Algiz Art was started in June 2006 in Marsica, a mountainous territory of the Abruzzo region, central Italy. Indeed, the idea of creating a black metal label was in my mind since many years, but only in that period things around me went in a favorable arrangement for the beginning of this Project. After four years of work, during which Algiz Art have supported many underground bands, both from Italy and abroad, a long period of inactivity has followed, during which the label has been put on hold and the distro temporarily closed. During this period of silence, I have made different experiences that, like a "Waldgang" (i.e. a retreat into the forest), have provided me with new inspiration and energy, so that at the end of the last winter, I have decided to start my fight again, and restore Algiz Art Productions to a new life. Algiz Art is basically my own creature: this means that I'm the only one who decides the label policy, the bands to be produced and the material to be distributed. However, there have been some individuals - close friends and people sharing my ideals - who have helped me a lot during these years, especially for some logistic aspects behind the distro (i.e. the building up of the website, promotion and things like that). Currently, I do almost everything alone, with the exception of the Internet propaganda, for which I'm supported by another person. This is because, although I know that, nowadays, Internet is an essential mass media for spreading promotion also for what concerns underground black metal, personally I don't exactly feel comfortable with social networks, forums, message boards, youtube and things like that. I prefer to spend my free time in the beautiful wilderness of my homeland.

As for the genres promoted, Algiz Art is devoted to Black Metal in its most instinctual and primordial form. The kind of Black Metal I like, and that I'm trying to support with the work of my label, should be a manifestation of ancestral forces, a form of extreme art, made of spirit and not simply music. 

The early releases of Algiz Art are currently out of stock. Among those that are still available from the AA distro, I would spend some words on Angitia - "Bellvm Marsicvm" and WON - "La Nebbia dell'Antica Religione". These are the debut demos of two young and promising undergound Italian bands: both are characterized by a very interesting sound that, although inspired by the cold Scandinavian black metal of the early Nineties, is reinterpreted in a very personal way. Their musical and conceptual inspiration is deeply rooted in the ancient Italian heritage and pagan traditions, in my opinion both bands deserve attention, and are really worth to discover. You can check some samples on their Myspace pages (Angitia: http://www.myspace.com/angitiavictrix; WON: http://www.myspace.com/wonimperialbm). Another great Italian band I've been pleased to support is Movimento D'Avanguardia Ermetico, who have release under AA "I Sentieri della Tradizione", a split album with Corvus Invictus. Movimento D'Avanguardia Ermetico is a well established act now, they have released a magnificent full length album "Stelle Senza Luce" under Kunsthauch, and I've just released a new patch for them. These guys really represent a new frontier in Black Metal, both from the musical and conceptual point of view, and fortunately the audience is beginning to understand their value. Corvus Invictus plays instead a more canonical, "darktronish" kind of raw black metal, yet worth to be listened. Algiz Art have also supported some East European bands such as Lepra from Hungary, whose "Wounds Of Past Centuries" demo has been released in cooperation with Werewolf Promotion, the Bulgarian Paganblut, and Aryan Art, of which I've released the split with Furor. Finally, despite this is not the main interest for AA, I've also releases some non-black metal albums: the Nordavind/Nostalgya split, featuring two ambient projects of Blackfrost from Apolokia, the Flumen Aeternum - "Aternum Aeternum” demo, and the Dump - Catacombe Dimenticate demotape.

As I've already said, not only the musical aspect is important in the bands I promote. The Black Metal released under the Algiz Art banner should represent an instrument of revolt against the modern society, against the world it has created, against its habits, that have led the human being far away from its true essence. Mother Nature and the mountains are the main source of inspiration for Algiz Art. We have set our gaze towards what is above, towards the supreme heights and the horizons of our soul, towards the purity of millenary glaciers. This purity should resound in the Algiz Art releases.

Interested bands can get in touch with me firstly via the Algiz Art website (www.algiart.com) and email address (namterart AT libero DOT it). Before submitting their works, they should be aware of the label identity and abovementioned policies.

The most important thing is integrity, of both parts. Clear agreements and compliance with them. And this is the way things have always gone with my bands. Moreover, Algiz Art is an underground entity, and as such musicians should expect that it does not offer "big deals", but honest and dedicated work in the underground for trades, promotion and support. 

Since the rebirth of the label last March many things are ongoing. There is yet a lot of work to do after this new beginning, especially the distro needs much efforts to reach again the good levels that it had before the closure, and this aspect is vital for an underground label which lives mostly on trades. But I'm optimist in this sense, people are responding very positively, the new website is easier to consult and manage, and this helps a lot.

The future looks bright...yes, I can say this. There are a bunch of planned releases, but for the moment I prefer to avoid anticipations. You can check the label website for all the news about upcoming releases.

www.algizart.com for label, distro and email contacts

Check also the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/algizart

April 2012