Introducing: Jumpscare

Italian band Jumpscare have concocted an epic heavy groove metal meets melodic death metal sound that they describe as “powerful, melodic and deep.” Indeed, the name Jumpscare was chosen as it draws inspiration from a cinematic technique to evoke strong emotions and psychological elements that play on anticipation, fear and curiosity.

The Napoli-based band was technically first started by drummer Graziano back in 2015, although the period between 2020 and 2023, like for many of us, was a strange one as they did very little during the pandemic. At the end of 2015, he recruited his brother Salvatore on bass and their lifelong friends Lorenzo and Vic. At this point, the band faced a conundrum – they wanted to create music inspired by Sepultura’s Roots era, but they only had one guitarist and a vocalist whose style was more reminiscent of Chester Bennington.

Members came and went, as Lorenzo decided to stop making music and Vic moved to Germany after getting married, but they onboarded lead guitarist Andrea and new vocalist Kirion, who allowed the dream to come to fruition. “For us, Jumpscare is about more than just music; it’s a deep connection and shared dream,” Graziano explained. “The friendships among band members strike a perfect balance between professionalism and camaraderie, which is key to our success and cohesion as a group.”

The band started composing original music just after Graziano turned 19, so it started out as a means of having fun but, at a certain point, he made the decision to start taking it seriously or disband entirely. As he says: “This choice was heavily influenced by my previous experiences with high school bands – both covers and originals – that either broke up or went on indefinite hiatus. These setbacks almost extinguished my desire to play drums, but my passion was reignited when I revisited one of my favorite bands: Sepultura.”

On the sound they’ve honed over the last 10 years, Graziano told us: “Jumpscare’s sound is best described as intense. We strive to combine technical, complex instrumental sections with emotional passages and epic atmospheres, creating an immersive sonic experience. Our songs explore deep themes such as psychology, inner darkness, and existential struggles, reflecting the emotional intensity that defines our music.

“As a band, we maintain a professional approach while also valuing collaboration and creativity. Every member contributes their unique skills, resulting in a well-polished sound and a strong stage presence. Our creative process is deeply collaborative; we build each song together, letting our emotions, colors, and feelings guide the music. This allows us to resonate on multiple levels with our audience.”

Our latest taste of this is Rise And Fall, which was released in September. It begins with dramatic synths and rolling drums that continue under wild screamed vocals and rolling drums in a powerful opening. The vocals intensify further as stabbing guitars creep in, then a big drum roll drops into heavy chugging chords and a soaring synth under more wild vocals. The pace drops a little in a moody section of heavy chords and synth, which explodes into a crushing section of heavy drums, piercing synths and crazed vocals. A big guitar solo kicks in, supported by more synths, setting up a huge dramatic section with brass creeping into the background. Huge screams tee up powerful driving riffs, before a typically heavy conclusion.

On the track, Graziano told us: “Rise and Fall is a powerful mix of crushing riffs, bone-crushing breakdowns, and haunting melodies, creating a deeply immersive modern death metal experience. We highly recommend giving it a listen! We’ve poured our hearts into blending melody, symphony, and power into a single track, aiming to deliver maximum energy and emotion.

“This track isn’t just a song – it’s the first chapter of a larger narrative that will unfold in our upcoming releases. The lyrics delve into the meaning of life and the transience of existence, inviting listeners to reflect on the balance between technological innovation and humanity’s primordial essence. The song’s central theme is a utopian vision of harmony between these two worlds.”

The Jumpscare members bring a diverse mix of musical influences to the table, with In Flames being a common thread for all of them. As the man driving the rhythm, Graziano draws on eclectic interests from Killswitch Engage to hard rock and punk rock. Kirion draws inspiration from deathcore bands like Chelsea Grin, Suicide Silence, Carnifex and Lorna Shore, Andrea is big into prog and death metal bands like Dream Theater, Death and Opeth, and Salvatore loves Iron Maiden and genres outside of metal.

And on what inspires them to write music, Graziano explains: “Lyrically, our music reflects an inner voice screaming against the modern world’s materialism and alienation. It’s not a quiet sigh or a piece of advice; it’s a visceral scream urging listeners to take control of their lives. Our themes often address humanity’s destructive impact on the Earth and on each other, highlighting the struggles of simply surviving in today’s world.

“Instrumentally, we are influenced by melodic death metal and early metalcore bands like In Flames, Dark Tranquillity, Soilwork, Heaven Shall Burn and Darkest Hour. We also incorporate elements of classic death, heavy, and symphonic/power metal, particularly in our use of orchestrations and keyboards. Each member also brings personal influences from beyond these genres, reflecting our diverse musical tastes.”

Rise And Fall follows on from a few live EPs but is the band’s first single release since their debut album Don’t Close Your Eyes in 2019. But there’s plenty more to come from the band, who are currently finalizing their second album, which was recorded and produced across three studios, the band’s headquarters Vault Lab Recordings, SDM Recording Studio with Seb Di Martino, and Divergent Studios with Simone Pietroforte, who’s been instrumental in shaping their new sound.

Beyond that, they’ll be releasing a series of music videos that visually complement the theme of the new album, exploring collaboration opportunities, planning gigs and a potential tour, and launching new merch. Intriguingly, they’re also considering a short documentary to share their journey, creative process and experiences as a band.

You can follow Jumpscare on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, and check out their music on Spotify, Bandcamp, Apple Music, Deezer and YouTube.