Oldschool Metal Maniac - English Version
HELLWITCH NEW INTERVIEW
wtorek, 07 stycznia 2025 08:21 | Wpisany przez Oldchool Metal Maniac | 
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HELLWITCH is one of these few bands who have always been loyal to metal underground. They formed over 40 years ago and this is, in my view, a very good reason for this interview. Indeed, HELLWITCH is a truly unique band who have never wimped out, never followed any trends or fashions. They have always been idealistic, lock stock and barrel. HELLWITCH is a black gem of metal underground. Their music stands for a true passion and energy, which they transform into extreme metal music of theirs. Ok, no need to waste our time here. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Patrick Pat Ranieri:
Hail Pat. Well, first off, I want to say your performance at Keep It True Rising IV was a blast. Total fucking destruction. One of the best shows at the fest, that’s for sure.
Your set list was killer, lock stock and barrel. Apart from “Satan`s Wrath” from the “Terraasymmetry” ep, most of the songs you performed were taken from your debut album. And “Torture Chamber” from your omnipotent “Transgressive Sentience” demo concluded the show in a perfect way. Man, let me reiterate this: your live show at KIT fucking killed. How did it feel to be able to play those songs live again, after so many years, huh? How did the fans react to your music, in your opinion?
Hails NecronosferatuS!! (with a name like that, you know I'm happy to conspire with you to kill, mame and slaughter!) It's still great for me and the Witches to play the immortal songs from the debut LP and demos! I think those songs are timeless cornerstones of molten metal history! Aside from writing them, I RESPECT the songs and the fact that they still seem to rise above the masses of what's being spit out nowadays! I think the crowd appreciated seeing something as bombastic and unique as HELLWITCH. We definitely did NOT sound like any other bands there. But, I'm soooo busy onstage that I don't have much of an opportunity to observe the crowd. I really stay focussed on the second to second changes that occur when I'm performing our songs.
Your show at KIT marked HELLWITCH`a 40th anniversary. Did you have anything special for the KIT show because of the anniversary? Was that the only show you played in Europe this year? Or were there other shows as well? If yes, where did you play live in 2024?
We performed "Satan's Wrath" as part of the touted "old school" set and played songs written from 1984-2022! The KIT set encompassed our entire song writing history! That was indeed the only performance in Europe this year. We toured the U.S. with Exciter/Midnight in July-August. Then did a headlining East Coast U.S. tour immediately after that. Also, we played local shows in South Florida.
Your “Syzygial Miscreancy” was released almost 35 years ago. Time is flying, indeed. In my view , this album has aged really well, it still holds up and kills totally. Is it possible to compose an album like Syzygial Miscreancy” nowadays, that is, in 2024?
Nothing will ever be "S.M.", but I think it is completely possible. If you have musicians who are gifted songwriters and have that aggressive style/attitude in their head, I can see music that intense being written in 2024. I've heard some songs by Concrete Winds that seem pretty hi-tech and insane! The newest HELLWITCH song, "Dysgenic Progeny" is pretty vicious! And I think "Anthropophagi" mutilates brain cells as much as anything on "S.M."!
NWN has re-released this album on vinyl recently. Can you please elaborate on this edition a bit?
Yosuke (NWN mastermind) has been a staunch supporter of The Witch for many years, distributing our demos, etc. He wanted to release a version of "S.M." that was TRUE to the original. So, we collaborated and ended up with a replica of the Wild Rags 1990 release! It was done on black and limited edition blue vinyl. A total of 500 units were pressed. It has since SOLD OUT! We still have a few copies available on our sites.
You mentioned that you guys are working on new songs for a brand-new album. The demo for this album sounds totally old school I must say. Like your old stuff from the 1980s. Must be pretty hard to compose so archaic sounding music nowadays (as good as “Syzygial Miscreancy”). Sadly, these days are so full of artificially sounding albums, what do you think?
Wow! I really appreciate that you hear the old HELLWITCH ferocity on the new demo. Honestly, it's not too hard for me. haha! I don't listen to much music, so my mind is mostly untainted by the ideas of others. I stay focussed on preserving HELLWITCH as a unique entity. I strive to maintain songwriting that is berserk and exudes thoughts/feelings of extreme pain, death, suffering and anguish! When I listen to what we compose, if I'm not riled up by it, it's trashed or reworked until it KILLKILLKILLS! Lyrically, there are ALWAYS ugly thoughts in my head that lead to song topics. We will NEVER sound like other bands. If we start losing steam, we're DONE! If I can't have the utmost respect for what we're releasing, I won't put my name on it any longer.
Can you please elaborate a bit on this new album? Where is it being (has been) recorded and when do you guys plan to have it released? Which label is going to release it?
The new album will contain 8-9 songs, including some past surprises! We have not decided exactly when/where it will be recorded. It will be released in the future on Listenable Records.
I am more than sure you still listen to a lot of old school music. The 1980/90s` are metal music best years, no doubt about it. Why? Because those were the years when plenty of awesome albums were recorded. What are most inspirational and which you listen to most often? Tell me what five albums from those years are most important to you…I know it is hard to choose only five ha-ha.
