Sinn
Vido Sinn is a man we should
all look up to! He is the kind of man that wasn't "afraid" and didn't hesitate
leaving a power metal band and forming a thrash/black metal one, which
was his heart's true desire. Moreover, he managed to release an incredible
album that totally deserves our attention. So, here we have the band's
mastermind Vido Sinn talking about his band and many other important issues!
1.HELLO VIDO! THE "RUNE OF ODIN" CD SOUNDS
GREAT!!!! HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO CHANGE YOUR STYLE AND FROM HEAVY METAL
THAT YOU USED TO PLAYING, YOU FORMED A BLACK METAL BAND? AREN'T YOU AFRAID
THAT YOU MIGHT FAIL BECUASE YOU WERE "WALKING" IN AN UNKNOWN TERRITORY?
Thank you Nick, I have been drawn to the Scandanavian
Black Metal movement for many years. Many of those groups incorporate the
most thunderous metal rhythms along with the complex classical music of
their grandfathers. They seem very disciplined and well educated in this
field. It hits hard yet moves you at the same time. Not like the so called
'nu-metal' and 'rap metal' scene common to America that I consider primative
and uneducated. The radio stations here play this shit constantly, but
then there are those wanting more. I have played in many thrash metal bands
since the 80s but it always seemed to be missing something. I recently
decided to try my abilities at the symphonic metal approach while adding
a few ideas of my own just to see where it would go. Something of my own
composition without the interference or criticism of others. As for the
fear of failing? Like the Vikings, new territories are not founded until
you seek them.
2.THE ALBUM IS WRITTEN IN A CDR. SO DO YOU CONSIDER
THIS WORK AS A DEMO OR AS YOUR OFFICIAL DEBUT RELEASE? DO YOU SEARCH FOR
A LABEL TO RELEASE IT OFFICIALY?
This CD was released as a demo just to get
it out there and heard. I wouldn't want anyone hearing it or owning it
unless I was fully pleased with it myself. It was recorded at my own private
digital studio here in Portland along with some help from friends but it's
getting a hell of a lot more positive response than I ever expected. I'd
be honored if a big label showed interest in this CD but if not, I'm having
a great time with it all. That's what counts to me.
3.IS IT TRUE THAT YOU LEFT JESTERS MOON FOR SINN?
WHY DID YOU DO THAT? MAYBE, THIS MEANS THAT YOU WON'T PLAY AGAIN CLASSIC
HEAVY METAL? WILL JESTERS MOON CONTINUE TO EXIST?
Although Jesters Moon has had some scuffles
with bass players and management, It's not out of commission. In the meantime,
I chose to follow my hearts desire and form Sinn. I still keep in touch
with Bryce and Preston and we periodically work on new material for future
release. They each have their own projects also so there's no set date
as to its completion. It will be the same classic metal but quite a bit
heavier than the last one.
4.NOW, MUSICALLY THE BAND PLAYS A MIXTURE OF THRASH/BLACK.
DO YOU AGREE? WHICH BANDS INFLUENCED YOU TO CREATE THIS SPECIFIC SOUND?
I would say thrash/black is a fair description
although I find it difficult to put a solid description tag on it since
my influences range from Emperor, Dimmu Borgir and Bathory to Beethoven,
Pink Floyd and the Cocteau Twins. A band here in Portland that I have always
admired are the Wild Dogs. Their singer Matt McCourt (also of Dr. Mastermind),
always had this "Fuck you, I'm doing it my way!" attitude which keeps him
fresh in his original ideas. I was honored to have him accompany me vocally
on 'Unspoken Bounds'. I like to keep a wide musical spectrum in order to
keep things interesting. Since there are no laws binding one to a single
form of expression, why adhere to such?
5.YOUR ALBUM SOMEHOW SOUNDS LIKE OLD FASHIONED
EXTREME METAL BUT IT HAS A LOT OF ORIGINALITY AND NEW IDEAS. HOW EASY WAS
IT FOR YOU TO CREATE SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
A lot of the ideas just came to me while recording.
