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Interview Video Samael

In Switzerland, Metal bands are very good! Coroner, Celtic Frost or Samael! Samael gave an interview to Radio Metal. It was in Lausanne few hours before the show to the Docks. Xy and Vorph spoke about Solar soul, the new record, and more generaly about Samael's career. From the beginings black metal to an electro/metal sound... Interview conducted by Doc' and Dimebag on 2th february 2008. Lausanne (Suisse) Vidéo by Seb. Vidéo You can read the english traduction, by Clément, of this interview : Radio Metal : I’d like to start this interview by coming back to the beginning of your career. You first played Black Metal; then it evolved into something more electronic… What do you think about your debut albums now, like “Worship Him” or “Blood Ritual”? Vorph: We’ve always had this tendency to look forward and never try to look back on our past. Sometimes, to take a fix, we’re trying to find some logical links from one album to another and, if you take each and every album into account, there is something logical in our evolution. I mean I can follow the steps of our evolution. There’s always been something new in our albums, like when we first began to play with a keyboard, when decided to add some prerecorded drums on the album called “Passage”, when we put more electronic experimentations on “Eternal”, and so on… There’s always been something new from an album to another. It’s obvious that if you only listen to our first and our last album, there will be some links missing. What do you think about your black metal debut? Now that this time has passed, do you consider those albums as some kind of immature work or on the contrary, are you proud of them and claiming them? Xy: There’s nothing I’m ashamed of in my career. For sure we can feel some distance because those albums are pretty old. So yes, I can still find myself in them, those albums were us. We can feel an evolution in your lyrics. They were pretty dark and dealing with the occult, but now, after the “Sanctuary Media” period, it feels like it’s no longer the case… Vorph: I see what you mean. Actually, I think it’s great, when you’re over 30, that you do not have the same things in mind as when you were 17. But darker and not so obvious things have always attracted me, and that still is the case now. It’s true that we’re not exploring the same directions, but I still like to find new ideas. At that time, your music was more extreme… Vorph: That’s your point of view. It was much more raw because we were inexperienced, as musicians and as individuals. But we’ve always tried to do the best we can, as anybody would do. As Xy said, we’re not ashamed, but we feel like we can do better now, so there’s no reason for us to limit ourselves. Because, as for you, the album that started it all was “Passage”… Xy: No in fact there was also lots of “first time” with the album before. It was the first time we toured in the US, first time we really toured in the UK, so this was also a real album… Vorph: yeah but even before the first album. I mean we had already done things before the first album, but this was a way to materialize all that in the underground sector. You know we cannot tell you exactly when it all started, but it’s true that, at that time, you could only find us in one or two pages fanzine. And with our first album released, some magazines gave us some articles, so that was great. I think it’s like what I’ve just told you about the artistic approach. We’re moving forward on every album, and I think it’s the same for our recognition. And indeed, do you have this image of being pioneers in this second wave of black metal? Vorph: No I don’t feel it that way. Xy: No we’re not pioneers. Being in a second wave of black metal that’s okay, because things were done before us and we tried to bring our own style. But I don’t feel like we are pioneers. I mean, other bands have also influenced us… Vorph: Like the first Slayer albums for instance. But I feel like, nowadays, we are all influenced by music in general. We’re no longer influenced by only one special band; there are so many different kinds of bands. And that’s what enabled us to create and not only imitate what has been done before. I mean, it’s important to open your self to other kinds of music. But we’re always captive you know… But, as for you, don’t you feel limited to always have you (Vorph) writing the lyrics, and you (Xy) composing the music. Isn’t it a kind of captivity? Because you’ve always worked that way… Vorph: We’ve worked like that since “Ceremony of Opposites” and it works pretty well. Xy: But it’s not really a limit, because we’ve decided to work that way. And we’ve also tried to add elements that did not exist in the band before, so we’ve never felt limited. And concerning the communication between you two, the two brothers of the band. Was it hard for you to communicate or, on the contrary, was it quite easy and natural? Vorph: We’re just a normal band. We’re not only both discussing and letting the rest of the band aside… But we really feel like you’re the two working members… Vorph: Yeah but when we have to debate over something, everyone is taking part in the debate. As we’ve changed our line-up a lot, there were different points of view. But now, since 2002, we have a stable line-up and I think this is really the first time we can feel that unified. Before, we