Sanity continues its apocalyptic journey with The Beast, blending black and death metal with symphonic grandeur. This EP deepens their Revelation cycle, delivering a heavier, darker, and more intense musical experience.
1.
Sanity has been evolving its black and death metal sound since 1994. How would
you say "The Beast" represents your musical journey so far?
The Beast, as well as the previous EP „Revelation“ are part of the Revelation cycle that will be concluded with the final EP „Armageddon“ in 2026. The project is based on the biblical book of Revelation and describes the coming apocalypse in horrifying detail. The elements of Sanity's 90s releases have been taken and brought up a notch: We took the time to weave an abundance of melodies into each song, either played from guitar, choir or orchestra. The sound samples of the orchestra are recordings of real instruments which makes a big difference compared to the nineties synthesizer samples we used on “Schattensymphonie” (2001). Also we went back to incorporating clean vocals in many songs. All in all, "Revelation" and „The Beast“ are the most mature releases from Sanity.
2. "Babylon" is described as one of the most dynamic tracks on the
EP. What inspired the themes and energy behind this song?
The lyrics
are taken from the bible and tell of Babylon the Great’s fiery downfall—once a
powerful, corrupt empire, called the "great prostitute," now doomed
by divine judgment, as an angel declares its total destruction and heaven
erupts in triumphant praise. This is a great canvas for energetic, sinister,
double bass pounding extreme metal that culminates in outraging guitar soloing,
relentless shouting and sheer explosion of raging emotions.
3. The song features intricate layering, from orchestral elements to Viking
chants. How do you approach combining these different elements while
maintaining intensity?
Our
songwriting process varies—some songs take years to mature, while others come
together in weeks. We produce our albums with Andreas Hilbert at Soundforge
Studio, layering four rhythm guitar tracks for a massive sound, plus intricate
leads and melodies. This production was our most ambitious yet, weaving death
metal grooves, black metal shredding, and additional guitars for depth. For
orchestration, we use the Vienna Symphonic Library, carefully composing with
over 20 instruments. Inspired by classical composers and live concerts, we
craft dramatic string arrangements, powerful brass, and grand choirs to elevate
the music, making each song an epic experience.
4. The music video for "Babylon" was filmed in some striking
locations, including a deserted Russian military base. Can you share more about
the vision behind the video and how it connects to the song’s themes?
As explained above the song is about the great city of Babylon portrayed as a whore that seduces the world to indulge in all kinds of evil. The protagonist is a lone survivors traversing the city with her dog. We then see a beautiful sorceress inspired figure engaging in some kind of black magic. The deserted houses and ruins that can be seen in the video fit well to the theme of a fallen city that once stood great. The footage of the sorceress clearly alludes to the great whore. Glimpses of present and future tell what Babylon is and what it will become.
5. You worked with Underpaid Mantis Studio for the video production. How did that collaboration come about, and what was the filming process like?
Underpaid
Mantis are friends of ours that live in Berlin. Filming with these guys was
great, they did a great job with the band shots and everything else. It was a
wonderful experience, these guys are so professional and friendly.
6. "The Beast" is described as heavier and darker than your
previous release, "Revelation." What drove you to push your sound
further in this direction?
The lyrical
themes of the EP demanded a heavier, darker sound. Whereas Revelation with it’s
grand and epic tunes talks about Gods glory and the impending doom that is
about to hit the world, The Beast deals with the judgment as it unfolds and the
terror that it implies.
7. Florian’s vocals on "Babylon" are described as unrelenting and
almost accusatory. What emotions and messages did you want to convey through
the vocal delivery?
Florian is
shouting judgment, eternal doom and destruction over this fallen city and the
sin, corruption and adultery. It had to be that emotional.
8. After three decades as a band, how do you keep challenging yourselves
creatively while staying true to the core of Sanity’s sound?
Oh man, we are so full of ideas and creativity, still. It is fascinating. We are not done and we are still experimenting with new ideas and can't wait to get them on stage. With more experience comes more understanding of the music fabric. And with that we are able to weave the new songs even more intricate. It is an ongoing exiting journey that we haven't seen the end of, yet!
9. With "The Beast" now out, what’s next for Sanity? Are there any upcoming live shows, music videos, or new projects in the works?
Yes! We
will play the music of our latest EPs in a few shows this year. Check our
website for news. Additionally, we are planning our next music video for this
EP and in 2026 we will release the final EP of the Revelation cycle. This going
to be good.
10. For fans discovering Sanity for the first time through
"Babylon," what would you say is the essence of your music, and what
do you hope listeners take away from it?
The essence
of Sanity is atmospheric black metal soundscapes mixed with heavy death metal
riffing. Add to that a complex symphonic composition and epic vocals that dwell
into power metal ranges as well as the darkest metal growls and i think you are
pretty close to our sound. If you want to take anything away, read the biblical
texts of Revelation and be amazed or intimidated by the bombastic language that
spells out the impending doom of the world. That’s what we try to capture with
our music.
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