HOLE IN THE FRAME – interview

Introduce your band, and describe your latest release:

Hole in the Frame is a groove metal band from Southern Italy, formed in 2015 with a clear mission: to reject musical boundaries and embrace artistic freedom. Rather than being confined to a single genre, the band draws from a wide range of influences, forging a sound that is both aggressive and atmospheric. Their music blends crushing riffs, razor-sharp grooves, and haunting melodic passages, creating a dark and immersive sonic landscape that reflects the themes at the core of their identity. Lyrically, Hole in the Frame confronts the contradictions of modern society. The band denounces the contemporary capitalist system as a driving force behind environmental destruction, social inequality, intellectual exploitation, war, and the many forms of alienation that shape everyday life. Within this vision, the “Hole” becomes a symbol of escape, awareness, and self-reflection—an opening through which it is possible to break free from a reality that seems predetermined.

Our latest release, Human Disease, explores a psychological condition rather than a physical one. The album portrays an invisible virus infecting humanity: the relentless pursuit of self-serving power and ego. This metaphorical disease fuels conflict devastates the planet, and erodes collective consciousness, challenging listeners to question the mechanisms that govern both society and themselves.

Driven by uncompromising music and thought-provoking lyrics, Hole in the Frame delivers more than a metal performance—they offer an invitation to confront the world with open eyes and a critical mind.

What’s the hardest part about being a band this day and age?
Without a doubt, the biggest challenge for us is navigating the social media side of making music. We feel that the true essence of music has gradually been lost, as it has become more about image and appearance than about sound itself. Visual identity is certainly an important part of music, but for us, the beauty of the music has always mattered far more than its aesthetic presentation.

Another issue is that music has lost much of its cultural and artistic space. It has become increasingly difficult for bands to build a solid reputation, partly because the scene is so overcrowded. There are countless bands today, and in our opinion, not all of them bring something meaningful or genuine to the table. We also believe that music has lost much of its power as a vehicle for a message. The stage should be a place where ideas are shared—where music carries a message strong enough to inspire people and move them to think. Instead, we’re witnessing a growing culture of appearances, where image often takes precedence over the pursuit of a distinctive sound and the development of a genuine artistic identity.

In many ways, this is a consequence of the speed imposed by capitalism. The relentless pace of the modern music business leaves little room for artistic growth or careful craftsmanship. Bands are constantly under pressure to keep up, and that often results in music that feels rushed, with superficial arrangements lacking the passion and dedication that truly memorable records deserve.

When did you realize that your project had the potential to be much more than just a fun idea?

Quite simply! It’s the response we’ve received from our audience, who have supported us ever since our very first show. Just as importantly, it’s our passion for using music as a way to pursue our own search for truth.

Tell us about your latest release, why should we check it out?

Our latest release is the result of a journey that began several months ago, leading us to reflect deeply on the fundamental nature of human behavior. We wanted to imagine humanity as being trapped in a chronic illness. The lyrics carry a clear message of social criticism. That’s why you have to check it out!

In the song, we explore the idea of the human condition as a form of illness—not a physical disease, but a spiritual and existential one. We portray humanity as infected by an invisible virus made up of selfishness, violence, indifference, and self-serving choices that ultimately lead to our own destruction.

This illness is not an external force; it originates within each of us. It represents the loss of empathy and a collective delusion of omnipotence that fuels war, environmental destruction, social injustice, and a psychological disconnection from the reality we live in.

How does a song typically come together for you?

The process usually starts with an idea or topic introduced by our vocalist. From there, the song begins with the lyrics, which are then developed musically by our bassist, Nick Willy. Once that foundation is in place, the material is passed on to our guitarists, Steve Verr and Max Varane, who shape and complete the arrangement.

One of the most interesting aspects of our songwriting process is that most of us live in different cities, so creating a song involves a long exchange of ideas and constant collaboration from a distance. We’re grateful for the technology that allows us to work together and bring our music to life despite the distance.

Once the basic structure of the song is complete, we go through it together, refining every detail before handing it over to our drummer, who adds the final piece of the puzzle.

In the end, inspiration is never hard to find. All it takes is reading a newspaper or following the news to see how much is wrong with the society we live in. Those realities constantly fuel new ideas and new music.

How would you describe your sound to an unfamiliar reader?

We describe our sound as crossover groove metal. Our goal is to blend as many musical influences as possible within each song while always maintaining a strong, groove-driven rhythmic foundation. We’re heavily inspired by the metal scene of the 1990s, which paved the way for the kind of music we create today. Our songs often shift between dark, melodic arpeggios and crushing, groove-laden riffs in the spirit of Pantera, before opening into more melodic, memorable choruses with clear nu metal influences. That balance between heaviness, melody, and experimentation is what defines our sound.

What do you want listeners to take away listening to your band?

We want listeners to take away a piece of our passion, our hard work, and our identity. More than anything, we want to give a voice to those who don’t have one in today’s society.

We hope people walk away with our message of unity and the belief that change is possible. Above all, we want to encourage the pursuit of knowledge, because knowledge empowers people to question the world around them, challenge injustice, and build a better future.

We believe that only through awareness and critical thinking can we confront systems that have become deeply corrupted and driven by powerful interests.

Where would you really like to take tour that you haven’t done so yet, and why?

Honestly, for us, every place has something special to offer. If we had to choose, though, we’d love to tour Latin America. We’ve always felt that the fans there are incredibly passionate and welcoming, and we also believe it’s home to some truly amazing places to visit.

How would you say that sound of your band has progressed over the years?

The major shift in our sound began around 2020, when we were no longer satisfied with the rhythmic section and one member of the band. We felt we needed an upgrade.

I believe our sound truly started to evolve with the release of No Rest for Soulless. During that period, we had the opportunity to record at Alessandro Sportelli Recording Studio (Negazione, Linea 77, Raw Power, Prozac+), which allowed us to work closely with a professional deeply connected to the Italian punk rock scene of the ’80s.

That experience helped us grow a lot. The arranging and recording process was long and highly focused on finding a very specific sound. The following year, we also decided to add a second guitar to the lineup.

With the arrival of Max Varane, an experienced guitarist from our small Southern Italian scene, we were able to work much more effectively on the harmonic layers of our songs—thanks, my friend!

After that, we also began paying much closer attention to the visual side of our music. Our collaboration with video maker Andrea Arcaro (Arch Production) helped us develop an increasingly meticulous focus on the aesthetic dimension of our work.

How excited are you for 2026, and what can fans expect for you?

We are currently fully focused on writing our fifth album. Our latest release is the first single that will lead into the upcoming record. It will still take some time to complete the work, but we are working on it for you.

We will also be announcing several live shows in the coming days. Our fans can always expect the same energy and passion from us.

Stay connected on our social media channels and keep supporting us. Hole in the Frame will always lead you forward.

Thank you for everything and see you soon!