Sacrilegious Impalement Interview (Von Bastard)

One of the last bands that I liked from Finland, for having a crazy, diabolical personality, and maintaining melodic sides very close to their raw moment, was Sacrilegious Impalement with their third album “III - Lux Infera” (2013), but the curious thing is that after After that album, the band disappeared from new productions or new ideas, so after 10 years I have in my ears the continuation of their tremendous third album called “IV - Infinite Victor” through Woodcut Records.

Para leer la entrevista en español: Entrevista a Sacrilegious Impalement

Metallerium: Welcome Von Bastard to Metallerium pages. It’s a great pleasure to talk with you about Sacrilegious Impalement, this new album IV - Infinite Victor, and more things related to the metal world.  We will begin by asking for an idea that I am sure is repeated in many interviews. Why did the band take 10 years to present a new album? And how was the composition process of this new album?

Sacrilegious Impalement: Hells and salute! I will start by introducing a little bit about the working process. I am nothing but a flesh vessel who channels the creations from beyond. I am not a musician who wants to conquer the world, I am nothing but a beast who rapes the void deep and wide with a rusty razor called electric guitar. There are no master plans, no calculations, and no needs whatsoever when writing music. First, I get this vision of how the new albums should sound as a whole. Then I will follow that vision as closely as I can. Channeling from the subconscious void. Everything will go through my filter. When following that vision there sometimes, quite usually actually, comes some other material that isn´t exactly for the new master vision but an early hint, or reflection of the next master vision. So, there can come way more material than a vision of a full album needs. We are not your typical band that records and releases immediately an album from the first ten songs written. We follow the master vision given and throw out those songs that don´t fit the vision. Anyway, back to why it took ten years. Well, the fire that fuels my channeling was starting to grow dim. I did everything not to fade that flame to the final extinguishment. I could have done multiple albums without my guidance. But they would have been meaningless and pretty sure they would have killed my flame permanently. The time it took to light that flame again is irrelevant. What matters is that now it is stronger than ever and the channel is again wholly open. As you can see, this band needs a very special set, and when it was not fully functioning, I did something else. In this period of the decade, I recorded two albums with my other band, Evil Angel, and started a new band called Front. With Front we recorded a demo, a full-length, and an EP. And recently another EP is waiting to be released. On top of that, there´s a new full-length album for Front written musically. Also recorded some other projects which I haven´t released yet. For the next Sacrilegious Impalement record it won´t take another ten years. The composition process was quite easy when I got the flame back, it poured like black blood from the deepest cut of my heart. Many songs were left out of this album. We actually recorded 12 songs and released 11. Maybe someday you will hear that one hidden gem. The reason to left this one out was purely because it wouldn´t have fit on the vinyl.   

Metallerium: One detail that seems very interesting about this album is its conception within the recording because according to the information that I have, you recorded everything independently. Because it adapts very well to the concept of Black Metal and has more personal details. How did the idea of doing all this independently come about? And what do you think of the legends and myths that circulate within Black Metal that are recorded in the forest/woods or by them in a room? For example, the story of Ulver's "Nattens Madrigal - Aatte Hymne til Ulven i Manden" (1997), which was recorded in the middle of the forest with a low budget.

Sacrilegious Impalement: Some of the answers can be read from the previous answer, or between the lines. You can hear and feel the vision quite clearly because the songs flow very easily to one another. If you want a full experience of this vision I am talking about, make sure it´s dark, turn off the lights, put the record on lay on the floor, and imagine the feeling like you´d be dying soon. There are two main things because we recorded everything ourselves. First is that it just interests us and we are capable of recording by ourselves. We are fascinated by the whole creation process and not afraid of challenging ourselves. We endorse DIY highly. The second reason is that this album could not have been recorded in a pro studio with the budget & time frame we had on previous albums. On previous albums, we got like 4-5 days of studio time and while we are capable of doing everything in that time frame, there´s a chance that it kills the mood or state of mind when performing. This time we could just wait for the moment when everyone was in their zone. Lit some candles and perform in a dark room decorated with human skulls, bones, inverted crosses, and other materials restored with strong powers. Also important is that you have your favorite drink available, it´s essential. Everything you hear was recorded by ourselves with mics, no fucking computer plug-ins whatsoever. Like the bells. I recorded them using a human leg bone with WWII-era grenade shells. Another thing that might interest some of you is that Gas Lipstick assisted us with the drum recordings.

Metallerium: Related to the previous question, what is your point of view about the marketing aspect of Black Metal in our times? Now Black Metal has books, movies, stories, and many things that make it look like something mainstream. Do you agree with all this topic that now exists behind a Black Metal band? Because now there are more bands with hoods, masks and I don't know what other utensils more.

Sacrilegious Impalement: Well, each to their own. This doesn´t concern us. While we wear the usual corpse paints with real blood, spikes & bullet belts. Nothing is planned or forced. Everyone can be just like they want or are meant to look like. You just have to look in the mirror, look deep in your eyes and it will guide you. If you are one of the blessed ones it will wake the beast inside of you. This beast is not for everyone to be found. But everyone who has experienced this will relate to these words. About the marketing, we are not pushing ourselves for everyone. You will find us if it´s meant for you to be found. This doesn´t mean that we will tell our label to cut our promotion back. I think it´s only a good thing that more people have a chance to find us in these times when the world is drowning in deep with a false putrid piece of shit bands. You are right that there are many bands today who seem to be like a black metal band, sound like one, but lack the real content. And it´s a puking pity. These false bands are only for the looks and gigs and free alcohol. It´s like going into a mosque, dressed like a sheep fucker but not supporting the ism. Oh, I wasn’t to look like you, sound like you but I am not supporting your values. Fucking retards.

