Sathanas
Wywiad przeprowadził Wouter Roemers
New Brighton, Pennsylvania based old school death/black metal combo Sathanas are true veterans of the US extreme metal scene. Like their Chicago peers Cianide they were instrumental in the rising of the underground death - and black metal scene in their area. As with any veteran metal band they have weathered the storm and survived any trend that came and went. Recently the band inked a 2 album deal with Poland's Pagan Records. This was reason enough to catch up Sathanas vocalist/guitarist Paul Tucker.
First off, I'd like to thank you for taking time to speak with me today, Paul. Congratulations on the deal you recently inked with Pagan Records! How are things with Sathanas going now?
Things are going well. We are just waiting on our "Crowned Infernal" cd to be released through Pulverised Records. There was slight delay due to some layout complications, but that's fixed now. So, it should be out any day now. The advance promo has been getting some good reviews. So I think "Crowned Infernal" will do very well. Pulverised seems to have a full roster now. We were looking for another label for the next release, anyway. I contacted Pagan Records since they released the "Flesh For the Devil" mcd. They were more than glad to release another Sathanas cd. They even said 2 cd releases would be good also. So that is what we decided.
Sathanas never had much luck with the labels handling releases. Your last couple of albums have been released through Singapore's Pulverised Records. The first few classic albums have been re-released by Blackmetal.com Records. Have you seen any royalties from those re-issues? How has Pulverised been accommodating the band's needs these past few years?
Yes, Blackmetal.com sent us some money. They paid for the studio and sent a good amount of cds plus LPs of "Thy Dark Heavens". Blackmetal.com was a cool label for Sathanas at that time. Pulverised has been great to Sathanas also. They released the killer "Entering the Diabolic Trinity" cd and also flew us to Europe to play to killer metal fests. United Metal Maniacs in Germany also the Extreme Aggression Fest in Holland. Plus, we played few shows in Holland while we were there. So Pulverised has been stepping stone for Sathanas in Europe mostly.
Were there any other big labels (Nuclear Blast, Metal Blade, Century Media) interested in Sathanas at this point, considering your rich history and strong backcatalogue? What were the aspects that made you go for Pagan Records compared to previous label(s) you have worked with?
Hard to believe but I never got too many big labels interested in Sathanas. Not sure why. It seems every time I contacted them they were looking for a different style band and music. Pagan Records have a good history. Total die-hard old school label. That's why I think for Sathanas its best. Not that if a major label contacted us we would say no. But it seems a lot of major labels have their favourites on the label. So Sathanas might take back seat when it comes to that. I'm not into that either. I would rather have a label like Pagan Records that would promote Sathanas and our music. Not wanting to change anything. To make it more commercial for selling point.
Jim Strauss (drums) and Bill Davidson (bass) have been a part of the Sathanas line-up for a couple of years now. What are these guys like? In what sense do they contribute to the band's sound that the older line-ups didn't?
They are both dedicated musicians. Bill has been with Sathanas now for about 14 years. Bill has also done drums on "Thy Dark Heavens" when we didn't have a drummer. He did a great job. We all get along great, which is the key to making a band work. No attitudes here. Jim has also pushed Sathanas to another level. He has been with us for about 4 years now. He is the most drumming force we had in Sathanas. We had good drummers before. He is into metal and Sathanas. So, it is a great line-up now.
How long does it take for the band to write new songs, generally speaking? Did anything change in your writing style and the composing process over all these years since your first classic albums "Black Earth" and "Armies Of Charon"?
Not long. I already have the next album almost written. Things might have changed somewhat. We had different drummers back then. So styles are little different. I try to keep music basic and just add some hooks here and there. Nothing too technical. I don't like music that's too technical. Takes away from brutality, I think. Well, also with "Black Earth" and "Armies Of Charon". I was waiting for "Black Earth" to get released on Afterdark Records from Belgium. They had money problems. So I started writing new music for "Armies Of Charon". I was in contact with Opryos and Nazgul Erie Productions. He wanted to sign Sathanas for "Armies Of Charon". I wrote it quick, haha. "Armies Of Charon" was later released by Supernal Music.
After years of searching you've apparently finally found a studio that correctly captures Sathanas' sound. How's working with Innertube Studios and producer Nick Kucel different than the studios you've worked with in the past?
Nick is the man!! He is an old metal head. He also played in some bands. He knows what we should sound like. We plan on recording every future Sathanas release there. He has a lot of ideas for us to try out etc. so working with him has been great. Looking forward to the next Sathanas release already!
For the last couple of albums you've used some big name artists to provide cover artwork. Juan Castellano, Kris Verwimp and Kristian "Necrolord" Wahlin have graced your albums with their incredible work. Were they easy to work with and did they manage to translate your ideas on the canvas?
Yeah, all the artists I use are killer. I usually can't decide on which one because they are all great and have different styles. I got in contact with Necrolord couple years ago. He said he was a fan of Sathanas' music and would be interested in doing the cover. I was like "hell yeah!!!". I gave him an idea for "Crowned Infernal". He sent one sketch which was very good; then he sent final cover. I was like "damn, this cover is a great piece of art". There's a slight chance I will be using him for the next release on Pagan Records. I will know more on this soon.
