SARGEIST (Eng)

– Hails and first of all, thanks for taking the time. To start, please explain us what are you and SARGEIST currently up to.

Hails! At the present we are mainly waiting for the new album to be released and preparing for the next ritual at Nidrosian Black Mass.

– 5 years have passed between this new «Let the Devil in» and your previous «Disciple of the Heinous Path». What has been the band into during this time? Both HORNA and BEHEXEN have released a few works during these years.
We have not done much for some time, waiting for inspiration and a new calling to awaken within. The biggest change was to take SARGEIST on stage and share our rituals with other worshippers worldwide.

– With your previous albums (must say «Disciple of the Heinous Path» overall) you raised into a really high level and I must admit you have surpassing it with «Let the Devil in», was that something you pretended to do?
Yes, part of taking so long before “Let the Devil in” was because of this. We needed to take one step further instead of just doing the same again and only with time this could be achieved. It was definitely not planned to take 5 years but in the end time has no meaning when the voice of the Lord is eternal…

– And maybe was this one of the reasons the album took so long to be out? I mean, it was harder its creation?
Exactly.

– The album will be out early next November, but I guess you have already read and heard some comments about it so, what are your expectations for it?
We expect it to be over the peers, a monument of our creation to date and so far all the feedback speak of the same.

– And are you personally pleased with the final result?
Yes, most certainly we are. We hesitated a bit going into studio but in the end it was a great choice and we got the result we were looking for without suffering from a production that would be too clean or soulless.

– I found the production on «Disciple of the…» clearer than on your debut, and this time I think it sounds even cleaner but still keeping the raw sound. How was the production process this time? Did it change in any way in comparison to your previous album?
The only change was to use an actual studio, produced strictly under our guiding eye and the blessings of the Lord. We also took more time in rehearsing the songs and arranging everything. Previous albums were recorded more in the moment.

– I also found this brand new record more honest and relentless, with less slower parts than in previous works. Did everything come naturally?
As natural as it can be. We actually slowed down on some songs deliberately so avoid everything being fast, which could’ve been another turn-out of the work as well.

– Anyway, how do you see the musical progression that SARGEIST has been through since its beginnings?
Less musical, more spiritual growth and progressions – that’s what it’s all about. Naturally we have developed as musicians through all the years but it’s still passion and devotion which drive us forward.

– I read in some interviews you’ll stop playing music with a band if you can’t surpass the previous albums so at this point, do you expect a long career for SARGEIST? Or, on the other hand, being able of creating a CD as «Let the Devil in» makes you see there’s almost nothing impossible regarding this matter?
Yes, I would see no reason to continue with a band that would only regress. It’s not a shame to admit when you have nothing more to offer and step aside on a high note, instead of becoming what many bands do and keep on cashing in year after year. It does not matter if it takes years to create an album when it can satisfy the inner flame of it’s creators. I do not think about the future of one band, but one thing is sure that I will always be making more music.

– That makes me guess evolution is something important to you… But being able of improving with each album is just growing as an artist or as an individual too?
It is part of everything in life. Being able to improve as an artist also demands improvement on many personal levels as well. I do not see it possible to regress as a human being but still move forward with music, even if we are but vessels of satanic creed.

– Guitars this time sound really diverse; did you try to experiment or bring something new with it?
There is no experiment, just how it came out naturally. I let myself become free of any and all expectations I had for new SARGEIST material and what came to be is what coursed through my soul during it’s inception.

– I found on it interesting and varied riffs, more melodic ones, other that seem almost rockers as well as cold and dark ones, so that makes me wonder which are your main influences? Both as guitar player as musician in general.
It could be anything… I can be inspired by things as complicated as simple, so I can’t really say. Main influence for me has always been emotion – how it feels within me, how hard it burns my soul, makes my spine tingle. When you hear your own music and it gives you the chills, you know it is something worth every suffering.

– SARGEIST is considered a «supergroup» formed by BEHEXEN and HORNA members, so I guess some people will always compare SARGEIST to
both bands but, what could you say differences them?
SARGEIST has always been more straight, melodic and archaic Black Metal. Some songs could have been on any of our band’s releases but in the end it’s all to do with emotion. Some songs just have this feeling they are SARGEIST and nothing else. To some ears there may not be many differences, but it’s all in the finer details.

– It seems nowadays Black Metal is expanding in different countries and even continents, and of course Scandinavia is not an exception. How’s the BM scene like in Finland?
The cult here has always been one that does not care or bother to raise it’s head too high, focusing more on creation and growth, identity instead of quantity. There are many bands and worshippers who live for and through their art. In my opinion the Finnish scene is one of the best there are nowadays.

– And finally, what are your near-future plans?
For now we are just waiting for the new album to be published and preparing for our next live ritual at Nidrosian Black Mass. After that I do not know.

– That has been all; thanks again for your time. Now feel free to add any final words.
Thanks for the interview. Praise hail Satan.