I just lay down a foundation to the song and would say for example, Maybe
some orchesta in this section, oboe here or voices backing there. I just
try to apply a little imagination to it all and and see how it evolves.
Sometimes I'll think up a rhythm or harmony and it won't get out
of my fucking head until I record it!
6.NOW, YOUR LYRICS TURN AGAINST THE CHRISTIAN
RELIGION, BUT CONTRARY TO OTHER BANDS THAT DO IT FOR COMMERCIAL REASONS,
YOU HAVE A PERSONAL REASON TO DO THAT. CAN YOU TELL US A FEW THINGS ABOUT
IT?
My songs condemn not just christian, but all
organized religion. Especially those that attempt to gain favor through
cowardous tyranny. Most all of them preach of a loving and merciful God
yet countless bloody wars have been waged in his name. The Inquisition
has even gone so far as to cross the Atlantic to torture and slaughter
innocent natives that chose not to convert to christianity. The christians
cry about how horrible it was that their ancestors were fed to the lions
in Rome, yet they consider it a worthy cause that THEIR hebrew ancestors
murdered innocent women and children on their quest for the holy land while
toting around a golden ark that contained the commandment, "Thou shalt
not Kill"! Although it must have been OK because their loving and merciful
God said so, Right?! It's all hypocrisy. Almost all religions seem to have
one belief in common, "We're right and you're condemned!" Look at todays
television evangelists. If they can't have your soul, those shitbags would
sure appreciate having your fucking money!
7.MANY BANDS TURN AGAINST CHRIST BUT I DON'T THINK
THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THE CHURCH HAS CORRUPTED HIS WORDS AND INTENTIONS.
THEY GAVE THEM A DIFFERENT MESSAGE FROM WHAT CHRIST WANTED TO TELL US.
WHICH ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?
I totally agree. I never met Christ but I'm
sure he was a nice guy. He would even have been welcome to dine at my table
back in the day. I don't think he was quite the pompous ass with no sense
of humor that the old hollywood movies made him out to be. But the true
son of the creator? That's all a matter of faith. I'm just wondering if
he would ever have bothered had he known the outcome.The church, or should
I say churches twisted his words for the gain of kingdoms and wealth throughout
the centuries. Even the once pagan Scandanavian kingdoms adopted christianity
not for faith, but for control of the masses. I'm glad to see those Viking
bands today still fighting against it as well as in other parts of the
world.
8.WHICH ARE YOUR THOUGHTS REGARDING THE TORTURES
THE IRAQIS WERE SUBMITTED TO FROM THE U.S. SOLDIERS? IS IT PERHAPS POSSIBLE
THAT THE U.S. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DECEIVED BY THEIR GOVERNMENT AND THIS WAR
WAS OVER THE INTERESTS OF SOME FEW? TO PUT IT DIFFERENTLY WHICH IS THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SADDAM'S BRUTALITY AND THE SAVAGERY OF THE AMERICAN
SOLDIERS?
I think it was absolutely disgraceful!
It's understandable that war causes a lot of hate and hostile cravings
for vengeance in ones heart but those prisoners were no threat to anyone.
I just think that some sadistic superior officer ordered his men and women
to commit and film these acts so he could jerk off to it! Saddam was clearly
the same way. It' a morbid reality that exists in all corners of the globe
and possibly even next door. I'm sure that interrogations of enemy
soldiers are more brutal than the government leads us to believe. A decieving
US government? This is no fresh news to me. Even though I don't follow
along with those government conspiracy idiocies that people keep shitting
out on the internet, I don't trust their false sincerety to the American
people. Especially the president! We all know it's about oil. More lives
per gallon.
