Published: July 2, 2025
By Gino Alache for Rockum
Italian post-groove metal band Noumenia has made a striking debut with their full-length album Echoes, released on June 27, 2025 via Eclipse Records. Hailing from Northern Italy and fronted by the powerful and charismatic Vivian Black, the band blends raw emotion, atmospheric heaviness, and philosophical introspection into a sound that aims to resonate deeply with the listener.
In this exclusive interview with Rockum, Noumenia discusses the emotional depth behind Echoes, their artistic vision, and the mythological, personal, and spiritual elements that define their music. Here’s what they had to say:
1. Noumenia’s sound has been described as soul-striking and explosive. For
new listeners discovering you through this release, how would you define
your musical identity and vision as a band?
Samuele Zichi (Drummer): Although we may not have a precise formula or theme, we like to define our music as completely open to interpretation: we tell a story, but it is up to you to live it to its fullest, however you like to do it.
Our vision is to make music for everyone to understand and to find yourself in the lyrics and music.
We want everyone to absorb the concepts and the music and to see yourself in the music and lyrics, just like a mirror, but for your mind and soul.
2. Your upcoming full-length album Echoes drops on June 27 via Eclipse Records. What does this release mean to the band — emotionally,
thematically, and artistically?
Vivian Black (Singer): "Echoes' is our first step into the scene, our first opportunity to be heard, to be visible, and sometimes it feels alienating to know that it has been released. We put all of ourselves into it to have a product that encapsulates what we feel, especially living every day as a human being in a world that is no longer so human. We would like to lead people to ask themselves questions as we have asked ourselves to understand what our role in this society would actually be. Our first album is a mixture of an introspective journey of hope and that liberating cry of rage you wanted to make when you couldn't. We would like to know from those who listen to us what has reached them, what strings we have touched, whatever the outcome.
3. The video for “Fall Apart” is inspired by the myth of the Parcae, the Greek Fates. Why did this theme resonate with the band, and how does it connect
with the overall message of the track?
Vivian Black (Singer): The Greek Fates weave the threads of our destiny that like a spider web keep us hanging between life and death. But it's not only that, those threads are interconnected. They unite us in our sufferings, our experiences, our dreams and desires from beginning to end . Even in the moment of severe pain and loneliness, even in the distance, even when we look into each other's eyes without saying a word we are still connected and this awareness has faded with time. We need to remember this so we have the strength to face everything that's happening in our lives. We have tried to unite this theme to the single in the simplest and most direct way possible.
4. There’s a strong emotional charge behind "Fall Apart", both in the lyrics and the visuals. What message were you hoping to communicate with that
video?
Vivian Black (Singer): With the video of Fall Apart we wanted to express this connection we all have through red threads. One way to tell you "hey I'm here with you, you don't have to face it alone". I know the feeling of loneliness, this pain of believing we are alone when it's not in reality. It's important to embrace our shadow with love and acceptance and transform it into strength.
5. Let’s talk about production. How was the experience working with Richard Meiz and Daniele Salomone on this album? What did each contribute to the final sound?
Matteo Radaelli (Guitarist): Richard really helped us find our direction, a sound that identifies us. We learned so much from him and he was really our mentor in the writing process of “Echoes”. Our past ideas never sounded like that and we were astonished by the final results of the ideas that eventually contributed to Echoes. The mix and master by Daniele really enhanced the power and even more the sound of this album. The mix is amazing and the master can only add grit to the songs. We’ll never thank these guys enough for the work done on this album and we consider ourselves lucky to work with such talented and professional artists.
6. Echoes blend atmospheric intros, aggressive riffs, and deep lyrical content. Could you highlight the stories or themes behind songs like “Black Ocean” or “The Circle”?