Oooooffffff....putting me in the electric chair here, I see. Oh fuck. Well, the most inspirational are not often what I listen to most. I'm pretty burned out on some that are big inspirations! haha!
So, I'll give you both! These 10 are most important to me, overall. Among the most inspirational are "Hell Awaits", "Altars of Madness", "Nespithe", "Chemical Exposure" and "Death After Death". (Your readers will have to get off their asses and figure out witch bands recorded these albums! haha!) Most often I revisit "Dispensable Bloodshed", "Dawn of Possession, "Killing Is My Business...", "Scream Bloody Gore", and "Torment in Fire".
To me, HELLWITCH and the 1980s` metal music scene were simply inseparable. Also, HELLWITCH inspired plenty of bands at the time. Yet, for some unknown reason, you guys
never became “big,” so to say. Why? Was it because Richard and Wild Rags Records did crappy job promoting HELLWITCH (and other bands, as well)? Or were there some other, more important reasons?
Definitely part of it was Ricardo "Richard C." Campos and his RiP-OFF label! Aside from that, we did NOT have any connections with labels. There is an old expression in U.S. entertainment: "It's not what you know, its WHO you know!" I did NOT know any label people or big promoters or major magazine writers. And, I didn't really go out of my way to meet any. I think if I would have worked on making contacts, that would have lead to more success. I did not spend alot of time writing songs in the 80's-90's. I loved to PLAY, not write! I DID enjoy smoking weed, having some beers and taking it EZ! haha!
You are the only original HELLWITCH member left. Are you still in touch with ex-HELLWITCH members? What are they up to? What is Harry Tiyler up to these days? You have cooperated with him on and off, right? But he isn’t in HELLWITCH these days.
I just saw our old bassist, Craig Shattuck, at our 40th anniversary grand finale show a few weeks ago! I see/talk to Lee Harrison regularly (he played drums in HW briefly in '88.). Also, I keep in touch with our old rhythm guitarist, Jim Nickles from time to time. I see Andy Adcock when we play shows in Tampa sometimes. I hear from our old drummer Steve Rincon on Instagram sometimes. Craig is retired and takes it EZ. Lee is still doing Monstrosity and flying planes! Jim owns a painting company. Andy is a math professor at a college. Steve works somewhere in Portland, OR. I've not heard from Harry since we hung out at a Slayer show he promoted (he IS a big concert promoter in Florida) in the early '00's. Harry and I collaborated on and off from '84-'87. Don't see/hear from any of the others.
Please tell us more about the current HELLWITCH lineup, ok? What I saw at KIT fest was young(er) people.
Wow! I'm sure the other Witches will take that as a compliment! haha! I don't know what the parameters for "younger" are, but we are all well over 40 except for our drummer. The current line up, aside from me, is J.P. Brown (rhythm guitar), Brutal Brian Wilson (drums) and Jason Flippo (bass). J.P. has been in the band almost the entire time since 1994. Brian has been our drummer since 2015 and Jason joined in late '23. This line up boasts the BEST musicianship we've EVER had!
You and Harry composed the “Nosferatu” demo. Harry, beside drumming , did the vocals too on this demo. However, in 1986, you became responsible for vocals too. Is it easy to be a vocalist and guitarist at the same time? Many people simple cannot do it. Your view on this matter?
Actually, Harry's only vocal experience with HELLWITCH was the '84 demo recording. He recorded vocals as we had no singer. Also, the way I engineered the recording (in our apartment) it would have been extremely difficult for me to record vocals AND guitars. We had no choice but for him to record the vocals. And, as you may know, the demo was a "for fun" recording we made for ourselves! It was NOT meant for release. So, neither of us really cared about what the vocals sounded like. Once I established a line up with real musicians in early '85 (Harry was not
a musician), I immediately took over vocals. The other 2 members could not sing/play, so I was thrust into the position of guitar/vocals. Like with most activities, the more you do it, the better you get...hopefully! haaa! Singing and playing did come pretty easily, as I recall. But, we used to practice 3-4 days per week in '85-'87. With that kind of schedule, I got the hang of it fast! I can see how some musicians are not able to do it. It takes coordination and for some songs where the timing on guitar/vocals does not match, it can be VERY difficult! Good examples are the verse parts of "Final Approach" and "Dawn of Apostasy". The guitar parts do not fit easily with the vocal patterns. I have to mentally separate my voice from my hands when playing those.
Can you tell me when you realized that listening to music wasn’t enough and you wanted to start composing music? How did HELLWITCH start?
I guess when I was 12-13. I would air guitar with a yardstick or a tennis racket in my bedroom with a couple friends! I got a guitar when I was 16. I started composing in '82. HELLWITCH started as a 1 time, 1 song project, with 2 members. We wrote and recorded the Nosferatu demo in about 1-2 days?
