Fantasy to Fearless – A Q&A with Thalìa Bellazecca

Byline: Ayeshah ‘Ice’ Somani

You’ve built a name for yourself in the metal world by crafting riffs that feel like chapters of a story, first with Frozen Crown and then with Angus McSix, where your stage persona as “Amazon Queen Thalestris” embodied a mythical, larger-than-life hero. Now, stepping into Primal Fear,a band known for tackling real-world struggles and socially conscious themes,you’re merging two seemingly different worlds: the epic storytelling of fantasy metal and the grounded intensity of power metal. Let’s dig into that transition, your creative evolution, and how you’re redefining your voice within Primal Fear’s legacy.

Q: When you think about your time in Angus McSix, you were telling a story through a persona. Do you see any connection between that kind of narrative and Primal Fear’s message-driven songs like “Cancel Culture” or “Another Hero”?

A: Actually I don’t see that much of a connection between these two kinds of narratives because Angus McSix is really all into the fantasy world, so speaking about goblins, princesses and so on. Primal Fear talks more about real problems in life like cancel culture, as the name of the songs says, the chaos that grew up during the last years between people and governments and so on. They are two different worlds. 

Q: Do you think storytelling in metal always needs a “character” or “world,” or can heavy social commentary carry the same narrative weight as a fantasy epic?

A: Heavy social commentary don’t need a “character” or a “world”. Primal Fear is a great example as well as other bands as Megadeth, Limp Bizkit and so on. Personally I feel like that facing these issues and heavy problems in this way, it’s way more powerful and direct than using a fantasy world for explaining them. The fantasy world is really helpful for “kind of escaping” these problems. 

Q: Have you found ways to channel your “Thalestris” energy or that theatrical side of yourself into Primal Fear’s music, or is this a complete reinvention for you?

A: It’s neither a reinvention or “Thalestris” energy for me because that energy is just me. It’s just how I am in my life, on stage or when I write solos.   

Q: How has your guitar phrasing or solo writing evolved since joining Primal Fear? Do you find yourself leaning into darker tones or heavier riffs to match the band’s lyrical weight?

A: My guitar phrasing has definitely got better with Primal Fear cause I get to work with Magnus, a great and precise guitarist that has the best character and totally knows how to help to get out the best of you. I was always into these darker tones cause I come from a big thrash and heavy metal background. It took a bit of time for understanding and learning the language of the band, but I definitely melted very well with it and I can just get better and better. 

Q: Are there specific songs in Primal Fear’s catalog where you thought, “This is a completely different headspace than what I’ve done before,” and how did you adapt?

A: I didn’t find any songs so far from Primal Fear where I thought that. They’re a big great mix of styles and languages that I grew up with and that I always played and still play. 

Q: Do you approach writing or playing differently when the subject matter is socially conscious or philosophical rather than mythic or fantastical? How do you translate that difference into the way you play?

A: I approach the writing in a different way depending on the subject of course. For me it’s all about the mindset and how close you feel regarding a topic, band style and so on. The closer you feel, the better and easiest it is for writing and playing songs of a band. 

Q: Joining a band like Primal Fear, with such a strong legacy and defined voice, can be intimidating. How do you balance respecting the band’s history while also bringing your own unique identity and style into the mix?

A: I balance it with just being myself. Being nice, respectful and doing the best as you can is the perfect mix for doing this. Pressuring or forcing yourself at being something or someone that you’re not will never work. 

Q: Have the themes of their songs,freedom, resistance, speaking truth,challenged you to express something deeper or more personal through your instrument than before?

A: Actually no because I was waiting for this moment since years. I always wanted to talk about these themes and play songs that were showcasing them. I feel really close to these themes because I got closer to them since my teenager years. 

Q: Was there a particular moment or rehearsal where you felt like, “Okay, I belong here, this is my voice with this band now”?

A: It happened as soon as I heard the master of this upcoming album. Hearing myself and my solos in between the work of these great musicians felt out of this world. I was so excited and proud of the work of everybody and I’ll always be grateful for this opportunity and for the freedom of letting me put my voice in this record as well. 

Q: As someone who comes from a strong narrative background in music, how do you define “storytelling” as a guitarist when the lyrics are dealing with heavier, real-world topics?

A: As a guitarist, I think it’s a bit harder to work on the storytelling and I’m saying this without ever trying to write some lyrics. It’s harder, but way more satisfying and powerful once you reached your goal. Once you read the lyrics and you feel that you achieved that purpose, the feeling is great and I can’t even imagine or describe how it is singing it live.

Q: Do you see a guitar solo as a kind of “voice” that can comment on the theme of a song the way lyrics do? How do you decide what that voice should sound like?

A: I always saw solos as the voice of the instruments that are part of the band, as the lyrics and the voice are for singers. I decide how the voice of my solos should be by diving into the entire song, understanding the mood and vibes of it and trying to create something that would melt in the proper way. 

Q: Have you ever considered that your transition to Primal Fear might represent your own personal narrative arc,like moving from fantasy to something more reflective and grounded?

A: Yes definitely, because that’s where I always wanted to be and what I always wanted to play and being recognized for. I’m personally a really reflective and grounded person and being able to be part of a band that has the same characteristics couldn’t be the best for me. 

Q: Primal Fear’s upcoming album Domination is your first recorded chapter with the band. How did you approach contributing to an album that deals with intense and socially reflective themes?

A: I was and always be happy of seeing my name and my face on this album. I’m even more proud and grateful to hear my solos in this upcoming album because for the first time I got to contribute in a record in almost every song and not just writing one solo in a full album. I feel really close to this upcoming record because I’m from another generation and all these intense and socially reflective themes are a true reality for me as well. I tried to put my feelings regarding these themes into my solos and I hope you can hear them as I do. 

Q: What do you hope fans take away from seeing you in this new role,both longtime Primal Fear fans and those who’ve followed you from your previous bands?

A: I hope they will appreciate my work on the new album and my stage performances as well, especially for new fans that just got to know me. I really hope that they will understand and appreciate the fact that finally I get to use my actual skills on the guitar and that I have pure natural fun on stage with my new band members.