Greetings, Stephan! I know that SATANIC SLAUGHTER is one of the oldest black metal bands not only in Sweden, but also in Europe (and probably, in the whole world!), so tell me how it all began - who decided to start up the band, what kind of music did you play in the first years of SATANIC SLAUGHTER existence, etc...
- In 1983 when I heard VENOM's "Black Metal" album I felt that I wanted to start up a band. At that time I couldn't play so good so that was out of the question. In 1985 when I first heard BATHORY, I started a band called EVIL CUNT (great name :)) - ED), later that year we change the name to SATANIC SLAUGHTER. The first song we wrote was "One Night In Hell" and the second song we wrote was "Satanic Queen". These songs are on the album "Land Of The Unholy Souls". After our first gig, the local press called our music style SATANIC PUNK METAL. I think there was a problem to categorized us at that time. The songs we played at time were very simple. The music were very limited in the beginning because of our technical skills.
Your band's line up was permanently changing, and now (as far as I know) you are the only original SATANIC SLAUGHTER member left... What were (and are) the reasons for such often changes in the SATANIC SLAUGHTER line up? What can you tell me about people who played in the band in the very beginning - where are they now? Do they perform in any band(s)?
- In the beginning I tried to find better and better musicians all the time. I think that explains all line-up changes trough the years. The latest line-up change have nothing to do with their musical skills. We couldn't work together as a band anymore. We didn't have the same opinion about the SATANIC SLAUGHTER sound anymore. Unfortunately some of the former members (there has been 23 (! - ED) different members through the years) weren't into metal music at all but they were good musicians. If you are not into the music it's hard to find motivation. If you don't have the motivation it's very boring to rehearse. If you don't show up at the rehearsals it's very difficult to play in a band. Some of the members have continued making music, ranging from industrial noise through punk rock to death metal. Some members have got in all sorts of trouble, such as drugs, police and psychological problems. The only "big" named band is SEANCE formed by Micke and Tony. Peter "Sveden" Svedenhammar played in the now legendary punk-band RAPED TEENAGERS. He is now in FLAKES (Incredible Shrinking Records / Dolores Records), EVERFRESH (Sea Dog Records) and the soon-to-be legendary ska-band CHICKENPOX (Burning Heart Records). Sveden is not into metal. He never was. He was a very good and fast drummer and it was very hard to find a good drummer in those days (1985).
I don't know if it's truth, but it seems that you are into punk... Why? What is so exciting in this kind of music? Does it have anything in common with black metal? What do you think of bands mixing these two styles - such as ILDJARN, IMPALED NAZARENE, etc...? What about the "punk lifestyle"? Anarchy or order, harmony or disharmony - what do you prefer?
- I'm not
into punk or whatsoever. I'm only helping out a couple of
friends temporary
with the guitar. They are total anti vegetarians and they hate the
trendy hardcore scene. That is the reason of playing with them. I
think punk and BM haven't nothing in common except for the simplicity.
There are some bands I like (DISCHARGE and ANTI-CIMEX) but I hate their
philosophy. I think punks are a bunch of vegetables eating idiots. I prefer
anarchy and chaos. May the strong survive.
Can you
tell me more about your beliefs (if you have any...)? Your
feelings
about religion?
- I'm total anti-christian, but I'm not a satanist. I'm not dealing with rituals or masses. That can seem to be a little bit strange if you read the song titles but some of lyrics are written long time ago. Some of them were composed by former members. SATANIC SLAUGHTER is not a black metal band. We are anti-christian metal band. I don't want to be a slave under any religion. I don't care about the afterlife I only care about the life I live right now. I get my strength and inspiration from darkness. When I writing the lyrics I'm writing about dreams, hate, dark thoughts and my own experience of my life.
You often use "satanic" attributes in lyrics, aren't this a bit foolish to sing about "satan"? I mean, it's quite obvious that this "creature" doesn't exist (the same goes for "god"), so do you really believe in these fairy tales? Or you are doing this to seem (and look) more "evil"...?
- See above.
Almost every modern black metal band uses corpse-paint and you are not an exception... Can you explain me the reasons of doing that (I mean personally you and other SATANIC SLAUGHTER members)?
- The reason of doing that was that we use "corpsepaint" 10 years ago and it was a part of the show. We were influenced by HELLHAMMER, CELTIC FROST, SLAYER and IMPALER. On the album cover I'm the only one using it. The paint wasn't exactly the same kind then, if you compare to what I use today. The new line-up doesn't use "paint".
Not so long ago Necropolis re-released your 1995 album "Land Of The Unholy Souls" with four additional tracks - was it such a necessity? Wouldn't it be better to release mini album with these four tracks for the price of MINI album? In fact, you tried to sell one album for two times, forcing your fans to buy it because of those unreleased songs...
- I don't think it's the same album twice. When we recording the first album my voice was totally fucked up. Tony doing the vocals on that album. We saved the best songs with my voice and mixed it different, to a better production, in my point of view.
Do you have any new compositions? If yes, then why didn't you include them in the re-release mentioned above?
- We have
recorded two new songs "Infernal Halls" and "Witch Burner".
"Witch Burner"
for a compilation album and "Infernal Halls" for the
soundtrack
to the movie "Gummo". The soundtrack was the last recording with "old line-up".
We wrote the songs after the recording of both albums. The new line-up
have four new songs and working with tons of riffs. We will soon enter
the studio and record a new album.
Where did you record the "Land Of..."? Cover says that these are Vilsound and Bernd Studios... well, I know about Unisound and Berno ones... Was it a kind of joke or what?
- The four first songs are recorded at Guja Studio. Rest of the songs are recorded at Unisound and Berno Studios. It's very hard to see on the album cover, the letters are very confusing.
I heard
that you had some problems with recording your debut album in
Unisound
and problems with Dan Swano personally... Anything you'd like to tell about
it?
- I have worked with Dan Swano before and I think he's great to work with. The "Land Of..." album is Dan Swano's mix. Dan Swano became little bit disappointed when the other members (not me) wanted to mix the first album into a "bad sounding recording". They wanted a rawer sound but I think the sound on the first album sucks. Maybe I can agree that the vocals are better on the first album.
What do you think of your label-mates: ARCKANUM, USURPER, THE BLACK, DAWN and others...? Are you in contact with them?
- I don't think anything about any other bands on Necropolis. I like THE BLACK, GUILLOTINE, NIFELHEIM, DEMONIC and DAWN. The only band I'm in contact with is DAWN. We are from the same town Linkoping. I have played together with DAWN's Andreas Fulmestad in MORGUE couple of years ago.
Any plans for releasing your old demo / rehearsal material on CD?
- No, the sound quality is a disaster.
What is the current SATANIC SLAUGHTER line up?
- The latest line-up is: Dark - guitar, Kecke - guitar, Armand - vocals, Fille - bass and Robban - drums.
Do you know anything about Russia? Russian black metal? Russian underground? What do you, Swedish people, think of us?
- I don't know. I'm not so good of knowing where the bands coming from.
Well, I guess it's time to ask about your future plans...
- We are right now planning a smaller European tour. We are also working with the new songs for the next album. These songs haven't nothing in common with the two other albums.
End this as you wish...
- Thanks for the interview and good luck with your zine.
SATANIC SLAUGHTER
c/o Karlsson
Bygdegatan
352
S-58331 Linkoping
SWEDEN
Email (Stephan):
ztephandark@hotmail.com