J: The title, "Do as Thou Wilt", reminds me a lot of “Non Serviam”.
Sakis: It's more or less Non Serviam; Κατά τον δαίμονα εαυτού (transliterated: Katá ton Daímona Eautoú) means "act true to your own spirit". It's a motto that has followed the band since the beginning.
J: Well, that does seem to be the philosophy behind Rotting Christ: "Don't be a sheep."
Sakis: No one wants to be a sheep, but there's always resistance from the old days. We are old school guys, grown up in an era that's very different from the current times. We stay true to our roots, and really try to spread this idea worldwide.
J: How is Κατά τον δαίμονα εαυτού different from AEALO? Because I'd say that your sound changed a lot, starting with Theogonia.
Sakis: It's kind of a trilogy. We didn't do it on purpose, but it's kind a of trilogy, and it's a little bit different. I like to have different albums explore new directions and dimensions with my music. So AEALO was maybe our darkest record, a trip back to ancient occultism, so it took me a lot of time to compose it.
Κατά τον δαίμονα εαυτού is also a multicultural trip. You can hear a lot of languages and explore many civilizations. I really wanted to do that this with this album.
J: This is the first time that you work with Jens Bogren, who did the mixing of this album. How was that experience?
Sakis: We are very satisfied. I think he's probably the most sought-after at the moment.
J: Because you usually work on your own, right?
Sakis: I still work on my on my own. I mean, I did write the music and the lyrics, and I recorded by myself. I also did the production, but I wanted something to go a step forward, so I went to the biggest name out there, and Jens Bogren gave something new to the band. He's very good at mixing, and he gave us a new way to approach things.
J: When you recorded AEALO you kind of isolated yourself. Did you do it this time too?
Sakis: Not so much, because this time I recorded in Athens, and you cannot be isolated there. It's a big city... it's sometimes a monster, so you can't really find an isolated space. On the other hand, I always try to be isolated. I talk to myself and try to have a kind of meditation when I record. So that's how I did it.
J: Since you mentioned meditation; would you say that you are, in a way, a spiritual person?
Sakis: Yes. I mean, I cannot remember a time in my life without thinking, without philosophizing. Maybe our DNA is back in Ancient Greece, where there was a lot of philosophy. I don't know if I will ever find the truth... I don't think so, but at least I like to philosophize things.
J: I was checking your site today, and you have a bunch of festival shows, but not many club shows. Is there a headlining tour in the making?
Sakis: We already started our worldwide tour. We just came back from South America, where we spent one month. You can see in my eyes that we're very tired! We then went directly to Turkey, then to Greece, and now we are here. So we've been away from home for almost two months. We’ve had a very good reception.
J: Well, the last time we met you mentioned how there's no rest for the band, and you definitely stay true to that.
Sakis: Yes, that's true. When I rest, I feel guilty, because why I'm resting?! I consider myself like a warrior, a metal warrior, so I have to be in the front lines, always doing shows wherever I can, in the name of metal.
J: The core of your band continues to be you and your brother Themis. Besides the two of you there was a big lineup change recently. Are the new people permanent member, or just live musicians?
Sakis: They will be part of the band sooner or later, but first we have to get used to each other. We're on tour for a year and we'll see if they can handle it. Playing in a band is not that easy. Maybe some people think that it's all about being a rockstar, but that's bullshit. It's very difficult. You have to be disciplined and dedicated, and so far the guys seem to be dedicated, so soon will be permanent members.
J: Before we finish... how was your experience touring with Cradle of Filth and God Seed?
Sakis: It was a very good tour! Pretty calm and smooth. smooth. It was nice to be a part of it, because it was one of our smoothest tours ever. I would have never imagined it like that, but it was.
J: Any final words for your
Sakis: Non Serviam.
More interviews with Sakis!
Defying Society with Sakis Tolis of Rotting Christ
"I want to provide something new, something which is still against the system, but in a more mature way."