The following interview was done with Sonya Sepulchral - former vocalist of Bolivian Black/Thrash cult Bestial Holocaust.
Hails S.S.!!! How do you find yourself in these turbulent times of uncertainty, where our lives are governed by institutions and monarchies that seek to impose their pernicious laws upon us? Are we truly “free” as humans?
S.S. - Greetings HT! There are constant changes to which one must adapt to. My life continues connected with my passions between music, art and other important aspects. However, it has been hard to cope with the situation mainly due to the economic factor. Humans again have to learn to live with another planned virus, one more pandemic in our world history. I am part of a society with its rules all over the place, with its religious foundations that are divided for each weak and fickle human species. I am in the opposite current and I am proud to have been consistent in all these years of struggle against the system, my own family and third parties who tried to break my ideals, I will never be part of them in their beliefs and much less allow myself to be manipulated with stupid speeches ever. No human being is free if he is not a master of himself. Today the word "freedom" is used and exalted as a fundamental principle, a word that is sealed in everyone's mouth. There are those who export this word through war to bring "democracy", there are those who created this pandemic to wallow freedom for shitty money, there are those who cause chaos in the imperious freedom, some drown their own lives in drugs to feel free, others reach the orgasm of freedom by putting a bullet in their own skull. In an age where technology behaves like human beings and humans look like robots, we are constantly being hunted by those who want absolute dominance. We are part of their political plan and they try to distract us all the damn time. Those who don't understand are lost in mental slavery.
What's the main motivation for expressing yourself through such a fanatical outlet such as Black Metal?
S.S.- There are ideological positions that simply cannot be explained in words. That unfathomable force is either in you or it is not. That motor will be the impulse for everything that flows naturally and Black Metal has inspired me to express all that sea of thoughts and visions for this world. Cogito ergo sum! I reflect myself on these virtues, since I discovered this Art in my life, I made it the primary core of my actions. Many people think that the behavior of an individual is based on what you hear or read, many times it is not like that, we will not always be the product of something that was circumstantially transmuted.
Your last full-Length, “Into The Goat Vulva,” was a maniacal onslaught of pure Black Witching Metal. What can you tell us about the recording conditions of said album and how long it took to record and compose those songs? Are you happy with the result?
S.S.- Thank you for your words! The songs were already composed in advance, we just waited for the right moment to materialize them. The recording process with this album was enigmatic, certain situations were dreamlike, few would understand. A vital force and an exalted energy helped us, to make everything happen regardless of the mortal barriers. We got a Chilean drummer to record the album, regarding that, I must say it was a wise choice for B.H. The guitarist traveled weeks before to be able to rehearse with Dead on drums, I traveled later to finish vocals recording. Everything was very fast, in a few days the album was ready, although my vocal conditions were not optimal because I had a bloody cold that left me hoarse, anyway, I managed to do the album in a record time. We will be eternally grateful to Pablo Clares for his dedication and professionalism. He is the owner of DM6 Recording Studio who did an excellent job on the sound of this record.
Bestial Holocaust's music radiates pure malevolence in every way possible. What were the most important ideals in how you presented your music? Furthermore, how important is the attitude of a band?
S.S.- This question would be more appropriate for the guitarist since he was the founder, leader and composer of all music, I took care of the lyrical theme. However, there is a determining truth in a band, when there is something to be said through this black art, it must be exposed and disseminated accordingly. So it happened with B.H. The attitude in a band is important in all its forms, fire and oxygen are two essential elements. Music and attitude cannot be a dualism, otherwise the result is pure empty nonsense garbage.
Many people categorize Bestial Holocaust as Black/Thrash. Are they correct? From your own perspective, how do you classify the music?
S.S.- The first demo "Odio y Muerte" was a primitive old school Death Metal, with subsequent releases the style shifted towards a more direct personality. The first album was in a more Black metal vein with passages already characteristic of the band. With the second album, our music evolved towards a more sicker direction (both musically and lyrically.) The criticisms from the media involved, they cataloged us as a Thrash / Black band. The style of the band was already somewhat solid with the third album, but unlike the previous one, the energy of this album was totally dark and foreboding in all its bark, the most appropriate style is how everyone feels it, we played dirty and classic Black/Thrash.
