Interview with SKYREACH
!!!BLACK/THRASH METAL FROM ARGENTINA!!!
Welcome to the FILTHY DOGS OF METAL Webzine.
Tell us a few things about SKYREACH (members, starting year, etc).
SKYREACH is an Argentinian black thrash band founded in 2021, completely influenced by fast, loud music from Japan. The current lineup consist of Byakko on guitars and vocals, Matías "Matymoto" on bass and backup vocals, and Marce Sic on drums. We're also backed by Adonay, singer and bassist of thrash band Malaria, who always joins us onstage as a guest singer, and Effie Mars, our producer since 2024.
You have recently released your album "Tsubaki Kyo no Shōki". What is the feedback from your audience as well as from the press?
I was really surprised by how well it was received by our audience. Since "Tsubaki" is out a lot of doors opened for us in radios, zines, labels, even the chance to promote it live in Uruguay.
The cover artwork has a sick atmosphere! Tell us a few things about it.
It's a wink to "Midori: The Girl in the Freakshow", a movie that heavily influenced both our first and second LPs. Japanese horror is a huge influence, since it usually takes the perversion of horror stories to places that films from other parts of the world don't dare to, or at least not as explicitly and real.
And what about the lyrics?
The lyrics from "Tsubaki Kyo no Shōki" go from themes like schizophrenia, suicide, violence and lust (just like the name of one of the songs), to stuff like Yakuza, about how the mafia creates connections as a way to present themselves as a big family, which is what I always wanted with this project.
What do you prefer, Label or DIY and why?
Luckily we're having the chance to do it both ways. Labels like Culto Nocturno, La Resistencia Distro, Ragged Music, Up the Hammers or Garage Records has helped a lot in taking out music to the streets, and we also have our own independent production that we handle the way we want.
Is there any funny or weird story from the recording or from your live shows that you would like to share with us?
Yeah, on our first show with this lineup. Not only we had the pressure of it being a sort of "battle of the bands", it was also my debut (Byakko speaking) as the lead singer... and on top of how nervous I was, I've left my guitar at Marce's, so he was in charge of bringing it to the venue, and he forgot it! We had to run back against the clock and get it.
Do you prefer vinyl, tape, CD or digital format and why is that?
Tape is definitely the go-to format for SKYREACH. All of our material is on tape ("Tsubaki" also on CD), I feel it really has a unique sound.
You musical style is black/thrash metal. Which are your main influences (favourite artists/bands, etc).
Although at first we labeled ourselves as black thrash, the reality is that the band currently goes between black, thrash, hadrcore punk and any form of extreme noise. But without a doubt the greatest influences for SKYREACH are ABIGAIL and G.I.S.M. Those are two main pillars, our last album for example shows a lot of influence by G.I.S.M.
Which things do you think a band should sacrifice in order to succeed? Have you ever sacrificed anything in your life for a better future for your band?
Here in Argentina, to be a musician is always a sacrifice on its own. Being in the underground scene, we were constantly losing when we started - from investing in merch, to rehearsing, recording, transportation for the shows, and whatnot.
Describe your ideal show as a performance band. Have you already experienced that?
Right now we're looking forward to give a concert beyond just the music, and give the band a more personal identity in live shows. We want to try and have a more visual representation of what the music is about.
What do you think about the rise of AI in music production?
I think that what's AI generated isn't art and shouldn't take place in artistic environments, music is a way of expressing yourself, and AI doesn't have any type of feeling.
What attributes do you think that a new black/thrash metal band should have in order to gain identity and be unique?
Black thrash is characteristic for writing generally about alcohol, demons, and such. Keeping the brutality of the sound while approaching lyrics with different topics, I think's that's essential for a band of this niche to stand out.
Do you believe that digital platforms help the new black/thrash metal bands? Which, do you think, is the ideal way for a band to promote its work?
Black thrash is kind of a complicated genre, it's for a very select audience, and digital platforms like Spotify don't give visibility to this type of music. Luckily there are ones like Bandcamp or YouTube, which are really easy to use to promote a band's material.
From your experience in the music industry, what would you tell a new black/thrash metal band to avoid or what to do?
Never limit yourself to work with just one label, stay open to new possibilities, new connections.
Tell us a few things about the New Underground Metal Scene in Argentina (bands, fanzines, webzines, metal clubs, etc).
Argentina has always have a very active underground scene, so now it stays as strong as always, combative, giving a fight to all adversities that, for economic reasons, make it hard to make music for such a select audience. But active after all, full of people ready to help each other with independent radios or zines, and always in the DIY scene.
What does metal means to you? And give us 10 metal albums that run in your veins.
Metal is the genre in which I feel the most comfortable when I need to express myself through music, it's been years of listening and feeling this type of music. And, ten albums I feel are key in my taste and inspiration, could be:
1 - Megadeth - Killing Is My Business...
2 - Abigail - Intercourse and Lust
3 - Fastkill - Infernal Thrashing Holocaust
4 - Kreator - Endless Pain
5 - G.I.S.M - Detestation
6 - Exodus - Die by His Hand
7 - Evil - Rites of Evil
8 - Disclose - Nightmare or Reality
9 - Sabbat - Evoke
10 - Goat rider - Tsundere
Do you know anything about the Hellenic metal scene?
Yes, of course! In fact, Rotting Christ came to Argentina last year.
What are your future plans?
For now we're planning a new release that's going to be called "Kemuri", which we're promoting live on September 29th at La Cultura del Barrio. "Kemuri" completes the digital catalog, along with "Tsubaki Kyo no Shōki", of all you can hear on our live shows. It has new songs, some covers we usually play live, older songs re-recorded with this lineup, and even some of what's going to be our third LP.
Thank you very much for your time & keep up the good work! The closure is yours.
Thank you very much to anyone who's reading this, thank you for supporting our art and giving us a space to show what we do, and remember you can find us on social media as skyreach__ (double underline). And thanks, Filthy Dogs of Metal for your support!
By Steve the Filthy Dog.
SKYREACH CONTACT:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076504893953
https://www.instagram.com/skyreach__/