ENCOMIUM #10/2024: Six Degrees Of Separation

If you're looking for a bit of technical, yet fresh-sounding metal alloy, be sure to check out Six Degrees of Separation's latest album. I sent my questions to Vlasa (guitar/vocals) and not only did I get great answers from him, but their mastermind Doctor (bass/vocals) joined in and expanded the final result. So read our chat and discover the greatness of this Czech band!!!

Hi Vlasa! Your new album "Never After" was recently released. I noticed you consistently release new material every 4 years with Six Degrees of Separation? Where did you work on the new material this time? Who produced, mixed and mastered it?

Vlasa: Hi. Yes, that regularity is due to a certain perseverance and talent of the Doctor (bass, vocals). I dare to say that if myself and Canni weren't occupied also by Bruno in Hypnos there would be a new record every two years.

Doctor: We work on our music more or less continuously. The first new songs for the "Never After" album were composed and arranged shortly after the last recording session for "Old Dogs". Releasing new album every two years would be nice, but keeping the four-year period has its benefits. We have to take into account the absorption abilities of our fans. Less is usually more. And it also depends on opportunities and possibilities of getting together as we no longer live on the same spot, some of us live about 300 km from the rehearsing room. So it requires some skills in planning and finding compromises.

With the album "Old Dogs" we have also adopted new modus operandi – recording the album in two or more separate sessions. The first 5 songs for "Never After" were recorded on November 2022, the rest of the album in January 2024. Such an approach allows us to get more focused on the detail.

For the cover, you used a photo showing water drops on a spider web. What does this cover symbolize for you and what is the lyrics of the album about?

Doctor: Well, regarding the cover it is a picture taken by my friend Petr Horna and when I saw it for the first time I thought it would be a pretty cool artwork for an album cover. For myself it presents the transience of everything, and the beauty caught in the moment of time... or the venus balls. Whatever you fancy.

Your previous albums were released by MetalGate in CD format. Did they also release the new album? What other merchandise will you be making to support "Never After"?

Doctor: No, on this album we haven't been cooperating with MetalGate. We were actually offering them this release, they said they will think about it... and you know how this usually ends. So we have decided to conduct the release by ourselves (which is something that we did earlier in our history when releasing of the 4th album "Of us"). And since I started working in the book publishing company a couple of years ago and releasing books is not that far from releasing CDs, we have come to an agreement and our new CD was released by this label named Nakladatelství Olomouc. There will be some new t-shirts, hoodies, patches, etc. of course.

Let's talk about the new songs, of which there are a total of 12 on the album. How would you describe them compared to the previous "Old Dogs" material? The final track, "Breeding the Wrath" is a bonus, and also a cover of Hypnos' "Breeding the Scum" featuring guest vocals from Bruno. What is the story behind this track?

Vlasa: Hm, maybe more rock. More lyrical. Lighter. And the idea that both bands would cover one song of the other one came up during COVID. Hypnos covered "Light Hates Me", Degrees chose "Breeding the Scum". Going back to the first question, our good friend and brilliant studio engineer Stanislav Valášek worked on all the recordings. Cooperation with him is essential and irreplaceable for us.

Are you planning to make an official music or lyric video for any of the songs on "Never After"? If so, which songs were chosen for this purpose?

Since you are involved in the creation of Vlasa & Black products, I would like to know what equipment was used to record the new album?

Vlasa: Everything. The guitars were recorded on Vlasa & Black 4x12 Metal Man boxes. Vlasa & Black SuperBlade amps and my vintage V&B JCM800 replica. We used Vlasa & Black Bruthuus 4x12 for bass.

I also noticed that both Canni's and your guitars are custom made. Who made them? Tell us more about your guitar arsenal and list your favorite instruments among them?

Vlasa: My entire "guitar career" I have been working with master Porížka (Porízka guitars). He has made a number of instruments for me over the years. It was never a miss, always top notch instrument. I currently own about fifteen guitars from this bespoke manufacturer, and I can't let go of a single one. Of course, there are guitars that are closer to me like my V models and ML, which I currently use with Hypnos.

You both also play with Hypnos, so how do you manage to set up the Six Degrees of Separation gigs? Have there been any problems or overlaps in this area so far? Where are you performing with SDOS next?

Vlasa: We have two more concerts planned with SDOS before the end of the year. Next year, something is already in the making. Even a joint SDOS and Hypnos concert. Everything is planned in advance on shared calendar.

Now let's talk about the music you enjoy listening to these days. List your favorite bands and records? Was there a band in 2024 whose album caught your attention?

Vlasa: Lately, if I ignore the classics that I grew up listening to (Pantera, Death, Slayer, Grip Inc. and others), I really like to listen to classics like Toto, Maiden, Scorpions and others. This year at a concert in Paris, I came across the young French band Witchorious. I found them very interesting. Great stoner rock.

Vlasa: Maybe only just that we're working on new material again. And the first draft recordings sound pretty good. We will be very happy if our new record, and perhaps the older ones, reach listeners in your country. Music is universal language. It has a gift for bringing people together. This is more important than ever these days.