Do you ever see yourself play any other types of music, such as Death Metal and Heavy Metal?
S.S.- Yes, I am a crazy 90s Death Metal Maniac and I would like to participate in a project play drums. Regarding heavy metal, I enjoy few and select bands, that's all.
What inspired you to become an extreme metal vocalist and what are some of the pros and cons of being a singer? You also play the guitar and drums if I'm not mistaken?
S.S.-It all started in a project of some acquaintances, at that time I was more interested in playing drums, but since I had no experience, I limited myself to observing rehearsals. I remember that day, they were playing a Burzum cover "War", and the bassist was in charge to sing. Finally, when his break time came, I grabbed the microphone and told them to play something, I immediately started singing. I was screaming like a witch in her ritual in a crazy way, one of the boys said: hey! That sounds demonic! From now on you will be the new vocalist, and that's where it all started. My inspiration was very natural, my voice was "sick" and there was no other style that suited my timbre other than Black Metal. The rehearsals became more frequent, there were plans to record, compose... You know, all that initial adrenaline of the moment. We managed to play several concerts, we shared the stage with Terrorist, a band from Argentina, I had to play bass at the last minute, I learned a song in a few hours without knowing how to play strings. Later other concerts came and it was in some of them that the B.H.'s guitarist heard me sing. For reasons that it is no longer important to mention the project did not work, they all followed different paths. Anyway, I had learned a lot by myself, my voice had matured, I didn't have any vocalist as inspiration. When I was already part of Bestial Holocaust, I understood that being a vocalist was not at all something that could be taken lightly, it required care and other ways to grow the way of vocalizing without losing the particularity. I am very grateful for everything I learned without a doubt. Currently I play the guitar in a very, very precarious way to compose, I am able to reach the note that is in my mind to be able to put together a song. Regarding the battery where my skills are more acute. I have always been very passionate about that instrument. In fact, I worked years to buy one, but I was rarely able to use it, now I do it more frequently.
What is your stance on Satanism? Do you perceive it as an actual religion, or is it something else entirely far removed from the former?
S.S.- What humanity has always achieved since its inception has been to catalog and name a thought, and then impose it as something imperative according to its benefit. Satanism should not be taken under any religious dogma. For me, it is an unique state of being and a very individual way of existence that goes beyond mortal perception and is against human training. For years I stand firm against all this wave of lies and mental ties. Learn to think for yourself without falling into manipulation, that your fight is frontal.
What are some essential authors/books that had a profound impact on you in how you perceive existence? What kind of books are you interested in?
S.S.- I have read different authors among them: Arthur Schopenhauer, (Freedom), Charles Baudelaire (The Flowers of Evil), Voltaire (Treatise on Tolerance), Carl Gustav Jung (Psychology and Alchemy), Aleister Crowley (The Book of the Law and Others), Friedrich Nietzsche (The Antichrist and several more), Lovecraft, Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler and etc.... However, none of these books has influenced me to discern my existence. Knowledge must be interpreted to draw one's own conclusions. When this putrid world welcomes our flesh, life is like a "virgin" book and we write our history with blood through the experiences we live. Some time ago, I delved more deeply into books on spiritualism and other deep readings.
I've met quite a few people who were cynical about the legitimacy of females as far as their devotion to metal. How do you respond to such feeble thinking, and also, are there any other woman in extreme metal that you admire?
S.S.- This has always been quite a contentious issue, ignorant machismo still persists in many empty heads. Metal has no gender. It is clear that there are more men in this underworld, and women have always been judged for being a woman. Prejudices and moralities are intriguing topics within this circle. Personally, I observe the behavior of both sexes, there are few women who have earned respect with their actions, and others who deserve to be sodomized from all orifices. Today extreme Metal is undergoing a regression due to indoctrination and the useless image of appearance. Many girls take advantage of this to show off their butts with pride, identifying that prostitution as a false and degrading rebellion, just as male musicians confuse the attitude of this art with clown behavior. Unfortunately, even the modern age of internet has expanded this shit that is increasingly governed by this deformation. Those who respect this Philosophy of life should not drool behind these whores or applaud those clowns. The guillotine is ready to roll the heads of those puppets, regardless of whether it is a man or a woman. I know very few women who have my admiration, among them: Laura Macias (Hella / Bassist of Thornspawn and founder of Maledictvs. Of course, I also like bands where women are integrated like: Adorior, Derketa, Mythic, Demonic Christ, Valhalla, Tunjum, in infernal war and others that do not come to my mind.
