Last year FORSAKEN played a stunning gig at Doom shall rise festival in Germany. In what way do you think has this event influenced or effected on the bands’ carreer? Has your fanbase increased after your performance at Dooom shall rise and has your status in the doom metal scene risen?

Leo: Definitely the DSR festival was a very positive push forward for us in a lot of ways. First of all we got to know a lot of honest people in the underground doom scene who were very open to give Forsaken more recognition as regards reviews and interviews on various zines.
We met various bands who gave very positive comments on our music and this gave us an important boost to continue on our brand of Epic Power Doom.
Moreover the DSR Festival was immediately regarded as being a highly acclaimed event therefore when a band plays there it is of an asset for the band to have more recognition.
I am 100% sure that this festival has helped to enhance our European fanbase and I believe that our status in the doom scene has become more important.

Next to the positive results that this gig has had for the band, what do you think about Doom shall rise in general? What’s your opinion about this fest and what experiences and feelings do you combine with it?

Leo: The DSR is definitely an event where every doom and metal fan must be present. It is a very well organised festival and we were treated very well by the organisers.( Hails to you Jochen, Frank and Roman). The bands playing in this festival are of a top quality and even as regards the sound quality we were very impressed with the results.
For me playing at the DSR was an experience I will never forget and I felt like I was part of a big family. I realised how much respect doom metal has in Europe and escpecially in Germany. I really cherish the great friendly evironment we found at Nurnberg and Crailsheim. We made a host of new friends which we really respect.

And what about the trip to Germany? How do you like the country, the landscape, the people and the beer?

Leo: Germany is a great country. The DSR was my first experience in the mighty DEUTSCHLAND. I only visitied Nurnberg and Crailsheim and I was very impressed by the way these places are taken care of. I feel that you have a very well organised country and also very clean. At that time of the year there was a lot of snow which we never have in Malta so you can imagine what I think of the landscapes. While travelling from Nurnberg to Crailsheim I just stared at the big white carpets of snow infront of me. Brilliant scenes indeed.
As I told you before the people are great. Really friendly and very sociable.
Ha ha ha THE BEER, THE BEER, MORE AND MORE BEER….. FANTASTIC. I couldn‘t stop drinking.

When I’m informed right, then the Doom shall rise gig was the only concert that you ever played outside of Malta. But what is the situation inside of Malta alike? Can you play many gigs and do you get lots of support in your country? And is FORSAKEN the only band from Malta that holds high the banner of real underground metal or are there more metal comrades fighting at your side?

Leo: Sorry mate but you‘re wrong here. In 1994 we played in France and Spain. It was an 8 gig tour with French thrashers Oddmongers. Another great experience for us.
In Malta we have also a very diverse and healthy metal scene. We have a more Death Grind and Power metal scene here. We have a couple of good rockclubs in which one can organise gigs and also hear some really good metal. Clubs worth mentioning are Signals Bar and Remedies Rock Club. Metal gigs are very frequently held in these two clubs. In our gigs we usually get between 150 to 250 people. I think its not that bad considering the size of our island.
Apart from us, Beheaded are a death grind band who are doing really well. They toured Europe and the US and have played with loads of famous bands like Vader and Arch Enemy.
As regards to Doom and real metal there are up coming bands who can hold the banner high but still in their early stages.

This year you released your new CD “Anima Mundi“ through the scottish label Golden Lake Production, who also released the predecessor MCD “Iconoclast“. Where do you see the major differences between those two records and in what way do you think can “Anima Mundi“ be seen as the logical follow-up to “Iconoclast“?

Leo: We are really happy with both releases. In my opinion Anima Mundi is a much more intricate and interesting to hear release. I also think that our all over sound as a band is much heavier and slightly better on Anima Mundi. What I really like on Iconoclast is that the sound on this realease is a bit more raw. In the next release I would mix the two aspects, Who knows what would come out?
In my opinion Anima Mundi is more than a logical follow up to Iconoclast. We are very happy with the outcome of both releases. Anima Mundi is just a step ahead.

