UNHOLY BLACK METAL » Interview with THY SERPENT for Petrified zine 1994

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## Interview with THY SERPENT for Petrified zine 1994

INTERVIEW WITH SAMI OF THY SERPENT FROM PETRIFIED zine issue #4

Please give us thy history’ of Thy Serpent: members. creation,etc…
SAMI: Formed in 1990 but with different lineup and without real name. Names and lineups changed a few times so I decided to play alone in the end of summer ‘92. I ‘ve brought drum machine earlier and I took this name in ‘93.

What have you released up to date?
SAMI: I released a reh. tape with one friend hack in summer ‘92 (not available!) and my first demo 1.3.94. I also recorded one song for compilation CD in summer ‘94 but I don’t know if it will come out.

Have any labels been interested in your band?
SAMI: Well, I ‘ve written with few labels and they liked my music but no deals.

Who/what do you compare your music to?
SAMI: Of course I don’t like to compare my music to any band, my music has influences from black, death and maybe doom metal also, everything what I ‘m listening affects to my music.

Your demo “Frozen Memory” seems to have a Norwegian influence, do you agree with me?.
SAMI: Maybe, we both use synths and music style are same kind. And I’m listening to Norwegian bands a lot , Greek bands and bands from everywhere.

Do you listen to Norwegian Black Metal? If yes why? If not why not?
SAMI: I think Norwegian Black Metal is one of the best music in the world, together with Swedish, Greeks and some others. They make very good music but I don’t agree everything that they say or do.

What other bands do you listen to?.
SAMI: Some bands like King Diamond/Me rcyful Fate, Relatives Menschsein, Death in June and something like that but mainly Black Metal/Death Metal/Doom Metal. Everything that is dark interests me.

Most Finnish bands seem to lack atmosphere, originality and feeling. That is why I think your band stands-put from the rest. In your opinion, what makes your band stand-out amongst the others in Finland?
SAMI: Thanx! I think that Finnish bands don’t use any synths so much, they are kind-oj fast all the time, hut some Finnish bands are original: (I ‘m only mentioning new bands ‘case everybody knows our old bands) DARKWOODS MY BETROTHED, NATTVINDENS GRATT, and maybe some others. But most Finnish bands suck.

What other Finnish bands should receive support?
SAMI: Those that I mentioned in the last question + Black Dawn, Lord of Pagalhom and Darkstyle.

Is your music based on Satanism? Why or why not?
SAMI: No, music and Satanism are two different things. Satanism is a lifestyle but this band is also kind of a lifestyle to me, it takes a lot of time and I ‘m taking it seriously, no fun hand or joke hand. But Satanism has nothing to do with my band, I’m not a Satanist, I’m very interested about that stuff though.

How do you think your music has progressed since the beginning of Thy Serpent?
SAMI: Well, from year 1990, quite a bit, but in the last 2 years, not so much, of course I try to make my music more original. Music was of-course more primitive in early days, I ‘ve leamed to play my instruments better. Lyric style has always been the same, no gore or some shit lyrics, only dark/mystical lyrics.

What does the eye and name symbolize on your logo?
SAMI: Well, I thought that the Thy Serpent name was very original and I kept it. The eye is on that logo ‘case it looks very dark and mystical, nothing else. I didn ‘t draw that logo, it was my Finnish penfriend. It looks good, so who cares.

What subjects do your lyrics deal with?
SAMI: My old lyrics were about Darkness and something like that. My lyrics now are more original, they ‘re about Finnish witches who lived on 1500-1700 centuries. They tell about that stupid witch hunt and they show how idiotic Christian people are! My future lyrics are going to be the same way.

What do you think of the trend Black Metal has become? Will it still be around next year?
SAMI: It has some good points that Black Metal has become a big trend, people are burning churches for fun or ’cause of the trend, BM is very serious music, at least I think so. Hopefully all trends are dead and the true people are in it only.

What do you .do other than play in Thy Serpent? What is your way of life?
SAMI: Well, I don’t do that much. I’m unemployed, I drink almost every weekend, write letters and try to make music for my hand. But I think that TS takes a lot of my lime and I’m •serious with what I ‘m doing, so TS is a big part of my life, maybe kind-of a lifestyle. Of-course I try to find some interesting books to read, when I have the time for it. Nothing else, I think….

What do the following words mean to you:
SAMI: LUST: Lust belongs to every man/woman, so don’t try to hide it, like some Christians do.
DEATH: We all are going to die, so why the hell should we be afraid of it? Your life is only preparing for death.
MURDER: Who cares.

What is Finland for you?
SAMI: Shitty place to live hut a very beautiful land and a lot of beautiful girls. Quite expensive place, only few great bands. Shitty scene. Nothing else!

Are you working on any new material? What are some titles?
SAMI: Yes, I ‘ve done my new demo already and it will be -out when you ‘re reading this. Of course I think it’s better than my first demo,
’cause it is. Price is a hit higher this time, 5$ Europe, 6S World, but I was in the studio this time. I don’t give you any titles, you ‘II see them when you ‘re ordering my demo.

The end is here… Any final comments?
SAMI: Afuckin’ big thanx to you, Jon, for this great ‘view, it was great. My 1st demo is still available, -$4 Europe and 5$ World and you get 20 min. of Darkness…