Turin-based atmospheric doom outfit Gli Alberi recently returned with their third concept album, Maturafine. I spoke with vocalist Arianna to dive into the themes behind the new release. We discussed the band’s musical evolution, their literary inspirations, and farinata.

Reuel

Hello Arianna! I’m very glad to be talking with you. How are you doing?

Arianna Prette

Hi Reuel! The pleasure is all mine! Everything’s great, thank you. We just played at the Doom Army Open Air festival with Gli Alberi in Veneto at the beginning of July, and now we’re taking a short summer break.

Reuel

Oh, how exciting! You have recently released your new album Maturafine. What are the first three words that come to mind when you think about this new album?

Arianna Prette

Nice question! Well, I guess they are sand, because every track talks about a physical or metaphorical desert. Then time, because the album deals with endings, with places that have changed and deeply transformed, but at the same time allowed something else to arrive. And for the last word, I’d say life, meaning a force that keeps moving forward anyway, filling the empty space left behind. In fact, we like to describe Maturafine as an optimistic album about the end of the world.

Reuel

How would you describe GLI ALBERI’s musical style and sound to our readers who haven’t had the chance to listen to it yet?

Arianna Prette

It’s not that simple to define our genre, but we usually describe it as atmospheric post-metal. We like to create evocative soundscapes where listeners can lose themselves in the synth textures, get carried away by the guitar and bass lines, and be guided by clean vocals or shaken by extreme singing, all tied together by the powerful beat of the drums. We try to bring all of this into our live shows too, aiming to build a profound connection between us, the meaning behind the tracks, and the audience.

Reuel

The concept of Maturafine is remarkable. What inspired you to center the album around deserts?

Arianna Prette

Since we loved writing our previous concept album, Reinhold, we all agreed on creating another concept album. We’ve always been drawn to environmental issues, especially the relationship between humanity and nature, in particular during these complex times. The spark came from William Atkins’ book The Immeasurable World, a travelogue through the world’s most remote deserts, like the Rub’ al Khali (The Empty Quarter) and the Aralkum Desert. Fascinated by those sands and their mysteries, we used them as a starting point, diving deeper through documentaries, films, and books like Ecclesiastes, also known as Qoelet, which, for example, inspired our track Q.

Reuel

This is brilliant. Maturafine is your third album released. What, in your opinion, does Maturafine have that older GLI ALBERI albums did not have, and makes it special?

Arianna Prette

It’s definitely an album where we felt more musically mature. After the feedback we got on Reinhold, we had a clearer picture of what worked and what we needed to improve. With Maturafine, we tried to raise the bar: we worked extensively on the arrangements, put a lot of care into the lyrics, and searched for a sound that felt as authentic as possible. It was also the first time we actively reached out to a record label. On that note, I’d like to take the opportunity to thank the guys at Masked Dead Records for believing in our vision and supporting the project!

Reuel

What musicians can you credit as the ones who inspired you, personally, in your life or career as a musician?

Arianna Prette

Well, there are so many! I’ll just name a few to avoid going on forever! Ever since I was a little kid, I loved Hans Zimmer’s film scores. As a teenager, I got into metal, especially symphonic and gothic bands like Nightwish, Within Temptation, Evanescence and The Gathering. But I was listening to a wide variety of music back then, from Enya, Loreena McKennitt and The Cranberries to Muse and Sigur Rós, along with Italian songwriters like Elisa, Franco Battiato, and Fabrizio De André. As for more recent metal artists, I also listen to Sylvaine, as well as Italian bands like Messa and Ponte del Diavolo.

Reuel

Legendary names!
If the sense of taste and hearing were mixed up together, what food do you imagine GLI ALBERI’s music would taste like?

Arianna Prette

Such a synesthetic question! I love it! The first thing that popped into my head is farinata. Maybe it’s also because its color and look remind me of a vast expanse of sand! For anyone not familiar with it, it’s a traditional savory dish from Liguria and Tuscany made with chickpea flour, water, salt, olive oil, and sometimes a dash of black pepper. It’s made of simple, wholesome ingredients, but when combined, they create a unique flavor that’s completely different from the single elements… with a dense texture that can sometimes be hard to swallow, but delicious, featuring a crisp crust that bites and a warm, soft heart. Ok, now I’m officially starving! haha

Reuel

And I’m intrigued to cook it this weekend!
How would you describe Maturafine using emojis only?

Arianna Prette

Honestly, without realizing it, I might have already answered this in the second question! Sand, time, life… I’d definitely go with the hourglass: ⏳! It captures the concept so well! When time runs out, if you flip it over, a new cycle begins: an ending that turns into a start. And the sand sealed inside the glass is the true common thread, keeping that rhythm grain by grain.

Reuel

Thank you for your time, Arianna! Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Arianna Prette

Thank you so much for this interview opportunity! For anyone who’d like to learn more about Gli Alberi and Maturafine, I invite you to follow us on our social media and streaming platforms! We’ll also be announcing new live dates and updates very soon! And in general… support the underground scene!