From Tallinn to the sonic cosmos of modern metal, Pridian are set to make their mark with “Venetian Dark”, a bold new album where intensity, melancholy, and sci-fi ambition collide. Blending introspective lyrics, immersive soundscapes, and striking visual elements, the Estonian band emerges more cohesive, collaborative, and daring than ever before. In this exclusive interview with Metal Imperium, Pridian open the door to the multifaceted world of “Venetian Dark”, revealing its meanings, inspirations, and creative challenges.
M.I. - The title Venetian Dark is evocative—what does it signify in the context of the album’s themes or atmosphere?
The album title “Venetian Dark” was inspired by a fairly common paint color - venetian red and slowly emerged into its final form with the overall themes of the album after we used it as a working title for the first single “Near Dark”. Inspired by this phrase, our vocalist Laur connected with the title and the name clicked in his head on so many levels. It had this kind of grandiose vibe to it, fitting perfectly with the sci-fi design in mind, so we decided to use it as the album name instead. Deep blue is a dynamic and dramatic color, often symbolizing calm and serenity, mourning, depth, and mystery.
M.I. - Did Venetian art, history, or architecture inspire any of the lyrics or visuals for this album? Were there any non-musical inspirations (films, literature, visual art) that played a role in shaping the album’s atmosphere?
On a metaphoric level - Venice itself holds a profound history of resilience – falling and being reborn many times. Ingeniously built atop a lagoon to thrive amidst water, the city continuously battles the forces of nature: sinking foundations and encroaching tides. Despite being slowly devoured by the sea, its people persist in preserving its beauty, culture, and history.
M.I. - Is there a central concept or narrative thread that runs through Venetian Dark, or are the songs more standalone in nature?
The album tells the story of a journey through darkness and despair toward a new state of being – a possible transformation or rebirth. The lyrics explore themes of identity, existential questioning, spiritual desolation, and the relentless search for meaning in a world seemingly void of hope. At its core, the album reflects a yearning for connection and resolution, even in the face of inevitable destruction.
M.I. - How did the songwriting and recording process for Venetian Dark differ from your previous work?
“Venetian Dark” has so much from all four of us. It is the most collaborative and introspective thing we’ve made this far. I believe our process will continue to move much further in this direction - I think we are still actively discovering our strengths & weaknesses, every next song has led us closer to trusting ourselves and each other more because that’s how you stumble upon something unique. Trust the feeling you have when making the song. I feel like previously we were looking for the right answer or following an equation, but it didn’t feel like that with this one. Even when the ideas didn’t click immediately, we had trust that they would eventually.
M.I. - Your sound blends elements of industrial, extreme metal, and even ambient textures. Who or what influenced the sonic direction of Venetian Dark?
The sound of this album came from a mix of all our different musical tastes and influences, all clashing and blending as we tried to understand each other - not just musically, but as people. Everything we've been through shaped the meaning behind every lyric, riff, and drum part. Some songs really pushed us to explore places we hadn’t gone before, which makes the whole thing feel fresh and unpredictable. You can definitely tell we come from different backgrounds and walks of life, but we’ve all found a sense of home in heavy music. Most of the songs are still very much metal, but they’re not afraid to step outside the usual boundaries and dive into whatever emotions or ideas felt right in the moment.
M.I. - Do you see this album as a turning point in your sound or identity as a band?
We feel like we are only starting to find our “sound”, whatever that may be. We will most likely not settle on a very specific emotion or vibe with Pridian, but will try to keep it constantly searching for new ways to make it stand out. Metal music will still be our “home”, but everything else attached to it will be in constant flux. After all, complacency is the enemy of progress.
M.I. - The artwork for Venetian Dark is striking—who created it, and how does it reflect the music inside? How important is the visual side of Pridian—videos, artwork, stage design—in communicating your artistic vision?While Venetian Dark isn’t a traditional concept album, it naturally evolved into something surprisingly interconnected. Laur managed to weave the lyrics and visuals into a cohesive world—one that might not be fully apparent to everyone yet, but it makes complete sense in his head. There's a subtle yet intentional thread of world-building running through the songs.
