Hi
Stefan, greetings to you and all in Varathron! You seem to be tireless
warriors, as you added a new release to your dark and extensive discography last year. Is “The Confessional of
the Black Penitents” a continuation of the work performed on “Untrodden Corridors
of Hades”?
Yes, the new opus of Varathron is total ready to
spreading the absolute darkness into the filthy souls!
Give us
your words about the meaning of the title, the beautiful artwork by Carlos Schwabe and the whole concept of the EP.
Our new mini album called “The Confessional Of The Black Penitents”, is the confessional of the dark souls who their “doubt”
–somewhere in their life- for the dominance of the mighty one! Hail
Lucifer! The mini album contains three
new tracks and four live tracks from our last shows around. Of course the whole
“packet” closed with the amazing work of Carlos Schwabe and he’s awesome
painting
“Sinister Recollection” was launched as advance song and I really dig the track, it is dark and atmospheric, with
diverse melodies and vocals, clean guitars… tell us about the songwriting of
this song and about the lyrics.
That track has so great guitars and melodies. Sotiris,
our guitarist, he wrote that song. He inspired from our traditional Greek music
and the lyrics written by me.
The oppener title track and "Utter Blackness" are also new songs, please describe them in a little more
detail?
The first song is a pure ritual and we open our shows
with that. It’s a pure ritual for the darkness.
The third song “Utter Blackness”, it’s a typical Varathron song, an ode
for him!
Did yoy added effecta to the production to the songs recorded live or did you
keep the sound “pure”? Did you feel any special vibe while performing on that
gig?
The live songs are pure, because we recorded that show
with a lot of details [good amplifiers, two consoles and a professional sound
engineer] and the results was very good. I think the whole atmosphere of our
show “transfer” into the mini album.
I saw you in many cool photos of your shows reading a book, what book is it? What
words do you read to the audience??
The
book is a book of evocations and ceremonies. so, I read the mega-kabalistic
invocation of Solomon!
Black
Vomit Records reissued last year the 1992 split with Necromantia “The Black
Arts/The Everlasting Sins”, what memories brings to your mind to see one of the greatest
releases from the Greek scene on vinyl again? [I would even say it is one
of the best splits releases ever, alongside Emperor/Enslaved split]
Yes, I agree with you, that split album is one of the
best ever!!! One of the best split albums on the metal scene ever!!! I feel
great and the memories coming on my mind. Glorious times with so many troubles
around but with so great passion for creation and metal!!! The evil music
“rolling” into our blood and we want to make releases like pure hymns to dark
lord. That situation is still remains on my side. I’m still “mad” and “thirsty”
for music-creation like the old days!
Do you have memories about how was the split received in the underground, the reviews and the comments
from the fans? Did you start receiving lots of letters and interviews in your
mail box?
I recorded it with my brother magus of Necromantia,
when I was on obligatory army service. My friend Kostas of black power records released on vinyl and the reception from underground fans was so amazing. I
received so many letters, a lot of interviews and reviews. it was something
awesome, because the two great bands of the Greek unholy trinity, released
something together. That was perfect and the whole world worships that. we received
a pure respect from around the world. I salute all my brothers for that!
What did
you think when you listened to Necromantia´s music for the first time?
I love the sound of Necromantia. it’s a pure bizarre
evil sound who sticks in your mind. I still have the same opinion, from the
first moments who I heard the songs of the first demo in the place of George-magus.
Great!!!!!! I salute them!!!
How things were in the Greek Black Metal
scene when Varathron were formed? How was the cooperation and contact with
other bands of that era such as Necromantia, Rotting Christ, Thou Art Lord,
Zemial…?
the first band who played black metal in Greece was Varathron
in 1988! After that, the rest bands of the unholy trinity was Rotting Christ
and Necromantia. The other bands comes later. The Greek black metal scene starts
to grow-up year by year. So many new bands who released a great stuff and they
continue our glorious scene.
Is the
same situation nowadays in the Greek scene as in the early 90s? Are you still
in touch with the bands?
No is not the same situation. I’m in touch with same
bands especially with the old bands who they reborn!
Did you
guys use to compare your scene with other scenes such as the Norwegian or
Swedish? Did you care about “the whole black metal movement”? Did you get in
touch with bands from abroad?
Our scene has a unique style and is one of the best
around. Of course I was –and I’m still- in touch with so many great bands
around the world. in these days my p.o.box was full of letters. That feeling is
so special and – I think- it’s so difficult to understand if you don’t live.
it’s a big part of my life, man! it’s my moments who I always remember until my
death.
“His
Majesty at the Swamp”, is considered as a cult album and one of the best among
the “So called” second wave of black metal, how do you see that album nowadays
and what you remember from the rehearsals previous to the recording and the recording
itself, of that legendary album? What inspired you at the time of naming the
album and choosing the cover artwork?
I´ll start from the last, me and mutilator we choose the
title for that album and we found the painting for cover! Yes, it’s one of the
best cult albums ever of the second wave of black metal. I remember the
recordings because we were working very hard for that. I was left my work in my
hometown and I was travel to Athens. I lived two months in Athens for the rehearsals
and the recordings. Me and Jim Necroslaughter we worked on that album so hard
in he’s place. We didn’t have any money for the studio and we tried to make all
our rehearsals on Jim’s place. Hard times but the result was so amazing and I
feel so proud for that, after so many years!!!
What
were your musical and lyrical influences back then? Do these influences
have changed over time?
I think my lyrical influences; inspiration from
ancient religions, myths and legends, wars and cries, nightmares and astral
trips, memories beyond the grave and anything evil and bizarre around the
planet. The musical influences was
Bathory, Hellhammer/Celtic Frost, venom, the first Sarcofago and Morbid Angel.
