Sathanas
Sathanas is a cult old
school black metal act that released a while ago their 7th opus under the
very suitable title "Entering The Diabolic Trinity". So, we thought it
would be nice to ask and learn some more things about this very interesting
band. The answers were provided by the band's mainman, vocalist and guitarist,
Paul Tucker
1. HELLO! ARE YOU CONTENT WITH THE FINAL RESULT
OF “ENTERING THE DIABOLIC TRINITY” OR IS THERE ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE TO CHANGE?
No. We are very pleased with the results of
the Entering recording. It’s very raw and not overproduced. Just
the way we wanted to capture Sathanas in the studio.
2. PLEASE GIVE US A SHORT BAND BIO BY POINTING
OUT THE MOST IMPORTANT MOMENTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE BAND SO FAR. PRESENT
THE CURRENT LINE UP AS WELL.
Sathanas formed in 88, releasing a cult demo
Ripping evil which contained a known underground song Jaws of Satan. Diehards
will know of that. Shortly after parting ways and forming another band
called BATHYM. That also had problems. So, I reformed Sathanas in 94, releasing
CDs on Supernal music, Drakkar prod, Blackmetal.com, From beyond prod,
and now our new one on Pulverised records. Our line up now is Paul
Tucker - vocals, guitars, Bill Davidson - bass, vocals and Jim Strauss
- drums.
3. SATHANAS EXISTS ALMOST 20 YEARS, HOWEVER YOU
ARE ONE OF THOSE “MISFORTUNED” BANDS THAT DESPITE THE FACT THAT YOU HAD
GREAT MUSIC, YOU WERE CONFRONTED WITH MANY OBSTACLES THAT DIDN’T ALLOW
YOU TO BECOME BETTER KNOWN. PLEASE COMMENT ON THAT… WHAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE
HAVE YOU EARNED THROUGH ALL THIS?
Haha!!! Well labels was our downfall. So,
I would say try to find solid label instead of relying on smaller
ones to promote or release your music. It’s a rool of the dice either way,
because there are some small labels that do very well. In all honesty
even if the labels would have done well for us in the early years, I don’t
think it would have mattered only because my line up was never that solid
until now.
4. YOU PLAY PRIMITIVE AND OLD FASHIONED BLACK
METAL AS IT WAS CARVED BACK IN THE 80S. SO COULD YOU MENTION SOME OF YOUR
MOST BELOVED BANDS AND ALBUMS THAT HAVE MADE YOU REALIZE THIS IS THE KIND
OF MUSIC YOU WANTED TO PLAY?
Yes, bands like Venom, Celtic Frost, Possessed,
Sacrifice, Sodom, Bathory, Destruction, Mercyful Fate and more, but this
is what did it for me. And I still listen to these fuckers!!!!
5. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE CONTEMPORARY BLACK
METAL SCENE? ARE THERE ANY BANDS YOU FIND INTERESTING AND YOU THINK DESERVE
OUR ATTENTION?
There are so many bands these days. I can’t
even keep up. As far as Black metal bands, I listen to Enthroned,
Dark Funeral, Marduk, and some American bands like Harvist, Black Trinity,
but there are a lot of good bands I see and hear every day.
6. OK! NOWADAYS THERE ARE MANY ALBUMS RELEASED
EACH MONTH, SO GIVE US REASONS WHY WE SHOULD CHECK OUT AND SUPPORT YOU
INSTEAD OF ANOTHER BAND.
Because Sathanas is one of the most original
black/death bands in the world, when listening to the CD you can hear Sathanas
holds Black metal, death and thrash in one, with no wimpy keyboards. Sathanas
believe in old school guitar in the face!!!
7. CONTINUING THE PREVIOUS QUESTION, I’D LIKE
YOU TO TELL ME WHAT’S THE BEST AND WHAT’S THE WORST PART OF YOUR MUSIC,
ACCORDING TO YOU.
I would say our previous studio recordings
were the worst. Not very satisfied up until Entering that was like Sathanas
being reborn.
8. WHAT I LIKED IN “ENTERING THE DIABOLIC TRINITY”
IS THAT YOU HAVE A PURE OLD SCHOOL SOUND WITH A DIABOLIC AND MORBID SCENT.
A THING THAT REVEALS THAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN DELIVERING MUSIC YOU ENJOY
FIRST AND FOREMOST. DO YOU BELIEVE THERE ARE STILL MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE
THAT STILL DIG THIS MUSIC?
Yes, I think people will eat this shit up!!!!!
I would. Haha!!!!