In 1990, 2 years after your legendary "Ripping Evil" demo, Sathanas split as various members joined Acheron. During that period you formed the short-lived Bathym, which in turn split as by 1994 Sathanas had reformed. Tell us a bit about that page in the band's history.
Sathanas split up in late 1989. Mike and Dave from Sathanas went to join Acheron. I decided to form another thrash band called Bathym with Sathanas drummer Bill Smiley, guitarist Jeff Smith, then we got Eric Watson on bass. We released the "Into Darkness" demo in 1990. We released a few rehearsal demos. Then followed the "Demonic Force" 7'' on Thrash Records from France. Things started falling apart for Bathym about 1994. So I decided to re-form Sathanas. Mike was out of Acheron by then. I asked him to do vocals again. That didn't work out. He ended up getting in trouble with the law various times. I decided that since I did vocals for Bathym I would do the vocals for Sathanas as well. The rest, as they say, is history.
In what sense would you say did Bathym differ from Sathanas, musically as well as conceptually?
More technical, maybe. I was trying to do more technical guitar work, I think, back then. It was great thrash music but it didn't have the evil feeling as Sathanas does. Since I wrote music and lyrics in both bands, they are probably almost same. But different musicians once again: different styles, different drumming. Makes the sound difference. I had a good time playing in Bathym. The rest of the band lost interest, except for me.
With an impressive collection of albums behind your belt, how difficult is it to arrange a satisfactory setlist, considering there are classic tracks people want to hear no matter what?
Well, we have our favourites as well as our fans. When we play Europe we play something off each album and, of course, the classics from the demo. 'Jaws Of Satan', 'Blood Sacrifice', 'Palace Of Belial'. If people yell out some songs we usually will play them. Good feeling to have people remember the old ones.
You have done a lot of shows and tours over the years. How do you feel about playing live? Are there any particular memories from touring you would like to mention?
We enjoy playing live. If we could tour Europe more we would. Just getting there these days is expensive, plus we need good booking agents. We had great time in 2006 in Europe. It was in Germany at the United Metal Maniacs Fest. We were hanging out with Decayed from Portugal. Desaster (Germany), Bestial Mockery (Sweden). Those are some crazy fuckers there, haha. We were all drinking and having a good time. I look forward to seeing those guys again. Makes going to Europe well worth the trip. Also the fucking crowd, the fans were sick! Total metal dedication there.
What album(s) would you consider definitive or "classic" out of the entire catalogue?
For Sathanas I would say "Armies Of Charon" has a raw sound. I didn't think people would like this cd so much, because I wasn't too glad with the production. It is in your face. "Black Earth" was raw but the drums were lost in the mix. "Thy Dark Heavens" was actually more experimental in sound for me. I tried some different guitar sounds for that. The production was very good I thought. I would say "Armies Of Charon" first as classic, second would be "Entering the Diabolic Trinity" but in next couple year "Crowned Infernal" will be the best.
When you compare the early days of death metal with the scene of today, what has changed to the better and what has become worse since then?
Better is the Internet to help contact, promote, etc. The compact disc is cool but I miss that feeling of seeing a new album on the shelf and wanting to buy it. CDs I don't get the same feeling but I hear vinyl is making a comeback. Plus, all these fucking new metal shit bands. trying to sound like Pantera, screaming their heads off. The fucking labels are signing them. So I can't blame them.
What's your view on the current state of death metal? How much do you identify with the rest of the underground scene? Is the Internet both a curse and a blessing to underground music?
Not really sure. Only listen to few. I listen to more older bands like Sodom, Bathory, Destruction and so on. As for death metal in USA. I still like Suffocation, Immolation, Nile. Europe some old school death fucker like Pentacle and so many bands we played with. Like I said the Internet is a good thing. As for the people who download the music etc. If they really want the whole package they will buy the cd. It seems like too much effort to burn the music, print the covers, with pictures, etc. but I guess you can do it.
Now that you've signed with a European label, is there any chance of Sathanas doing a couple of shows in mainland Europe?
Yes. That's why I wanted to sign with a good running label like Pagan Records. We need to get contacts in Europe to set up touring there. Pulverised was a good label but he can only do so much in Asia. Pagan can push our name through Europe. So our chances of getting to Europe sooner are possible.
What is the band currently up to? I suppose you have already written a whole bunch of new songs ever since "Crowned Infernal" was recorded, so tell us a bit about the new stuff, ok?
Writing! New killer songs in the works! Well, it will be in the realm of the "Crowned Infernal" material but it will be even darker in presence. I can't say it will be more speed because it will contain both elements of speed and to bang your fucking head off. We will be using Necromorbus Studios in Sweden again for the mix and master. So, you can expect a hammer to the head recording!
What are you doing outside of the band? Any interesting jobs, studies, hobbies?
Well, I am a self-employed construction worker. Drywall installer, actually. Jim is head chef at an Italian restaurant and Bill works in nuclear power plants. He will probably be glowing in few years.
Anything else we might have forgotten to mention? The last words are yours.
I think that's it for now. Watch our website for info on touring, etc. You can hear samples at myspace.com/sathanasmetal . "Crowned Infernal" should be released when this is out and prepare for the Satanic masterpiece on Pagan Records ahead!!!
Info/booking: sathanaspaul@hotmail.com
Site: www.sathanas.net
