Pagan metal from generation to generation

Archaic Metallurgy contacted Lithuanian pagan metal band Obtest's guitarist Sadlave to get some information about the band's forthcoming recording session for their new, fourth full length album 'GyvybÄ—s Medis'. Read on to find what secrets Sadlave unveiled...

AM: So let's get into the hot news at the beginning: you're entering famous Hertz Studios in Poland in the middle of April. Why did you choose Hertz Studios?

Sadlave: I think it was the decision balanced between quality we could get here and money our record label could spend on the recording. Although this studio is famous for it's "massive" sound, and it's the nearest studio of such recording quality for us. It would be a good start for us.

AM: So, it's gonna be more massive then. Can you tell me any more details about the forthcoming fourth album 'Gyvybės Medis'? Does it continue on from where 'Iš kartos į kartą' [2005] left, or is there going to be big surprises?

Sadlave: I think it will be big surprise, no matter on what angle you will be watching in to it. Actually we enter professional studio for the album recordings for the first time. All our 3 albums were recorded at "home" studio(s). We made what you can make best with poor equipment, and experimental conditions, so now I think, we will have more space to experiment, and not loose the quality of the record.
About music I'm little bit afraid to talk, because you will face something typical about Obtest anyway, it will be melodic and epic, raw and aggressive. The album will feature the very new songs as well as the old ones, never recorded before.
It's planned to be released in september of 2007, and I hope we face no delay this time.

AM: Okay, then we just have to wait, heh. It's going to be a long wait!
Is the new album taking steps to more black metal style, then?

Sadlave: I hope not, it's too melodic, but the roots will be felt anyway i think.

AM: Can you tell me something about the lyrical content of the forthcoming album 'GyvybÄ—s Medis'? Song titles made me think it could be a concept album, or am I totally wrong?

Sadlave: The lyrical concept is based on the "Tree of the world", and you know it's very important point in all heathen and archaic cultures all over the world.

AM: As it became clear, at the beginning of Obtest, you were inspired by the black metal, especially Scandinavian black metal. You have definitely grown into an individual band and travelled towards more traditional metal. What are the Obtest trademarks? What makes Obtest Obtest?

Sadlave: In the beginning we were fascinated by black metal as an event. It was not just scandinavian black metal scene. It was Rotting Christ, Grand Belial's Key, Samael, Master's Hammer, Profanatica. But all that turned out in to influences far away from metal. Especially on the two latest albums. Obtest trademark is to convert a good song filled up with melodies and traditional structures, tunes and chantings in to a metal song.

AM: Your music is definitely very catchy and lifts up listener's spirit. Earlier you mentioned about "home studios". How do you see the band's journey from 1992 to this day?

Sadlave: I see it like a long journey "step by step" with some fallings down. We recorded two demos in a professional studio back in 1995. But at that time we knew nothing about producing a record, and we had no people to do it in Lithuania, so it just turned like it is. The first album ['TÅ«kstantmetis' (1997)] was recorded at "home" studio, and we had a good start to learn the whole matter of the recording ourselves. After some years of experience the second album 'Auka Seniems Dievams' [2001] turned not bad at all, and was completely recorded in my flat "home" studio.
Only year ago we entered Phoenix Studio in Riga (Latvia) to record two old songs for the 10" LP, and it was our return to professional studio after 11 years.
'Iš kartos į kartą' album was also "home made" but only with an upgraded equipement and some experience in music producing.

AM: Was the special editions of 'Iš kartos į kartą' your idea, or label's?

Sadlave: The special edition was the idea of the label, and then together we just created a shape for this "book" which all in all went very nice piece of art.

AM: How do you feel about your record label Ledo Takas?

Sadlave: We are satisfied with Ledo's work, because he really makes more than he could. He is crazy about what he is doing, and sometimes he sacrifices more than he gets, what has to be not logical in a commercial way of a matter.

AM: And how about 'Pries Audra' vinyl? It's your latest release, very limited vinyl pressing.

Sadlave: It's re-release of our demo from 1995 with some two songs from our first rehearsal times. One of them was recorded for the first time at all.

AM: How do you see the Lithuanian metal music scene today?

Sadlave: It's crazy! The lack of fresh winds and quality musicians.

AM: Typical, here in Finland too.

Sadlave: Anyway you have a tradition, you have world known bands and artists. You have something to follow for the young bands. And we have a very small comunity and only some sparks and embers. Our scene lacks fire...

AM: That brought a question about language in my mind. You sing, well almost 100%, in Lithuanian. Is that a big obstacle to climb over for fans from other countries?

Sadlave: I think not. It's important to hear the flow of the words, the entire singing, catchy singing, then it's fit to your ears. When we were teens we always used to listen all that metal music, which was 100% in english, but we understood not a word from that, but it was cool! It was cool because of the word-flow. So we try to make it fit to the music and the entire composition, so sometimes it's hard work to manage the lyrics.

AM: If I'm right, Obtest means "resistance" in English. It's a fight against modern religions. You've sung about Baltic mythologies. history, wars and of course pagan themes... Is there more in your lyrics than just tales from archaic times?

Sadlave: You know, it's always more and deeper, it has some let's say "hidden" sense. In the early period (1996-2000) lyrics were very straight, I mean all that spirit of battle, revenge, blood, death, vengeance, bravery, romance, courage. We wanted to express the smell of the dark middle ages, the darkest and gloriest pages of our history, the proud ones. The fact is that the life back then (centuries ago) had all the colours as it has nowadays. And the conception "pagan" or "heathen" has much more into it. It is the matter what you emphasize and what you want to tell.

AM: You've gigged around Europe. You played in Finland, too. How do you remember the Finnish crowds were?

Sadlave: We played in Helsinki and Turku 5 years ago. Seemed to be small gigs with small but crazy crowds! In Turku it was like a party for a small company of musicians and friends, and in Helsinki there was a bigger crowd of headbangers, anyway both gigs were cool!

AM: Is there anything you haven't said yet but want to say for the readers?

Sadlave: Greatings for Finnish friends, kiitos ja olle hyuvaa!

AM: Kiitos to you for the great interview! and good luck with the recordings.

Interview by Lane.

03/25/2007 20:51