were only two or three members taking the decisions, with maybe an extra member giving his point of view every once and a while. This was more exclusive than it is now that we have a real line-up. What is amazing about Samael, is that, as a fan or a casual listener, we know when we’re listening to Samael. You really have your sound. Do you take it as a compliment? How do you create this very special and unique type of sound? Xy: For sure I take it as a compliment! It’s great when people think you have your own sound. I remember that, when we were with Waldemar, during the recording of “Passage”, he told me that we had our own kind of drums sounds, and that was a great compliment. Concerning Waldemar Sorychta, who played a great role in your career and is still playing now, what is his true role? I read an interview a few moments ago where you told that he was better producer than sound mixer. Xy: (Laugh) So what was his role in your career? Vorph: We worked pretty soon with him, since the second album in fact. And along the way, as we got to know each other better, we’ve opened up to each other much more. You got to know him before he opens up to you. Along the albums, we’ve got to know each other better, and it became easier to work with each other. I mean at first, everyone was sticking to his guns, so it was harder. But then we realized that could really bring something new to our music. Xy: And I think this is something very important, to have someone you can have confidence in to work with. And that’s why we’re always pleased to keep on working with him. I mean, as long as you know that you share the same points of view, you know that there won’t be much problems. And, as for you, where can we really feel his influence? Xy: Sometimes he helped us out on some structures… But you know, up to some points, you can no longer really objectively listen to your music. So you need someone from the outside to tell you what to do. Most of the time, this is about details, but it’s always important. And, did this collaboration help you in the composition of some albums? Xy: Yeah sure! But I think it’s the same for whatever you do, like having someone new mixing in the studio or whatever. They can always give you some advice. Now let’s talk about your last album “Solar Soul”. Do you think there is a real evolution compared to “Reign of Light”? What has evolved? Vorph: I don’t know if there’s a real evolution, but that’s not what we tried to do this time. We tried to make an album that would represent the band. We’ve tried lots of things during the last few years, and our goal was to sum up those different things. I mean, if you want to go on, you have to stop sometimes, and see where and who you are. I think that was our goal, we didn’t try to do something we’ve never done before. But now that we’ve summed it up, we will be able to experiment some new things in our future album, because now we know where we stand. Was this album a desire? Vorph: That was more a need, because we were not sharing the same point of view. We were talking with Makro, who is really giving his opinion compared to the former members, and he told us that he missed some things. He knew Samael before he entered the band, and he felt like some things were missing. So we didn’t want to move backward, but it was important to gather all those information and find what Samael is. You know, as individuals, we all have our influences, our tendencies and it’s great that they can be represented on this album, a sort of mixing of us four. Do you think we can take this album as a synthesis of your last three electro-metal albums? Vorph: Yeah sure, in a way, that was our goal. Concerning the lyrics, this may look less head-on than it was on our previous albums, but there is still some ideas that those albums share in common. Even though there are a bit modified from one album to another, you can still find them on every CD. I can even find some ideas that were on our first album, like the idea of antagonism, of opposed forces, which was the main theme of the self-titled song “Worship Him”, and that has followed us along the albums. Samael has always been regarded as a creative and an always-innovating band… Vorph: I take it as a compliment! But isn’t that contradictory to have this idea of synthesis, in your last album, for a band that has always been ahead in terms of originality? Xy: No I think it’s possible to combine those two aspects. But we’ll probably try to experiment a bit more on our albums to come. Vorph: In fact, on this album, our goal was to reassure ourselves. It’s important sometimes in your life to stop and evaluate the situation. And this album was getting a fix on the first 20 years of our career. So Samael can still surprise us? Vorph: Yeah sure! We’re trying at first to surprise ourselves… Xy: But I understand that you’re asking us that question because it’s true that we didn’t try to create something new. The last album was only a sort of continuity of “Reign of Light”. What type of experimentation can help Samael evolving? And if not an evolution, is there any project you’re working on, like “Era One” or any techno project? Xy: Well I don’t know maybe some other projects or something. Have you already begun working on your next album? Xy: Yes a little. This is only some rough work at this time. For now we’re enjoying the release of this album. Some people compared you to Rammstein. What do you think about this comparison? Cause at the beginning your music was not that electro. Do you take it as a compliment? Vorph: It’s not that important. We’ve mixed our last two albums with the same person, so that may be one of the reasons why we’re compared to them. But beyond that, there is in Rammstein, a kind of classical “mars-like” music that we really like. There are also some bands, like (??? 