One of the longest running Dutch Black Metal bands is Sammath, who, in the form of ‘Grebbeberg’, recently unleashed their seventh onslaught upon mankind. The album, which in my humble opinion is their strongest to date, again has the war themes as a recognisable focal point, but this time it is all a lot more personal for guitarist and vocalist Jan Kruitwagen. This alone would of course be reason enough to invite Jan to do his story on our pages, but the fact that he has been following the Dutch Black Metal scene for three decades and usually doesn’t mince his words challenged me to present him with some snappy statements. The result? Well… Excellent reading!
Hi Jan, I know you have been reading and supporting our pages quite a bit in the past few months and since I have been enjoying your latest album, ‘Grebbeberg’ quite a lot, I think the only logical move was to invite you to our pages once more with a bit of a deep-dive in your work with Sammath… So, here we go: welcome to The Whispering Darkness!
Thanks. Yes, wherever I can I will support all new bands or zines in the scene or try to follow as much as I can regarding new bands, zines labels, without you all the scene is dead. You have a good way of asking questions and don’t follow the dead path of boring bulshit.
So let’s start busting heads!
Let’s just start with ‘Grebbeberg’. When listening to the album it is by no means anything remotely different from any of your previous albums, still it feels like one of the strongest albums in your almost three decades of existence. What, from your own perspective, do you think causes this almost contradictory feeling?
I’m not here to give you a new experience. We never write music to satisfy the listener really. We need to enjoy the album ourselves creating the ultimate Sammath album.
If you say their isn’t much difference you must be tone deaf. We went from a medieval keyboards band to a war themed bulldozer and write totally different albums. The last 3 albums do have the same bite and they can seem a bit in the same ballpark. Yes you have a small point. But we are not the AC/DC of extreme grind black death war.
A question that I always love to ask is how you look back at the overall creative process of forging ‘Grebbeberg’. This album has been released a good couple of years since 2019’s ‘Across The Rhine Is Only Death’, how did you use those years and how did the run-up to ‘Grebbeberg’
I’m self-employed and have a wife and 2 children. So I cant fuck around and be Mr. Black Metal and live in some shitty apartment somewhere because dad has a passion for music and we play every weekend. Our bass player recently became a father, so shows are limited. And even if he wasn’t just a dad, this is passion only. The riffs always come naturally but filtering out the bad ones and writing relevant well-built-up tracks is what it is all about and that is the struggle, in a good sense. Wim our drummer has been playing a bigger part in arrangements in recent years.
In the short conversation we had before this interview, you told me that, although being thoroughly Dutch, you were raised in Australia and had a weak spot for that Australian barbarism from those classic down-under bands. You even mentioned that this is the reason why you sound so brutal… I let these words sink in for a bit, but I must admit I always thought your sound was quite distinctly Northern. Where exactly do you think we can recognize those Australian roots?
I’d say we sound more European as well. Mostly in the tracks without tremolo some folks tell us we have that Aussie vibe and I’m damn proud of that. The Aussie scene is one of the most vicious. We also get compared to older Setherial, which is a damn good band. Songs like ‘Tot De Laatste Granaat’ and ‘Decimated’ from our latest have that Aussie vibe.
The Nordic-feel of the music that I usually typify your music with largely comes from the Swedish sort of fast-as-Marduk pace that characterizes the vast majority of your music. I remember some old review in which Sammath have indeed been compared a lot with such Swedish bands like Marduk, Setherial and Dark Funeral. If I recall correctly you, at that time, you always tried to put that into perspective a bit. How do you look at such comparisons these days?
I can imagine people saying that. Those 3 bands except Setherial are touring artists living of the music. But I really can’t hear any Dark Funeral in Sammath. Marduk in a way, yes. Great comparisons, but I feel we have enough of a own face these days. Many bands I see live from music are holding back a lot live because they have 34532 more touring days to go. That’s why we only do 5 to 8 shows a year. It always sounds 666% loud. No automatic pilot. A reviewer needs to compare. So its good.