Although it’s undeniable that FORSAKEN is a member of the Epic Doom community, your music sounds absolutely unique and it’s hard to find a band to whom FORSAKEN can be compared... so please let us know, what are your songwriting secrets that make your music so special?

Leo: I don‘t think that are any special secrets about this. We have been around for nearly 14 years now and experience is evident in our song writing which is something which comes very natural to us. There is also a great variety of influences which come from early heavy metal to thrash metal which add that special touch to our distinctive sound.

And even though you’ve succeeded in finding your own, little niche in the doom underground, there must nevertheless be some bands, that are some kind of idols or influences for you...

Leo: Of course all of us were and still are fans of the Old and Mighty BLACK SABBATH. They invented everything concerned to Metal. Basically they are GODS. We are also very highly influenced by the purveyors of the doom metal scene like Pentagram, Candlemass, St.Vitus and Trouble.
Great metal bands of all times are also of a great influence on us namely Judas Priest, Mercyful Fate, Celtic Frost and Venom.

Now a general question: What does Doom Metal itself mean for you personally and what is it alike to play this music with a band?

Leo: Doom metal has been and shall always been my true musical expression. From my younger days I was a Black Sabbath fan and doom metal was the ideal musical orientation for me. I always imagined of being in a band like Forsaken. I don‘t want anything else now.
In doom metal I find a lot of sincerity as regards lyrical content. If you read lyrics of doom metal bands you don‘t find any bullshit going on. No descriptions of dead people fucking each other or churning intestines exposed for your pleasure. The sentiment of a true doom metal band is of a pure human nature and express also a high level of sprituality which nowadays is a bit lost in todays human mentality. This is something which really affascinates me in Doom Metal.
Playing in a doom metal band is something which I really cherish and makes me proud for a lifetime.

In todays Doom underground there are often some kind of wars going on, most often fought between True Doom worshippers and Stoner Rockers or Gothics... what do you think about this rivalry??

Leo: Yes I heard about this rivalry. I think that music should reunite and not divide, but this is the situation. The point is that some individuals are twisting around the true doom metal principle. I believe there is only one true doom metal. The true doom metal is the doom derived from Black Sabbath and from the purveyors of this kind of metal (Pentagram, St.Vitus, Trouble, Candlemass etc etc….

OK, we’re nearly through... before we’ll finish, I’d like to know, what album you currently listen to the most... which great newcomers and eternal classics are a permanent guest in your CD player and on your turntable at the moment?

Leo: To be quite honest I listen to a host a albums everyday. Lately 2 releases which I listen to very often are the Krux album and the Puppet Master (King Diamond). Obviously all Black sabbath albums are very present near my hi fi system but I am always in serch of new material coming out in the scene.I also hear lots and lots of doom and early heavy metal.
I would really like to hear a full length album from Doomshine. I saw these guys at the DSR. They were brilliant and I also heard a new release from a US Epic doom band called „Well of Souls“. They are produced by John Perez from Solitude Aeturnus. They are a good band and deserve attention.
Apart from Sabbath albums on my turntable one can find classics like Nightfall from Candlemass, Don‘t Break the Oath from Mercyful Fate, Painkiller from Judas Priest, New Dark Age from Solstice and Trouble from Trouble and others which are too much to mention.

Thanks alot for your answers and keep on your great work with FORSAKEN!!!

Leo: Thanks to you Tobi for your interest and support to Forsaken. Keep up the good work on your Metal Coven webzine and keep the flame of metal Burning. Thanks for your kind words on our music and we look forward to release a new album next year. In fact we are on the way to sign a new two album contract with Golden Lake. So keep in touch.
STAY HEAVY AND DOOMED
LEO
 

Questions: March 2004 by Tobi
Answers: April 2004 by Leo Stivala