this image shamelessly pilfered from http://www.theaebyss.com

This interview is in anticipation of Samael’s appearance in Tel Aviv Wednesday, December 28. Thanks to the show’s producer Lior Kamali for hooking it up. For all information about ticket purchasing click here.

MI: What made you want to come to Israel?

V: We had a couple of requests in the past but only this time the offer and our schedule matched. It has something exotic to play places we’ve never been before so that make it more interesting and exciting at once. It will be the first time for all of us.

MI: Are you familiar with any Israeli metal?

V: I could only name Salem. Mass (bass) used to be in contact with them, they might still exchange mails from time to time as far as I know.

MI: Why did you choose the name Samael (it struck me as humorous considering it’s the name of the angel considered the mortal enemy of Israel).

V: It was love at first sight, without knowing everything about it back then. To me it was sounding dark and bright at the same time, in many ways premonitory to what this band would turn out to be.

MI: How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard you before?

V: I would invite them to check it and judge for themselves.

MI: What are your main musical influences?

V: I suppose it is fair to say “Metal” is the core of our music, the foundation on which we built all the rest.

MI: What are you mainly listening to right now?

V: Right now I’m listening to a percussion recording compiled under the name “Drums Of Africa”. I don’t have restriction when it come down to music, I like whatever fit to the moment.

MI: H.R. Giger is of my favorite artists. What makes you like him?

V: His work is obsessional. Ten years ago my room was filled with prints of his paintings. Nowadays my pictorial world isn’t confined in his but his art still have a special place in my life.

MI: How does the French/German thing work in Switzerland? Meaning, if someone is from an area that speaks French does he consider himself more French than German, or are both just Swiss with different languages, or what? It’s very confusing.

V: German is the most spoken language in Switzerland but we got four national languages, German, French, Italian and Romansh.

MI: What language do you mainly speak – what area do you come from?

V: We speak French. Makro comes from Lausanne, Mass, Xy and I live in the Alps.

MI: What influenced you to write songs called Inchallah and Oriental Dawn?

V: Who knows, for both songs I had the music from Xy first and that’s what lead me through the writing of the lyrics.

MI: I see you have a forum section on your website completely dedicated to politics and religion…what exactly is the religious philosophy of Samael as a band?

V: Forum on our internet website has been added to give a platform to our visitors to exchange views on the band as well as on different matters but we’re not directly involved in it. I don’t think I could summarise the band philosophy through a couple of lines but anything I write participated of a personal quest. Those really interested in going deeper in the subject can find out for themselves by cross-checking our lyrics.