Without a doubt, the four warm bodies who comprise the band Decadence are the uncrowned champions of Swedish Thrash Metal. With the three separate releases for 2006's '3rd Stage of Decay' bogging them down a bit, Decadence have re-focused their energies on a masterful new opus titled 'Chargepoint.' Full of spitfire vocals from she-beast front woman Metallic Kitty Saric, relentless percussion, and those incinerating leads all metalheads adore (Hi Kenneth Lantz!), 'Chargepoint' is the special album that will propel Decadence to new heights. The same way 'Ride The Lightning' did for Metallica or 'British Steel' to Judas Priest. Socking metalexiles.com's laziest scribe right in the family jewels, she of the growlsome vocals, Metallic Kitty engages 20 heavy questions with equally hard answersÑdid this make any sense?
Miguel Blardony Interviewing Metallic Kitty Saric of Decadence
(All Photos courtesy of Metallic Kitty Decadence MySpace, Decadence online, and Massacre)
Metal Exiles: Hello Metallic Kitty. I am sure you are hyper-stoked that 'Chargepoint' is now available for the hungry hordes to gobble up. How was your brief ten-day jaunt to Japan? You come home exhausted? How many shows do have you lined up for the rest of '09?
Metallic Kitty: Hi Miguel, I am indeed hyper-stoked that 'Chargepoint' is finally unleashed upon the world after two years of waiting! My ten days in Japan have been busy, least to say. I had lots of fun however and my time there has surely been one big adventure. I feel that this promotional trip was very important especially meeting the fans and business partners over there face-to-face. The schedule for our shows is not complete yet so the best way to stay updated is through our official website www.decadence.se for news and upcoming events. Simply put, we go where promoters/organizers or even fans ask us to go. Decadence works without an agency so to be able to keep up I rather arrange our gigs where we are asked to come and not necessarily planning deep strategies for a more "structured" tour.
Metal Exiles: Tell us what kind of work ethic Decadence brought to the recording sessions for 'Chargepoint.' Does the grueling process of laying down tracks and mastering the music takes its toll on other aspects of your life?
Metallic Kitty: We have two main songwriters, it is me and lead guitarist Kenneth Lantz and we share pretty much 50/50 of the compositions. We write the songs down, the band learns them, and then we meet at rehearsals and simply play. Creating an album from composition to recording, to artwork and to mastering obviously makes you structure your time in a different way so it comes naturally that other aspects of life are affected by this big process. All the music material for 'Chargepoint' was written back in 2007! We planned to have this album released in the fall of 2008 but since the unexpected re-release of '3rd Stage of Decay' by Massacre Records appeared, the release was postponed and we apologize to all our fans who have been waiting since 2006 and our first release of '3rd Stage of Decay' for it. Massacre Records insisted on re-releasing '3rd Stage of Decay' first so we decided to prolong the whole recording part because of the extra-time it put in our hands. We started recording the drums the summer of 2007, took it easy and stretched out with the guitars and bass and finally finished off by recording the vocals in the beginning of 2009. Since Spiritual Beast had its next fitting release period in October it was decided and set during this summer because the release of 'Chargepoint' could not wait any longer. This long gap between the first release of '3rd Stage of Decay' and 'Chargepoint' kind of disturbed our usual way of working.
Metal Exiles: How did the band's method of working change with the departure of your guitarist Simon Galle? Was it at least an amicable separation?
Metallic Kitty: Simon Galle went for his passion, which was and still is sports (cycling). As far as I know, he is doing great too! We are all very happy for him; everyone should follow their dreams even though it is sad that he had to leave Decadence to do it. We are still in contact and he lives nearby! The band's method of working has not changed after his departure; somehow, life always goes on!
Metal Exiles: You play guitar yourself, right? You ever think of picking up the instrument again? Metal needs a vicious she-shredder! You think your bandmates will encourage this?
Metallic Kitty: Indeed, guitar is actually a bigger passion than vocals for me. I often think of picking up the instrument again and play more often than only when I'm writing songs. I don't know what the band mates would think of this; hopefully they would not feel that I'm abandoning them or something. [Laughs.] However, I do not have any certain plans for this so far, Decadence is always my priority.
Metal Exiles: You and Kenneth Lantz seem to be quite an awesome pair. Apparently, the years of working together have produced an impressive discography that continues to grow. Whether it is playing live or mastering tracks, do you feel that the two of you are always at the same wavelength after having collaborating for so long?
