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I see
and hear (and like a lot) you have started a new band called Sacriphyx. How
did this come about? Is playing in the old glorious Greek style something
you have been pining (even lone pining) to do for some time now?
After leaving Grenade a
few months before I was in the hunt to start another band. Playing in the
Greek black/death style never really entered my mind though I love those old
bands. When Anthony took a trip to my joint in the mountains one weekend,
our conversation soon turned towards starting an old style death metal band
as we have similar tastes in metal and soon enough amongst flowing beers and
tobacco smoke, Sacriphyx was born.
Did you
arrive at this style after writing together or was it something that was
predetermined ahead of time by yourself and Anthony? Did the early results
match your initial vision or intent?
As I remember I basically
drove to Anthonys house (some 4hrs drive) with nothing in mind but jamming
together and see what happens. I was sure something would click as I knew
Anthony to be a bit of a riff merchant from the other bands he is in. Things
started happening really quickly and soon Greek sounding riffs started to
creep in here and there. Works well so that’s the way it’ll remain.
Was
there a conscious effort not to sound like your past bands? In particular I
would like to hear a little about Grenade and Stone Wings, are you still
active in both? Do you think Sacriphyx will become your main band as it is
mostly your creation is it not? Have you written lyrics in bands in the
past?
The music style we c hased
was always going to be different from the above mentioned bands. Stone Wings
is currently active for the time being though we are at the moment
rehearsing for our final release. A split 10” with Mournful Congregation was
released not long ago. As for Grenade, three of us out of the four original
members left. Grenade as I see it is dead and buried. So yeah, I suppose Sacriphyx will have to be my main band! As for lyrics mate, I’ve never tried
before Sacriphyx.
Now
please tell us a little about Sacriphyx’s “Lone Pine” demo disc? It seemed
like the recording tried to also mimic in a small way the old recordings
from Greece, is this true or am I just making shit up now? How has reaction
been to the demo thus far?
The reaction to the demo
was great, Anthony excelled at getting the name overseas whilst I
concentrated on these shores. If anything, we didn’t make enough, only 200
were made and these disappeared real quick. It was recorded at Anthonys home
studio, if you think it mimics old Greek recordings then that’s great but
yeah cobber, I think you’re making shit up ha-ha.
There
seems to be a strong concept of past war and in particular Australian
Diggers. Can you tell us a little about your interest in this subject and
does the name Diggers have something to do with gold mining?
Yeah well the concept of
Sacriphyx is about Australians at war. My interest in this as well as
Australian history as a whole started for me at a young age. Some of my
earliest memories are of me old man singing old Australian folk songs with
his acoustic to send us kids off to sleep. He would also drag us along to
Anzac Day dawn services to pay our respects for the fallen. Over the last
say 6 or 7 years my interest has skyrocketed, now I can’t get my hands on
enough books on the subject.
Good guess at your
assumption of the word digger. It started being used commonly by Australian
and New Zealand soldiers around 1917. The most common theory and the one I
reckon most likely is it came about because they were constantly having to
dig trenches, but there are others like a group of Western Australians
believed they started it because they were gold miners in civilian life and
another that it was started by the Kiwi’s who were once gum diggers.
Tell us
a little about the battle of Gallipoli? I have heard some outsiders say it
is seems strange as it appears to be a celebration of Australia’s greatest
defeat, what are your thoughts on this? Was this battle of attrition
celebrated in honour of the brave men who fought at a large disadvantage
rather than the achievement of the ultimate goal? “Lone Pine” is all about
the early stages of this battle, correct?
Gallipoli was Australia’s
first real chance to prove themselves to the world, being a young country
and all. There was Australians In the Boer War earlier but not in the
numbers here. So Gallipoli holds dear to most Australians for this alone.
They were all volunteers and showed an eagerness for battle with a
courageous battle.
The Gallipoli campaign
came to be once the battle through the Dardanelles failed; this was suppose
to force a supply route to the Eastern Front and in doing so hopefully
capture Constantinpole thus knocking Turkey out of the war. So they tried
fighting overland (Gallipoli) in a terrain that only ever suited the
defenders.
I do not see Gallipoli as
a defeat, they were not pushed from the cliffs that they held with dogged
determination. So many months after they realized it was futile they hatched
a plan to trick the Turks in thinking they were staying when really they
were leaving to go fight on the Western Front – France.
The Boer War and Gallipoli
is where the legend of the Australian soldier was born, he grew into
adulthood on the Western Front.
Hopefully this gives you
some meaning of what Anzac Day means to Australians as it’s a hard thing to
put in words let alone a few paragraphs. It’s a day now to remember the
Australian fallen in all wars past and present.
Lone Pine is about one
battle that happened on that Peninsula where as Victory of Withdrawal is
about the leaving. 
Is there any resentment
by yourself or many Australians for the British and fool hardy tactics in
commanding the forces of Australia? The chosen landing and repeated charges
at “Nek” come to mind here.