Metallerium: For the third time you are working with Juho Räihä, whom I personally met on the last tour of Swallow the Sun in Latin America. Tell me, do you think that the sound achieved by the band is partly Juho's creation? And did you ever wonder if Sacrilegious Impalement had used someone else for the mix? Do you think it would have the same sound?

Sacrilegious Impalement: Actually, this was the fourth time. He recorded and mixed the first three full-lengths. This time we recorded everything, and Mr. Räihä mixed and mastered the album. It´s easy to work with him as he knows quite fast what kind of sound we want for the album in the works at the time. So, yes and no. We will guide what we want, and the audio guy will try to follow our guides. We originally searched for another mixer, like Mikołaj Żentara whom I know from the earlier days. Unluckily he didn´t answer to our reach. I know he is busy as hell and all the best to him, maybe next time. Then we checked out this one Finn, but we found out that he and his band were politically way out of our philosophy, fe. canceling gigs because of other bands at the same event. So, two mixers down we decided that let´s ask our trusty audio wizard Mr. Räihä again. And the rest is history.

Metallerium: Within the details that exist in the band's discography, I see that from their album number two. You started using Roman numerals to name each of them until you got to this "IV - Infinite Victor". What is the concept of using Roman numerals in titles? Do they belong to the same lyrical concept?

Sacrilegious Impalement: This is nothing but an old-school way to keep a catalog of our full-lengths. The first three albums were a trilogy and the brightest ones of you will catch up with the essence of this trilogy quite easily. IV - Infinite Víctor starts a new trilogy.  

Metallerium: Going a bit into the concept of "IV - Infinite Victor". What is the meaning of Victor? Does it refer to Victory?... Because within many Latin names, Victor is related to the name of a person that comes from the Latin term for the same idea "victory". Or what is the meaning of the band?

Sacrilegious Impalement: Well, it´s definitely not about an infinite guy named Victor, ha! Infinite Victor stands for Death, the ultimate victor. Everyone submits under Death. Eventually, Death will get the human race, followed by god, or Satan, everyone. That´s why he is the Infinite Victor. So you better start preparing to follow him, he will get you. On our album cover, you can see King Death with a scythe down. This is when he has no opponents left, no more work, all is done. There´s a lot of occult and secret imaginary in the art. Take a look and solve. On the blasphemous side, there´s the head of Jesus with the corpse of a lamb, and the head of Muhamad with the corpse of a swine.

Metallerium: One of the scenes that I always loved within Black Metal was the Finnish one because it always does things that are raw, fast-paced, psychedelic, and folkloric, and has quite a few satanic inclinations within its lyrics. So, do you think that these elements are the main details so that one can speak of a sound within the Black Metal of your country? And what other elements would you add that are part of the Finnish musical heart within Black Metal?

Sacrilegious Impalement: Yes and no. I mean being a Finn has nothing to do with what we do. I think we would sound exactly the same if we lived, for example in Spain. People quite often say that we don´t sound that Finnish, but a mix of Fenno-Scandinavian & European Black and Death Metal. And that´s probably true because we do what we do, and not what we are expected to do or sound. As a band, we inhale our knowledge and inspiration from everywhere, books, movies, life, death, and music. The smallest detail can light the channel open and be a vast inspiration that manifests at the end by exhaling our foul venom in the grandest form.

Metallerium: Within the information that I have, I see that the band will only do one live performance within the year to present this "IV - Infinite Victor" within the Steefest Open Air. Why did you decide to take this date as unique in the presentation of the album? Is there some very personal meaning to just do this date?

Sacrilegious Impalement: No no. We played only one special gig celebrating our new album. On this gig, we played only songs from the new album as a kind of thing. Well, Steelfest is the ultimate place to do an album release gig, as a Finnish band at least. The album has been taken very well and despite the fact that not all of the audience hadn´t heard the new material yet, we were taken very cheerfully. It was nuts how good the reaction of the audience was. There will be more gigs, but not so many, as we like more creating new material than playing everywhere, you know. So if you ever get a chance to see us, grab that chance.

Metallerium: We are very close to finishing this interview Von Bastard, for which. What are the future plans that the band has for this new album? Maybe some tours in the United States, Europe, or who knows in Latin America.

Sacrilegious Impalement: We´ll see what this album brings to us and we will take what is there to come. Creation of V -album has also started, so at least we are active again.

Metallerium: Well, Von Bastard, it was a huge pleasure to talk with you. This new album is a beast! Love this new one and you can read the review on our web. Maybe you have something to add to your Latin fans and Metallerium followers.

Sacrilegious Impalement: Thanks to you, pleasure was all mine! Well, one thing I can say to all of you readers: First listen to IV - Infinite Victor, and then go do your things! AMSG SI IV!