More and more interesting bands are emerging from the ever-expanding German Extreme Metal scene. Although Sadistic Goatmessiah have been around for more than a decade, their name is popping up with increasing frequency. Following the recently released compilation CD containing the recordings so far and in anticipation of the long-awaited debut album, I spoke to the band’s founder, guitarist and vocalist…
Hi there, here we are, and let’s waste no time and get started: without wanting to start with all too much vanilla-flavored questions, I would, however, like to start with asking you about the past twelve years. Sadistic Goatmessiah was born already back in 2012 and since you have released a couple of demos and split releases. How do you look back those long years of mainly keeping things really “underground”?
I have to admit, that back in 2012, only the idea of Sadistic Goatmessiah was born. Back then Holocaust Wargod of Blood and Iron and me wanted to play Black Thrash Metal in the style of bands we were worshipping in these days (and still do!). We had little to none experience and so it went silent until I met Goat Primator in 2015. From that on things got serious and now we are here, spreading the words of Evil Reaper Metal across the underground scene.
Despite being around for quite a long time already, you have yet to release a debut album. But, if I am right, there should be an album in the making for a considerable time already. What exactly is it that is keeping you from getting that one out?
We already started the recordings for our first full length Album in Winter 2023 but then other things became more important. We have played a lot of gigs this year and Goat Primator plays in two other great bands (Ch’ahom & Pale Spektre) that were on the road. I write the songs by myself and then comes the drumming. So the last thing is that i show the Bass to Goatess of Fire and she has to learn all the stuff from time to time. Everything in between a lot of work. That’s why it takes us so long. But luckily we are recording everything DIY in our rehearsal room. No studio bills that will get us broke, haha.
Musically Sadistic Goatmessiah is quite close to basically anything that more or less breathes extreme music from the mid to late 80’s. This includes obvious elements from Extreme Metal, but also has distinct resemblances with Punk. Not only in a straight musical comparison, but also in spirit. How would you yourself describe your musical hotchpotch?
It’s a blend of all those primordial extreme metal. We are worshipping the evilness of the bands back in tape trading times. Mainly bands like Sabbat, Obscurity, Hellhammer/Celtic Frost and mix them with the rawness and drumming of 90’s bands like Beherit, Nifelheim and Blasphemy. Punk gives me the power to keep stuff simple but energetic. I love Danzig’s Misfits and the more evil Samhain as well as Hardcore Punk like Negative Approach, G.B.H. or The Authorities. I think the most Punk influence I get from is from Japan. The insane mix of Punk and Heavy Metal by G.I.S.M. is fuel to my fire! Also everyone should check out Bands like Death Side, G.A.T.E.S., Gastunk, The Stalin, The Comes, Disclose and many more!
Picking up on the previous question. The mid to late 80’s was a musical period in which extreme music was not so much divided or overly categorized. Black Metal could be Mercyful Fate or Slayer, Death Metal could even be Candlemass next to Napalm Death. But at shows there were kids with D.R.I. shirts as well as Helloween. As said, you mix up all that to quite a authentic blend. How important is it for you to preserve that true old school spirit from a time where extreme music was just extreme music?
To keep it simple, I call us a Black Metal band. As we are influenced by all those great Bands, that back in the 80’s took Venom’s approach of Black Metal and made it even more extreme, we like to call it “Reaper Metal”. Just like Sodom’s Witching Metal back then, it’s Black Metal but at the same time it’s more. It’s Metal for Maniacs!
Your appreciation for Punk music is also evident from the musical friendships you have with certain bands and labels. After all, you work with Kellerassel Records, a label with clear Punk roots, and you don’t shy away from playing in Punk squats either. How do you think that translates to you as a person, musician, and, eventually into the music of Sadistic Goatmessiah?
The Punk attitude is rooted in our DIY spirit and antifascist standing. We know there are a lot of assholes in the scene and we want to show you that you don’t have to be a closed minded idiot to be part of the extreme metal scene. Doing everything in a DIY style gives us a lot of freedom and people can get easy in contact with us. That helps us get connections in all different places.
With that Punk attitude also comes the evident DIY-approach of doing things. I personally loved to see your statement on the Bandcamp that you can’t exactly buy your demo tape, but you’re open for tape trading; something that you don’t much anymore these days. How important is that for typical DIY-mindset for you?
As said, we are free to do almost everything we like to do. The call for tape trading was a homage to the old days of extreme bands. You can still listen our stuff online, and that’s good! Everything should be available for the love of music. But we want a little dedication from our fans, hehe.
Anyone who has been keeping an eye on the band must have understood that you are massively influenced by Sabbat, both musically as well as aesthetically. It must then be a great experience to have shared the stage with Sabbat on their 2024 European tour alongside Death Metal fanatics Gruesome. Can you share some of your feelings and emotions surrounding that specific show?
