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Rob Urbinati
of Canadian Metal Legends SACRIFICE sat down for a interview with THE
METAL PIT. To discuss some of the history of SACRIFICE and how the
original lineup from those first 3 cds have reformed to make a killer
new cd with THE ONES I CONDEMN.
Metal Pit : Hi Rob, thanks for doing a interview for THE METAL PIT.
Rob
Urbinati: Thanks for having me, great website.
Metal Pit : Why did the band stop existing and making music?
Rob: Back in
1993, the metal world didn't really want any new thrash. Sacrifice
didn't feel comfortable adding new elements
to our sound...some of our peers added some alternative or other
influences to their sound, we just felt better breaking up.
We had stopped making forward progress and became disillusioned with
the music industry.
Metal Pit : Why now is the band back?
Rob: I think
mainly because it is fun again. It feels more like when we did our
first 2 albums, no pressure, just making
music. Sacrifice is not looking at making a huge comeback or
anything... the songs we have written, were too good not to
record, so here in 2009, we have a new album.
Metal Pit : Even though you only had a few albums back in the 80's you
are considered legends in Canadian metal always being named along with
Anvil, Exciter, and Razor as great Canadian metal bands of that era.
How does that make you feel?
Rob: It
feels great, it was an awesome time to be in a metal band. Honestly,
when people mention Sacrifice as legends, it is kind of humbling. We
had no idea when we started that 25 years later people would still be
interested in our music. Although
we didn't get really anything in terms of financial rewards, it is a
great feeling to have so many fans to this day.
Metal Pit : Back in the early days of Sacrifice you had the potential
to be as big as bands like Slayer/Testament etc. Why do you think you
never hit that level like they did?
Rob: I
always say that when we first started, we achieved all our goals within
about 2 years. We were very young and maybe didn't have the business
experience to take it to the next level. I can't say I regret anything,
we are happy with what we have achieved.
Metal Pit : Do you think being from Canada limited your chances
somewhat?
Rob:
Somewhat maybe, but Sepultura made it out of Brazil. Canada was always
great to us, and the most receptive nation to Sacrifice. We took the
time to go coast to coast a few times across this massive country and
people still mention those shows to me. We were on TV about every day
in Canada in the 80's so it wasn't like we didn't get any exposure
here.
Metal Pit : How would you compare your new release THE ONES I CONDEMN
to your other releases?
Rob: It is
definately recognizable as a SACRIFICE album. It has elements from our
first three albums, but I would compare it to "Forward To Termination"
mostly. We aren't really interested in getting on "Headbangers Ball" or
whatever, so the songs are pretty fast, and angry.
Metal Pit : How happy are you with the new cd?
Rob: After
we finished mixing, we all felt like it exceeded our expectations. This
is the best we have ever felt after recording
an album...that isn't just interview bullshit either "our best and
heaviest album...blah, blah", it is an album you can listen
to all the way through without skipping half the songs, and will be new
in your cd player for weeks, not days.
Metal Pit : What are the touring plans in support of this release?
Rob: None.
We aren't doing this to try and make a new career or anything, so
Sacrifice will be playing a few shows, but a tour
is out of the question.
Metal Pit : You have re released all the previous cds with extras. Why
did the band decide to do that?
Rob: Our CDs
were selling on ebay for sometimes $200, that is not fair for our
fans!!! Marquee had great ideas for extras and we were really overdue
for a rerelease. Bootlegs are usually terrible, so we wanted to make
the package great and take
bootlegs off the market.
Metal Pit : After your hiatus you performed a reunion/annivesary show
in Toronto in 2006. What was playing that show like?
Rob: That
show in Toronto was our best show ever I believe, the feeling in the
building was incredible. I will never forget that night.
Metal Pit : What were your personal influences back when you started
and are you influenced by any of the metal bands
that have come out in the last 10 years?
Rob: My main
personal influences starting out were Cronos, Hetfield, Araya, Bailoff
for vocals, and on guitar the guys from Priest, Maiden, Mercyful Fate,
Metallica, Exodus, Slayer, that type of stuff. I like a lot of metal
that has come out in the last 10 years but I wouldn't look at anyone as
an influence. I find nothing hits me like that early stuff did.
