Not all of our readers might know the story behind Desaster – maybe you can start off by telling us a bit about the background for Desaster? Sataniac - Desaster’s history is going back to the year 1988 when two young Metal- possessed maniacs wanted to follow the path of bands like VENOM, HELLHAMMER or DESTRUCTION (whose song „Total Desaster“ gave the band its name) – to play some fucking Black Metal without compromises was their aim. After playing the still remembered first live gig in ’89 (which marked the official beginning of the band), DESASTER had to manage serious line- up problems in 1990 before Infernal, the only remaining member of the original line- up, found the right warriors to continue. Okkulto (v) and Odin (b) joined the pack back then in 1992.
After the two demos “The Fog of Avalon” (1993) and “Lost in the Ages” (1994) Merciless Records released a split- 7” with UNGOD in 1995, the band’s vinyl-debut.
In 1996 the first album “A Touch of medieval Darkness” was released and the band got great response from all over the world. On DESASTER’s following output, the “Stormbringer” mini- album in 1997, the new beast on the drums, Tormentor, can be heard for the first time.
One song of the limited “Ride on for Revenge” picture- single of 1998 found it’s way on the “Thrashing Holocaust”- compilation CD released by American Necropolis Records in 1999. “Hellfire’s Dominion”, the second album, was released in 1998. A special killer on the album was the neck breaking Speed Metal hymn “Metalized Blood” which included guest vocals of Wannes of PENTACLE, Lemmy of the old German Speed Metal kings VIOLENT FORCE and Toto of LIVING DEATH, one of the band’s all-time faves! During the recording sessions of the 2nd album DESASTER also recorded their contribution to a SODOM tribute CD called “Homage to the Gods”.
The band celebrated its 10th anniversary in late 1999 with the “Ten Years of total DESASTER” double- LP, again a vinyl-only release! Another split- EP, this time in the rare 10” format and with the Dutch metal-fighters of PENTACLE, was released on DESASTER´s new label Iron Pegasus in 2000. The 3rd full- length album “Tyrants of the Netherworld” was then released in 2000.
In summer 2001 DESASTER contributed the song “Darkness and Evil” with Gezol himself on guest- vocals for a Brazilian SABBAT tribute- LP. After the band had played several festival- shows (e.g. Fuck the Commerce and Wacken Open Air) vocalist Okkulto decided to leave the band, but was soon replaced by the new shouter Sataniac who used to be the main man in the German Black/ Thrash band DIVINE GENOCIDE. The “Souls of Infernity”- 7” (2001) was the farewell- release of the old singer Okkulto.
After the release of the 4th album “Divine Blasphemies” in 2002 the show in Sao Paulo/ Brazil in front of 900 maniacs was a special highlight of 2003. The Brazilian show was released as double LP/ CD and DVD on the Brazilian Label Mutilation Records.
After the change to Metal Blade Records the 5th album “Angelwhore” was released, also available on vinyl on Iron Pegasus Rec.
After countless gigs in Germany and outside (England, Finland, Ireland, Sweden, The Netherlands, Switzerland...), a Mini- tour through Croatia, Serbia, Hungary, Austria and Slovenia and the South American Tour through Brazil, Peru and Colombia, the band released a 12” vinyl single called “Infernal Voices” with one new song, the re-recorded “Fields of triumph” and a coverversion of UNLEASHED´s “Before the creation of time”.
In May 2007 DESASTER entered the Harrows Studio, Holland (Asphyx, Pentacle, Occult, Soulburn etc.) to record the 6th studio album “666 - Satan’s Soldiers Syndicate”. The new album shows again the band’s typical thrashing, blacking riff metal without mercy where there is no space for any innovation and modern elements! It’s what Desaster is all about: “A FIST IN YOUR FACE METAL ATTACK”! Beware and be prepared for sharp riffs, pounding drums, roaring bass and screaming hell...
