Interview: Bedsore
Dreaming The Strife For Love is a sincere album, written primarily for ourselves out of a deep, personal need. For this reason, we knew it wouldn't be an easy listen. We understood that we were releasing something that would take time to be fully absorbed.
Italian death metal mavericks Bedsore have just brought out their latest album Dreaming The Strife For Love and it is such a strikingly eclectic mixture of death metal and progressive elements that if has to be heard to be believed. The band, who consist of Jacopo Gianmaria Pepe (vocals / guitars), Stefano Allegretti (guitars / synths / organ and keyboards), Giulio Rimoli (bass / fretless bass and Davide Itri (drums), have had a busy and successful year with the album being at the centre of it, and Gavin Brown caught up with Jacopo and Stefano to get an insight into Bedsore’s 2024.
E&D: Your new album Dreaming The Strife For Love has just been released. What has the reaction to it been like so far?
Jacopo: We are truly thrilled (and surprised) by the positive response we have received so far—something we did not take for granted, considering the nature of this work. The enthusiasm with which it has been embraced by listeners and critics alike has been incredible, especially compared to what we expected. Dreaming The Strife For Love is a sincere album, written primarily for ourselves out of a deep, personal need. For this reason, we knew it wouldn’t be an easy listen. We understood that we were releasing something that would take time to be fully absorbed, so the results have been all the more surprising. What encourages us the most are the direct messages we receive from people who have listened to us for the first time. They write to us, sharing how our songs manage to speak to their hearts or help them experience special emotions, an incomparable feeling for us. To us, this album represents an incredibly important musical and personal chapter in our lives. Seeing that it resonates with so many people and communicates exactly what we hoped for is one of our greatest rewards. It motivates us to keep giving our best and to stay true to what inspires us every day.
E&D: What were the biggest influences on the sound and outlook of the new album?
Stefano: We are certainly indebted to our musical roots. Bands from the RPI (Rock Progressivo Italiano) movement, such as Osanna, Balletto di Bronzo, PFM, Orme, and Semiramis, are an integral part of our sound, alongside classical composers like Ravel or Debussy and the more avant-garde metal scene, represented by artists such as Morbus Chron, Anna Von Hausswolff, Oranssi Pazuzu, and Russian Circles, to which we have always felt a deep connection. These components have always been alive in our music, and perhaps only now have we been able to fully materialize what we envisioned from the very beginning. However, this album clearly goes beyond merely emulating what has come before. We do not aim to compare ourselves to such personalities; rather, we draw inspiration not so much from the “what” as from the “how” the greats of the past approached music. They would shape tones directly on their instruments, compose in an organic way, and arrange the flow of the music as if it were telling a story. On a conceptual level, Hypnerotomachia Poliphili played a fundamental role. This Renaissance allegorical novel inspired the concept behind this work, intertwining dreams, love, and mystical symbolism. These elements have shaped both the music and the overall narrative of the album.
E&D: What do you love most in the world?
Stefano: The act of creation, whether it is composing music, exploring new ideas, or translating abstract emotions into tangible art—gives us a sense of connection and personal fulfilment, of empathy and collective unity. Everything that is created brings people together indiscriminately, contributing to the betterment of humanity both as individuals and as a society. Music, like art in general, serves the purpose of uniting, and if we have succeeded in achieving even a small part of that through our work, we could truly be happy. Moreover, we are inspired by the power of storytelling in all its forms: music, literature, cinema, and beyond.
E&D: Did you feel any pressure in following on your Hypnagogic Hallucinations debut album?
Stefano: At first, it was a recurring thought. Hypnagogic Hallucinations had been very well received and laid solid foundations for the band, so there was a strong desire to evolve without losing the authenticity that had resonated with our audience. However, we viewed this pressure as a challenge, pushing ourselves to create something even more intimate and personal. While it might seem ambitious, we don’t consider our debut album in any way comparable to Dreaming The Strife For Love. In terms of musical thought, concept, and the layering of arrangements, the work behind this new release is unlike anything we had done before. This is why we are deeply satisfied with the outcome of this album. On a personal level, we feel we have achieved a sense of maturity and developed a musical language that we couldn’t even imagine at the time of Hypnagogic Hallucinations.
