians are usually found in a different context, but maybe thanks to Apocalyptica, nowadays it’s less hard to find someone like her than some years ago.
We were very lucky with María, because she combines her classical training with her passion for extreme metal, so the decision to add her to the band was easy.

Since ‘Grey universe’ has been on stores for a while, have you started to work on new songs for a second release?
Yes, we have been writing new songs for our second CD for some months, although due to the special status of the band (Javi, guitarist and vocalist, lives in Barcelona and María lives in Salamanca) is a very slow and complicated. Nevertheless, we are very excited, so I am pretty sure there will be a new Autumnal CD this year.

Recently a concert that commemorated Autumnal’s ten years of career was celebrated. Could you tell us something about the show?
It was something we had been thinking about during some time and we feel like doing it, especially for the people who have been listening to us for years and wanted to hear older songs. It was a very special night, and although I expected some more people on the crowd, I think they enjoyed the show as much as we did.

Besides the musical evolution we have talked about before, in which other aspects do you think Autumnal has also evolved, from its beginning to present day?
Obviously, during ten years everybody experiences lots of things that made us evolve as a person and that is unquestionably shown on everything we do. In that sense we have acquired some attitude and a more realistic view of what surrounds the musical scene, avoiding many deceptions and disillusions that usually ruin the band’s confidence.
The fact that we now have Jose as our manager has also meant an important change in the band’s course, which is now more focused in the musical side.

What is your personal point of view about doom metal scene nowadays, both in Spain and outside it?
Actually I think it is an scene that more or less has been always kept stable during all this time, despite some ups and downs. But although doom band usually don’t have a long career, interesting bands arise constantly and keep the scene alive. I think the musical level in Spain has been considerably improved, and bands like Helevorn or Evadne are every bit as good as any other foreign band.

What is your point of view about those new post metal bands, such as Cult of Luna or Isis?
Honestly, I am not into that music, so I can’t express an specific opinion. I can only tell you that, personally, I respect any kind of music as long as it is done with honesty.

And before we finish, which are the future plans for Autumnal?
Next thing is a little tour in Spain and Portugal at the end of February, beginning of March, along with Officium Triste, and keep on writing new song for our second CD.