14:40mn), that have made some music using electro sound and which have been a great influence to us. I don’t think that Rammstein has ever influenced us, but I do think that we share the same musical background. You’ve changed your record label many times along year. You signed with Osmose records and Century Media for instance. Now that you’ve signed with Galactical Records, do you feel freer? Vorph: We’ve always been free to play what we wanted, artistically speaking I mean. I don’t think all bands can say that… Xy: I don’t know. I think, as you enter this “metal” sphere, you reach a kind of artistic freedom. Of course, some record labels will try to advise you to do some things… Vorph: It’s true that sometimes, they’d like to see us doing certain types of things, but it’s up to you to listen to them or to your intuition. We’ve always tried to listen to our intuition. And finally I think it’s a better way to work because even if you make some mistakes, you can learn how to avoid them in the future. On the contrary if you listen to your record label, then you become more dependent on it. In 2004, Fear Factory said in some interviews that they’re record label had asked them to do some things, and had put some pressure on them. Have you ever felt that way? Xy: No cause I think everything is up to you, you know. I remember that once they’ve asked us to rework some songs and put them into French, that is the type of things they try. Of course, if an idea seems good, you can take it into account. But I don’t think you can force a band to play a certain style; that would be nonsense. It feels like you’ve always had some issues concerning the promotion of your albums. For instance, you didn’t really tour for the promotion of “Eternal”, and now you’ve not done any real touring in France for your last album… Vorph: Not yet, not yet. Well in fact, the case of “Eternal” was a bit different due to our change in line-up, as Kaos quitted the band in 2001. Then we’ve carried on our side-projects. So in a way there was no band until 2002. We started touring in Europe, in the US, in festivals and so on. So I think we needed this tour to be done with this album, and carry on with something else. And what are your plans now? Will you have a break like you used to have before? Xy: (laugh) No, no, no break. So now you’ll be touring, especially in Russia? Vorph: As for now, yes. Then a new album? Xy: We’re not in a hurry. We’ll keep on touring for a few moments, maybe get back to the US. We don’t really know in fact. Vorph: Some European dates before the summer maybe. We’re still discussing about this option. Some festivals? Vorph: Yeah maybe some. But especially in Germany and Austria. Is it that you don’t want to or are there no worthy proposals? Vorph: We’re still looking for some. But it’s not about being demanding I think. I’d like now to get onto your appearance in Arthur’s program (editor’s note: Arthur is a well-known TV and Radio French presenter) on Europe2 in 2005. Did you benefit from this appearance on a well-known radio or on the contrary it was problematic, especially concerning your image? Vorph: In fact, even if it’s sad to say, it was beneficial. See, you’re still talking about that, so that must have been worthy (laugh). No I don’t feel like we’ve been ill-treated. You know it was the first time they were receiving a band like us. Our promoters told us that this was a chance we couldn’t miss, so we went for it. It was not something we dreamt we would do, but we had to so… And we never felt hurt during the interview. Xy: But we didn’t know that they were talking while we were playing, we didn’t hear that. That was maybe a bit impious. But this was their program so we couldn’t say anything. And you know we were just back from a long trip, so that was a bit hard for us. There was also only on mic for us all, this was kind of strange. But there has been some polemics after that, so it was cool that people reacted about that. I think that they didn’t understand anything about this kind of music. But I’ve heard they continued inviting metal bands after that. Yes they’ve invited Lacuna Coil or some other bands. But you said they phoned you to apologize? Vorph: Yes, the next day. They phoned us while they were on the air. So actually we appeared twice on this radio (laugh). And you came in Paris only for this interview with Arthur? Vorph: Yes, we had no shows in Paris at that time. But who decided that you would do this program? Cause usually Europe2 is not regarded as the type of radio that promotes metal. So did your promoter get in contact with Arthur? Xy: I don’t think with Arthur personally, maybe someone of his staff. And now, if you had to appear in this kind of program again, would you do it? Vorph: This wouldn’t be interesting to do the same thing again. Xy: Not the same no, but maybe something of the kind. Playing live on a radio was fun; we had never done that before. Official SAMAEL Website: www.samael.info

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