What can you tell us about your respective work with Only Death Is Real 'zine? When did you first start editing the 'zine and what have you learned from the whole experience?
S.S.- I started on this dystopian path with Only Death is Real Zine 15 years ago, with the firm objective of supporting all maniacs directly involved with Underground's feeling, under my personal selection. In those times the ink and paper was the law. In my first and second issues, I sent and received fully handwritten interviews, it was a double job at the time of transcribing it, but the pleasure of doing it was priceless. I received many letters, many promotionals from bands in Europe, United States and South America. I made real friends with maniacs devoted to black metal, metalheads who to this day continue their activities without fainting. I edited 2 issues with editions limited to 200 copies that were duly spread, the support for my work was enormous from the bangers. The learning was about everything from improving spelling and grammar to diagramming minute details with greater precision. I had a couple of bad experiences with ripping off idiots. Surely those bastards have stopped listening to metal. I had the idea to edit the third number in those years but I couldn't do it. Time passed and I am working again to achieve my goal and bring my zine to life. I have a lot of interview material to do it. If there is devotion and passion for what you do, time will not be a problem.
It seems like a lot of people nowadays underestimate the importance of 'zines, and you can see that in their attitudes and how they conduct themselves (Particularly younger bands.) How crucial is the role of 'zines, and what do you make of these shitty attitudes? Do they deserve our support or not?
S.S.- It is easy to draw a conclusion from the outside, especially from young people who have not experienced an iota of all that underground movement. The fanzine belongs to a time, where all this music was rooted with loyalty to Underground's word, passionate whose purpose was to spread the black art of many bands, and thanks to that support they managed to cross borders. It felt a rebellious attitude and freedom of thought. In those years, Metal was not overshadowed by the hypocrites in which it is oppressed today, many mouths are infused with the word "old school", but the actions of these corpses are the opposite of their sermons. Old school means not opening your butt to modern sodomy, keeping traditions intact and carrying them forward with pride and conviction, as some persevering away from the obsession with making money still do. You have to have good judgment when listening to new bands, the support should in no way be condescending and blind. Whoever does not respect the value of a good zine or worse, denies its existence can go to hell. We do not need "rookie" from an age determined by progress and lobotomized by the use of technology as drug. On the other hand, today the "critics" who philosophize about Metal are journalists who write for big magazines, places where objectivity and sincerity are blackened by censorship and violated by conformity, in addition the jungle called "web" is full of sites that have the same problem mentioned above. Fortunately, time is the supreme judge who has always managed to disappear them.
What is your opinion on the mentality of people who throw hissy fits when they get bad reviews for their music? Are such actions justifiable or should people be more open to criticism?
S.S.- We have to be aware that we are living in an era of absurd competitions, many bands seek recognition in well-known media and are intolerant of honest and critical reviews, there is no maturity at all. If a review is constructive, of course it has to be received as such, even if it is not entirely to your liking, if they are only unfounded writings full of ignorance there is no reason to pay attention to it. In addition, we agree that personal tastes are not the same for everyone, a band cannot be liked by everyone, de gustibus non disputandum est. I know people who do not appreciate the first Sarcofago records, that is sacrilege for me, but it is their choice, while they don't throw shit on it, for me that's fine. Today few people who are really wrapped up in the mystical essence of this magic, and the catastrophe is that most of those who write sentences calling them criticism, have turned Metal into journalism, you can understand it too. An album is not "judged" only by the music, but also by the energy that it is capable of emanating, and the critical spirit that one must have to avoid prejudice or morals. For example, most reviewers / judges will never have the personality and objectivity to be able to write a thought about a NS band, because they are subject to indoctrination from society and spit shit anyway. In addition to the rampant inability to write, envy is also added, many snakes vomit venom just to denigrate a band.
Fear of the PC brigade has turned everyone into apologetic little bitches. There's literally no danger in extreme metal any more. How do you perceive this whole phenomenon?