This was a personal highlight for me. I was so honored to share the stage with my Heavy Metal role models! I prepared some things for that evening. I brought some records to get them signed, I got them a six-pack of beer (Altbier) from my hometown Düsseldorf, got a little bottle of Jägermeister for Gezol because I know he really likes it and I heard him opening the bottle and taking a sip while getting dressed in his leather thong in the backstage, haha.
If we’d keeping this close to the previous subject matter, with your adoration of Sabbat, as well as Abigail, it is a bit surprising to see that no split 7” EP with either of those Japanese legends have been released yet. That deserves an explanation…
Haha, I think that’s because I’m very slow in writing songs. And maybe I’m a little bit too starstruck to ask them. But I recorded our gig with Sabbat and Destruktion Records, who is an old friend of mine, will release a very limited Tape edition! So keep your eyes open!
You have released a couple of covers for the two of your split releases and your latest 2023-demo. You have chosen for Beherit, Slaughter and Manowar (even with your Hammer tattoo on the front cover of the EP). Excluding the previously discussed Punk mindset, these three covers feel like a true reflection of what Sadistic Goatmessiah stands for musically. Would you agree with such a statement? And, what do those three bands mean to you?
Yes! I think if you put those three songs in a blender you will get what Sadistic Goatmessiah sounds like. We first started with Beherit’s “Gate of Nanna” which is one of the best Black Metal songs ever! I had so many intense moments with the “Drawing down the Moon” record that this was a no-brainer and is always the closer of our live set. Manowar has always been a favorite of us and no matter what, you have always a fukkin good time at a Heavy Metal Party when these Kings of Metal are blasting through your speakers. The Slaughter cover was quite spontaneous when we were asked to play with Mortiferum and Cerebral Rot. We were thinking which Song would represent our Death Metal side. There were ideas for Possessed and Repulsion but Slaughter were the most fitting. Simple, raw and straight to your face. SURRENDER OR DIE!
You have started the band back in 2012 together with “Holocaust Wargod of Blood and Iron” who left the band somewhere along the way. He has been replaced by Goat Primator, who is also active in Ch’ahom and the great Pale Spektre, and not too long ago bassist Goatess of Fire joined on bass guitar. How, if they did at all, did the adding of these two individuals change the musical direction or character of Sadistic Goatmessiah?
When I started to write the first songs H.W.o.B.a.I. and i realized that his rudimentary bass knowledge was way behind what Sadistic Goatmessiah needed. So with no bad blood or bad feelings he left because he couldn’t find the time to improve his playing. Goat Primator and me rehearsed and played a few gigs as a two piece. Then I heard of Goatess of Fire that she started to play bass and so I asked her if she would like to have her first band with us. She was very motivated and learned the songs quite fast and is improving her play and sound ever since. We three are good friends and know how to handle each other, even in rougher times. You can see on stage (and at the after show parties) that we have the same energy and goals for Sadistic Goatmessiah. To bring pure Evil Metal Power to you!
With ‘Evil Witchcraft & Sado Magic’ you have recently released a compilation CD through Iconoclasm Conquest. It is collection of previously released tracks and two songs that were recorded live. Was there still so much demand for those tracks, or was it also for the sake of convenience since none of those tracks were ever put on CD before?
It was Iconoclasm Conquest that got in contact with us for a CD release and the album isn’t finished so he came up with the idea for this compilation. I think it’s cool to have everything pre-album bound together. It’s a chance for people who just saw us playing a gig or finding us on the internet to have a piece of our music with stuff like the first Demo that is sold out for years now.
As far as I am able to spy on you through digital channels, it seems you are a true underground metal enthusiast and heavily involved in the German scene of extreme music. Are there any bands around (in your local scene) that you would like to recommend me checking out and granting a place on these pages as well?
We are good friends with the Osnabrück crew with all its bands like Minenfeld, Prehistoric War Cult and Dungeon Keeper. We shared the stage often with Dolchstoss from Leipzig who became good friends of us. The same with Hellburst. For great Death Metal check out Kriegszittern, Morsch and Eyemaster which are all from our area. Control Poison is one of the best Punk bands inspired by Japanese Hardcore as well as Taifun. From The Netherlands comes the great Bad Omen and pure raw Ildjarn worship Rattenburcht. And if you are into slow Heavy Metal check out High Warden. The list could go on and on, haha.
Besides the already discussed full-length album, what is else is cooking at your kitchen? Anything we can expect to see coming from your direction in the upcoming months?
We have to finish our recordings and then we will hit the road again. There is the idea for another split with Dungeon Keeper for what I’m writing music at the moment. There will be a mini tour with them, Dolchstoss and us on Easter where we will go south and to Switzerland. That’s gonna be great!
We’ll be on the lookout for that full-length album, maybe you can consider to call it ‘Chinese Democracy’. All the jokes aside, thanks a lot for the time you shared with me. The wrapping up of this interview is up to you, last words are yours…
Thanks a lot for your questions and support! Keep the flame of the underground burning!!