Another inseparable aspect of the Sammath-formula is the war-themed topics. Needless to mention, ‘Grebbeberg’ is no exception in this. Yet this time the specific subject is now much more personal to you. Your great uncle died during the battle of Grebbeberg on the 12th of May 1940. Without going all too much into detail about that battle (try Wikipedia to teach you some history if you are interested), what exactly prompted you to delve (even further) into this and wrap a full album around this subject?
I’ve always wanted to write a album dedicated to my great uncle. This is the third and maybe last album with a strictly military lyrical approach and my great uncle’s heroic death at the Grebbeberg seemed perfectly fitting. In our family it was always a subject at birthdays and his day of death was always recalled. My children also know exactly what happened to Wim and we visit the Grebbeberg at least once a year.
In my review I mentioned that, for my two cents, Sammath has always been a band that played a minor role in the Dutch Black Metal scene. I can even remember a certain “discussions” on a Dutch metal forum in which Sammath was accused of being the lamest Dutch Black Metal band ever… You commented to me that you are okay with your position in the underground and you happily allow others to grow “big”. How would you, overall, look back at these three decades of helming Sammath?
To be honest, answering this shit irritates the crap out of me, I shouldn’t be explaining this after 30 years but you ask good questions other than this, so here goes. Your 2 cents are worth 1.
I was warned so many a time not to discuss metal with those forum nerds. And I did. I ran into some at some concerts and had a laugh. I’m sorry I don’t play the game as anyone else. I speak for Wim and Ruud too, we don’t care. I will discuss music, or not if I don’t want to. I will post exactly what seems appropriate to me, don’t like it? Fuck off.
A minor role you say? That’s of course a valid remark if you think that, but I beg to differ.
We sell lots of albums and merch. Are signed to one of the biggest and best labels in The Netherlands regarding extreme metal and play well visited headliner shows. Other than that proving myself to others isn’t important.
Our music is a very extreme form of black and death metal. Not everyone’s cup of tea, which is great, not everyone makes music to become big and to tour. The time we have at gigs or rehearsing is great and is also a lifestyle. Because we don’t have a booker, when we do shows its always off the beaten path. Brilliant stuff, organized by fanatics.
I’d feel a total wanker playing at some big festival at 3 pm in the afternoon thinking our music is meant for the masses, what a joke. We really don’t fit into that world.
Continuing on that matter: it might be me, but I think ‘Grebbeberg’ seems to the album that has received the most and best response from any of Sammath’s previous albums. I am quite sure that Hammerheart Records did a good job at promoting the album, but beyond that, can you think of any other reason? I also saw you were going to play some shows in the USA next year, is it going to happen after all, world domination for Sammath?
It’s a fucking good album that’s why!
Until now our first album ‘Strijd’, ‘Triumph In Hatred’ and ‘Godless Arrogance’ have had the most response, ‘Godless…’ did very well in the USA. but all albums have done well in a certain way. With this album we have made a step forward in the Sammath formula. Thankfully, most modern arty fartsy folks don’t get it.
World domination in my world happened when I sold 300 copies of 1 shirt design in 2019. Or standing at the red square in Russia after a gig for a band picture. Or our first album ‘Strijd’ which by now has had 8 rereleases. We are underground and will always be and thoroughly thrive exactly where we are. In 2024 we have some great countries to visit.
Again, picking up on the previous two questions, regardless of view on your own position with Sammath, you seem to be rather interested in the Dutch Black Metal scene and follow also the smaller or newer bands. Have you always been this close of a follower and if so, how would you comment on the development of the local scene over the past three decades that you were part of it?
