Things aren't positive, the situation is rough everywhere, but everything is in the eye of the beholder. Looking to the future, there are a lot of variations of how things are going to be. The picture doesn't look that great to be honest, and there is a lot to fear from. Many artists in Metal already made efforts to show the uglier side of the truth, of what can happen but many simply dismiss. The ongoing supergroup force of Death Metal, Siege Of Power, just released its new album, "This Is Tomorrow". There is a lot of distress and uncertainty. Steinmetal had a good talk with drummer, Bob Bagchus, to understand a little bit more.
Hello Bob, it is mighty great to have you for this talk about the new made experience of your band, Siege Of Power. How have you been doing sir?
Hello! Doing good and hopefully you too?
Yep, thank you. It was the first time for me to listen to Siege Of Power, and it was highly impressive, needless to say rough on the edges. Furthermore, it appears that this band is taking its time with releasing material, which is a good thing as pressure is never good for a musician. Other than the studio, does this band also play live on occasion? Were there earlier attempts with you guys being an international joint force?
Yes we took our time, no rush or pressure, that what this band is all about. Only fun. We do not play live though since it would be too much trouble in logistic ways.
It was a little while ago that you released your sophomore album, "This Is Tomorrow", once again by Metal Blade Records. It seems that things are going bleaker for everyone, and not just the close environment. What is the definition of the title for you? Where does it lead exactly?
Well, it is our view of the near future which does not look too positive with all the weird things going on at the moment caused by a very few lowlifes in politics. The cover artwork shows exactly how we see the world as it is today.
From what I could conjure from the songs, we have a lot to fear from as a society, not just as individual folks. I noticed a lot of destructive varieties to how we can meet our end, and there is a lot to take in. In your opinion, do you believe that your slap in the face, to those that mainly follow blindly after what they are being told, is helping?
Not sure if it is helping, probably not, but too many people still believe what they are told on what they see on the news and in those talk shows. It is all a big puppet theatre and all orchestrated.
The end comes in many ways. If we tread on out of the darkness, and into the light, in this particular case, do you think that "This Is Tomorrow", other than showing certain dark futures for the worldwide populace, offers a sign of comfort, something to rely on as a solution for our troubles, a solution for ourselves, or it is simply a no salvation case?
Well, that is up to the listener, but I think a lot can relate to what we see and notice but hopefully it helps to enjoy the day a bit more.
It appears that the artwork, made by Roberto Toderico, shows in a fine brutal sense, the version of events of brother will kill brother, people turning on each other, probably in the same of some false ideal. In a way, there is nothing that can stop this, and here we are going down in ruins. How do you find this artwork? Other than stating the obvious, what more does it tell you when you look at it?
Yes, Roberto did the artwork this time again and ,as always, he did an outstanding job at it. It represents our view of today's society and how people are driven forth by unknown dark forces who seems to control everything bullshitty in this world. Wherever it may be the big tech companies, the oil industry, the pharma, the banks.
Prior to my listening to "This Is Tomorrow", I thought to myself that there is going to be a lot of Dutch influenced Death Metal, more of the Asphyx or Hail Of Bullets direction. To my pleasure, it was more than that, things have gone quite diverse, and on nearly every front on this album. In your perspective, what was the progress made on "This Is Tomorrow" that made it different from the debut album? Furthermore, how did it continue to develop you guys as musicians?
Well, some influences can be heard but that is only logical but still Siege of Power sounds different than those bands mentioned above. The progress here is that the songs are more thought out than on our debut and we took more time for it all and had a more serious approach which can be heard actually. The debut was nothing more than a fun jam session which turned out pretty cool too, but the new album beats it at every front, song wise, production wise.
One of the key elements of "This Is Tomorrow", and also making an impact, is your vocalist, Autopsy's Chris Reifert. At first I thought that you had a few guests over the vocals, yet I found out rapidly that it was only him, the one singing on the entire record. Certainly, an impressive diversity right there, contributing to various vibes on the album. What is your take on the vocal front of the record?
