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Dark
Gathering
An
interview with Dann Saladin of Bloodcoven
By Bob
Ignizio |
Akron’s Bloodcoven formed
in the fall of 1993, making them one of (if not the) longest running black
metal bands in northeast Ohio. The band has been through numerous member
changes, even disbanding completely for a while, but through it all
guitarist/vocalist Dann Saladin has kept the Hell fires burning. The most
recent recruits in Bloodcoven’s campaign of evil are drummer Ryan Arter and
guitarist Jeff Charest, and at the time of this interview the band was once
again looking for a new bass player. Rather than sit idle, Dann and his
cohorts are finishing work on their new CD. Nonetheless, Dann found the
time to answer some questions for Utter Trash.
Utter Trash: Some folks
in the extreme underground metal scene seem to worry a lot about bands
"staying true" to certain stylistic rules and so on. Do you feel any sort
of pressure to follow a rigid definition of what "black metal" is, or do you
just follow your muse and fuck 'em if they don't like it? For that matter,
do you even consider Blood Coven to be "black metal"?
Dann Saladin: I have no care for rules or what is
"elite" or "true" or whatever. I play music that I love to create and that
makes me happy. Our material is all over the board when it comes to style.
Some sounds more like modern black metal, some sounds more like death
metal. I Incorporate many different styles and influences in my writing.
So yeah, fuck'em if they want to judge us on our status instead of our
music. I can say I've been into metal and in the scene a hell of a lot
longer than most people who feel it so necessary to criticize others on the
whole "True" issue. In my opinion Venom is the only true black metal band.
They coined the phrase. I think I'd call what we do very heavy thrashy
blackened death metal. That should cover all bases.
UT: Bands with satanic
lyrics and images run the gamut from those just looking for a gimmick to
serious followers of the Anton LaVey style Satanism to those who actually
worship "The Devil" as a real being. Where do you fall? If your attitude
is more serious, what led you to that particular philosophy?
DS: I have no use for any organized religion. I base
my life on my own philosophies. Anton LeVay just turned Christianity
inside-out and called it Satanism. I think it's a pretty unoriginal
religion. There are a lot of other self-empowering philosophies out there
without the cheesy shock value that Satanism tries to conjure. For the most
part I just live my life day to day and use common sense and intelligence
instead of some crutch under the guise of a religion.
UT: One of the things
that stood out for me about Blood Coven when I first saw the band was the
MIDI guitar. What inspired you to use that sort of guitar? Is it just
cheaper/easier than getting a keyboard player, or are there some things you
can do with it that are different than a keyboard?
DS: Well, yes it's easier than getting a keyboard
player and it gives me more control over where the keyboard tones are used
in the music. I feel that a lot of bands that have full-time keyboard
players have a tendency to over use them. But obviously, no one wants to
get up on stage and stand there doing nothing, so... Anyhow, it also frees
up a lot of space on the usually already crowded stages.
UT: Any time a band goes
away for a while and then comes back, there's a chance that you'll have lost
some fans in the meantime. How has the response been since you've been
playing out again?
DS: Well, I don't think that we ever really got to
that big of a level where that was much of an issue. We used to have a much
bigger following in the Cleveland scene, but the scene used to be much
bigger in general. I think people just get bored with it and move on with
their lives and stop coming to shows. I think that's stupid, but who am I?
Plus everyone in the area has seen us several times so I don't really
expect to see hundreds of people out at every show. I wish there were, but
I can see things a little more realistic than that. I love going to shows,
and go to as many as I can afford to. Unfortunately, the economy has been
slow and I don't really have the extra money all the time and neither do a
lot of people.
UT: I know you're working
on a new CD. How does the material on your new CD compare with your first,
'Ashes of an Autumn Burning'?
DS: In general, it's more intense. The overall pace
of the material is faster and the guitar work is more intricate. But other
than that it still has the same feel as "Ashes..." but the production is way
better.
UT: Is the plan to
release it on your own, or will you try shopping it around to some labels?
DS: I can't afford to release it myself. We have had
some interest from a couple small labels. I can't really say anything at
this point, but it will be released by a label, probably in the early part
of 2004.
UT: Any plans to play
outside of the NE Ohio area in the near future?
DS: We'd definitely like to. We were supposed to
play several shows throughout November but everything got kinda messed up.
I hope to play outside Ohio as much as possible in the coming year. We are
booked on the Michigan Doomfest in January.
UT: What is your personal
definition of "success" for Bloodcoven?
DS: Just continuing to make good music that people
will enjoy listening to as much as I enjoy playing. Making some money would
be nice, but I don't judge my success on the size of my bank account.
Otherwise I'd consider myself a turd. Ha ha.
UT: Anything I didn't ask
about that you want to comment on?
DS: Well, just look for the new album next year and
try to make it out to the shows when you can. We have a ton of even newer
material that we've been playing live and we’ll continue to do so. To all
the old school fans of Blood Coven, come on out and see what we're up to
today. It still has that classic sound, just more intense.....
Visit the Bloodcoven website.
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