Boulder, Colorado is traditionally known for housing a few eclectic personalities. Certainly, Satan’s Host doesn’t fit the “hippie” mold, but with a lifestyle that few others lead, they can be called eclectic. For all of the backlash that comes with being Satan’s Host, the band has somehow managed to survive through lineup changes, a drummer being murdered, a decade-long hiatus, and various other things that probably haven’t been documented. 2007 was the band’s coming out party, as Moribund Records re-released Burning the Born Again… and Satanic Grimoire. This year, with a new album The Great American Scapegoat 666, the band is poised for even bigger things and a larger audience to conquer.
Peter Santellan: For those who don't know about the history of Satan's Host, would you give a brief overview of how it all started and the resurrection of the band in the 1990's?
Patrick Evil: The band started in the late seventies to early eighties with our first release Metal From Hell in 1986 followed by Midnight Wind in 1987. After that, the original drummer was murdered and the band took a time of silence until around 1992 when I Met Eli Elixir, the current vocalist. We at that time had a great connection. So we found different musicians and the band reformed, myself being the only original member wishing to carry the Black Flame for Satan's Host. At that time, I found a new fire for music discovering 7 string guitars. I knew at that time once again, people in the industry were excited for the grunge movement just like new wave, glam, and disco before it. So I had foreseen a resurrection at the core of Metal and knew all of these other factions of music were again a fad. That made me have a great desire to make the most extreme Metal possible and ignited my passion for music in a new light. I was never really satisfied with the incarnation of Satan's Host musicians until now the present day line up!! Now I am able to unleash my primal passion for the Metal as I have originally intended, although I am still a big fan of power Metal as the band started in the beginning. But working with Eli has helped me grow as a musician because he has a greater understanding where I am coming form and our unholy union has forged forth, growing stronger everyday!
PS: Last year, Burning the Born Again... and Satanic Grimoire were reissued by Moribund Records. How did the deal with the record label come about and why do you consider it a good fit for the band?
PE: Well, Odin had called Flatline Audio owner Dave Otero, who was looking to get a hold of us. It just happened at the time we were recording the Satanic Grimoire album there at the time. Dave gave me all of the contact information and I started talking with Odin about making a deal. We went on with producing and releasing the Satanic Grimoire album on our own. After a time, it seemed the timing and everything went great and we signed on with Moribund for the new album Great American ScapeGoat. It only made sense the most underground cult label and cult bands united. I am very pleased how they have taken us under their veil and work their hardest for the Metal. They’re big fans of Metal as are Satan's Host. They have given us complete freedom to create our music and together, I couldn't think of any other label that would let Satan's Host be who we are today.
PS: This month, the new album Great American Scapegoat 666 came out. Is there any agenda behind the album title?
PE: If you look around the world and America especially, religion and conservative thinking rules all. So many people live their lives one way then go out on the weekends raising hell and then back to church on Sunday. It is so easy for people to blame Satan and blame everything on something else beside themselves. No one takes responsibility for their own actions. For example, look back to Judas Priest being on trial for a kid committing suicide. Or Marylyn Manson being blamed for the Columbine killings because the kids listened to the music. There is always someone to blame someone who is made the ScapeGoat. That is why we named the album with the title. The message is take responsibility for your actions; if not, go ahead and blame us: The Great American ScapeGoat!!
PS: As has been the case with the album covers associated with Satan's Host releases, the artwork is amazing. Who does the cover art, and how did you come in contact with the person?
PE: We are fans of real art. We have always been fortunate to find a great artist who connects with us and understands the concepts we seek to create. Joe Patagno does all the art work for Motorhead and Summon and when Moribund gave us a chance to work with him, it was like a dream come true. He has that natural ability to understand and create. We gave him our vision and he exceeded our expectations for the new cover. We will always find people of like minds who are into their craft as are we!!
PS: Production of the album was done by Dave Otero, who has also done work with Cephalic Carnage and Cobalt. How did you decide on him, and what were the ways in which Satan's Host benefited?
PE: We started working with Dave on the Burning the Born Again album. He pushes us past the limitations of working in other studios. Each album we record with him gets better. He becomes a silent member in the band and is straight up and honest with us. He gives us ideas we may not have heard in the music and explains to us his vision and how it coexists with our vision. He will headband along to the music, raising his horns to the sky and bringing such a fire to the table that makes us take our playing and creativity to another level.
PS: What is the purpose of having an invocation (Invocation...666) to lead off an album?
PE: Going back to our first album Metal from Hell, we have always started out the albums with some kind of intro. We like to create a mood for the listener. Sometimes it may seem over the top, but the invocation was meant to send fear and an unsettling feeling to create emotion for the listener. We wanted the calm before the storm so to say. Our vision was like a flash back in a movie or perhaps envision us doing a ritual before we go out and play. In that way, it gives you more insight that we live a certain way and enjoy what we believe in. So many people see Satan in Christian light, not understanding that in the left hand path, our thinking is more free will. If only more people could study and free their minds from right wing thinking, then the intro would make more sense. Unfortunately, so many only go by how they are raised or how they’re supposed to think that such type of visions we create are only seen form a right wing point of view. The truth is there is a great movement that most do not know exist; that they just keep their minds closed and only see what they have been shown all their lives without ever understanding.
PS: The number 13 seems to be a lucky number for the band. Is this a superstition that works or is it just a coincidence?
PE: Well, there are many meanings to the number 13 in numerology. Most people think of the number 13 as being bad luck because they have never learned that all these superstitions were created by the church to instill fear within people so they will not dare to research or go against their thinking. It is a sad state in society when people will not read and learn because they have been told all their lives they will go to hell for doing things that are not understood. The only fears we have are those that bring the fear of God upon the soul. A threat to your immortal being. Why be afraid? Because we only use 10 percent of our minds, everything we know is that death is a reality from the day we were born. There is no truth, just faith that people have. I think it is very sad that people thrive on fear to control the collective thought of humanity. The only way to learn is to do the research, maybe then in this world we could have more open minds.
PS: Are there any shows lined up in the near future in support of the album?
PE: Yes, in the months of May to June, we will be touring the USA with Drawn and Quartered. To all the fans, keep checking for dates in your towns. We will be there!! After that, we will perhaps head across the shores to Europe and then record a new album later this year to be released next year. We like to stay productive and we love creating Metal!! That is what we live for. The more we can get exposure through our music, the better!
PS: Last question, is there going to be any more plans for shooting a video, as was the case with Metal From Hell?
PE: Yes, we have big plans for several different videos to support this album. We have been working on our ideas, drawing a plan and before we go on tour, we would like to have the new videos done. We will do one for Ave Lucifer and one for Black Order and Death wing angel. Thanks for your support and interest in Satan's Host.
-Dr. Pete
Link