Besides crushing everything in its way, “666 - Satan’s Soldiers Syndicate” also features guest appearances by Proscriptor (Absu), A.A. Nemtheanga (Primordial) and Ashmedi (Melechesh). How has the response been on your new album “Satan’s Soldiers Syndicate” and what kind of expectations do you have for it? Sataniac - So its every time the same we only doing our music, there is no expectation, ok, maybe to get some more “exotic” gigs in foreign countries, but that’s all…We’re just metal head doing what they like…we’re NO musicians at all !!! But these times the response is even better than the last times. It’s seems that most of the people like the new bastard very much! If you should choose one song on the new album, which represents the essence of Desaster, which one would that be… Sataniac - Maybe my favorite RAZOR RITUAL, it brings you all DESASTER can deliver…fast blasts, thrash riffing, a slow “Doom part” in the middle of the song… If you had to describe your music to a complete musical ignorant – what would you tell him? Sataniac - Can you stand this DESASTER? Won’t you! Go to hell!!!! Its extreme metal getting its influences from the ancient 80’s gods, without any doubt creating cruel music for the more extreme people! How important is the lyrically side of Desaster – and what has inspired you on this album? Sataniac - For me as the singer the lyrics are important because they have to fit to the music, the words have to describe the feelings of the music. Life is the inspiration; you only have to choose the themes which fit best! Tell us a bit about the album art work… Sataniac - Oh it’s great, but at the first time I saw it, I wasn’t that happy with it! So we talked about a title for the sixth DESASTER album, and Infernal came up with the idea to do an title with S S S for 6 6 6 !!!! So we “created” SIX SIX SIX Satan’s Soldiers Syndicate…then we gave this title to KRIS VERWIMP and the cover is his output from the title…that’s all!!! Who has produced and mixed the album? Sataniac - We recorded at Harrow Studios (Losser, NL) with Harry (the owner) and a guy called Mark. Not a very big studio, but these guys know how to use the equipment, and of course that’s more important than a guy with the best recording stuff but without any plan what to do !! I’m / we are very happy with the sound, only the guitar could be a little more powerful…hahahahaha. How did you get the name Desaster, and is there a story behind it? Sataniac - So I’m in the band since 2001 but I think the guys “steal” it from DESTRUCTIONS TOTAL DESASTER…and of course it’s the German word for disaster….hahahaha…something in that way… What do you consider to be the biggest accomplishment for you and Desaster, not necessarily sales wise? Sataniac - We have a lot of great times with the band, but maybe the two times in Brazil were fucking killer…very nice country, friendly people, very intense crowds, but you have to keep in mind that there are also a lot of poor people in South America. But I love S.A. especially Brazil!!!!! Name an album, person or event that has had a huge influence on your life … and why? Sataniac - The most important album in my life was HELL AWAITS, I was nine years old when I visit my cousin and copy this masterpiece to tape. I heard it every day, and I told my grandma to buy me the vinyl, so she went to our local record store and ordered the SLAYER LP. In fact we were living in a very small town so it took its days till delivering, and the best, I got the album for Christmas…no joke at all…great deal…thanx a lot grandma!!!!! Give me your shot at some albums you’d rip for your iPod if you were to be sent to the MIR space station tonight… Sataniac - Maybe it’s possible to go to a lonely island, I don’t like to wear these suits and breathe in a helmet…hahahaha…ok:
SLAYER: Hell Awaits, Reign In Blood
MORBID ANGEL: Altars of Madness, Covenant
EMPEROR: In the Nightside Eclipse
DEAD CAN DANCE: Within the Realm of A Dying Sun
RAINBOW: Rising, First
DESTRÖYER 666 – Unchain the Wolves
DESASTER – 666 Satan’s Soldiers Syndicate
POSSESSED – Seven Churches
IRON MAIDEN – Somewhere In Time Which album(s) have put a big smile on your face and has made you bang your head in the past year? Sataniac - BEHEMOTH – The Apostasy / IMPIETY – Formidonis Nex Cultus / CEPHALIC CARNAGE – Xenosapien / MALEVOLENT CREATION – Doomsday X / MONSTROSITY – Spiritual Apocalypse …hahahaha…I like my extreme metal fast and dangerous…hahahahaha I thank you very much for participating in this interview and sharing this information and your thoughts with us - these last lines are entirely for you. Any final words you would like to round off with? Sataniac - Wein, Weib und Gesang über alles!!!!!! Cheers!
Sataniac
(DESASTER)
Interviewed by Kenn Jensen. | 
