Mente//Anima: Inside the Emotional Core of What I Know Well

Mente//Anima: Inside the Emotional Core of What I Know Well

Rimini, Italy’s What I Know Well are carving out a bold new space in the modern metalcore landscape — one built on emotional honesty, conceptual depth, and a fierce commitment to artistic identity. What began as vocalist/producer Andrea Pacifero’s solo project has evolved into a fully realized band, completed by Lorenzo Fabbri on lead guitar, Mattia Bertineschi on rhythm guitar, Alfonso Travez on bass, and Flavio Biagini on drums. Together, they’ve created Mente//Anima, a concept album that dives deep into consciousness, trauma, and transformation — all delivered through the intensity of Italian‑language metal.

Highwire Daze sat down with the band to talk about their origins, the meaning behind their new record, opening for Escape the Fate, and their dreams for the future.

Let’s start by having each of you introduce yourselves and tell me what you do in the band.
Andrea Pacifero: I’m Andrea, the singer and producer of What I Know Well. I also manage most of the band’s operations.

Lorenzo Fabbri: I’m Lorenzo, the lead guitarist.

Flavio Biagini: My name is Flavio, and I’m the drummer.

Mattia Bertineschi: I play rhythm guitar.

Where are you guys based, and what is your local music scene like?
Andrea: The project originally started as my solo project, with influences from pop‑punk, rock, and emo rap around 2020. Over time, we met through various live shows and venues. We connected creatively, started playing together, and eventually decided to continue under the same concept — but as a full band. That’s how What I Know Well was born. We’re based in Rimini, Italy.

Your new album is called Mente//Anima. Is there a story or concept behind the title?
Andrea: Yes. Mente//Anima is a concept album that explores everything hidden inside a human being — a journey through consciousness, the mind, and the soul. Each song connects to this theme through its lyrics and meaning, forming a complete emotional and introspective trip.

Let’s talk about a few of the songs. The first track, Attacchi di Panico — tell me about the inspiration behind it.
Andrea: We wanted an intro track that set the atmosphere for the album, so we built it with ambient pads, piano, and vocals. The lyrics speak for themselves — the song is about experiencing a panic attack, capturing that physical and emotional moment. It felt like the right way to open the album’s journey.

Let’s move on to the second song, Crisalide. Tell me about that one.
Andrea: The song talks about growing up as a child or young adult while dealing with problems at home or in your environment — situations that don’t match your energy or your emotional needs. You carry those experiences with you, and they leave scars. When I wrote it, the first image that came to mind was a black chrysalis — something fragile, dark, and transformative. It represents feeling alone while growing up with all those problems around you.

And the last song on the album, Deus Ex — what inspired that one?
Andrea: Deus Ex reflects the moment we’re living in right now, historically and socially. There’s political corruption, war, injustice — things like the Epstein files, global conflicts, and the suffering of children. It feels like humanity is in a very dark chapter. I wrote Deus Ex as a reaction to that. It’s about people rising together, united, to confront the “enemy” — the systems, politics, and destructive forces shaping this moment in history. It’s a call for collective strength.

Let’s shift away from the songs and talk about the band itself. You recently opened for Escape the Fate. How did that show go, and what were some of the highlights?
Andrea: The show was amazing. Escape the Fate is one of the bands that helped build the emo scene in 2007–2008 with albums like Dying Is Your Latest Fashion. I’m a huge fan of that era, and the whole band feels the same. They were incredibly kind. We talked backstage, and the energy from the crowd was great. Everything about the night felt right — it was a really special moment for us.

Lorenzo, what did you think of the show?
Lorenzo: Honestly, it was the most important show of my life. Opening for a world‑famous band felt overwhelming — almost like a small panic attack — because all those people were there for Escape the Fate, and suddenly they were listening to us. It was a huge opportunity to show who we are and what we can offer. It was both physically and mentally intense, but unforgettable. I struggled with the pressure, but I’m grateful for the experience. It’s something I’ll never forget.

Yeah, those guys are great. 
Lorenzo: They really are. Super kind, very encouraging. They came to us, greeted us, and supported us. You don’t always expect that from a band that famous, so it was a really nice surprise.

