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Read on this great interview, answered by Savvas-Jake (vocals/bass), with the masterful progressive Death Metal band, namely ACID DEATH, from Greece.
Hails Savvas-Jake! What's been going on in the ACID DEATH camp lately? You guys recently released your second full-length, namely "Random's Manifest", on Black Lotus Records. Was it a one-off deal or are you signed for more releases with them? Tell the readers a little about that. Were there other labels besides Black Lotus that were interested in signing ACID DEATH?
- Hello to everyone! Yes, things in ACID DEATH are working great! We have our "Random's Manifest" out from May 2000 and it's going great. This is our first release on Black Lotus. We signed for two releases and this season we're preparing the new songs for our next release. The guys behind Black Lotus really love what they do so our co-operation remains on a very good level.
On the technical side of things, where was "Random's Manifest" recorded? How long did it take and who did the mixing/producing?
- "Random's Manifest" was recorded here in Greece at Marathon Studios. This was the fifth time we worked in this studio. We made the production, of course with Black Lotus as the executive producer, and we think the results are good!!! It took about four months for the recording to be ready.
Who came up with the cover concept? I have to say that it's extremely awesome. Tell us a bit about this extreme photo and its representative meaning.
- All the artwork was designed from Themis K., our ex rhythm guitarist. We faced many problems with this cover since it was censored in some areas, and the result was for the CD not to sell good in some countries. Some magazines refused to advertise the CD because of this cover!!! We just wanted something extreme, something that everyone couldn't forget after seeing it. The cover-meaning has to do with the CD-title. It presents "random" like a meaning or feeling even if this is violent or vulgar.
Now, onto the new record! How do you see it in comparison to ACID DEATH's past outputs, especially to your first full-length "Pieces of Mankind"? Are you pleased with how it came out? What was the response to it been like?
- "Pieces of Mankind" was a coryphaeus CD for us! It became known only when Copro Recs from UK re-release it. The feedback was really great, something that helped "Random's Manifest" a lot. We believe that Copro Recs helped us a lot in a very bad period for the band...
Since the lyrics weren't included with the CD, could you explain what they are about? Are lyrics written prior or after the music is written? Do you feel lyrics are playing an important role in Death Metal?
- Our lyrics have to do with many things, such as things that annoy us, or "human" things lets say, or even fantastic stories of pain and violence... We don't have any "classic" plan of writing them. We can complete musically a new song adding the lyrics or we can have the lyrics adding on a new song. Of course the lyrics are important, not in Death Metal only. They are the 50% of a complete song.
Have you had been able to play many gigs since the CD's release? What are your favorite countries/cities to play?
- Unfortunately we didn't have the chance to make enough gigs to promote "Random's Manifest" live, because of many reasons. But we have some plans. We may play in Italy in summer for three or four shows and in Bulgaria for two ones. You know we aren't able to make a complete tour whenever we want just because of our jobs. So we try to arrange our best in the summer when we will have allowance from our jobs. But except these our favorite places for live, here in Greece, are Crete and Athens.
By the way, what's the scene like in your home country? I'm not too familiar with many Death Metal bands from Greece. What worthy bands would you recommend for us?
- There are many and good bands in any kind of music here in Greece. The problem is that most of them are unsigned trying to do their best by using a demo CD. Some new and most promising Death bands in my opinion are SACRAM, DARK FUNERAL, in Power Metal INNER WISH, in Thrash/Hardcore LESS THAN HUMAN, all unsigned bands right now. Check them out with the first chance!
You have a new guitarist in the band. Introduce him to the readers.
- Nick A., our new guitarist, came to band 2 years before. At the moment we speak we have a new member in keyboards! His name is Babis Katsionis. Now we're a five-member band! We want to give enough mention to keyboards so that's the way we have Babis on keyboards.
Your music turned into a quite progressive way on "Random's Manifest". I feel a strong influence of bands as DEATH, CYNIC and ATHEIST on it. Do you agree with me? What the members of ACID DEATH typically listen to for pleasure?
- Yes, I agree with you but I believe there are more influences except these bands! There are influences from gothic, progressive-in-rush-way, lets say, fusion and even some industrial influences. This has to do with what we like to listen for pleasure. We like all these styles.
Finally, what are the bands immediate and future plans? Anything you'd like to say to all the ACID DEATH fans out there? Thanks a lot for doing this interview!
- First of all to finish our next release, which will be out in late 2001. A big thank you for the support! Visit our official web-site at www.freebox.com/acid-death. Keep on deathing! | 