Being a musician in the late 1980s was an amazing thing. You were not only actively involved in composing metal music, but also you witnessed how “brutalization” of metal bands at the time. Many think metal music started to be more extreme after VENOM visited USA for the first time. Would you agree with such a statement? And the NWOBHM (“The new wave of British heavy metal”) movement contributed a lot too, being itself a perfect blend of punk and metal. Your view on this matter?
I don't agree with the Venom statement. As I mentioned, most of my peers talked about SLAYER~! That seemed to push the envelope for every band around. But, I remember Mercyful Fate and Venom being mentioned frequently too. I thought some NWOBHM blended punk with metal. Maybe a band here and there like Acid, Raven and Motorhead. I thought most NWOBHM like Angelwitch, Satan, Blitzkrieg, etc. were ramped up versions of Judas Priest, Scorpions, Def Leppard, AC/DC, etc.
HELLWITCH has always been openly anti-Christian. Does it imply you are a declared apostate? Do you believe in any divine beings, like the Devil and God? The Horned One (devil) has always inspired plenty of artists….don’t you think?
Damn right I am! There's no fucking "God". I've been on this rotten planet for 61+ years and I've NEVER seen any signs of...anything that would imply that that fantasy character depicted in that famous fictional waste of paper, was in charge. Thinking rationally though, I believe it's safe to say there are probably far more advanced beings/entities in the universe than humans. I sometimes think we are possibly an experiment being conducted by a more advanced entity/group/civilization. Maybe they set this planet up and influence how things change on it. Maybe not. Maybe they just oversee it and gather data. Just an idea I have that I think is pretty reasonable/plausible. The fact that the planet is devolving makes the concept of an evil entity sort of believable. But again, I've never seen any hard evidence of The Devil. BUT, I attended a Satanic baptism ceremony and I DID feel some sort of invigoration during the rites. I felt it! I utter "Hail SATAN" daily to declare my overall disdain for "God". Yes, "SATAN" is very inspirational when it comes to art.
It's interesting that the Christian metal bands I've heard over the decades are never as good as bands that represent darkness and evil. I'm sure some will disagree.
I would say that the blend of devilishness and metal music is a good, attractive and alluring one. What do you think?
Yes! 666%! It seems pretty natural to me! I think it sounds odd when you hear heavy music accompanied by lyrics about that useless, floating around, everywhere-all-the-time, fictional clown. It seems counterintuitive and contradictory. Metal music is inherently EVIL in all it's glory!
You know of any Polish bands? Like KAT for example? What Polish bands do you like?
Oh yeah!! My 80's tape trading days turned me on to some Polish bands, for sure! Kat was good, but I always thought VADER were the kings! When I first got their demo I was shocked! Such good songwriting and sound from a country that I knew good instruments, amps, etc. were not easy to get! But, of course, before them I was listening to Imperator and Thrasher Death. Even Merciless Death was pretty... okay. haha! My favorites are definitely Vader and Imperator. Some Decapitated is pretty good too.
Well, HELLWITCH was formed 40 years ago… Don’t you think it would be a good idea to re-release your older stuff? The debut album was re-issued through NWN so maybe other albums/eps and demos need to be re-released as well? I am sure many fans would be very happy to see your early stuff re-issued since these demos/eps are pretty expansive now.
I DO think that's a good idea and it's already been done several times. There is the 30th Anniversary "Compilation of Death" 10 LP (!) box set that contains tons of recordings including all the old demos (still available on our sites!) . There is also the Displeased (RIP OFF SCUMBAG ALERT! RON W. VELTKAMP!) Records "S.M." CD with all the old demos and finally there is the F.O.A.D. Records "S.M." gatefold, double LP witch contains the same material as the Displeased CD release. There IS currently talk of a CD box release of the 30th Anniversary box set material! Tune in to the Witch channels for updates in 2025!
Ok, time to wrap up. What’s the future hold for HELLWITCH? What do you want me to wish HELLWITCH for the future?
The future holds HELLWITCH becoming a household name by the time I'm 80 years old! We are touring Europe in May '25 and South America in August '25 plus more appearances. It also holds the new album that will be full of fresh, technical, bombastic, debilitating riffs, mellifluous vokills and total aural fuckery sure to consume your puny soul! Please wish HELLWITCH more shows, more planetary infiltration, more listeners to get whiplash and less resistance from the new school line of thinking.
Thanks for your answers. Anything to add for our Old School Metal Maniac Magazine readers? The floor is all yours. Thanks, and take care
Thank you, oh great NecroNos666! To be clear, your "magazine" is an epic BOOK! NOT a magazine! I cannot give enough praise for the work you do! Infernal Hails to YOU for your commitment to the UG! I appreciate the opportunity to spread my infinite wisdom....or whatever the fuck it is, to your bestial hordes. Hails to you who lay your eyes upon this blasphemous publication!
The words of The Witch can be found at:
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P.O. Box 2341 , Hollywood, FL 33022 USA
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Beware the Witch! Feel the wrath! Embrace your death!
Poprawiony (czwartek, 09 stycznia 2025 09:44)
