Interview with vocalist  Matthias of SATYROS.        Interview by Blake. May 2010.

         

Biography:

Formed in 2005 by Andreas, Matthias and André as a Black Metal Band, the band’s musical style was soon to be enriched with elements taken out of different genres, e.g. classic metal riffs etc.

In 2007, Satyros released their self-titled debut feature. Afterwards, they participated in several podcasts and decided to record a video clip for their song “Loyal to the Crown of Frost”, taken from the debut.

Both the album as well as the video recording process had been accomplished almost totally single-handedly.

Furthermore, the band took part in the above-listed, multinational underground compilation initiated from Lithuania.

 

Already during the enduring promotional work for their debut, Satyros started with the songwriting for the successor album. While creating new songs, the band soon realized that the sound would be plainly different than it had been on their debut, inclining more and more towards Melodic Death Metal sound including dark elements, due to the band’s aim to develop on a broader level musically and artistically. The lyrics thematize human state of minds, philosophy and mythology ever since.

 

Discography:

2007: Saytros (full-length, self-titled)

2009: A Day of Rain (Promo-Ep for the upcoming, yet untitled 2^nd album)

 

THE METAL PIT:     How/why did you decide on the band name SATYROS?

Matthias:          We were looking for a name both short, easy to bear in mind and representing, but also neutral in a certain way that it should not limit the band’s style and music to a specific genre.

Therefore, we found Satyros a very suitable name reflecting personal traits, our music and its meaning. The name is derived from the Satyrs, creatures mentioned in Greek mythology, which is also used for metaphorical themes in our lyrics.

How did the band come together?

Satyros had been founded in late summer 2005 by three friends, namely Andreas, André and me (Matthias) as an Old-school Black Metal band.  The idea originally came up while we were visiting a metal festival as we used to do every summer. It was Andreas asking me how I thought about forming a band and as we went on talking the whole day about creating some really cool old-school stuff, it didn’t take long for André to become interested in joining too.

And so here we are, in original line-up since the days back then!

Are you planning on adding a drummer for touring or moving further with the band?

Well, we are not actually searching for a drummer, but we would nevertheless be interested in someone willing to contribute to our music in order to develop our sound. So, if you who are reading this and maybe think about joining us, just contact us on Myspace or via email (for addresses, please find they stated at the end of the interview).

However, if you are about doing so, please bear in mind the following things before you write us:

You should be a skilled, experienced and passionate drummer, willing to contribute your ideas to steadily improve our music. Furthermore, you should be aware that Satyros is primarily a studio band, so your skills would be appreciated firstly in songwriting, for we are not planning on playing live in the next future.

 

You started out a strictly black metal band but have been changing to be more melodic and expanding the music. Is this a natural progression or something you thought you needed to do as a band?

It was both a natural progression and the need to do that. We started as a Black Metal band because we wanted to create a tribute to the sound of Norwegian Black Metal back in the 90’s.

However, by the time, we released our debut in 2007; all of us knew for sure, that if we were going to proceed as a band, we would progress and improve our sound, which led to those significant changes within our musical style. For all of us, it is very important to develop and also put in new elements with every upcoming album we do, for this is what keeps creating songs interesting to us.

 

What are the bands influences?

Our influences are manifold, not restricted to music only. Be it nature, life, emotions, good movies etc; anything that leaves a great, lasting impression on us could end up as an (un-)conscious influence interwoven into our songs.

As vocalist who are your own personal influences?

During the time of the debut album where I have been training singing for some months, I oriented myself by vocal styles of various well-known Black Metal vocalists to learn some basics of extreme vocals, but it is important to find your very own way and to steadily improve it by experimenting and training techniques. However, I am still interested in outstanding vocal styles and therefore always eager to get creative ideas for more experiments.

You currently have a 4 song ep out that is a preview of your next full length release. How is the recording on your next full length coming?  

We are currently recording vocal tracks for the songs of our upcoming album to be entitled ‘RIVEN’. All other instruments have already been recorded. We are not sure how long mastering, editing and producing will take; but hopefully, we will release it in late summer or maybe fall this year.

What will the listeners expect to hear on the next full length recording?

With the ongoing promotion for the actual EP ‘A Day of Rain’, featuring 4 songs taken from the upcoming album, listeners most likely will expect a musical style and sound similar to the tracks on this EP and this is what the album will sound alike. We included a lot of interesting structures and details into the yet unreleased songs, did some further experiments and are working on an improved mix and production compared to the EP. All in all, listeners can expect a Melodic Death Metal album with a gloomy, intense atmosphere and songs we are really proud of. Hopefully, people will like what we are creating right now the way we do!

 

Have you started to do any live shows or do you have any in the planning?

We have started as a studio band, and we were and still are above all focusing on creating interesting and inspiring music instead of giving live shows our first priority.

The band unfortunately has not the possibility to steadily rehearse for live shows, for all the members are very busy with their university studies and various exams. Furthermore, Andreas is living several hours by car away from where André and I are situated, which makes it all in all difficult to prepare gigs etc.

 

 

 

How important do you feel the lyrics are?

To me, lyrics are almost as important as the music itself. Music, artwork, lyrics, all elements combined should form an artistic synthesis, if one intends to create a great piece of art. Outstanding lyrics are able to add a further lasting emotion and feeling to a song which might leave an all in all more intense impression on the audience.

 

How is the song writing process with the band? (do you write all the lyrics/music, is it all combined is what I am asking here)

Andreas and André are the band’s songwriters. They start experimenting with sounds and riffs, then one by one forming a structure and add more and more details to the song.

As soon as the song’s structure is more or less accomplished, I start writing the lyrics.

Where do you get inspiration for your lyrics?

Mostly I am inspired by life itself, the experiences we make as humans, every emotion we share. Further influences are various novels, philosophy, mythology, and great arts in general, be it music, movies, pictures etc.

 

Did you take any vocal training or just learned on your own?

I started practicing on my own, without ever having taken any vocal training before.
Later, as I began experimenting with different sounds and vocal styles, I realized the importance of basic vocal skills, e.g. warm-up sessions for the vocal chords etc., and so I got myself some instructional DVD’s and books. 

 

Is there one vocalist that you heard or seen that really made you want to be a singer?

There is not really the one vocalist that made me want to become a singer as well. I think that every singer blessed with the gift to really reflect the lyrics’ deepest and even most extreme emotions using his / her singing and vocal style is a great inspiration for anyone who is into singing.

Tell us about the rest of the band? 

Andreas and André, the other founding members of Satyros, are responsible for the songwriting, as mentioned above. Andreas takes over guitar and bass recordings, programming and our album production while André also records his guitar tracks and moreover adds backing vocals on some of our songs. So all the great tracks you can hear on our records are created by them. Apart from making music, both of them are studying mechanical engineering, they also like doing sports and watching good movies.

Do you have any closing thoughts for this interview?

Well, we’d like to thank you very much for giving us the opportunity to doing this interview and also give our regards to all of you interested in Satyros and our music, thank you for the support!

If you would like to contact us for any questions, to get more info or to inquire about the actual EP or our debut album, you can easily reach us by following the stated addresses:

www.myspace.com/satyrosband

satyros29805@gmx.de

 

Thanks for reading and take care, horns up!