Marcin Sienkiel
Azarath
Hell-o! I feel perfect. Thank you for the invite for this interview. I've just opened my beer and during listening to the new Benediction album and I start answering your questions.
Yes, currently we live in very strange reality. Often, I feel like an alien in my home country... During the pandemic, our government is taking rapid decisions often without any sense. I completely do not understand such approach… Why during the pandemic these fools vote for abortion instead of focusing on a plan to recover economy… For provocation only. On the other hand, I see that Polish society start to wake up from this lethargy. We started to protest against the government as well as the church, which is conservative, closed for progress and full of paedophiles. We started to protest generally against PIS not only because of the implemented by them more restricted abortion law which limit women's laws. They constantly change the law against the constitution and start to drive the country towards catho-comunism… Furthermore, they're dividing the Polish society, causing hate and violence between us.
As you can see, it is a serious problem, if peoples risk their own health and walk in protests. Sick government… Fuck them all.
We had restrictions and total lockdown from March till end of May 2020, however, I was really busy at that time. We composed songs for new Azarath album. I was focused on composing and practicing my guitar skills. I had more time for my family as well. It was not bad.
However, during the second wave of the pandemic it started to get annoying. Currently, again, we have cancelled gigs and we don't know what new restrictions we can expect. Together with dark grey weather sometimes, my life has become depressive… I think that this madness will finish when pharmaceutical corporations sell vaccines and all of us have to take it. However, I don't fully believe that this pandemic is so deadly. Of course, older peoples should be isolated or take more care of themselves, but younger people should live normally. I hope that this panic will finish soon.
Of course I do. I miss the live shows, seeing maniacs under the stage and feeling the adrenaline. It is the main reason why we do it. I cannot imagine that only streaming gigs will be possible. I love taking part in gigs as the maniac in the crowd as well. I want to feel emotions, listening to loud music, meeting with friends, drinking beers and generally enjoying life. Streaming will never replace such feelings. I hope that this circus will finish soon. Otherwise, I will fall in depression haha.
Generally, we are proud of this album. It cost us lots of effort to compose and then fix all ideas together. Especially during lockdown, it was not easy. We had no single rehearsal while composing new songs. Three days before the studio session, we've met and played all of the stuff and that's it. Of course, the main work was done individually at home. Now when I listen to this album I am impressed with the final effect which exceeds my expectations. I'm proud and happy.
"Saint Desecration" can be interpreted in several ways. On the one hand, it can be treated as the rebellion against all religions, false dogma and other manipulation tools. The single word "saint" is pure form of utopia. People are usually blinded by religion in theory, striving for being ideal, but in reality, most of them are steered and exploited by sect for sect purposes.
They become enslaved, trying to force others to follow the same way, even if you don't want or do not agree with them. They are able even to kill in the name of imaginary god using religion for justification. Nevertheless, each life can be treated as the saint gift, which must be finally destroyed to allow rebirth of a new one. It is eternal law of nature necessary for any progress.
As I mentioned before religion is simply tool for manipulation and great machine for getting money and dominating over believers. I'm definitely against it. I usually name them black mafia (especially relating to polish church but not only). They all are above the law, they own huge fortunes and still taking more. Totally possessed by greed. This whole shit is deeply corrupted. I still cannot understand why so many peoples are still sitting in this saint shit.
Saint Desecration is a half divided album, if we take into consideration the lyrics. "No Salvation", "Death at Will", "Beyond the Gates"…, "Life is Death" and "Sancta dei Meretrix" these five has been written by Greg Gwizdz. He is fascinated in ancient Aghori cultures. Mentioned lyrics coming from his hand are more philosophic with second bottom that can be variously interpreted. Fascination the act of death and journey just after... Remaining lyrics are mine. With blasphemy approach to all what is pseudo saint. It's hard to say what is closer to me. It depends on my feeling and state of mind. Both concepts fit me personally.
I think that "Saint Desecration" includes many influences. Each of us is deeply rooted in death and black metal early 90's… We love death and black metal bands from that period. During composing often each of us return to that golden years. During the recording sessions, we mainly focused on the most natural sound. We tried to mix classic death metal with black metal nostalgia to achieve something fresh. I think that "Saint Desecration" is full of energy and included pure devil which is quite rare in other current death metal productions.
For sure, the "Saint Desecration" sound is not plastic and clear as fuck, what you can often meet in current modern productions. Inferno completely resign any trigger on the drums, what caused that drums to sound natural. We recorded this album old school style and finally gave it an analogue sound. I think that such approach is quite rare in nowadays productions. Sterile productions kill the devil aren't they? We mixed several genres of extreme metal music. The effect is that we obtained various and really sick material.
I don't remember peak moments to be honest. All songs were created quite spontaneously. We had the time due to corona lockdown and we fully used it for composing. Before we achieved the final shape of the album, we threw away many riffs. Our purpose was singular; this album must kick ass otherwise we will not record any riff. Because it was my first album, I decided to prepare/record pre productions with vocals to see whole picture. And it was a great idea. We could rearrange some parts in the whole structures of the songs (drums, guitars, vocals) before and in the studio. It saved a lot of time and stress. Such approach I implemented for the first time in my music career but for sure, it was a worthy effort. The final effect satisfied all of us and saved time and our potential frustration haha.
The main challenge for me was to fit Azarath's style and in parallel to try to add something fresh inside. In the beginning, Bart and Inferno rejected many of my riffs before we achieved a common direction. It's normal especially in the beginning of any cooperation. I needed time to change a little bit of my style and focus on previous albums more than simply listen to it. Finally, after many attempts, the effect has been achieved. Second challenge was the vocals. I knew that my throat sound is completely different in compare to Necrosodom or Bruno. However, when the new songs appeared and I had completed lyrics, I used my imagination and just started to arrange track by track. It took many evenings before I was completely satisfied with my role.
Maybe I will start with second part of the question. The chemistry with other Azarath band members was perfect from the first meeting, when I was invited for a rehearsal during "application" process. We felt very good vibrations while playing the songs and after normal discussions. After rehearsal, I subconsciously felt that we would play and compose together. The common tour with Immolation in 2017 just stamped our friendship.
Regarding question what I brought to Azarath would be better to ask Inferno or Bart however, what can I say is that for sure I brought with me passion for the music, full involvement in band life and composing process.
Yes, it is chaotic and aggressive. We added during the recording sessions additional vocals arrangements and with a creepy effect. The riffs are brutal and dirty. This song is essence of evil and fury. I agree for sure that it would be a killer during live shows. I cannot wait for performing it live.
I'm really glad that all Azarath band members are open for new ideas. Of course I had to fit into the style a little bit however, some of my style I smuggled into the compositions and this result ended up as a variety within the album, as well as some new melodies. If nothing will change (I'm sure that current collaboration is on perfect level and will stay for the future) yourself and listeners can expect further progress of Azarath music.
From my own band experience, I know that if in band you have influential members than machines, everything clicks. For sure, new melodies will appear in the future and after longer collaboration will be even better.
You are right, it is hard to choose the strongest one, because I like whole album as the completed act of art. However, my personal favourite song is "Beyond the Gates of Burning Ghats". From composing and lyric aspect, this song really fits my vision that looks like a journey through the gates of death. If you add the music you will get perfect mixture for contemplation.
To be honest I cannot imagine stream live with Azarath. I think that we all don't feel such need. Personally, I would feel strange playing gig without audience. It would be more form of clip and actor role than real concert expression. However, if such opportunity will appear and rest of Azarath approve streaming live idea I will not refuse.
Thank you
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