SATAN'S HOST Interview with Anthony Lopez

XM: Let’s start by getting our readers up to date on what the band has been up to so far this year.
Anthony: Well we just put out our latest album “By the Hands of the Devil” and now we are prepping up for the “Celebration” album which is marking the 25th anniversary from when “Metal from Hell” came out, we are doing a few new tunes and songs that span all the albums, we are revamping them and having Harry sing on them with his take. Also we have been rehearsing and staying ready for when the proper call to the road lands on us.

XM: ‘By The Hands of the Devil’ is your latest release, great work! What was the recording process like for this album? How did it differ from your other releases?
Anthony: Thank you! Greatly appreciated. We went in with Dave Otero at Flatline once again, Dave has produced the last 5 albums and we have a great working relationship with him. We have a process that works for us and him, and we are like a machine when we are in the studio. This time around was probably the most fun, most productive, and the most enjoyable. I can only speak from my experience from recording “Power~Purity~Perfection…999” , but I had a better time this time, I was well prepared and all ready knew what to expect from the session, I had worked with Dave on another album before I was in Satan’s Host, so it was relatively an easy process for both PPP…999 and the new album.

XM: With so many classic ‘80s bands no longer putting out new material, just living on their past as nostalgia acts, why did Satan’s Host break from the pack and decide to put this CD out?
Anthony: Patrick Evil is constantly writing music, it is fun to play the older tunes, but we love making music, I think we are entering our prime at this time, we have a lot of fire and we are constantly working on new material, it’s in our blood, it’s what we love to do. Patrick Evil is barely getting fired up with the music. We are ready for the next 30 years. Lol Plus we really never were part of the 80’s nostalgia gamut, we have been putting out new albums almost every year for the last 6-7 years.

XM: Tell me a little about the songs on the latest release.
Anthony: This is Patrick’s take on it and how goes, the concept for the entire album, the first song “By the Hands of The Devil” is about opening the mind the eye of the soul. To understand how many parts of history has been changed and manipulated by governments and religious organizations. We wanted to free the mind so that there is a better understanding how blinded mankind has been. The second song “Shades of the Unlight” follows up the first in that when you open your eyes it is then you can see the shades spirits all around you, you start to take notice of the environments that surround us and all that has been lost for centuries. After you notice what has gone on around you your mind falls into “Demontia”. It is a time to step back and to think. Then the next song “Before the Flame” is when you think about what has been lost, the voice of Satan appears and asks if you are worthy to stand before the Flame? Many people want to sell their souls for material things but is that what the voice of Satan asks of us? It is then you get spiritual guidance and you understand that we are the “Bleeding Hearts of the Damned” a moment to reflect and gather strength and to be humble and prepare for the voyage upon maul dunes boat the other worlds. After that moment you understand to command the spirits unseen one must be prepared with a weapon of unspeakable power the “Black Hilted Knife”. Once prepared you have a new lease on mortality and a “Revival” awakens within the body of flesh. With Valliant strength and pride it is a time to pay homage to all the great ones that have been lost and the understanding that we are the down trodden the “Fallen Angel” which is also about Satan. Which leads you to understand that we live in “Inferior Worlds” that have been oppressed throughout history, and the only way to set the mind free is with knowledge, determination, and persistence. That is the concept of the album we wanted. The bonus track is about the early days of black metal, a folk rendition of the history and what had gone on with the church burnings and everything else that went on in that time period.

XM: How many songs did you write to get down to the 9-10 tracks?
Anthony: We just wrote the 9 that appear on the album, and worked up the bonus track. We don’t write any fillers. Patrick has tons of riffs and song ideas, and when its time, he knows what is going to make it to the album, he brings it in and we hash it out and that’s what we go with.

XM: The last song (bonus track) ‘Norwegian Wood’ is a Beatles cover. Why did you chose this as a bonus and do you have any other cover songs?
Anthony: We have “House of the Rising Sun” that was supposed to come out on the “Midnight Wind” album, which has been bootlegged all over the planet for the last 25 years, but no, I don’t think there are any others at this point. Pat was doodling with those riffs of Norwegian Wood and we just started jamming it at rehearsal and it just came to be.

XM: You recently did your CD Release Party in Denver, CO, how was the show?
Anthony: It was great! We had a great time, we just went up there plowed everyone down. They loved it, they get really excited with the new tunes and seeing Harry sing the way he does just blows people away. We had a really great vibe, really relaxed, no drama, the way it should be, we just let everyone be themselves and comes out for success every time.

XM: Satan’s Host has been around for almost 30 years with continuous success, to what do you attribute this success? What do you differently as a band that allows you to keep going in a time when bands usually don’t last more than 5 years?
Anthony: Well for one we have that signature sound that Patrick Evil created 30 years ago. People ask all the time why are we Power Metal now than Black/Death Metal, and I’m like “what?”, all we did was bring Harry back in the fold, the music vibe has always been the same throughout the years, we put in whatever is required for the Magick of the song. We are inspired and enjoy many types of Metal, the trick is to build an arsenal of skills, I don’t limit myself, I’ve played many other different types of music other than Metal in my life time and I’ve played all types of genres of Metal also, but that’s me and my experience, I don’t like all the stereo types and labels, in the end we are just a straight up Metal band that incorporates what is needed for the song. We play for the Dark Lord, the creator of all music.

