What was the response on Tenet's album, Sovereign ? You shouted as ever on this record...
Steve
Souza : That was a fun record to make. It is the only album I have ever
done in my career where I didn’t write anything on it! I sang what was given to
me. Jed Simon created that project and I was featured as a guest singer.
Basically the record company wanted a known vocalist so they approached me to
do it. I had time so I did it. It was a great experience and the response was
pretty good in the metal community. The record didn’t get a big push, and a lot
of fans don’t even know that it exists, but I do agree that I screamed my
fucking ass off on that one!
Let us
know about the beginning of Hatriot ? Is the so-called thrash metal revival
gave you the impulsion
to start the project ?
Actually
the thrash revival had nothing to do with it. I was against starting a new band
at this age,
just because
it seemed like a ‘no-win’ situation. There are too many bands and the industry
doesn’t
support
bands like they did in my glory days. What happened was I went to a show in
town to watch my sons
play. One of the bands on the bill was called Kranial Damage, and they had an
amazing guitar player named Kosta Varvatakis. I was blown away by the kid and I
approached him after their set and we talked metal for a couple hours and
really hit it off. We exchanged numbers and started writing together, and
that’s what led to the formation of Hatriot. We made some demo recordings and I
let my peers hear them. They all had the same reaction – they pushed me to form
a band with the guy. So I did, and the rest is history !
What's
your most vivid memory of the recording process of "Heroes Of Origin"
? Has there been any difference in the writing/recording process today for you
?
My most
vivid memory is probably how easy and painless it was to record it. We were a
well rehearsed machine before we even got to the studio, and then producer Juan
Urteaga made it so comfortable it almost felt like just hanging at the house
with friends. It was very painless. The writing process is a simple one as
well. Kosta, my guitarist, writes and arranges everything, and then teaches the
band the material. The guys will then add their own fire to the riffs and they
will record a jam room demo of the song. From there I take the recording home
and write all the lyrics. We have it down to a science at this point.
What's the
story behind the album's cover ?
Mark
DeVito did the artwork and layout. You’ll have to ask him what the story is
because I told him we wanted a band picture on the front, and for him to take
it from there and make it sick and brutal. He added all kinds of war scenes and
carnage, and in my opinion the record cover is fucking amazing. It definitely
jumps out and grabs your attention. People can spot that album cover all the
way across the record store, and that was the idea. Mark did a great job.
Thrash is
now including more influences from the extreme metal. I think that's a little
bit more restrictive
than in the 80's. What is your opinion ?
I think it
is because the bands coming up are younger and have a wider variety of
influences. Hatriot is no exception. The guys in my band like a lot of death
and black metal, and they add that sound to the thrash foundation that I bring
to the table. Back in the day we had no idea what we were doing. We just wanted
to play fast. We liked Diamond Head and Venom, but we also liked Motorhead and
some of the faster punk bands. That meshed all together became thrash metal and
there was no blueprint at the time. It was very genuine and pure. Now there are
all kinds of extreme metal bands that kids are influenced by. There were not so
many in the 80’s.
Have you
seen the book Murder In The Front Row of Harald Oimeon & Brian Lew ? Do you
have special
memories when you see the first photos of Legacy at Ruthie's Inn ?
I have
seen the book and it is fucking amazing. The pictures definitely bring me back
to a time when we were
all about making a name for ourselves. Metal was new and fresh, and we had no
idea that we were
changing world culture with our sound. We had no idea at all. We just wanted to
play fast and party
with our friends. Ruthie’s Inn was a huge part of metal history. All the great
Bay Area thrash bands started right there.
What will
be the next step for Hatriot in 2013 ? What can we wish you for this new year ?
Now that
the record is out the next step is to tour our asses off and bring the music
right to the faces of the fans. We want to spend most of 2013 on the road, then
come home and get right to work on the next album. This band is going to take
the metal world by storm. Mark my words!
Edited by Laurent Gilot
Photo : DR
Hatriot, Heroes Of Origin (Massacre Records)
Out on January 25th 2013
Hatriot, Blood Stained Wings, live video
Hatriot, Blood Stained Wings, live video
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