HATE MANIFESTO from Greece awakened from a period of
hiatus and now the fierce sound of war metal unleashed strikes like a blitzkrieg.
W.S.P. (guitar/vocals) speaks about the band, war, hate and about those who
glorified death…
The band has been active since some time ago,
though under a different name/concept, so please tell us about the very
beginning and the transition from Carpathian Lords to Hate Manifesto.
The band was formed in the very beginning of 97'
by ex-member Conqueror Warfrost Armageddon and shortly after I joined in.
Me and Warfrost Armageddon were playing together
in another band at that time so he wanted to start a solo project and formed
Carpathian Lords.
Due to the lack of line up he asked me to join
in and handle the drums but I ended up composing the whole music and being a
solid member.
From 97' to 99' we recorded 2 demos in the
typical Scandinavian/Greek black metal style and gave many gigs locally.
Among all that we supported bands like Marduk,
Ancient Rites, Immortal etc. In 99' I was fed up by the incompetence of the
current line up failing to take the band a step further in extremity so I
handled everything by myself, changed half of the line up and the whole musical
style to what you hear now days more or less.
Why did you choose Hate Manifesto as the band
name, what´s the philosophy/concept behind the name?
Carpathian Lords did not represent us anymore as
the years were passing. We came up with that name when we were teens more or
less so it was very clear that we'll change the name sooner or later. That
happened in 2003 right before we went on hiatus.
I wanted something straight to the point that
could reflect also the feeling and vibe of the band's music and of course to
reflect all the negativity. The philosophy and concept behind Hate Manifesto
is total hatred and aversion towards whatever we consider sick or morally wrong.
It's a statement of total negativity for a world
that perpetuates filth and degenerates its own kind beyond any moral values.
When virtue slowly fades you must conquer the
oppressor to thrive.
Tell us about the band´s influences, as you are
and where involved in other bands, is it difficult to escape from the same
influences and ideas when you write for hate manifesto?
You can label Hate Manifesto as a blackened war
metal band.
Hate Manifesto differs from my other projects so
it's not difficult to compose the music.
You recorded guitars, bass, vocals and worked
with warhead (member of wargrinder) on drums, please tell us details of
the album recording and your feelings and sensation through the recording
sessions.
The album was recorded mixed and mastered at
incorporated m studios. Warhead came from Iceland to record the new Wargrinder
album and within few days he recorded "To Those Who Glorified Death"
also. Huge respect and appreciation goes towards him for recording the drums
absolutely ill and with high fever.
That's the kind of strength he possess as a man
and a personality and I’m really glad and honored that after so many years we
collaborated again for Hate Manifesto.
To Those Who Glorified Death is a strong title,
and surely with a strong meaning-concept behind, tell us about who are
those who glorified death and their homage-apology-exaltation
To Those Who Glorified Death is a homage to all
those who died in the battlefields through the centuries.
To those who sacrificed their lives for a higher
cause. to those who craved for dominance but also for virtue and valor. The
disciples of the iron shield.
The album cover shows a simple and direct image,
skulls and bones…
Straight to the point, nothing more nothing
less...
I love the album cover so simple but at the same
time so raw and meaningful.
Contrary, your logo shows a more complex idea, a
shield, a howling wolf, skulls… everything drawn by the great Christophe
Szpajdel.
Yes Christophe Szpajdel made the logo and it's
superb. He couldn't be more on point. It represents Hate Manifesto's music as
its best.
The shield and hammers represent the conqueror,
the wolf stands for the predator spirit and the skulls imply for death.
I’m curious about the song “Winter Wolf
Brigade”, what does the lyrics deal with?
It talks about a fictional winter battle.
Lets go back in time for a while and talk about
your first release (as hate manifesto), the split 7” with wargrinder. Are you
satisfied with that release? How do you look back at it now?
I love this release. It was the first release
after many years of hiatus and it came out with a killer horde such as
Wargrinder.
It couldn't be a better match than that. Also it
was the first time both bands were released on vinyl. Both tracks kill I love
this split. When I look back at it I recall all the strong emotions I had after
all these years collaborating with Warhead again and bringing Hate Manifesto
back to life.
The concept of the release was focused on war,
bullets on the cover artwork and the song “Perpetual Glorification of the
Eternal Symbols (of War)", please tell us about those eternal symbols of
war and their perpetual glorification.
Once again the cover is simple and it represents
war. The whole concept and track is a praise to war, dominance and eternal
victory. Hate Manifesto's concept has to do with war through the centuries so
some stereotypes of the genre can't be missing. A war never ends so it
perpetuates and gets glorified through eternity.
Back to the present, what releases of 2017 have
you enjoyed so far?
I don't listen to new releases mostly old stuff
it must be something really magnificent to pay attention.
But please make your self a favor and listen to
Wargrinder's in Suicidal Triumph album. A beast of an album and a gem for this
genre don't miss it.
Are you satisfied with Fistbang records? Will
you work with them for your next release?
Fistbang recs is a small and honest label and
yes I’m satisfied because I know and I see that their trying their best to
spread the new album. And in fact it's going pretty well.
John that owns the label is a friend and a
purist, you know sometimes it doesn't count how big is a label it's the
people's attitude that counts the most.
Do you discard adding new members for future
releases?
Yes. Hate Manifesto is a very close project and
I don't want other people to intervene in my work.
If there was a possibility for someone to join
the band that could be only Warhead to handle the drums.
I don't need something else beside a drummer
since I quitted drumming a long time ago. I do all the rest and thankfully I
don't need anyone else.
If you had the opportunity to represent a
character in the remake of an old movie (or get into the skin of the
original character), which character would you like to play?
hmm…that's a tough one…probably Jake la Motta
from Raging Bull or Jimmy Conway from Goodfellas...don't know so many
characters that I adore.
What are your next steps with hate manifesto and
with your other projects?
Nothing specific actually. I leave things to
take its course naturally.
I have some plans though for a new ep or a split
ep for next year regarding Hate Manifesto but we'll see how things will go
first...
As for Black Blood Invocation there's a 7'' ep
coming soon and a split 7'' for Cult Of Eibon coming next year. No rush
for nothing.
Thanks for your time, anything else I might have
missed out here, which you'd like to add?
Nope I think we covered everything Chris...
Thank you for this interview+support to Hate
Manifesto much appreciated brother.
War is hell.
