Interview with PRIESTER
Hello T.T. Lord and welcome back to the FILTHY DOGS OF METAL Webzine. More than five years have passed since the interview we did when you were called BORLEY RECTORY. You are returning with the same members, but now under the new name PRIESTER. Tell us a few things about this band.
Well hello there! Thanks for your time. With Priester we are indeed back with 3/4 of the Rectory's lineup. During the spring of -23 Jake (our guitarist) informed us that he had other plans and he couldn't stay in band. Jake is like brother to us and original concept of Borley Rectory was brainchild of us two. Idea of replacing any members at that point felt strange, so we just put the band in the ice. Borley Rectory is not dead, but we have no current plans for the band. Still, never say never. We had maybe year long hiatus, during which I had written bunch of songs, which didn't quite fit into Borley Rectory. After Jake's announcement, we sat down with Emil and thought what kind of schemes we should do next. Even before Rectory, Emil and I had idea of playing raw speed metal as early as 2016-17 and from that time I have some extra-lo-fi demos of songs. I had desired for some time to play bass and I liked to concept of playing with trio, so we asked Mark if he would be interested to change to guitar - and he was. I had always loved his articulation with six-string which is refreshingly different from mine. So the Priester was born:
T.T. Lord - vocals, bass
Mark Mountain - guitar
Emil "Painkiller" Sinkkilä - drums
You have recently released your EP ''Soldier of Fortune''. What is the feedback from your audience as well as from the press?
Since we are still in the early demo-phase, no press has been even aware that we exist, I think. Feedback from audience has been good and many followers from our previous band have been jumped along. In few weeks we going live to test the songs in practice.
And what about the lyrics?
Lyrics have very basic heavy metal themes. On our first EP "Let the Blood Run Red" we had very straightforward sword and sorcery lyrics and also themes of war. On our sophomore EP "Soldier of Fortune" the lyrics had more layers, so it's more up to listeners. With exception on "Terminator", which is 100% sci-fi.
Are you in searching for a record label? What do you prefer, Label or DIY and why?
We've been in contact with couple of labels. It would be easier to put out physical format with label, but if things doesn't work out, we'll be fine on our own for now. Marketing from the labels is great tho. I've always loved the DIY and nothing beats shitty demo tape.
Is there any funny or weird story from the recordings or from your live shows that you would like to share with us?
Not anything fancy, but few weeks back we were recording new songs and after the take Emil sighed and said quietly "That was some of my best playing ever...". Unintended comedy gold from very modest drummer with amazing skills.
Which are your main influences (Favourite Artists / Bands etc.)
What comes to metal, I've always liked theatrical bands like Lizzy Borden etc. and epic bands like Heavy Load/Manilla Road, but also guitar-dominated Hansen-era Helloween madness. Emil is our power metal-consumer and needless to say that Judas Priest's Painkiller has spent time on the player. Mark is more into classics like Accept and Scorpions. What comes to songwriting, it's difficult to say. Material we are working on is not something I've listened that much myself. I've been writing material that I feel is yet to been made or something that is appealing to me as "new". And I understand that we are circling inside sub-genre, but that doesn't limit the writing. During last year I've filled in for my friend's black metal band "Insulter's Altar", which widened my perspective and I've grown into early black metal bands like Bathory and Mercyful Fate.
What do you think about the rise of AI in music production?
I don't see it as threat (yet), since everything it can do is learned from something that have been already done. I've heard many AI songs, where some metal classics are turned into Funk or Rock and Roll and such. I've found them funny and I don't see that it is taking anything from anyone. But does it have some real value; maybe no.
From your experience in the music industry, what would you tell to a new Heavy Metal band to avoid or what to do?
Don't use AI in music videos. It makes impression that your music is artificial too. And I hate animated lyrics videos (laughs).
What does Metal means to you? And give us 10 metal albums that run in your veins.
Heavy Metal is mindset and way of life. Heavy Metal is not about sound quality, but the feeling. It's great tool for escapism and same time it works as channel to message your thoughts about the world. I'm not fan of over-political lyrics in metal, tho. They may exclude the audience from different backgrounds too much. Some evidence found in blood (not in particular order):
1. Heavy Load - Death or Glory
2. Helloween - Walls of Jericho
3. Omen - Battle Cry
4. Iron Maiden - Killers
5. Lizzy Borden - Love You To Pieces
6. W.A.S.P. - S/T
7. Destructor - Maximum Destruction
8. Yngwie Malmsteen - Marching Out
I think I can speak for entire band, if I claim that these rest are our common ground;
9. Iron Maiden - Somewhere In Time
10. Judas Priest - Painkiller
What are your future plans?
At the time of this interview, we are recording new songs which we are planning to release during this spring. Later this year are planning to record the first full-length album.
Thank you very much for your time & keep up the good work! The closure is yours.
Keep up the great work! There aren't too many channels for small bands to be heard.
By Steve the Filthy Dog.
PRIESTER CONTACT:
https://www.instagram.com/priester_metal/
https://priester.bandcamp.com/music