Mattia, for people who haven’t seen your band yet, what can someone expect from a What I Know Well show?
Mattia: We try to bring our entire concept — our look, our words, our emotions — directly to the audience, especially to those who relate to the sensations we talk about in our songs. When someone comes to see us live, we want them to feel at home. We give everything we have to power up the show and make sure the energy carries through every song.

And Flavio, same question — what can someone expect from one of your live shows?
Flavio: Our biggest difference from other bands in our subgenre is the level of energy we bring. We put our whole heart into the performance — very Italian of us — and people can feel that. We always try to reach our maximum potential at every show, and we work hard to improve every time. I think the audience can see the effort and passion we put into it.

This question is for everyone: If What I Know Well could open for any band — either now or from the past — who would it be and why?
Lorenzo: I think the answer most people would expect is Bring Me the Horizon. In every era of their career, they’ve been a beacon for us and for metalcore fans in general. Personally, if I could choose a band and a specific era, I’d pick Architects during their Lost Forever // Lost Together period. That album carried me through my adolescence, and they’ll always be one of my all‑time favorites.

Mattia: I agree with Lorenzo — Bring Me the Horizon would be the biggest band we could open for right now. But personally, even though our subgenre doesn’t match theirs, I would choose Slipknot. They’re the band that introduced me to metal and heavy music. Their lyrics, their stage presence, their recordings — everything about them shaped my understanding of what a powerful concept can be. So that would be my dream choice.

Flavio: I agree with the band — we’ve always been huge fans of Bring Me the Horizon. My old band actually opened for them about fifteen years ago during the Count Your Blessings era, so I’ve already had that experience once. I’ll always be a fan of that early deathcore period. But as they’ve grown and started producing massive shows with visuals and effects, I’d love the chance to play with them again someday. So my answer is still Bring Me the Horizon.

And what was the name of your old band?
Flavio: It was called A Virgin Burial.

Andrea, let’s bring you back in — what band would you choose?
Andrea: I agree with the band about Bring Me the Horizon. They give off the same vibe we want to bring to the stage, so it makes sense. But personally, I’d love to open for Ozzy Osbourne. I’m a huge fan of heavy metal — Zakk Wylde, Dimebag Darrell, Pantera — that whole world shaped me growing up. I also love Falling in Reverse, and of course Escape the Fate was one of my favorite bands during the Dying Is Your Latest Fashion era. So those would be my choices.

Have you ever been to the States to play shows, or is that something you’d like to do?
I’ve never been, but visiting the USA is one of my dreams.

Well, let’s cross our fingers. I’m in Los Angeles — we’ve got a lot of great venues out here.
Andrea: That would be incredible. I’d love to be in Los Angeles.

You have a new album out — what are your plans for the rest of the year and into next year?
Andrea: Our main goal is to let the album reach real fans. That means doing all the marketing work — posting reels, promoting the songs, staying active online. It’s the annoying part, but it’s necessary. We’re also writing new material. We already have a concept for the next album, which we hope to release next year. So we’ll keep creating, keep improving, and keep doing what we do.

And for the last question — do you have any messages for U.S. fans who may be discovering you for the first time?
Flavio: If you like our music, we can always make songs in English someday — but…

I actually love that your music is in Italian. I think it’s really cool.
Andrea: You like it even though it’s Italian? I’m curious — how does the album feel to you if you don’t know the words?

Music is the universal language. You can feel the intensity of what you’re singing, even without understanding every lyric. And honestly, in a lot of bands, you can’t understand the words anyway — even when they’re singing in English.
Andrea: That’s true — good point.

Flavio: Right.

Lorenzo: Italian metal is coming, baby.

Yes — and it’s not just power metal anymore.
Andrea: We’d love to make an English version of an album someday. That would be really exciting.

In Conclusion

What I Know Well are part of a new wave of Italian heavy music — one that blends emotional depth, conceptual storytelling, and raw intensity. Their commitment to authenticity, their willingness to explore difficult themes, and their passion for performance make them a band to watch closely.

With Mente//Anima, they’ve delivered a powerful statement. And with new music already in the works, What I Know Well are just getting started.

(Interview by Ken Morton)

What I Know Well on Instagram