Extremely progressive: Andorran metal band Persefone returns to U.S. with ABQ show, new music

It has been more than six years since the Andorran extreme prog metal Persefone has toured the U.S.

That band is back in the states promoting its new music, as well as playing songs from previous works that U.S. audiences missed seeing live for several years. The tour makes as stop in Albuquerque at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, July 28, at Launchpad, 618 Central Ave. SW.

“Since we haven’t been in the U.S. over six years, we try to play the Persefone classic songs, not only from the last release (‘Lingua Ignota Pt. 1’),” said Sergi “Bobby” Verdeguer, drummer for Persefone. “So we are playing from the last four albums.”

Verdeguer said the band had planned to tour the U.S. last year, but it was “too expensive” at the time.

“We decided to cancel the tour and release new music,” he said. “That’s why this year was way better for us to come back to the U.S. and in a better position as a band.”

The band was unsure what to expect coming back to the U.S.

“It’s been so, so long,” Verdeguer said. “We didn’t know if the American and Canadian market was a good one for us because it’s still unexplored for the band. But after the first gigs, we already got the feeling that this is a place that Persefone will come back (to) way more often. The crowd is being amazing with us. We feel a lot of support from them and I think that the band is growing here ... So the idea is to not wait six years to go back and actually try to come back next year.”

The new music is not the only thing that is new to the band.

“So like two years ago or something like this, our original singer Marc (Martins Pia) left the band,” Verdeguer explained. “And so, we started touring way more from that moment with this guy from Madrid, (Spain), called Danny (R. Flys), who is our singer right now, and that allowed us to record new music. Last year, we wanted to introduce him as a new member, and that’s why we recorded with him. There’s always something that we want to express with the music.”

Persefone, which has been making music for 20 years, is not short of material.

“There’s always something to express and to tell,” Verdeguer said. “I feel like the band has way more things to do and to tell. And with every album, I think the message that we try to express is getting to way more people. So I would think that we will not lack of ideas to continue writing music.”

The band released “Lingua Ignota Pt. 1” in February. It is the first release featuring Flys on vocals. Verdeguer said it was one of the band’s smoothest writing and recording experiences as a band.

“We wanted to introduce our new singer (and) it was also the first time that we recorded in a proper studio in Stockholm,” Verdeguer explained. “We were surrounded in a really nice environment in Sweden with producer David Castillo. And so the process was really key in regards to the previous albums because usually we have these daily jobs, and we finish super late and then we have to go to the rehearsal days and record music. And this was so different. The LP was just four songs (and) that allows freedom to try new things, to try new vocal ranges, to try new ideas. So I think it (was) the most comfortable.”

The band’s label, Napalm Records, describes “Lingua Ignota Pt. 1” as a concert of hauntingly beautiful keyboards and electronic components with brutal breakdowns, melodic chorus and guitar melodies. It is a technical masterpiece made up of skilled instrumentation and rich soundscapes, it adds.

Verdeguer said because of the technical aspect of the band’s music, it is difficult to write on the road.

“Carlos (Lozano Quintanilla), our guitar player, is the mastermind of the music,” Verdeguer said. “We have one idea, one brief concept, and from there we start the writing. Sometimes just to give us the inspiration for the last record, it was enough to work on a cover. And then, from there, find the concept. You know, some pictures, some ideas. We are really good friends within the band. We like to spend time together. We like to hang around and try and chat to find inspiration in all these details. And just from one song, one read, one conversation, you can start the writing process.”