Interview With Flavio Lema From Ignis | “If You Need Artificial Intelligence To Make Art, It’s Because Your Natural Intelligence Has Run Out”
While preparing to publish this interview, I was tempted once again to listen to Ignis’ latest album, Inframundo, in its entirety. Partly to get in the mood, and partly to enjoy the great songs on the album again. To say it’s interesting is an understatement. Behind each song, there is a story and compositions that truly touch the hearts of all of us who love Metal. That’s why, ever since we came across Ignis, we felt that the band had to be featured here, and so Flavio Lema, a true Metal warrior, answered our questions…
First of all, I’d like you to tell us a little about the history of Ignis and how the band was formed…
“First of all, I want to thank you for the interview. The band started to form in December 2012. In August or September 2013, we had our first lineup, and on April 19, 2014, we played our first live show.”
Besides the latest album, “Inframundo,” what else has Ignis released so far? Can you summarize each of those releases for us?
“So far, we have released ”SONIDOS DESDE LA CRIPTA”, released in March 2015, which is an 8-song demo rehearsal. Then, at the end of that year, we released an EP called “VIAJEROS DEL TIEMPO,” with five tracks, three recorded live in the rehearsal room, and the other two are acoustic tracks recorded live on Lujan’s radio show “Que Sea Rock.” In 2018, we released our first studio album, called “IGNIS,” which contains nine tracks. In November 2020, we released an EP called “Pandemia 2020,” with three songs that were recorded remotely, each from our own homes, and in November 2024, we will release the album you mentioned, “INFRAMUNDO.”
Musically, how would you define Ignis? What musical influences do you have and how does that influence your songwriting?
“Our influence is the traditional Heavy Metal we grew up with (Judas Priest, Accept, Dio, Iron Maiden, Scorpions, Ozzy, etc.), and it is very present in our songwriting. Like those bands, we look for three essential points. First, a well-defined riff; second, a singable chorus; and third, a coherent song structure, knowing how to listen to what the song asks of you, not adding unnecessary parts. Let them be songs.”
In recent years, many new trends have emerged in metal, especially in terms of mixing genres, certain types of sound, etc. Is there anything “new” that appeals to you as an example or influence?
“Not really. I do like bands like Amorphis, which I think are really great, Therion, and Dream Theater. I also listen to a lot of progressive music, and I think that will indirectly appear in the compositions. In the past, I remember being greatly influenced by King Crimson from the era with Adrian Belew, who inspired me a lot to be able to create melodic lines without clinging to the base.”
Is there any musical or conceptual connection between Ignis and your previous projects?
“Sure, because one is an evolution of oneself. What I do believe is that Ignis is my most mature project musically speaking. I think the current lyrics are approached from a different angle and cover a wider range of topics.”
In fact, we noticed that there is a kind of conceptual connection between the different works and songs that Ignis has released, even on the covers. What is the overall message that Ignis conveys with its songs?
“Of course, we love that the covers have a connection or continuity, as was the case with the early albums by Genesis or Iron Maiden. With regard to the lyrics, as our songs are stories, it allows you to continue the story of one song in another song, as is the case with ”La Profecía“ from the first album and ”Renaceré” from the second, and there will surely be more parts, ha ha ha! I don’t know if there’s a specific message. They’re stories, many from a psychological perspective, like “Sintiendo El Temor,” which talks about panic attacks, “Solo En La Oscuridad” talks about generational loneliness when you are older and have no one to share experiences with, “Incubus” talks about sleep paralysis, and ‘Abandonado’ is based on the movie “El Secreto De Sus Ojos” (The Secret in Their Eyes) and what goes through the mind of the character at the end, from my perspective, ha ha ha!
I even think that Ignis’s message is “positive” in a way, or perhaps constructive, in times when everything seems confusing…
“Yes, maybe. The idea is that when you hear a song, it makes you think about the lyrics, or makes you curious. For example, there’s the song ”Jerusalem,“ which is about Saladin, or ”El Metal En Mi Corazón“, which is about part of my childhood, and young people came up to me and told me they had been trying to find out what ‘Halley’ and ”Cemento” were about. “Peleando Para Ganar,” which is inspired by a boxer, talks about fighting in the ring and fighting in life.”
How difficult is it nowadays for a band to record and release an album? Have you ever thought about releasing only in digital format? Or are you “cavemen” like us who still think that the physical format is what ultimately remains?
“It’s difficult to record and release material. But I think it’s also difficult for any underground band in the world. There are underground bands everywhere, but we only know the ones that send us their music, and we think they all sound like that and reach the rest of the world. I’m not against the digital format, but I wouldn’t want to release only in that format. I still believe in the physical format, with all the sound advantages and the magic of the cover art, etc.”
What is your opinion on the use of AI in music and production in general?
“If you need artificial intelligence to make art, it’s because your natural intelligence has run out.”
When you look at the Metal scene in Argentina, you notice that there are countless visits from international bands. In relation to Argentine bands, how do you see the scene here in the country? Does this situation help in any way?
“The national scene is very rich. It’s also very undervalued, with the exception of maybe five bands. But then no one takes them into account. We have several types of audiences. Those who only listen to foreign bands, those who also listen to national bands but only the well-known ones, and those who listen to underground bands, which is a minority in relation to the number of bands there are. Does the arrival of so many foreign bands have an impact? If in the 70s and 80s the bands of that time had come to Argentina as they do today, there would have been no El Reloj, Vox Dei, Charly Garcia, Riff, V8, Rata Blanca, Soda Stereo, Virus, Los Redonditos, etc, etc.”
Leaving aside religion itself, what do you think about God and what do you believe happens after death?
“I believe in the universe and I believe that when we die we become energy.”
What are your plans for 2026?
“On December 8, 2025, we recorded a live session of five songs from “Inframundo”. We’ve been uploading one song per month. We’ve already uploaded two that can be seen on YouTube, “Despertar” and “Abandonado”. On May 9, we will play at “Pana Rock,” Mariano Acosta 13, Floresta, CABA, and on August 22, we will also play at the same venue at the “Un Mandato Divino” festival. We will see what the future holds, as it is a complex year precisely because of the number of bands that are coming.”
Thank you for your time in this interview, and I’ll leave you the last space for whatever you want to say…
“Thank you very much, Gustavo, for your time, for considering us, and I also thank you who are reading this interview. I hope that in the future people will start to get rid of their prejudices against underground bands and give them more opportunities. Well, I send a big hug to all our friends at DELOTROLADOMETAL!!!”
Metal, in general, is underground. That’s what it’s all about, and Ignis is part of Heavy Metal and, by extension, also part of the underground scene. Supporting an underground band is much more than just listening to a band or an album; it’s also being part of the Heavy Metal scene. Ignis has its qualities, its sound, and a respect for the most traditional aspects of metal. Its strength and vitality are evident in its songs, which is why we recommend following the band closely. To that end, we leave you with Ignis’s contact information and, finally, a great version of “Despertar” from “Live Session 2026” that the band has posted on its social media…
https://www.instagram.com/ignisheavymetal
https://www.youtube.com/@ignisheavymetal4472
https://www.facebook.com/groups/288328942424978