XM: How do you feel the band has evolved within the last three decades and which album are you happiest and least happy with?
Anthony: I think the line up now is the main achievement. That has always been a deep theme in this band since the beginning, have your signature sound and have it evolve to always feel and sound fresh. I think many bands over think it, there is this thing called true talent, musicians sometimes never find it or even had it to begin with. Anyone can play an instrument, but were they born with true talent? Plus I don’t think most “musicians” learn more than what they are able to pull out of themselves, are they studying the history of music, are they studying theory, have they played other musical styles, there is just so much out there that people close themselves off too because they just want to be the best at this or that, what a big cheat, no soul, no true connection, and right now we have a stellar talented line up, and trust me this band has had stellar talented people in this band from the beginning that I feel never got true recognition or the chance to carry on in the band, that’s change and how that works out, well that’s how it turned out. But I tip my hat to every musician that had a place in Satan’s Host, because you just don’t get into Satan’s Host, you have to connect with Pat, and if that don’t happen, you’ll never get in the gates of Hell. For myself I think “Power~Purity~Perfection…999” is a stellar album, and I don’t say this because it was my first album in the Host, I say that cause that album blew a lot of people away globally, we had great response to it globally, that was just me, Pat, and Eli that recorded that album, that album is pinnacle Eli Elixir, the vocals he did on that album was phenomenal, the way Patrick constructed that album was amazing, the first time we got “333” down and got it down on tape, I was just floored, I couldn’t believe we had made a song like that, plus there isn’t one song on that album that isn’t a shining star on its own. Patrick talks highly of all the albums, I’ve never heard him say this is my favorite or anything like that, he is very proud of all his music, and when I learn older tunes from any era of the band, I freak out cuz it isn’t much different than what we are doing now, every older tune I have done is exciting and fulfilling because there is always some crazy new thing to learn off those songs. And now with “By the Hands of the Devil” it’s just another shinning gem on the legacy.

XM: If you could have been involved in the writing, recording or production of any album which would it be and why?
Anthony: I wouldn’t want to be part of anything else unless I was full-fledge member of that entity, everything that comes out is what it is, why want to polish someone’s else’s turd? lol

XM: How do you think metal has changed from when you were a kid and are you happy with the change?
Anthony: I think Metal went down the shitter on one side, but on the flip side the underground came alive, wasn’t as big or epic, it sucks that grudge killed it and that the music industry just stayed on its ass and everyone went broke and killed the money flow, even the smaller bands back in the day were making some money, anyone out today is a survivor, the true spirit of Metal is coming back, but there are all these leaches that have infested our “Metal” world and now it’s a struggle to do anything. Everything has to be politically/religious correct anymore, it’s a shame, Metal is Satan’s, and any other Musical form out there for that regard, even all the shit music. And by shit music I mean music that is a product of commercialism and any grand architecture that is out to exploit the artist, where they found someone talented and sucked their spirit out of them, and the sad thing is that the majority of the human race went along with it! Really?? But music belongs to the Devil, even all the gospel crap. But I guess it is like that with any other thing in the world anymore, so yea I guess I’m kinda pissed off, but I just channel it into what I do and do the best I can for me, the band, and what is important to me. So now it’s time for Satan’s Host to infest the larger markets and hopefully get as many people to open there eyes and start thinking for themselves, it’s all coming down anyways, at some point.

XM: What do you personally do during the downtime in between albums and tours?
Anthony: I do print/web design for the band, I work from home and devise plans for world domination, lol, Hang with the family, raise the kids and the mini zoo we have, lots of computer work, I’m highly educated and I actually run my own business from my home, and when it’s time to do Satan’s Host duties, I walk out the front door and come back when I’m done and then do more for Satan’s Host stuff when I’m home too, lol it never ends! In all seriousness, we all work hard for the band in everything we do in our lives; whatever we do it has to reflect within the band. We rehearse and jam a lot too, we have too much fun doing it and it drives us.

XM: What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the words X-PLOSIVE METAL?
Anthony: I see a nuclear bomb going off with us cranked in the back ground!

XM: Could you just briefly take us through the band’s plans for the remainder of 2011?
Anthony: We are gearing up for the “Celebration” album, we go record that in July until mid August, and then after we go into pre-production for the next full length, and hopefully some touring and shows before the end of the year.

XM: On behalf of xplosivemetal.com I would like to thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions with us. Anything else you'd like to mention or promote?
Anthony: The demand for Satan’s Host around the globe grows, demand Satan’s Host in your town!! City!! Metro-area!!! We want to play everywhere we can, Hailz to the Legion World Wide 9!!!! Hail X-Plosive Metal.com!!!