|
|
Solstice
Here we
have an interview with British epic doom metallers SOLSTICE, rhythm guitarist
Rich answered the questions...
What has SOLSTICE been
up to since the release of the cd? Any new songs ready?
Since the release of the CD we have completed two tours. One in the UK with
Sweden's Count Raven (14 shows) and one which took us to
Germany,Holland,Belgium,Sweden, Denmark,Poland,Lithuania,Czech Republic,Russia
(24 shows) with Anathema. We have drunk much ale and whiskey and bested many
toes and been busy writing new material for our next album "New Dark
Age". We have several new songs ready for it such as "To Ride With
Tyr","Jehad","New Dark Age","September
Dusk","Halcyon","Sleeping Tyrant", "The
Ravenmaster" which are more epic and heavier than ever!! To band us over
until the release of the next album we will release a new EP on June
15th,MCMXCV on Germany's Stormstrike Records in either 10" vinyl or
Mini-CD formats - more about that later on. Incidentley the title of the EP is
"Halcyon"....
What happened to the
original recording of the album? Any plans of releasing them maybe as ep's or
something?
The original demos for the album were just that,demos! They were recorded for
our own benefit to get a more accurate interpritation of the material. If someone
offered us,yes we would release them as a limited edition EP on certain
conditions and a cash incentive...we shall be demoing several new tunes over
the next couple of months in different studios before we record the full-album.
What do you think of the
band SERENITY,as it features some x-SOLSTICE members? Are you good friends?
I am not a big fan of power metal,I like only Doom metal really. We know the
bass-player really well - he's a nice guy. We don't know the other four at all.
How come your original
second guitarist now plays drums in the band?
Because he's a multi-talented Dutch genious. Sadly though,Lennaert had to move
back to Holland so we had to get a new drummer by the name of Sean Steeles -
he's immensely powerful and has given us a new edge - Hail to Sean for his
dedication and Hail to Lennaert for his time with the band - best of luck my
friend! We are all pretty (We're not. We're ugly and evil,ha ha!-HE & MM)
diverse as for playing goes. John plays lead guitar + bass,Chaz plays bass + lead
guitar,Sean plays drums + bass, Simon sings + plays rhythm guitar and I play
rhythm guitar,bass + drums! We all practice different instruments in case of
emergancy (if one member was injured). Strange but true...
Tell me something about
this tour you did...
Aye. It was a mighty crusade indeed around the shores of mainland Europe with
our bretheren in the band Anathema over a period of four weeks,November
MCMXCIV. We consumed much ale,played many live shows,met hordes of fellow
drunks + warriors and paved the way for our next Euro-crusade later this year
with Blasphemer maybe - who knows. Anyway,some of highlights include playing to
over 3000 people in Poland,in Lithuania there was 2500 people. Getting mobbed
in Poland by fans. Meeting up with Jochen Fopp of Mirror Of Deception (Write
me,mate!-HE) in Germany. Also renewing aquantences in Sweden with Count Raven
and our old drinking partners Nezgaroth. Aye,much was acheived and allegiances
forged in blood over a cup of finest ale - Hail to all we met on the tour,we
shal meet again!
Your opinions on the
following:
Vikings and Viking beliefs?Vikings and Viking culture plays a large part
in Solstice (as does our Celtic Heritage too). Members of the band belong to
the military brotherhood of Jomsborg (a dark age re-enactment group). We do not
do this as a fashion or pose,and anyone who would cast doubts upon our
integrity - we will meet you on the field of battle in Horten ,Norway in the
month of June MCMXCV. We shall be there - will all the posers though...
Finnish ice-hockey teams? They should learn how to fight. They have the
combat skills of a new born baby...
Candlemass? Excellent. Sweden's greatest band who sadly grace us no more
with their dark anthems of woe. Still,at least the mighty Count Raven are still
with us.
Horny housewives? This would be best answered by John as he has a
passion for more mature women but the less said about that the better.
There have been many
line-up changes within the band. Have you never just though about splitting up
the band because of this?
We never thought about splitting because we have much passion for what we do.
The only reason we would ever split would be if all the members felt we had
achieved what we set out to do and had no more to offer. As it stands,we
haven't and we have! Even though,if we said split up we would regroup under a
different banner and continue to create epic material anthems of true doom
metal.
