Hate Interview

ANSWERS: ATF SINNER ( GUIT. VOC)

1.Can you update us with is going on with the band these days?
We're working on the American version of „Erebos” album, which is going to have its premiere on 22nd February. We're also preparing ouselves for North American tours that start on 9th March. On first tour we'll be accompanying Rotting Christ and Melekesh; on the second we'll be supporting Belphegor, Sepultura and, in part, Nevermore.

2.How would you describe the musical sound of the new album, and how does it differ from the previous releases?
First of all, we feel very comfortable with this album, because it's a natural consequence of our previous works. „Erebos“ is like a highlight in our discography...beyond doubt, the darkest and best produced material we've recorded thus far. We wanted to record an album that would not be easily classified. Extreme, but innovative at the same time. We also wanted to broaden our perspective and enrich the music with some new elements. Still the core of our style is death/black metal, but on „Erebos“ you can hear influences from heavy metal, death core, some groovy stuff here and there, and also industrial and ambient sounds. I think it's quite a diverse album for extreme metal. We wanted to go further with experiments, but, honestly, we hadn't enough time in the studio to relize all ideas that came to our heads.

By the way, the American version of “Erebos” will contain 5 bonus tracks in the form of dark-ambient re-mixes of our songs made by a French artist known as Melek-tha, plus a few industrial compositions by a Polish composer Michal Staczkun. I believe, it's gonna be something fresh in death metal genre. I just heard the re-mixes a few days ago, and I'm absolutely blown away!



3.What are some of the lyrical topics and concepts the new release explores?
Erebos” is full of metaphors and assiciations with today's life, politics and condition of a human in general. This time I drew my inspiration from what I observe; especially when on tour in many different places, facing different people, situations, cultures etc. The title really means the dark part of a human soul. „Erebos“ is not based on any literature or mythology. It's a story about human living in today's world who is a slave to his anger, weaknesses and complexes... Existing in a fictitious, virtual world, he is a slave to his dreams and does not really live but dreams that he lives. It's the way many people actually live their lives....as if not in the real world, having no real identity. So “Erebos” is a story about looking for deeper identity, for enlightenment, so to speak. It's a pretty dark, apocalyptic vision of humanity. It's not a concept album in strict sense, but tit has its light-motives appearing in most of the tracks, such as: looking for enlightenment, looking for real „self“ that has been lost or manipulated to the point you cannot separate your „self“ from other stories and information that you've heard or seen. It's about looking for this one element that defines you as an unrepeatable individual. It's also about dealing with your weaknesses, frustration and anger...that very often leads you to perdition.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the band name Hate?
Hate is a symbolical name that means reaction or opposition against all captivating systems that supress human powers. By „systems“ I mean religions, traditions, politics etc. So Hate means becoming free, having free and critical mind. When it comes to symbols that we use, the main is Shining Omega – a symbol of cosmic infinity, energy that rules the universe. It's a symbol of strength on one hand, and the apocalypse (the end of the world) on the other. Creation and Destruction. Both sides of the nature of the universe. It's a part of luciferian ideology, but expressed in our own symbolism.

5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?
Well, it's hard to point out some specific shows. Since the premiere of "Morphosis" in 2008, we have toured different parts of the world; Europe and America, but also countries like Mexico, Brazil and Russia. There were many shows that we liked. One that I remember so well, was Death Feast Open Air in Germany, where we went on stage without make-ups (one of very few). On the way to the festival we had a serious looking car crash, so we arrived just in time to take our instruments and go on stage. Fortunately, nobody was hurt in the accident. And I still remember the adrenaline I then felt on stage... this show was published on youtube. It sounds really good but looks quite different from our normal shows.

What is our performance like? It's just one outburst of brutality mixed with misticism... come and see yourself!

6.What are the touring plans for the new releases?
As I mentioned we're coming to the US/Canada on the 8th March and will be touring Ameican continent until first days of June. After that, we're comnig back to Europe to play a few summer festivals. In Amutumn we'll play a regular Euro tour and shoot a video for one of the songs from „Erebos” album. As you see, there's pretty much work ahead of us in the upcoming months!

7.In the past you had more of a pure death metal sound but have brought in different elements on the newer releases while retaining the brutal sound, what made you want to experiement with different elements?
Well, I think we made the biggest step in this respect between “Awakening of the Liar” (released in 2003, which was just brutal piece of direct in-your-face death metal) and industrial-influenced “Anaclasis” (2005). “Anaclasis” was both the biggest musical progress and change in our style over the years. With that album I set up some different standards, started exploring new areas and adding new elements (like black metal riffs, or industrial and ambient sounds) to the band's music that had been absent in the past. I just felt I the band needed some major change because the music we played back then was too obvious. I understood that being an extreme metal band we needed to develop our style, find some new ways of expression. I started to attach more importance to atmosphere and overall character of Hate's music changed quite a lot then.

8.On a worldwide level, how have your fans react to the musical sound that is present on your newer release?
The reactions are very positive so far. Thanks to „Erebos” many people discovered us, or re-discovered us again. The album got lots of good reviews so far and we're really happy about it!

9. What direction do you see the music heading into on future releases?
I don't know yet, but for sure we'll be still developing our style. It won't stay the same on the next album, because all we want is to make progress, explore new areas playing extreme metal.

10.What are some bands or musical styles that have influeced your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
I have always been into metal, but also in rock, industrial rock, alternative, and classical music too. Contemporary classical is the kind of music I like in particular. Composers like Shostakovich, Lutoslawski, Penderecki, Gorecki, Bartok sound in my ears like real avantgarde...they are always fresh in some way, even though their greatest pieces were written in the 60ties and earlier. I also like alternative artists such as Diamanda Galas or Sun o)). When it comes to metal, I can name a few bands that influenced me most when I was younger: Venom, Slayer, Destruction, Celtic Frost, AC/DC, and later Meyhem, Nine Inch Nails, Fear Factory, Emperor and many more.

11.How would you describe your views on Occultism and Satanism?
It depends on what you mean by „satanic“ or “occult”. These words are very often abused or wrongly interpreted. We are close to mysticism, occult or luciferian philosophy, but we're not worshippers of any of it. That's why we decided not to use any obvious symbols such as pentagram or inverted cross, cause their meanings became devaluated and abused in many ways. When we talk about religion, Satanism is not a religion in strict sense because it actually rejects the idea of god being above human. It is individual will that is in the centre of this philosophical system. So actually Satanism is about setting free all human powers that are supressed in people because they are afraid of “god” or “going to hell”. In this respect, we have something to do with this idea. As I mentioned, “Hate” is a symbolical name that means rebellion against all captivating systems that supress human powers. This view stands in opposition towards Christianity and other deistic religions.



12.Outside of music, what are some of your interests?
I watch a lot of films, read some psychological stuff (I've a degree in psychology). I'm also interested in history and politics. If I were not in the band, I'd try my luck in politics or science. I've some passion for both things.

13.Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?
Thanks a lot for this interview. I would like to send big greeting to our supporters and fans in America. We can't wait to be there and bring you some real madness again!