About my lyrical influences I’m still remains on the same topics. About the
musical influences, we still worship some of our first influences and we add
some other of the classic metal scene, like Black Sabbath and Mercyful Fate.
How would you describe the meaning and the essence of
Varathron?
Varathron is a pure ritual in the name of darkness.
Sometimes, I feel it like a travel of a soul beyond the knowing dimensions,
faraway on the strange galaxies when the darkness is the total dominion!
Since
the first album the band suffered a lot of lineup changes, perseverance and
strength must be two important words in your life as a musician, as Varathron
still stands strong! How do you manage to find musicians who fit into the
philosophy of the band?
Well, the two bad situations on Varathron’s history
was the line-up changes and the label changes! If one of these was never exist, I think varathron had a different fortune in our music history. A lot of times
in the history of my band i stay alone and –like a phoenix- I raised my band
from the ashes. I’m looking for serious members always. I make so many personal
sacrifices for my band and I’m still continue. Today the line-up of Varathron
is total strong and we continue …immortal!!!
How do
you perceive the attitude of the new Greek bands towards this “legacy” or
trademark known as the "Greek black metal sound"?
I think a lot of new Greek metal bands has continued the Greek black metal sound, that legacy from the glorious past! The new bands
and the old bands who they continue- and some other who re-born again- are the
“soldiers” of that scene who never die!
Besides
“Untrodden… you also released a split with Den Skaldete in 2014, "Old Demons Rise", and in 2012
you shared release with Black Altar and Thornspawn on the split “Emissaries of the
Darkened Call – Three nails in the Coffin of Humaniy”. What´s the best thing
about releasing splits EPs?
The releases of these ep’s was the old promises who I
give. I talk with my brother of Thornspawn two years before for that 3-way
album. it was a four –way album but the other band had some problems and they
never record something for that album. In other case, the ep with den Saakaltde,
it was release in the name of our friendship between me and my brother
Michael-Sykelig. Besides I like to release split stuff between our full
releases. I feel the underground spirit and it’s something like a supports to
the bands each other! like the old days who everything was pure and the whole bands
are a big family! it’s a romantic feeling brother!
Regarding “Emissaries”, you covered Black Sabbath´s, “Ancient warrior”. I
must say I was surprised but I really like this cover version [I like the
“Eternal Idol” and “Headless Cross” albums]. What were the feedbacks
for choosing this song, as many people thinks that the only "good" Black Sabbath is with
Ozzy or Dio on vocals and don´t care much about the rest.
I start to hear Black Sabbath in 1978! I love the
band, the sound who kills my ears and the whole discography, because you can
find very interesting songs on any of that. When I start to recorded the tracks
for the 3-way, we had two new tracks total ready-[because the label needs only
two songs for the four-way]. The four-way coming a three-way –because the forth
band left the idea and the guys ask me for a new track of Varathron. So, they
need it so quickly and I think to make a cover-song. I believe the album
“Eternal Idol” is so amazing and so atmospheric and the lyrics of “Ancient Warrior” is so similar on Varathron’s style. So, we start working on that
and the result was so awesome! I like it very much!
Who are
some of your Fave bands? Old good veterans and newcomers?
My fave bands like black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Motorhead, AC/DC, Blue Cheer, Black Widow, Bathory, Hellhammer/Celtic Frost, Death, Venom, Emperor, Morbid Angel, Sarcofago, Asphyx, Nihilist, Samael, Mortuary Drape, Vital Remains, Derketa, Blasphemy, Carnage, Profanatica, Nocturnus, Mercyful Fate, Dissection, Dismember, Slayer, Death Angel, Sodom, Kreator, Carcass, Napalm Death, Benediction, Necroschizma, Sex trash, Mutilation, Vulcano and More!
I don’t
like to talk about politics but what’s your point of view about this Euro
crisis and the “fight” with the E.U. Has
the recent happenings affected your artistic affairs?
The whole situation with economic crisis works
“negative” for some points like prices on studios, more expensive than else and
the prices on merchandise. On the other hand, works “positive” for more
creation. if you feel any “press” on your life then some other senses working
more. So, that very bad situation gives a “push” for creation on music, on theatre,
on poetries, on movies. The world history teaches us on that.
What are
your goals as an individual, and what are the common and daily things that you
try to introduce into your music?
Our goals, our dreams, our thoughts are the dominion
of darkness. My life is dedicated for this purpose. We’re trying to put on our
music all these values and beliefs. Black metal is a way of life, is a way of
extreme things on your life.
What are
the strangest place and the most shocking place you have been?
I make so many travels around the world. I don’t found
any strange place and any shocking place. If I “return” back, one shocking
place was the ring who I give my first fight like a kick-boxer.
What are
the touring plans?
We’re playing some shows here in Greece and in the
first days of July we fly to Texas and Mexico. Besides I’m working on many
shows and I’ll try to fix the dates. i salute all the blood-brothers around the
world who wants Varathron on stage! Total respect to them!!! See you soon!!!!
Are you already working on new material for the next
full length?
Of course we have some new tracks almost ready. I think we’ll start to record our new stuff on the first months of winter
2016-2017. The sound it still remains dark and evil and the new album will be
more obscure as we can. Everlasting blasphemy!!!!!
Thanks
for your time, Is there anything else you would like to add?
Thanx a lot for your support to us! Embrace our
abysmal sound and praise the darkness. Follow the paths of hades, thy kingdom
come!!!!
Stefan Necroabyssious