E&D: Would you say that Dreaming The Strife For Love is an even more eclectic album than your debut?
Jacopo: Absolutely. It’s a more expansive and cohesive work in certain respects, partly due to such a binding concept. While our debut focused on exploring visceral, horror-inspired soundscapes—a horror experienced through dreams and expressed via “nightmering”—Dreaming the Strife for Love incorporates a broader range of influences, from Renaissance symbolism to progressive storytelling, and a more intimate perspective on human nature. The horror portrayed here is of a different kind; it stems from the grandeur of the imagery experienced by Polifilo, the protagonist of the work, and the resulting sense of overwhelm in the face of something too vast and incomprehensible. Musically speaking, the interplay between metal and progressive elements was approached with extreme care. Instead of simply juxtaposing riffs of one kind or another, we found a true balance—a seamless fusion born from refinement and tight interweaving of musical ideas. The multidimensionality of Dreaming The Strife For Love perfectly reflects our influences, but more importantly, it represents a crystal-clear image of our spirit as it truly is. We did what we wanted, taking well-deserved risks.
E&D: Do you see your music as a sonic representation of a hallucinatory experience?
Jacopo: Yes, it’s a description that fits perfectly. Both of our albums delve into different dimensions of dreams and the unconscious. While Hypnagogic Hallucinations represented a descent into waking nightmares—an inescapable plunge into shadowy realms—Dreaming The Strife For Love ascends into the ethereal dreamscape, where a transformative journey of personal elevation unfolds. It’s as though the unconscious itself takes on a mystical, medieval form: a place where symbols whisper secrets, visions shimmer like distant stars, and the soul wanders through veils of dream and mystery.
E&D: How is the experience of releasing music on the 20 Buck Spin label?
Jacopo: It’s been an incredible journey right from the start of our collaboration, when we first met Dave Adelson and the label four years ago. 20 Buck Spin has a unique talent for supporting and amplifying the voices of its artists, especially within those niche genres where the label’s genuine passion and belief in what they invest in truly shine through. Working with Dave is a constant pleasure: his enthusiasm for experimental and singular music aligns perfectly with our vision. We feel truly fortunate to have such sincere and unwavering support.
E&D: How did your appearance at the Creature Oscure: Festival Gotico for the release of the new album go and was it a cool experience to doing something like that?
Stefano: The festival was truly an intimate moment to share with our earliest fans. Even though we didn’t perform live, it was incredibly interesting to explore ourselves as a band in such a setting, presenting our album in a non-musical form. We were able to “tell its story through words,” much like a narrative, in an environment perfectly aligned with the album’s themes.
E&D: What are your favourite pieces of giallo and horror cinema?
Stefano: As we already demonstrated in Hypnagogic Hallucinations, we are deeply inspired by horror/giallo filmmakers such as Mario Bava, Dario Argento, Lucio Fulci, and John Carpenter, whose surreal imaginations resonate within our music. We cannot fail to mention two absolute masterpieces—Suspiria and Four Flies on Grey Velvet by Argento—among our favourites, not only for their mastery in exploring the mystical and psychological aspects of horror, but also for their portrayal of anxiety and the origins of evil. We also greatly appreciated Luca Guadagnino’s remake from a few years ago, particularly the cinematography, Thom Yorke’s score, and the new interpretation of evil that the director infused into the already incredibly evocative imagery created by Dario Argento. Another film we hold dear in the Italian giallo genre is certainly Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion, featuring one of the greatest performances by one of Italy’s finest actors, Gian Maria Volonté, and once again, a haunting score by Ennio Morricone. The new album, especially in its connections to a more serene world, is also inspired by the cinema of Italian magical realism and filmmakers such as Federico Fellini, Luigi Comencini, Paolo Sorrentino, and Matteo Garrone. With their visual storytelling, these directors have perfectly captured these fairy-tale-like, ethereal sensations.
E&D: What are your favourite ever soundtracks to movies?
