SATAN (Eng.)
– Thank you so much for answering our interview. How is the band currently doing?
Steve – Very well thank you. We’re all a bit overwhelmed at the amazing reviews the album is getting. We’re currentle rehearsing the set for our first show this year at Sweden Rock.
– You have just released a new album, entitled «Life Sentence». Tell us a bit about the creation of thios opus, how have you felt after so many years without recording.
We got together in 2011 with the full original ‘Court in The Act’ lineup to play the Keep It True Festival in Germany. We had already played a reunion show at Wacken Open Air in Germany 2004 but unfortunately at the time Sean our drummer wasn’t able to play after a car accident left him with an ankle problem and other injuries. We recruited Phil Brewis, who at the time was Blitzkriegs drummer to fill in. We didn’t have any intention of playing together again until Sean told us he thought he could play the very demanding material again. We got together for a rehearsal and realised that all the old magic was still there! We played the festival and were shocked by the reaction of the crowd and all the young fans who attended and loved our music. It was then that we decided to do a couple more shows and then the song writing began.
– I have had the chance of listening to it and I think it is a good opus that follows the pattern of your old albums in some way. Has the final outcome been as you expected?
Once the song writing started we agreed that the album would need to sound like the follow up to Court In The Act if that linrup had stayed together. We agreed that if it didn’t then we wouldn’t offer it for release. Pretty soon we knew that what we were writing was going to do the job. We wanted to capture the same energy that 
the band produces when we play live and we think we have achieved that.
– On the album there are songs like «Tears of Blood», «Siege Mentality» or «Personal Demons», that have that essence at the BLITZKRIEG/SATAN’s «Court in the Act» vibe but, at the same time, they have a really Heavy sound, more modern. Have you wanted to sound a bit heavier still without loosing the basis you already had?
That was the direction we thought the band would have went if we had made another album together. It was always going to sound more modern due to better production. We were never happy with the production on Court in the Act and wanted a more frenetic and aggressive sound.
– On the other hand it also makes me happy to find songs as «Twenty Twenty Five», «Testimony» or «Another Universe», that remind me to SATAN durin the «Suspended Sentence» era; really rough tracks. Are they songs that just came out naturally or did you plan to also make a tribue to that period an album?
We had a few little rules that we stuck too because obviously we’re better musicians now but had to put ourselves back in the eighties. We formed the band when I was fifteen and couldn’t play guitar and I was eighteen when we recorded the first album. Most bands when they reform and record think they need to sound current, we didn’t have that idea. We wanted to create something that would have been released back then.
– In exchange «Cenotaph» and «Life Sentence» have a more brutal Speed Metal flavour. Without any doubt two awesome tracks really heavy and straight-forward. Were looking forward to include so fast and heavy tracks?
Yes again we think that is what we would have done back then. We would have been looking to progress from what we had done on the first album. The track Break Free is in a similar vein on Court In The Act.
– And the last question still about songs; there’s a track with a more epic touch called «Incantation». Tell us a it about this tune.
The music uses a different scale of notes than all of the other tracks on the album. It has a more eastern feel to it. The epic vibe comes from that style, the vocal harmonies and the very jazzy solo section.
– And about the album in general; will there be any special vinyl or CD release?
The album is being released on picture disc vinyl.
– How do you see the band’s future? Do you plan releasing another new album sooner than later?
We didn’t ever think we were going to record this one let alone another! We’re being guided by the passion of the fans so anything is possible if there is the interest. We have really enjoyed every minute of making Life Sentence.
– And about the touring situation, how is everything at the moment? Any live dates planned?
We have a few festivals this year already booked and we’ll see what the release brings to the table. We’re getting to play places that the band has never played like Sweden and Canada. It’s really exciting what’s happening already. Check out the website; satanmusic.com for upcoming shows.
– That’s all from our side, our best wishes and hope to see you in Spain. Lots of thanks.
Thank you very much.