I enjoy seeing lots of local bands but we were never part of it. I made sure of that. I do know lots of folks in bands and enjoy having beers with them after shows, some great characters around. Also Ruud our bass player made sure we didn’t be scene dudes. Usually it was a drunk mess anyway so we didn’t have the time to chat with others haha. Our drummer Wim also never did. He was in great death metal and thrash bands such as Centurian and Inquisitor, but he always only wanted to make loud music. Commercial success should never be a goal with this type of music. I’ve always followed the Dutch scene. Very diverse scene it is. These days you have a lot of really neat and tidy normal people trying to be extreme metal. Weekend metal people. You can hear that in the music, the roughness has for a great part been removed. But still, lots of new stuff to listen to and as said, good folks in it.
I’ve only really ever had problems with 1 dude in the scene in 30 years. Apart from the few forum warriors, some wanker trying to tell us what we can or cannot do or post haha, good luck with that. Oh no… make that 2. Adje from Black Metal Promotion banned me too last year for telling him the truth. That maggot thinks he is some sort of gate keeper. Black metal is raw, all he thinks about is views and being accepted and making sure his content is safe enough for YouTube. No wonder so many new listeners love that melodic screamo bullshit they try to sell as black metal. Black metal isn’t about safe spaces. Or those modern day black metal fellows who have never had a fistfight. You-can’t-love-your-own-country bullshit people. It’s certainly not about some nerd only being safe, so he can earn and keep others with extreme content out. I’m not speaking of him refusing Sammath, by now probably yes haha, but many bands that bring true black metal not within the boundaries of what society likes are not put up. I was in contact with him some years and all he is worried about is losing his channel. Never about bringing real extreme music. He might be good at setting up channels, but that’s about it.
Other then that I’d say the scene has great bands, too many to mention really. One of the bigger ones is the hugely popular band of our former guitarist Hanna, Asagraum. Really cool to see that, Carach Angren (you don’t have to like them to recognize talent) and upcoming bands such as Witchfukker, more death thrash, Schavot, Wurgilnõ, Tsjuster, Other older gems like Kjeld, Salacious Gods, Cirith Gorgor, The Chösen at it again. Personal faves like Wrok, and sorry to say that, Standvast. And many many more, the scene is thriving.
I briefly mentioned it in passing, but some great shows have already been booked for your upcoming winter offensive, including the two shows in the United States. What else can we expect from you guys in the coming period?
This winter we have 5 headliner shows. Maybe some more incoming, but till now 3 headliner shows in The Netherlands and 2 in the USA. We could have done more in the USA, but no desire to. Two times of full on war in 3 days is plenty.
This winter we are starting off in Hoogeveen at Het Podium Nov 11th with Salacious Gods (amazing new album on Hammerheart) and Suttungr. We also have a re-release upcoming of ‘Triumph in Hatred’ our 4th album through Zwaertgevegt and Doc Holidays metal productions on CD/vinyl and cassette as well as a shirt. Other than that we have our own rehearsal room and most Thursdays we are at it.
We have some shows upcoming worldwide 2024/2025. But nothing 100% yet. These winter shows are enough to make sure we rehearse well and execute the shows to perfection.
Although I specified that this interview would delve into Sammath, a sneaky little sidestep: what about Kaeck? Anything new on the horizon in terms of this other band of yours and Sammath bassist Ruud Nillesen?
The third Kaeck album is incoming. Lyrics by the Oovenmeester are incoming and the first riffs are written. Will be coming via Folter Records. Darker and more dirty, more strange keys and riffs.
Just one more to end the interview nicely on a personal note, something I’m always very curious about: what records have you bought or listened to a lot yourself lately? Any recommendations?
The new Cryptopsy blew my face off. Black metal wise there is a huge lot incoming but I tend not to buy much new stuff when I’m working on a albums. Lots to listen to next months.
Thanks for your time Jan and thanks for the insight into the world of Sammath and your three decades of Black Metal experience. In case you feel I have forgotten anything else: the last words are yours…
Good questions! Final words:
Do what you want to do and never listen to others outside of family and some good mates. Nobody gives a shit about you, thrive in arrogance!
And support your local record dealer!
Organised by fanatics… it says it all.
Wonderful article!