Jacopo: There’s an entire world to explore! Some timeless classics include the artistic collaboration between Goblin and Argento, the compositions for The Dollar Trilogy by Ennio Morricone, and the works of Nino Rota with Fellini, particularly Roma, our hometown. Wendy Carlos’ work on A Clockwork Orange—at least in terms of innovation and the vision filtered through synthetic power—also holds a special place. These soundtracks were born from the close relationship between filmmaker and composer, and they don’t merely support the films; they elevate them into immersive experiences in a complex and delicate fusion, which has greatly inspired us in creating our new album. Additionally, among the soundtracks of recent years, we’d certainly like to mention There Will Be Blood (Paul Thomas Anderson), composed by Jonny Greenwood.
E&D: What have been some of your favourite records that have been released last year?
Jacopo & Stefano: We were particularly impressed by La fine non Esiste, the new album by the Roman prog rock band Semiramis, who returned to the scene after 50 years since their previous album, Dedicato a Frazz. Definitely, Frazz is not dead! Among the other albums we’ve loved this year, we’d like to mention, in no particular order:
Oranssi Pazuzu – Muuntautuja
Black Curse – Burning in Celestial Poison
Spectral Voice – Sparagmos
Julie Christmas – Ridiculous and Full of Blood
Kariti – Dheghom
Le Orme – Il Leone e la Bandiera
L’Uovo di Colombo – Schiavi del Tempo
Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats – In the Hour of the Blue
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Wild God
Dool – The Shape of Fluidity
Crippled Black Phoenix – The Wolf Changes Its Fur But Not Its Nature
Hail Spirit Noir – Fossil Gardens
Dreamless Veil – Every Limb of the Flood
Rezn – Burden
Wormwitch – Wormwitch
Immortal Bird – Sin Querencia
Tribulation – Sub Rosa in Aeternum
Chapel of Disease – Echoes of Light
Delving – All Paths Diverge
Unto Others – Never Neverland
E&D: Will Bedsore be playing live in 2025?
Jacopo: Yes, absolutely! We’re planning a special set to bring Dreaming The Strife For Love to the stage in its entirety, and we’ll be doing it like never before, so keep an eye out… we can’t wait to reconnect with the audience live once again!
E&D: How have your live performances this year gone and how did the music of Dreaming The Strife For Love go over live?
Jacopo: Bringing the album to life on stage will be both a challenge and a joy. The complexity of the music requires precision and, above all, time to assimilate, which is why we temporarily paused in order to focus on composing, recording, and performing Dreaming The Strife For Love live. This year, we had the pleasure of performing at the Court of Chaos festival, a wonderful event held in Brittany, along with other shows in Italy and France. It was truly a beautiful experience—the atmosphere of the festival and the selection of artists like Chapel Of Disease and The Ruins of Beverast helped create a unique and magical vibe. Despite the anticipation, we’re hopeful for a warm response from the audience, who have always been supportive of us, especially at live shows. Hearing the fans resonate with the themes and musical layers of the album will make every effort more than rewarding!
E&D: How did Bedsore start as a band and what have been some of your favourite moments in the band so far?
Stefano and Jacopo: Bedsore was formed in 2018 when we (Stefano and Jacopo), already colleagues in other bands active in the Roman metal scene, decided to venture into a more personal and less derivative musical territory. Completing the lineup with the addition of the rhythm section (Giulio and Davide), we developed a cohesive musical formula. We definitely like to remember some human encounters that we can define as fundamental, both for us as musicians and as people we’ve become: joining the 20 Buck Spin family, collaborating with Timo Ketola, and the warm reception given to Dreaming The Strife for Love. Every milestone reminds us why we began this journey, primarily for ourselves, but also for the people who have shared these moments with us—the new and old friendships, and the bonds that have been created.
E&D: What have been some of your favourite live performances that Bedsore has done so far?
Stefano: Our recent participation at the Courts of Chaos Fest 2024, alongside bands like Chapel of Disease, The Ruins of Beverast, and Tormentor, left a lasting impression on us, just as our appearance at the Killtown Death Fest in 2022 did. Not to mention the Frantic Festival, one of the best events here in Italy—a real family, with bands like Goblin and Demilich, which we consider some of our reference acts. The show in Rome with Dead Congregation was another great moment shared in our hometown, at Traffic Live Club, a venue we consider our second home. The connection with the audience, the way they are impacted by the show, leaves us, first and foremost, ecstatic. We can’t wait to perform like this again!