Samuele Zichi (Drummer): So “The Circle” talks about a really simple theme: action and consequences. It really depicts the circle of cause and effect between the choices we make as human beings, that may be good, or bad, right or wrong, but the importance doesn't stand in this, it stands in being aware that everything has a consequence, so it is up to you to choose carefully. In “Black Ocean”, we wanted to talk about a deeper theme, being held down by something negative, for example depression or struggle, and having someone near you to help you face those difficulties. But there’s not a precise reading key for our lyrics: we can explain them to you, we can tell you our vision, but it is up to the listener to embrace those lyrics and make them personal. So there is not a right or wrong interpretation, we decided to leave them open for the listener to assimilate the words and give them a personal interpretation.
7. How did the songwriting process unfold for Echoes? Was it a collaborative evolution or more driven by individual experimentation?
Matteo Radaelli (Guitarist): Echoes was a really collaborative process! We (as a band) really searched for a sound by writing riffs, songs, vocal lines and Richard did the same. We often confronted our demos and stuff and he guided us on which were the best or (most of the times) didn’t approve them, always with love obviously!
So all the process starts by an individual idea shared with the rest of us and then we unfold it, fix it and re-elaborate it to create something that we recognize as ours.
8. Vivian’s vocal range moves between raw growls and vulnerable clean parts. How do you approach balancing those emotional contrasts in the studio and on stage?
Samuele Zichi (Drummer): We worked really hard to find and develop a sound that really compliments the style and abilities of Vivian. The emotional contrast is really evident, so we embrace it by giving it the right “frame”, we see it as a painting: the subject can be interesting and the colors can be beautiful, but if you don’t engrave everything in a nice frame, the artwork is only half complete. So we always find a way to make Vivian confident and at ease with everything we write and play live, so everyone can put 100% in what is important: making music!
9. The band was originally formed as an instrumental project. How did the addition of vocals transform the creative direction of Noumenia?
Matteo Radaelli (Guitarist): In the beginning the project being instrumental really helped us explore different sounds and genres, as the band started with a progressive metal style. But the day Vivian entered the rehearsal room, things changed. We always dreamed of a lead singer who also could scream and growl, and now we had it. Not only her incredible vocal abilities, but also her personality, calm and cheerful really helped blend her style and ideas with ours. We really had a connection and idea after idea, we knew that she was the perfect voice for Noumenia.
10. What was the most difficult challenge the band faced while creating Echoes, and how did you overcome it?
Matteo Campagnoli (Bass): Creating Echoes was a journey that demanded an incredible amount of energy, time, and, above all, inner willpower. We faced countless challenges, but one stood out above the rest: forget everything we had been taught over the years and starting from scratch with a completely new mindset. What Echoes asked of us was to set aside the academic approach and create something that wouldn’t just impress people, but pierce straight through to their soul. Every snare hit, every chord, every note isn’t the result of years of training, but the rawest, most profound expression of what lives inside us. This is Echoes. This is Noumenia.
11. With digital promotion being key today, how do you plan to spread the word about Echoes? Are more videos, livestreams or touring part of your plans?
Matteo Campagnoli (Bass): Digital promotion plays a key role in getting the album out there, Eclipse has always emphasized that and we’ve always given it our all on that front too. We also put a lot of focus on music videos, and as you already know, Black Ocean was given the honor of carrying that torch. I can already tell you that the result will leave you speechless. On July 4th, we’ll be playing the album release show at Rock’n’Roll in Milan, and we can’t wait to see you all in front of the stage.
Of course, we’re also planning a promotional tour for the album before the end of the year.
12. Finally, what would you like to say to the global rock and metal audience discovering Noumenia through this new chapter and through platforms like Rockum?
Matteo Campagnoli (Bass): To those discovering Noumenia for the first time, here’s what I want to say: Echoes is a fresh, modern, powerful, and incredibly dense album. Listening to it is like being swept away by the explosion of a supernova, you might be tougher than stone, but the impact will still hit you like a shockwave. My advice? Don’t resist it. Don’t fight the force of Echoes. Let its flames flood over you.