Metal Pit : What do you think of the metal scene today as compared to
back in the late 80's?
Rob: I find
bands feel like they have to fit into genres, and sub-genres too much
now and never deviate from that. Sacrifice, Razor, Possessed, Voivod,
Dark Angel, Celtic Frost, Agent Steel were all considered thrash, but
were really diverse. If all those bands came out today, I'm pretty sure
that someone would find dumb new genres to group everyone into. I liked
it better even before thrash when everything just fit into the genre of
Heavy Metal.
Metal Pit : Your toured along sides many great bands. Is there any
bands that stand out above the rest as ones that really showed you what
a metal band should be?
Rob: Funny
enough, it was a hardcore band. C.O.C. we used to play with
occasionally before they were considered metal or southern rock. They
were just really cool to everyone, bands, fans...we were pretty young
and it was great when we first started playing to have them show us
that bands don't have to have stupid attitudes and act like rock stars.
Early thrash was like that. Exodus was another band we played with
early on that didn't have the star attitude and really blew us away
with their musical chops.
Metal Pit: What are some of your favourite songs from the new album?
Rob:
Tetragrammaton, The Ones I Condemn and The Great Wall are my favorites.
Metal Pit: Is this the year the Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley
Cup?
Rob: Of
course!!! I always think the Leafs will win the Cup haha! I am a HUGE
Leafs fan. We all are actually.
Metal Pit: Follow up question....will Sacrifice volunteer to play at
the Stanley Cup Parade???
Rob: I would
probably volunteer to play at Leafs rookie training camp, so, yeah.
Metal PIt: I see on Arch Enemy's Live Apocalypse DVD interview section
and Michael Amott wearing a SACRIFICE t-shirt. How does it make you
feel when you see someone in a highly acclaimed metal band wearing the
shirt of your band?
Rob: Michael
is a friend of mine, I think I might have given him that one...but that
is amazing to see. We are Arch Enemy/Spiritual Beggars/Carcass fans.
Every now and then we see Sacrifice shirts onstage or on album
covers..but yeah, that is great.
Metal Pit: What metal bands do you like to listen to and any bands you
would love to tour with either for the first or again?
Rob: Some
bands I like are Entombed, Unleashed, Arch Enemy, Carcass, Cannibal
Corpse, and obviously all the old stuff I grew up with. If we were a
touring band, Behemoth would be cool, I think they're great live. Alice
In Chains can take us out anytime. Some of the bands we got along with
really well that would be cool to tour with are Razor and
Believer...that would make a pretty solid lineup!!!
Metal Pit: Is this new release a one shot thing or do you see doing
another album in a few years if everything works out?
Rob: Hard to
say right now. If we did, it would have to be better. If we couldn't
move forward I wouldn't want to make a Sacrifice CD just for the sake
of doing it. We felt the same way about "The Ones I Condemn", if it
didn't represent what Sacrifice is
about, we wouldnt have recorded it.
Metal Pit: For someone that knows nothing about the band SACRIFICE what
would you say to them to give them the reason to listen
to SACRIFICE.
Rob: We
don't care about "making it"...our goal is to write memorable songs
that are as fast and heavy as possible, you won't
hear much melody, you won't hear clean vocal choruses, but you will
hear a real drum performance...we sound like a real band not a computer
studio edited band.
Metal Pit: At your ages what inspires you to go out and play
speed/thrash evil metal?
Rob:
Speaking for myself, I never stopped loving this music. For whatever
reason, I still feel compelled to play this stuff. When I finally
decide to stop playing in Sacrifice, I will continue listening to
metal...I am a lifer.
Metal Pit: Thank you for doing this interview and what do you want to
say to old and new SACRIFICE fans out there?
Rob: Great
interview Blake, thanks. To everyone else...thank you for your support
over the years and We hope you enjoy "THE ONES I CONDEMN".
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