Interview SOULSKINNER

Greek metal veterans Soulskinner, active for nearly 25 years, discuss their enduring passion and creative evolution in their sixth studio album Glorified by the Light, merging intensity with philosophical depth.

1. SOULSKINNER has been a staple of the Greek metal scene for nearly 25 years. What keeps the band motivated and inspired after all this time?

Certainly our love for what we do. We have never had aspirations for financial gain, we do what we do because it gives us joy, it's a driving force to live the way we want and we like to create good music, which we want us to like first and foremost. When there is no "must", there is no pressure.This is the main reason why there is still inspiration and I think that in every album we offer something different and every time we become better.

2. Your upcoming album Glorified by the Light marks your sixth studio release. How does this album differ from your previous work, and what can fans expect musically?

The previous album "Seven bowls of wrath" was a very melodic and at the same time dark album .Maybe you can say that there was a “blackened” touch.  We had a new line up that we couldn't work together for a long time because of the covid, and the conditions of creating and recording were unprecedented and very difficult.  In the new album the melodic elements are still there but they have also combined many features from all our previous releases. We definitely had time to work more and I think that both the material and the technical part is at the best level we have ever been. Also I think that this line up had the opportunity to to work better, as the conditions was better. The fans can simply expect the best Soulskinner album so far!

3. Epic and melodic elements have always been an important part of SOULSKINNER’s sound. How do you balance these melodic aspects with the brutality and heaviness in your music?

I think this is a matter of the sounds we have.We have lived through the birth of the extreme sound, and we have lived through a time when we gave time to albums.I mean we would buy an album and spend months maybe even years listening.This has resulted in us having sounds and elements engraved in us that come out in the material we compose. We have never had exclusions as listeners, we listened and still listen to everything that is good for us musically, and I think that inevitably this influences us in the way we write music.

4. The album features tracks with intriguing titles like "Kingdom of the Deceased" and "Sacred Temple of Mystery." Can you share some insight into the themes and concepts behind the new songs?

Thematically the album is where we have always been. Our preoccupation and love for philosophical, existential and deeper human issues, as well as our constant search for self-improvement, influences us and is expressed through the band. The majority of the tracks have to do with the search for the unknown, what some people call god or satan, which in essence for us is nothing more than the revelation within everyone. The uncertainty of faith is the driving force to keep searching. Whoever says he knows , knows nothing. Socrates said “All I know is that I know nothing” and that to me is the key. If you realize and recognize the insignificance of man, how small we are in the universe, how many others are better than you in thousands of areas, then maybe you can see the real picture of the world and see yourself better.  Even in tracks like "To the moon" and "To aurora" that are based on orphic hymns, you will see that the approach is anthropocentric and we have chosen to give this point of view, to be more into our general philosophy.

5. "Glorified by the Light" is the title track of the album. What is the significance of this title, and how does it relate to the overall message or atmosphere of the record?

The lyrics start “Into the Silence would I walk with thee, Into that chamber whose walls are adorned, Into the Silence and beyond, find the glowing pathway of the spirit.” You know, it has perhaps become a habit for everyone to talk about darkness, and I think that from a certain point on, this happens because there is a feeling that there is no other way through metal. I think that from one point onward the subject matter has become entangled with the musical part. I believe that people are matter of light, our soul is light that existed and will continue to exist after us as bodies. "Dark" music does not mean that I am obliged to talk about what some call "darkness". For me, darkness existed in the medieval period, when the progressive spirit was burned at the stake as witches. Darkness exists in someone who wants to harm someone else. There can be no darkness when you are trying to become better, when you are looking for the possibilities within you. There can be no darkness in people who fight every day for rights, for a better world, or even to save a stray dog. This is the spirit of the album and the title. That through a difficult road, from a path where in every goal you seek something better and not something worse, the light is what makes you glorious. And all this has nothing to do with what we have been taught with the christian concepts of darkness and light, but with the real search through this philosophy, knowledge and study.

6. After working with Xtreem Music for several releases, what has that partnership meant for the growth and evolution of SOULSKINNER as a band?

We have been with Xtreem for years and that shows a lot. We are on the same wavelength, we love this music with the same passion and we have a clear relationship as far as the professional part is concerned. We are not a band that you would call professional from the point of view that we live from music or do tours etc. As I told you, music is a way of life for us, but it is not the first best thing in our life. With Xtreem  we have the comfort to create what we want without any interference in the artistic part, and without any time pressure. I think that he has offered us the best in relation to what we claim as well, and at the same time we have also offered what a band can give to a company. Good music with dignity and the ability to pay back whatever investment the company has made.

7. Looking at your long career, how would you say the Greek metal scene has changed since SOULSKINNER’s formation in 2000, and how has your role in that scene evolved?

The development is huge. There are many amazing bands, with excellent musicians, talent, potential, etc. What does not exist, and the scene is not to blame for this, is the passion that existed 20-30 years ago. It is a matter of conditions and general change. lifestyle and it's not just about the scene. Other musicians have said it better than me, the only thing that saddens me is that while there are incredible bands that create excellent albums, a lot of people stay only on the well-known names and don't look a little deeper. The metal that I loved no longer exists, as elements such as the rebelliousness, the fist at society, the search and the questioning have disappeared. This does not give the opportunity to many groups that are better than the old ones, to stand out and this is the fault of the people who only support the well-known ones. As for our role on the stage, let me tell you the truth now that I am 50 years old , I don't care too much, as I've realized that I play for myself above all, and if that offers something to the rest of the scene, that's ok

8. With the new album being released in both CD and digital formats, do you feel that physical formats still hold importance in today’s music industry, especially within the metal genre?

I think that only in metal and blues, there is still the spirit of the physical format. Clearly it's easier for everyone to just do a simple download and have the album in a flash. Ok, generally I don't have a problem but that's not for me. I prefer the physical form and the sense of ritual behind buying an album. .Mainly a vinyl offers you this, but as far as the whole thing is concerned, the cd is something that offers much more than an mp3.

9. As veteran musicians, how do you keep challenging yourselves creatively while staying true to the core sound that your fans love?

The secret is that we don't try. Fortunately, we have never tried to be something other than what we really are. In essence, what our friends hear, as a result of Soulskinner's work, is something that comes out naturally and spontaneously. There is evolution, there are different touches that may be due to our listenings , but there is always truth and identity. We will give music when we have something to say and when we feel that we have something of value to give. There is no reason to release albums so that we will not be forgotten or to increase the number. What matters is the substance and the quality, and let it be that against the spirit of the times. I don't care at all.

10. With Glorified by the Light soon to be released, what are SOULSKINNER’s plans for the future? Can fans expect live performances or any special events to accompany the release?

We have some ideas for some special live shows, but we'll see when and where. If we can't have what we're thinking, because it's not all up to us on this track, then maybe we won't do it. The future will tell.

Facebook