S.S. - Exactly. I think avoiding problems and controversies has become a requirement for pacifist metalheads. That attitude of representation no longer exists. The fear of expressing ideas becomes a disease. Where is the extreme? That this does not remain in words. People ingratiate themselves with everyone for being accepted in a "circle". It is clear that those who do not defend their ideas, or, they are useless or their ideas are empty, and we cannot be intimidated by idiots whose hands are glued by cum to a keyboard. The thought must be linked to the verb Militancy, we must be the boot that crushes these larvae. We must not hide behind the misanthropic idea that is often masked by fear of acting. This extreme music was born to tear down any docile and condescending dogma or thought. We are wolves never sheep! A few weeks ago I posted a resounding rejection of junk people who use metal to wipe their ass with their modern ideas, I was aware that I would get a lot of shit against me from those worms. There are thousands of cowardly parasites hidden without honor. NO FEAR!! ZERO TOLERANCE!! If my truth offends like a razor, I am satisfied with it. May they hate me as long as they fear me.
Have you discovered any killer bands from the last few years that you enjoy and also recommend? What about the scene in Bolivia? Any newer bands from there worth checking out?
S.S.- Lately I am listening to new albums by bands that I know like: Inquisition, Azarath, Incantation, Impiety, Impurity, Horncrowned… ect… On new or relatively new bands to recommend would be: Wolflust (Brazil), Malakhim (Sweden), N.N.M. (Italy) Evil (Japan), Hexorcist (United States), Sacrocurse (Mexico), Genuflexion (Argentina), Morbosatan (Peru) and oct...
The scene in my country in recent years has strengthened, there are new and interesting bands, fanzines that are being published consecutively, organizations of independent material fairs and concerts of great interest. Unfortunately, as everywhere, these types of activities are temporarily frozen by the pandemic. Anyway, it is a pleasure to see that warrior spirit resurfacing in the devils soul. Some of the bands that I recommend are: Sepulchral Pest, Supay, Werewolf, Profanador among others.
What are 10 albums you can't live without?
S.S. - let see...
1.-Storn of the Light s Bane (Dissection)
2.-Cold Steel…for an Iron Age (Destroyer 666)
3.-Bathory (Bathory)
5.-Penetralia (Hypocrisy)
6.-Nifelheim (Nifelheim)
7.-Killers (Iron Maiden)
8.-The Nocturnal Silence (Necrophobic)
9.-Into the Infernal Regions of the Ancient Cult (Inquisition)
10.-INRI (Sarcofago)
Tell us a bit about your art: how long have you been drawing and how would you describe your style? Have you done any art for bands? What are some of your favorite artists?
S.S.- Since I can remember, I have always been fascinated by painting and its colors, drawings and its forms, over time my inclination became more evident with surrealist art, I also like bizarre art. Personally I see this part of the human artistic space as something magical, cosmic and hidden, I could not describe it otherwise. I started drawing a few months ago, it was something unexpected to discover that I had that talent dormant for so many years. I do not have a particular style due to my little experience, I am a self-taught draftsman, but hyperrealism catches my attention, later I will probably try to merge it with the surrealist style. Well, I did a couple of logos for two bands, I have a few more requests pending. My favorite artists are: Jean Delville, Francisco de Goya, Leonora Carrington, William Blake, Zdzisław Beksiński, Salvador Dali, Vergvoktre and etc ... in extreme metal artists that I admire are: Mark Riddick, Chris Moyen, Alan Pérez (Peru), Gilbert Miranda (Costa Rica), Daniel Corcuera (Chile), Daniele Valeriani (Italy), Paolo Girardi.
Lastly, how do you foresee the future in relation to your activities? The last morbid words are yours.
S.S.- I have several plans in my mind with my zine and my personal project. As soon as I have something physical you will be the first to know. I appreciate the support of all those crazy maniacs who still hold Bestial Holocaust in their minds. In this universe of extreme metal only the true devils will resist against any modern storm, the weak will die like flies in their failed attempt to belong. NO REGRETS! NO REMORSE! NO FUCKING COMPROMISE!!
Thanks for your support! it was an interesting interview, I enjoyed it!
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