Of course there is
resentment, not over the landing spot for this was a fuck up by the ships
that put them at the wrong spot. Instead of the gentle hills they were to
have they now had treacherous cliffs to climb and fight in.
But when it came to those
futile charges made by those brave Western Australians and Victorians at The
Nek, there is much resentment and anger. At the same place Turks tried to
run across this stretch in numbers at night and coming downhill only to be
mown down by the Vickers and Lee-Enfields . Why the fuck could Australians
run upwards in daylight and not expect the same treatment? Also when the
first and second waves were cut down before they could take 5 steps why were
the 3rd and 4th waves made to hop the bags?
Australians pushed for their own General since the beginning of the War and
it wasn’t until late 1917 that things started to happen. But this battle was
still nothing compared to the first battle Australians were put into on the
Western Front, The Battle of Fromelles. Once again the stupidity of British
Generals reigned supreme.
There is a great book by
Australian author John Laffin called “British butchers and bunglers of the
first World War” This book makes the blood boil.
I
understand you are not into “foreign” food. So can you recommend some Aussie
cuisine we should all try? Is it true that Vegemite is the official food of
all Australian metal warriors (heathens need to eat breakfast too!)? Tell us
what is the “Tall Poppy Syndrome”?
Someones been telling you
porky pies, I eat pizza once in a while. Some good Aussie cuisine, well you
cant go past bully beef and anzac biscuits (thought id go along with the
theme of the interview thus far). But really mate a good Australian pie
these days are hard to come by unless of course you happen to be in
Thirlmere.
I’d have to squash the
theory of every Australian eats vegemite; personally I’d rather eat a shit
sandwich though I’m not a fan of bread.. Baked beans in ham sauce mate,
that’s the stuff.
The tall poppy syndrome is
pretty much those who can’t stand others excelling at something so by all
means possible they try to bring ‘em back down to their own level.
Did you
choose the name Sacriphyx as a tribute to your favourite band Asphyx?
Well we wanted to use the
name Sacrifice as it would have fitted in perfectly with the lyrical content
but of course there was another classic band named that, so why not just
break up the name and join it to the end of asphyx. Looks good, sounds good,
Hail Asphyx! (Excellent
bands equals an excellent combination! – Dale)
I
understand Sacriphyx has signed on for some releases with the mighty Nuclear
War Now! Records. How did this come about and tell us the details on these
releases. It was your idea or the labels to plan more than 1 release? Will
there be any “Die Hard” versions? Do you collect much vinyl personally?
Anthony sent the demo to
Yosuke at NWN! Not long after we received an email by Yosuke who praised the
demo, wanted to release it on 7” and asked us if we had other material that
he could also release. Next releases are 12” split with Resuscitator and a
7” split with fellow Australians Stargazer. I know nothing about coloured
vinyl being released or diehards as of yet. Though yeah, I do hope there
will be for I am a vinyl maniac.
How do
you see Sacriphyx progressing in the future? Do you have plans to continue
full time with releases or is it more of a 1 off type of project band? How
important are the lyrics in Sacriphyx and do you both write them?
I think Sacriphyx will be
around for a while yet, It’s not an every week rehearsal band as we live
4hrs away from each other but this works well. All music progresses somewhat
but I can’t see Sacriphyx straying to far from its path. The lyrics to me
are very important as I write all of them and they deal with my other great
interest outside of music.
Being a
drummer historically in your numerous bands. This is generally not the
position of the main music composer (I am under this impression, it is
correct?). Is this something you find to be a difficult challenge and how do
you go about writing? What usually comes first and I presume you have at
least some rudimentary skills with guitar? How much does Anthony contribute
and is it difficult to get him on the same page with what you want played?
Sorry mate, you made me
sound like a guitar wizard but nah, I’m
still confined to the drum kit as my rudimentary guitar skills are likened
to that of a retard driving a forklift. I do however have some say in the
riffs Anthony uses as does Anthony have a say in the beats I use. There are
no ego’s in this band and things work well because of it. I will not rule
out the use of my riffs as Anthony wants me to write but when you do hear
them your reaction will be the same as seeing that retard driving a forklift
through your house and over your LPs.
Are
there any plans for Sacriphyx to play live? Will you need some session
members to pull it off? Do you play any covers in rehearsal or any you would
like to do live? Do you enjoy playing live shows?
I’m not the biggest fan of
playing live, to many bad experiences, shitty foldbacks etc: but I will not
rule it out, though it would have to be a worthwhile gig. We would
definitely need session musicians but that would not be a problem, unless of
course I somehow manage to discover a way of playing bass and drums at the
same time. But first I’d have to learn to play bass, fuck that. No covers
yet in rehearsals but again I wouldn’t rule it out.
Neil,
many thanks, mate for the interview. Please send hails to your close
contacts and let us know what your future plans are for Sacriphyx!?
Well thanks for the
interview cobber, I like the way you rolled ten questions into each one
ha-ha. Hails and cheers to me mates around Australia, NWN , USMG and the AWM
Expect a full length album around 08/09 Over and out.
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