Haha! Yes indeed, Chris has a lot of variety in his voice on the new album. He tried to give each song it's own identity and it worked out really great! He did a master job at this! He is showing here why he is one of the best vocalists in the extreme genre. Now each song has its own vibe from brutal heavy Death Metal to even more heavy/Speed Metal.
"This Is Tomorrow" shows your proud influences of the old school kind, and you put them to work in an exquisite deadly dance in the flames. What can you tell about mixing things up with what Siege Of Power stands for?
Siege of Power stands for our own fun, making music with friends and do what we want to do. We don't want to become the next big thing or whatever, not just fun but also taking it seriously. We take influences from the 80s, where we grew up in and blend them together.
Considering these influences, and your great experience as songwriters and veteran musicians, what can you tell about the songwriting process of the record?
Paul wrote like 80% of the songs and Theo contributed also great parts. At first Paul and I went into the studio and recorded the drums there. Paul had the songs on his mobile phone, so we listened to them one by one and started recording. Scavengers and Deeper Wound were made up right during the recordings by the way. Then Paul and Theo recorded their parts in Paul's own studio, and he send the songs to Chris who recorded his vocals in the studio of Autopsy's bass player.
One of the many challenges when writing songs is to find the edge between the lyrics and the vocals, "This Is Tomorrow" as a reflection to an upcoming doom, needed that tendency. What can you tell in regards to how you found that cohesion connecting the two aspects?
Well, that is Chris and his thing, he feels what song needs what kind of vocals. Is the song fast and aggressive then the vocals are too but is the song sludgy and stomping Death Metal then the vocals adjust to that vibe as well. It all fits perfectly.
Erwin Hermsen, who did some fine works in the past, fully engineered "This Is Tomorrow". From my end, the sound and mix of the record fit the Dutch style of Death Metal with finesse. There is a lot of roughness, tinged brutality but with class. What is your version of events when it comes to finding the right sound for the record?
He did a great job indeed. We told Erwin what we wanted and since he has a Death Metal background as well he knew what we meant and he pulled it off. The production on the new album suits the music perfectly, it's raw and brutal and it's our sound. He didn't need much time either.
When it comes to blasting it rough, in a kind of a deathly Motorheadish way, there is the religion reject "Sinister Christians". This is a head on assault, defying everything in its path without sounding complex or overly structured. For me, this is a standout hit, what are your thoughts about it?
The Devil's Grasp is actually very in the Motörhead style too. We all love Motörhead a lot and they were very important for the extreme site of metal, sort of godfathers since they were the first Metal band who was very hard. But yeah, Sinister Christians has that typical faster Motörhead tempo and vibe too it as well just as old Venom.
The groovy "Deeper Wounds" had me thinking about doomier examples of the past, crossing the 70s and early 80s, but with bludgeoning meaty riffs. In a special way, the main riff turned out to be the totem of the song, creating a great atmosphere that helps sail the lyrics to great fortunes. What can you tell about the creation of this track?
Paul and I wrote that song in the studio right after Scavengers who we also made up right there. Deeper Wounds has a Hammer heart feel to it and it very hymnist and majestic and sounds really "big". It is one of my fave songs with As the World Crumbles.
You just mentioned it. A darker, and doomier, yet with a kind of diversity that is unique, is "As the World Crumbles". A perfect example of a sort of an anomaly that carries the album to new horizons that have the potential of becoming supreme. What is your take on this song?
Yes, one of my absolute fave songs on the album. There is some Black Sabbath in there which we love a lot. It is slow and atmospheric but also intense and the vocals of Chris are so good, so powerful! I like the 70s feel of the song, that Black Sabbath main riff, it takes you to a forgotten place where is only death and dust.
Bob, it was good to have you for this talk, and it was a great ride for me with the album, I really can't wait for the next in line. Thank you sir and all the best to the guys. Cheers
Thank you for this interview and thanx for the nice words on our album. Cheers and Pröst
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