The music and visuals are layered with meaning, easter eggs, and callbacks. Some lyrics reference earlier tracks—reaching as far back as our Cybergnosis EP—while others foreshadow moments later in the Venetian Dark album. We're playing with time—past, present, and future—and if you pay close attention to the tone, imagery, and language, you’ll start to piece together where each element fits within the timeline.
It’s a puzzle designed for those who enjoy diving deeper, but it’s definitely not meant to feel like homework. You can simply enjoy the music on its own without missing anything essential. The layers are just something extra for those who want to explore further.
That same sense of cosmic ambition extends into the artwork. It ties the album title, Venetian Dark, with our shared love for sci-fi aesthetics. We set out to create something that felt like a sci-fi movie soundtrack viny. Now that we can look at the physical cover and hold the blue translucent marbled vinyl in our hands, it feels like you're gripping the edge of a wormhole, it feels like we achieved our goal.
Bringing that vision to life was a journey in itself. We spent a long time searching for the right artist - someone who could truly capture the feel we had in mind. Nothing clicked until we came across Sanse.Studio on Instagram. The moment we saw his work, we knew: “This is the guy!” When we received the first draft of the artwork, the response from everyone was immediate: “Oh wow, this is great.” We explored a few alternate takes, but ultimately returned to the original version. Sometimes you just have to trust your instincts. It was a home run on the first try, with only a few minor tweaks needed to finish it off.
M.I. - How has being an Estonian band shaped your musical identity, especially now that you're releasing music through Century Media? Do you think there’s a uniquely Baltic or Eastern European perspective that you bring to the metal scene globally?
Living in Estonia - on the very edge of western civilization and culture - has definitely shaped some of the mood and emotion on the album, both lyrically and musically. There is always a lingering feeling that things could at any moment turn for the worse, as we did see in 2022. While we try to stay away from politics, it still influences our decisions in our art in certain ways, even if subconsciously.
M.I. - What are your plans for touring or presenting Venetian Dark live? Are there elements of the album you’re especially excited (or nervous) to translate to the stage?
We're super excited to play Venetian Dark in full for the first time, along with some fan favorites from our Cybergnosis EP, on May 23rd in our hometown Tallinn. It’s our album release show, happening at the Kinomaja venue in the heart of the Old Town. We’ll be joined by two amazing local acts - Rainer Ild and Bloodfeather - so be sure to check them out too!
Just a couple of weeks later, on June 5th, we’re heading to Poland to play Mystic Festival. This will be our third time playing an international festival - after Euroblast in Cologne last summer and Techfest in Helsinki. We can’t wait to meet new people, share our music, and just soak it all in.
We’ve also got a few summer shows lined up here at home, including Hard Rock Laager and Käbliku Beer & Camp, plus we’re really looking forward to Rocktagons Festival in Latvia.
You can find all the details about our shows on our socials - hope to see you out there!
M.I. - With Venetian Dark about to drop, what do you hope listeners feel or take away from the experience of hearing it in full?
We hope this album resonates with you in your own unique way. If the lyrics speak to you, we'd love to hear how they’ve impacted you. And if you're here for the heavy riffs or the ambient, chilled-out moments—there's plenty of that too. These songs can reveal something new each time you listen. The most important thing is to keep an open mind and just let the music speak.
M.I. - Many thanks for your time. Care to share a final message with our readers?
We are very grateful for the opportunities we are facing as a band right now. Coming from a small country and music scene like Estonia, it never even crossed our minds that our little band could break out beyond its borders. Music has always been a passionate hobby for us, and we've always poured everything into it. Now, it feels like those efforts are beginning to take us somewhere beyond what we ever imagined. That’s all thanks to our incredible crew, fans, listeners, Century Media Records, and everyone who’s supported us—it means the world. If you ever see a chance to support your favorite artists and musicians, do it. Thank you.
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Questions by Sónia Fonseca
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