9.ALTHOUGH YOU ARE A U.S. BAND, THE TITLE OF THE
ALBUM IS "THE RUNE OF ODIN". WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO NAME IT THIS WAY? DOES
IT HAVE A SPECIAL MEANING TO YOU?
Absolutely. In the ancient runes of the Vikings,
there is one called Odins rune. This is the blank rune which symbolizes
the unknowable, the great mystery. That's exactly what I felt toward this
CD. Because there is so much experimentation in the musical field, I had
no idea of the turnout after its release. It was a great mystery to me,
but that's the excitement of it.
10.HOW DO YOU PLAN TO PROMOTE YOUR NEW ALBUM?
WILL YOU DO ANY LIVE SHOWS INT HE U.S.?
My good friend Isis has been helping me promote
this CD via the internet. We're getting it out there and heard in every
way we can think of. There are music stores here that are now selling them
and seem happy to do so. Once I incorporate some dedicated members that
aren't wimpy chickenshits to look the part, we will do live shows in the
future, and a hell of a show it will be!
11.LATELY, I'VE NOTICED THAT MANY U.S. METAL BANDS,
ESPECIALLY IN THE EXTREME SOUND, HAVE BEEN INFLUENCED FROM EUROPEAN EXTREME
METAL BANDS. WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN? AREN'T YOU AFRAID THAT THE U.S. METAL
SCENE MIGHT LOSE ITS IDENTITY THIS WAY?
We should look to Europe more often for metal
inspiration. It's our fatherland and heritage! Many bands in Europe embrace
their classical roots and I believe that the American bands that follow
suit are the ones that will be most musically blessed. On the other side
of the coin, there are bands in this country that adopt the uneducated
ghetto garbage called rap. It's sickening to hear this on the radio stations
that consider themselves metal. In my book, metal and rap do not mix. If
this is considered the US metal scene, IT MUST BE CRUSHED!!
12.TELL ME FEW THINGS ABOUT THE FEEDBACK YOU RECEIVED
TILL NOW FOR YOUR CD. IS IT POSITIVE AND DOES IT GIVE YOU HOPE TO CONTINUE
TH SAME WAY IN THE FUTURE?
The feedback to The rune of Odin has been
more than I ever could have imagined. I receive good compliments from people
that aren't even into the Black Metal scene and website reviews have far
exceeded my expectations. It started out as a project in which I could
just be myself and pour out my musical knowledge to the best of my abilities,
and turned into something that is selling like hotcakes in this area just
by word of mouth. It gives me much inspiration to carry on for many years
with Sinn. It's definitely the band I've always wanted.
13.IF YOUR MUSIC WERE AN EMOTION, WHAT WOULD IT
BE? IF IT WERE A PAINTING, WHAT WOULD IT SHOW?
Emotionally, It would be a mixture of anger,
hatred and sorrow. If I were to put a picture to it, it would show a dark
scene of innocent people being decieved and led away from a life of enjoyment
and freedom to a darkened dungeon of punishment and servitude.
14.WHICH IS, ACCORDING TO YOU, THE BEST AND WHICH
THE WORST PART IN YOUR MUSIC? WHICH IS YOUR TRADEMARK?
The best part of it is the endless ideas that
I can put forth into future compositions. Hopefully, it will never get
boring. The worst part is the fact that the CD could have been done in
a bigger and more professional studio with better enhancement facilities.
But all things considered, I am satisfied with it as being a first release.
Trademark? We'll just have to wait and see what falls into place as such.
15.THANK YOU! HAVE I FORGOTTEN TO ASK YOU ANYTHING
AND YOU'D LIKE TO MENTION?
Thank you very much for the interview and
generous review on Sinn. I hardly feel worthy of such a rating! It does
help give me inspiration to continue in the years to come. I would also
like to thank my beautiful wife, Lisa, for her support and putting up with
it all. I enjoy browsing your site to see what is happening in the metal
realm. All hail Behind The Veil!!!
Nick "William_Kidd"
Parastatidis
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