9. WOULD YOU EVER CONSIDER OF ADDING DIFFERENT
ELEMENTS OR EXPERIMENTING WITH YOUR SOUND? IF YES, WHICH ARE THOSE ELEMENTS
YOU’D LIKE TO ADD?
None that I can think of. We had a couple
of keyboard intros on our CDs. I think anything else would take away from
the music.
10. “ENTERING THE DIABOLIC TRINITY” IS YOUR SIXTH
STUDIO RELEASE IF I AM NOT MISTAKEN. SO PLEASE GIVE US SOME INFO ON IT
AND ITS RECORDING SESSIONS. COULD YOU ALSO PINPOINT THE MAIN SIMILARITIES
AND DIFFERENCES WITH YOUR PREVIOUS RELEASES? IN WHICH WAYS HAVE YOU EVOLVED,
MUSICALLY SPEAKING?
Entering is the 7th release. We have a mcd
on Agonia prod. that should be out soon. Also a recording we did back in
2001 called Hex Nefarious that death to mankind will be releasing this
year. Entering is more towards our “Armies of Charon” CD I think. I'm trying
to make our CDs more old school style with some new curves here and there.
Hope our fans will like it. “Armies of Charon” has some good reviews.
Hope this will do the same.
11. WHICH ARE THE TOPICS THAT INTRIGUE YOU TO
WRITE ABOUT? WHICH ARE YOUR SOURCES OF INSPIRATION? DO YOU THINK BLACK
METAL SHOULD ONLY HAVE EXTREME AND BLASPHEMOUS LYRICS OR CAN IT BE “COMBINED”
WITH OTHER ISSUES AS WELL?
I mostly write about evil and blasphemous
subjects due to our band being a Black death band. I try to keep it basic
and to the point. I can’t stand bands that have lyrics a mile long that
sing about trees and mountains etc. With SATHANAS you know what you are
getting in that CD. Fucking evil lyrics and fucking heavy music period!
12. I THINK THAT THE COVER ARTWORK IS VERY NICE!
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IT? COULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT IT SHOWS AND MEANS TO
THE READERS THAT HAVEN’T HAD THE CHANCE TO SEE YOUR CD YET?
Jaun Castelano did the cover, he is an artist
from Spain. He also did the second Vomitory CD cover. Excellent artist!!
The cover has ice blue landscape with cliffs, wolves stalking up the sides,
while demons raise their swords to the dark wizards as they lower the holy
into the pit. Have to see it!!!!!
13. I SEE THAT YOU USE WOLVES QUITE A LOT. WHY?
DON’T YOU THINK WE ARE A BIT UNFAIR TO THEM? THEY AREN’T AS MEAN AS MOST
STORIES OR PEOPLE BELIEVE TO BE… WHAT DO YOU THINK?
No. Wolves are a very dark force and most
people look at the wolf as part demon. We didn’t use wolves on any other
cover. Thought it would be different on this. They make the cover look
great. Hey these are Satan’s wolves.. Nothing unfair. They are searching
for blood!!!!!
14. WHAT KIND OF FEEDBACK HAVE YOU RECEIVED THIS
FAR? WHAT WAS THE MOST FLATTERING AND WHAT THE WORST COMMENT YOU’VE READ?
This CD has got the best feedback than any
other CD. Most comments are that finally a Black metal style band that
you can hear guitars and have rhythm changes. Reviews has been very positive...
We are already working on new material for the next opus!
15. DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS FOR LIVE SHOWS? WHAT
SHOULD THOSE ATTENDING YOUR SHOWS EXPECT TO SEE?
We are having CD release arty in a couple
of days. Then doing some shows. When seeing Sathanas show, you will see
headbanging gauntlet wearing and METAL through your veins!!!! We plan on
European shows also, watch site for info.
16. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF THERE WAS NO MUSIC IN
THE WORLD? HOW AND WHERE WOULD YOU CHANNEL ALL YOUR CREATIVE ENERGY?
I would probably do art. Maybe tattoos? Professional
drinker!!!
17. IF YOUR MUSIC WERE AN EMOTION, WHAT WOULD
IT BE? IF IT WERE A PAINTING, WHAT WOULD IT SHOW?
18. WHAT TITLE WOULD YOU LIKE THIS INTERVIEW TO
HAVE? A TITLE THAT WOULD SUM UP THE WHOLE SATHANAS ESSENCE?
Entering the realm of SATHANAS!
19. THANK YOU! LEAVE A MESSAGE TO ALL THE METALLERS…
Thanx to all the Sathanas fans!!! Get the
new CD “Entering the diabolic trinity”, checkout site for shows etc, also
new merch out. Get it!! Wear it!!!!! www.sathanas.net
Christine Parastatidou
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