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Interview with Jan Kruitwagen of the Dutch Black Metal Band Sammath |
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Diabolical Conquest (Chaossphere): Hi Jan, thanks for doing this interview. First off, for the benefit of those who've not heard Sammath, how would you describe the band's sound and influences (both musical and ideological)? Sammath (Jan): Fast and furious black metal with some death, thrash influences. Dark but melodic. Influences are countless, from early 80s thrash to the latest black metal. My lyrics deal with war, death, arrogance, strength and foremost hatred towards religion and a fascination of war and death. The inevitable. I try to stay clear of satanic lyrics, due to the fact that I can't write or stand behind fake lyrics, im not a Satanist, it enjoy chaos.
DC: So no “Orthodox” silliness here aye? Good to know.. Do you prefer writing lyrics in Dutch or English? Sammath: I prefer writing in English these days, due to my Aussie background it's a lot easier to write English lyrics, Dutch though sends filthier and dirtier then any other language in black metal, only German would sound more evil. No orthodox stuff, no, not my thing at all. Actually it's very funny to read reviews of Dodengang, some call it very technical (obviously its not) and others say it's too simple…
DC: The new album "Dodengang" is clearly the most refined and powerful Sammath release to date. How did you approach the creation of this one differently? Obviously having a live drummer made a lot of difference. Sammath: Thanks very much, I think its just progression. If one in satisfied with a album you never really get a chance to get any better. I think I, along with most that create music, hearing an album when its finished is not rewarding at all. Only the first weeks after a release I am satisfied, then i start to think, that could have been better, or that part should have continued longer, or shorter.
DC: Your lyrics seem very destructive and violent. When writing them, do you envision a utopian un-christian world beyond the destruction, or is it purely wiping everything out for the Hell of it? Sammath: A combination of both. Hard to explain but ill give it a go. I am not at all pissed off at life; I have a great life, enough cash to get by. A nice girlfriend big fucking house, im self employed and enjoy what I do. I simply can't stand most people, ignorant idiots. Black metal to me is my lifestyle, wild and chaotic, not living by rules or doing what is expected. Christians and muslims, or any believe is what pisses me off the most. I think in a couple of hundred years people will have a good laugh about the stupidity of our times. If one has any intelligence at all it to me seems quit obvious that we are nothing more then animals. We seem to have a weakness for calling everything we don't understand god's work, that's a very ignorant and pathetic way at looking at things if you ask me. The church and the Koran have made sure millions stay ignorant. I simply love the way we all slaughter each other every 60 years or so. I would never die for any country, let alone any religion. Just the thought that someone would blow themselves up to get into heaven or whatever is quite amusing.
DC: So it's more a theme of disgust or disdain than blind anger and hatred? Sammath: I really try to combine both, disgust for religions and 99 % of the world population, mostly ignorant and very boring people. I could go on about this for hours….Blind anger is probably just as much a part, I really don't know, its just a fuck you to everyone else, as long as pure enjoyemnet of creating this type of music.
DC: Sammath is currently a 2-man project with you doing all the stringed instruments and songwriting. Do you envision ever expanding the lineup or is it just so much easier this way without any outside ideas corrupting your vision? Sammath: We have a complete line up these days, but I still have difficulty accepting the fact that the other band members would write any music, I don't think it would be Sammath anymore then. My thoughts and creations are Sammath. As you state, it would corrupt not only my vision, but also it would not be Sammath anymore. The new guitar player is damn good, her ideas are very good, but its simply not Sammath, maybe I will bow down, I cant keep expecting band members to only perform live and keep them out of the writing of a new album. That's simply not done, they have accepted this for some years, but times are changing.
DC: What musical direction to do you see future releases taking? Since "Dodengang" is mostly a bit more melodic and epic than the chaos of "Verwoesting/ Devastation" (although still quite vicious), do you think you'll head further into that direction or make a return to outright carnage? Sammath: I have no idea really, I think it will develop again, I want to combine verwoesting and Dodengang on the next album, but I never set out with a goal, it simply occurs. From what I am experiencing with the band now I think it will be a damn a fast and melodic album, combining lots of metal ideas, but I am certainly looking to expand into other areas, I think progression is necessary or death should follow.
DC: Sounds like a promising prospect! Do you think the songs will be mostly long (mostly between 5 and 9 minutes) again on the next one? Sammath: I really haven't got a clue, I never write tracks that have to be a certain length, and somehow with this cd it just ended up this way. I never sit down and think to myself, this track has to be longer then the other one, I just screw around and in the end most tracks always seem to be very long, ill try to shorten some on the next album though, sometimes you just need a fast, short track to keep people from falling asleep,
DC: What is your opinion on the current worldwide black/death metal scene? Sammath: Healthy but overfull, there are too many crap bands, their are to many crap labels. And most off all, there are too many idiots. But the scene will cleanse itself.
DC: Yeah, shit sinks to the bottom. Do you have any final words to say before this interview is cast into the infernal depths of the internet? Sammath: Metal or death!!!!
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