Greetings, Warren! Let's start from the very beginning of your band...

- Go for it.

Hmmm... Actually, I expected you to tell us few words regarding SAMAIN's bio. But ok, then tell me, how was the response to "Indomitus" release? How much copies have you sold? Did you receive any offers?

- The response to "Indomitus" has been really good, as far as the reviews go, almost everyone has given us a lot of support. I have no idea how many copies have been sold, but yes, several offers have resulted from that album. Also, you have to understand that Bloodless Creations was a pretty bad label, and thanks to the complete lack of promotion from them, sales have suffered. It's only 12 months after the album was released, 24 months after it was recorded, that we are starting to see our reviews in magazines like "Terrorizer", etc.

You once said that "SAMAIN is "geared" towards the promotion of wisdom and the druidic natural philosophies of balance", how can you explain these words of yours?

- Well, one part of the concepts within our lyrics and music is the idea of balance, about seeing the world / reality as a conflict between beneficial and not-beneficial forces to the individual. I am NOT talking about good / bad or good / evil. Both sides of this binary have attributes which are positive and rewarding for the individual, yet I would hope to open people up to the notion of assuming a neutral posture in dealings with other people, as a position of power to deal from. The promotion of wisdom, is the promotion of the ability to think critically, something I obviously am in favor of, and which a neutral subject-position assists.

It seems that there's a very strong relationship between you and ABYSSIC HATE / Bloodless Creations. What would you like to tell me concerning this band and label?

- There's not such a strong relationship anymore. I rarely hear from Shane of ABYSSIC HATE, who is the label guy, which you can understand not a very good situation.

Your ex-drummer Liam is 17, and you are also not much older, I guess... Don't you fear the rage coming from "true" Norwegians (ridiculous), because of your age? I read such words as "... those 16-year old punks..." in different zines for thousand times, isn't that foolish? The man can be judged by his art, work and attitude, but these wimps have NO right to curse anyone only because of his (her) young age...

- Actually I'm 25, so that shows what happens when you assume. I would also point out that the magazines etc. that form your information of SAMAIN are probably a little old. I don't know how old Liam would be now, I would guess about 19, and we have had two drummers since he left the band.  Everything we do, every word we speak, every piece of music we write gets delayed but other pathetic human beings until it is nearly worthless. Regarding your questions though, I really couldn't give a shit about what "true norwegians" think, one way or the other. They are a pale comparison to their hardy ancestors, which is something they secretly recognize and feel shame of. As for people's age, well it is only my experience but I am glad our new drummer is 21, because I am sick of dealing with children.  From your attitude, I gather you are probably a young man as well (at least, older than 17... :)) - ED), and I assure you this is not an across-the-board statement, merely the presumption I work with until I am proven wrong.

I know that you have some material ready for the "operetta" called "The Warrior Of The Red Shield"...

- I wouldn't say ready. That really can't be recorded until we get a
decent funding for the album, as it requires a lot of voice work.

What is "Indomitus"? What is the main thought behind your lyrical
creations? You look like a person strongly obsessed by Gaelic mythology, why? Do you have any Gaelic roots?

- Yes of course, my ancestry is entirely Celtic. "Indomitus" is Latin for "savage" and represents nicely a conflict between the "natural" world and the Latinate-basis for this so called civilized world of animals we live in. I don't think I am obsessed by mythology though, I think that is a catch-phrase term, I am far more interested in the realities of ancient culture, Celtic or otherwise.

I believe, bass guitar is more important for you than usual 6-stringer... What was the reason for you to make such a choice? What do you think of such bass-based bands as NECROMANTIA?

- It would be nice if they had something other than bass... Simply, by most bands, bass is underplayed terribly, and in this day of distorted guitars, the bass-player has to adapt his instrument to a new environment. Since the distorted guitars do such a good job of supporting the bottom end of the music, the bass should either be removed, or used as a counter-player to everything else.

Keyboards are absent on "Indomitus", why? You don't believe in this
instrument's possibilities, or what?

