Thou
Art Lord
Thou Art Lord is one of
the best and well known extreme metal bands in Greece. A few months ago
they released a simple and yet great album. So, I had the chance to have
a very nice chat with George Zaharopoulos, who was kind enough to inform
us on the band's plans and on how things are, concerning the metal scene
and how the Greek metal bands are treated abroad. Surely an interview that
no one should miss!!!
1.WHAT HAPPENED WITH JOHN SEFTELI AND HE DECIDED
TO LEAVE THE BAND?
I don't have anything new or more to add to
this. We had musical differences on how Thou Art Lord's sound should evolve...
As for now, me and Sakis do all the work concerning the band, including
the vocals. John sometimes does some guest vocals, but nothing is planned.
He passes outside the studio, where we record, he gets in and asks us whether
he could contribute and that's all!
2.WHY HAVE YOU STOPPED THOU ART LORD IN 1997?
We didn't have any time! Besides, labels were't
so interested in us, Sakis wanted to work on a more professional basis
with Rotting Christ and I was into stuff that took up most of my time,
so there was no free time to dedicate to Thou Art Lord.
3.YOUR NEW ALBUM IS GOOD, ALTHOUGH IT'S QUITE
SIMPLE. MY ONLY OBJECTION IS ON THE THRASH METAL PARTS, WHERE I FELT THAT
THERE WAS SOMETHING MISSING...
Look! This is how we wanted to do it in the
first place. We returned to the basics. We avoided writing more complicated
guitar works, whenever we could. We wanted this album to have a live feeling,
to be pure and in your face!
4.THE TRUTH IS THAT YOU HAVE MANAGED TO MAINTAIN,
FROM YOUR VERY FIRST CD UP TO NOW, A BASIC SOUND CORE THAT SETS YOUR MUSIC
APART...
This is true! Our basic style is obvious in
this work too. After all the songwriting is done by me and Sakis and we
can't escape from our influences and our own composing style... Unless
we suddenly started playing nu-metal, but I'm sure that you'd find something
from our personal style there too.
5.BY THE WAY SINCE YOU MENTIONED IT EARLIER, IS
THERE A CHANCE YOU MIGHT PLAY LIVE? (Laughter)
Sakis insists on that issue a lot and tries
to persuade me... Hahaha! But I can't say anything in specific yet. Nothing
final!
6.WHAT'S GOING ON WITH NECROMANTIA?
We're planning to release our new album at
the end of this year, but we work on slower and more relaxed rhythms with
this band.
7.YOU ENTERED A STABLE ALBUM-PRODUCTION RHYTHM
WITH THOU ART LORD...
Don't say that! We still don't know whether
we are going to release another album or not... For example our new album's
release date was quite delayed. It got released 2.5 years after our previous
CD.
8.ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THE FEEDBACK AND SALES
OF YOUR PREVIOUS ALBUM?
Relatively yes! We didn't reach the sales
of our previous albums, but this is natural since the market is filled
with numerous new releases every day. Things are getting harder and harder.
Abroad, with the exception of 2-3 bands, they don't know any other Greek
metal bands... And actually to be honest with you, they laugh at us up
to a point, despite the fact that there are many fucking great Greek metal
bands... Besides, the Greek bands are not supported by the Greek metal
fans either, e.g. the promoters here in Greece whenever they organize a
live show, they ask from the Greek bands to bring their own equipment.
9.IN THE PAST, I HAD THE IMPRESSION, THAT JOHN
SEFTELIS WAS THE ONE DEALING WITH THOU ART LORD THE MOST. THAT'S WHY I
ASKED YOU ABOUT HIM...
That's true! He was really involved with this
band and actually when it came to representing the band, it was his responsibility.
The rest work was mine and Sakis'... Moreover he wrote some lyrics too...
But his voice was very specific with a certain hue and we wanted to try
some other things.
10.SO, MOST OF THE VOCAL DUTIES NOW ARE HELD BY
SAKIS. RIGHT?
Yes and no. If you pay more attention you'll
realize that each song has different voices. The vocal duties are held
by Sakis with the help of some guest singers. We did everything on
our own, except for the drums which were played by Themis (Rotting Christ)
as a session musician.
11.WHAT'S GOING ON LYRIC-WISE NOW? IS THE OCCULT
YOUR SOLE INTEREST LIKE IN THE PAST?
Basically yes. Nothing has actually changed
compared to the past.
-ARE YOUR LYRICS ONCE AGAIN INSPIRED AND INFLUENCED
BY CROWLEY?
I'd say they are mainly influenced by the
sexual magic of Crowley. The topics are more Dionysian festive-like and
conspiracy theories, like for example the knights templars case.
12.ON THE PROFESSIONAL AREA WITH WHICH OTHER THINGS
ARE YOU INVOLVED BESIDES MUSIC?
I'm an editor in Metal Hammer and I also run
my label Black Lotus Records. Actually, as a label we'll hardly ever sign
a Greek metal band again. You see, the bands come, we listen to their material,
which is very good, but when it comes to selling the album, we hardly receive
1/3 of the money we invest and spent on the bands. The way the Greek bands
are treated abroad is terrible!!!!
-WELL, BESIDES THE WELL KNOWN GREEK BANDS, LATELY
MARIOS WITH NIGHTRAGE AND GUS G. ARE SUCCESSFUL AND HAVE ACHIEVED QUITE
A LOT...
Yes, indeed! But this is because they went
abroad. We shouldn't also forget that they cooperated in their bands with
other famous musicians from abroad and this has contributed to their success.
As for Marios, I admire his guts and persistance that after the disbanding
of Exhumation he went abroad and he made it!
13.GEORGE IT WAS A PLEASURE TALKING TO YOU AGAIN!
Thanks! It was my pleasure talking with you
too! Take care!
George "Death
Dealer - Echoes From Erebus" Kefalas
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