Why did you decide to
play this kind of music? Why didn't you get a death metal vocalist like
everybody else when you started? Don't you think it might have been a lot
easier for you get noticed with a death metal singer?
We all love the dark,slow and morbid sounds of this genre. It appeals and fits
with our persona's. I could not see us playing anything else. Yes it would have
been easier for us to get noticed by a narrow minded death metal scene with a
death metal vocalist,but we are a Doom metal band who prefer to adhere to the
grand traditions as set by such timeless classics as Black Sabbath,Saint Vitus
and Candlemass. Then again we are also influenced and inspired by other bands
such as Manowar,Bathory and Celtic Frost too.
Why the name SOLSTICE?
Have you never thought of copywriting the name because of the (at least) two
other SOLSTICE's?
The name Soltice is just one of the many tacets of our own beliefs - we are not
a fucking christian band and although many of our true doom brothers are,wish
nothing more than to see this weak and oppresive bastianof Western society
destroyed. It has nothing to do with our ways. The name is not ours to
copywright. It's a time of ancient religious (pagan) festival - we only
borrowed it from our ancestors. And so we would never consider such an act.
Shit American death metal band take note - you are not worthy of such a
glorious moniker! I believe the reasonable Dutch outfit of the same name have
no problems with us and we have no plans to have them change it.
Tell me something about
the idea behind the cover of the album...
It's a time of mourning (Where are they now?-HE), when one of the mightiest
warriors is laid to rest by the rest of his bretheren! Because of the
connection between Solstice and the Jomsvikings we used it as a tribute to them
- Hail! Of course we have an interest in all Ancient North European cultures
(we are not interested in the supposed superiority of one over another) and
wish to see our histories and heritages preserved, not used in some bastarised
fashion game by adolescent ex-black metallers.
What is the greatest
thing about being in SOLSTICE? Why? What is your favorite SOLSTICE track?
The music and the ale,mixed with our brotherhood. Every day brings us a new
challenge and strengthens our convictions,this itself is rewarding. I love playing
shows and basically creating new musical and lyrical works which we can share
with others. Tales of bravery,heroic quests,soul destroying misery and lost
love. My favorite songs are "Only The Strong" + "Winter Moon
Rapture".
The music and the
lyrics. Who does them? Does the whole band do them or just one or two
individuals?
The music and lyrics are created by all (I thought he was in Abruptum?-HE
playing dumb). We are a band and not a single egotistic entity. No one takes
credits over another. To me,that would be selfish and we could not play as a
band without each other.
For how many albums is your deal with Candlelight? Are you happy with
them so far? How many copies has the album sold?
Our deal with
Candlelight is for as many albums as we can be bothered. Both Solstice and
Candlelight can choose not to work with the other whenever we wish. There is no
pressure from either side. To be honest, I and the rest of the band are unhappy
with the promotion we have recieved but this shall be rectified or things will
happen which will cause much grief. The problem lies with the distribution
company, Plastic Head. They suck shit from the festering bowels of a leperous
pig! I fucking hate them. They are liars and cheats. Soon we shall smite them
mercilessly for their crimes. I have no idead how many copies we have sold at
this moment in time and do not wish to make a guess due to our
"friends" at Plastic Head cheating us and Candlelight.
Seen any good porno
movies lately?
Yes,at least two (one of them was hilarious). Have you? (No not in a while. The
last one was "Virgin Treasures" I think...-HE)
Last words,thank to
me,what you've got for sale,etc...
Aye,thanx and Hail for this my friend. Anyone who wants a shirt in Europe send
$16 to us. If you want a copy of the "Halcyon" EP then send 20 German
Marks (It will be hard to find 20 German guys called Mark,ha ha!-HE,trying to
be funny) to Stormstrike Records. The "Lamentations" album is
availble from Candlelight Records or order it in your local store. Hail + Kill
to all who support,we cherish and thank you eternally. Crusade! Rich...
You can contact this cool guy at
the following address:
SOLSTICE,
c/o 105 Garden Street,
Ravensthrope,
Dewsbury,
W.Yorks,
WF13 3AN,
ENGLAND
and/or their label(s) at:
STORMSTRIKE RECORDS,
Kollmersreuterstr.12,
79312 Emmendingen,
GERMANY
and
CANDLELIGHT RECORDS,
P.O.Box 328,
High Wycombe,
Bucks,
ENGLAND