- Well to begin with I really don't like keyboard very much, indeed, I hate it. I don't mind piano, but none of us play proficiently this
instrument, and I dislike this recent trend of metal that anyone with
fingers fancies themselves a keyboardist, droning and mirroring the
guitars in much the same process I have described for bass guitar. Totally superfluous, and I also think it is a very cheap way to get some kind of generic nasty atmosphere.

What about using folk-music elements in more radical way? Have you ever heard of UK's band called RAGNAROK? What is your opinion of them? Would you dare to say the black metal's future lies in discovering our roots and making modern metal more folk-oriented?

- I think probably that's already something that is over, don't you? Well, we persist in our own way to incorporate the past and present. I am not at the moment (at any rate) wishing to play in a semi-folk band, I came here to play metal, you know? I haven't heard RAGNAROK though they did write me to trade CD's, I guess I should get back to them on that...

Are you going to follow with using "clean" vocals? What about inviting session singer with a professionally trained voice? (sorry, but your way of "clean" singing is not that good...)

- Well you can go to hell then, you're the first person to criticize it actually, though I know it is not the best, especially on "A Pagan
Funeral". You also have to understand when you have two hours to record all the vocals of a 60 minute album, after midnight after being in the studio all day playing guitar over and over I am not going to be at my best. I am listening to the new IN THE WOODS... album here and Svithjod can't sing for shit either, yet it doesn't detract from the music (right, but it doesn't mean that all BM singers should have crappy voices - ED). The entire reason why I am doing the singing myself is to avoid having to call in some better-voiced but retarded arsehole I have to spend half my life explaining basic things to. I have had enough of that in the past with drummers. We have recently recorded a promotional tape that has maybe 40% clean singing, with much better results.

SAMAIN doesn't look like a band often playing live...

- Well you come to Perth and try and score a gig, ha ha, it is totally dead small-wannabe-yankee city here, totally isolated.

Do you plan to release anything in the near future? What can you tell me about your upcoming (I hope so) efforts? Are there any cardinal changes, comparing to "Indomitus"?

- I think on our new material we have a lot less sectionalisation of the music, the ambient, acoustic and distorted parts are a lot more
integrated, the riffs are more complex, the layering more intense, the music and lyrics more mature, plus so far, everything has been recorded and composed with a great deal more experience behind it.

Do you know anything about my country? What do you think of us, Russians?

- I think you guys should like stop molesting children, and marrying your sisters. It's really bad for the gene pool (pause) but seriously... MYSTICAL GATE are one of my favorite bands at the moment, and come from Voronezh. Priest and the others are doing a fine job and deserve a huge record deal.

Tell me something about your ordinary lives... Do you study (work)?
Where? How do you spend your free time?

- Yes I'm an Honours student doing my major work in Cultural Studies. I also do some shitwork, labouring etc. As for free time, I don't really have much, so I will let you know when I do. Mainly, aside from work, school, the band, my girlfriend, I am answering the fucking mail and doing boring stuff, writing more music, lyrics and also other things.

Would you like to tell me about your beliefs and what they are based upon?

- I don't have any "beliefs" that could be simplified in the amount of lines I am willing to type. Suffice to say I am an atheist.

You opinion about Mother Nature? Is there any chance for mankind to become one with Her? Can you describe Australian nature in a "dark" way?

- Australian nature is probably far more "dark" than many other places, certainly than Europe, half the year here is like living in Hell, I mean that very seriously. It is amazing that anything lives at all here. Australia has all kinds of land, but is dominated by blasted red earth and lack of water. A desert, you see. "Mankind"... hmmm, well all humans will get the chance to become one with "mother nature" when they get buried, as nature claims us all. Other than that I doubt human beings are advanced enough to be able to live in accord with the earth, if it means giving up their cars and electric blenders and McDonalds.

Anything you'd like to add...?

- Nope. Thanks for the interview, let me know if you want some pictures of my ugly arse for your website, thanks for your time and support, good luck with the future. Salute as a free person.

SAMAIN
Warren Hately
PO box 237
Leederville WA 6007
Australia

Email:
oghma@argo.net.au