Metallic Kitty: Thank you! Definitely, the years have made us understand each other's way of working both as composers, with the studio work, and when playing live. We knew each other even before Decadence's time, it has surely left its mark in the music we do, and how we work together.
Metal Exiles: My favorite song on the album is 'Challenge.' I will spare the words and just say it kicks ass and has a lot of muscle. Decadence lyrics have a positive message to them, though it is not very obvious. As your music continues to evolve over the years, do you want Decadence's brand of metal to inspire people rather than just feed them the usual aggression and musical violence?
Metallic Kitty: 'Challenge' is a slight standout from the album in the sense that it really brought us back to our roots so I am glad to hear that you enjoyed it the most. This particular track is Kenneth's work and sometimes he gets that feeling of writing something totally uncalled for, just jamming and not caring about how and what he should do. That is how 'Challenge' was born, the last songs that were written for 'Chargepoint' and almost on the final day before the drums were recorded. I most certainly want our music and lyrics to inspire people, not necessarily by sounding optimistic because I'm really not, but by reflecting my values of being strong and standing up for what I believe in and doing what I feel is right. That is also what my motto "If there's a will, there's a way" is all about. I do not see it as optimistic, I see it as realistic. The musical violence and aggression will never be removed from it though; it is kind of like yin and yang Ð two sides of the same thing.
Metal Exiles: The video for 'Silent Weapon (For a Quiet War)' came out the day the album was released. Whose backyard did you shoot it in and are you guys big fans of the first Predator movie?
Metallic Kitty: It's not a backyard! [Laughs.] The first scenes were recorded in a big national park/nature reserve called Tyresta located about 20km from Stockholm and is, according to their website, "one of the most unspoiled areas of natural beauty in central Sweden". As it turned out, we could all agree on that. We needed a big, dark and mysterious forest as the character that I play in the video is based on ancient Swedish mythology. For the other scenes (that were not shot in a green screen room), we headed out to TŠby Kyrkby, which by the way is the place where Decadence took its first rehearsal notes and played live for the first time! The district of TŠby still has remains left from the Iron Age and many of the streets carry Viking-related names (the place that Decadence used to rehearse in many years ago is called "Runan" that's English for "rune stone"). We went back to this place because we needed an abandoned location in our video and we got a tip about a special spot in this area. And no, we did not think of the first Predator movie when making this!
Metal Exiles: For a thrash metal band, there are many epic parts on the album like the song 'Strength of Mind.' Do you think album number six will have a bigger sound than this one? Wait, are you already thinking of album number six?
Metallic Kitty: We have four full-length albums and one demo so if you count the demo as an album then it will be album number six next up. Of course, we are already thinking of the next album Ð always one step ahead, right? The goal is to strengthen our sound with every album we do so a bigger sound would mean a successful piece for us and that is what we strive for.
Metal Exiles: The cover art works because it suits the album's name. Who conceptualized it and who executed the illustration itself? Do you have the original of it at home?
Metallic Kitty: I conceptualized it and executed the illustration Ð I'm glad you like it! I have the original at home and I will scan it and upload it in Decadence' blog shortly, as I have still have the lyrics left to add there and discuss. I will also upload the original drawings by the Japanese fan and artist Yumi Nishikata who made the inside booklet artwork that I later modified. The original pictures will be seen on the website and my versions are seen in the booklet of 'Chargepoint'.
Metal Exiles: You started Decadence while still in University. Did the commitment to the band ever make your academic life doubly hard?
Metallic Kitty: I actually started Decadence even before University; it was in upper secondary school at the age of 16. I had to live a double life and I still am, maybe even a triple life! Like I usually joke about, a kitty has nine lives! But now, I have the title 'Master' at last! (Laughs.)
Metal Exiles: You are that rare woman who has a lot on her shoulders and is not afraid to push herself to the limit. For starters, not only are you the band's manager, but the founder of your own label, HTI Records. Do you think that metal bands are now adopting hip-hop's entrepreneurial bent?
Metallic Kitty: 'Hip-hop's entrepreneurial bent!? That's just not the way I'd put it! It is simply about owning yourself and not selling out. That goes for everybody in any situation. It is important to stand up for what you do and not going where you are pushed or forced to go. There are always options and it's just a matter of picking the right ones for you.
Metal Exiles: Ha! I knew that last question would provoke a strong response. Seriously now, how did you set up HTI records? Where did you do your homework, how did you get the capital, are you accepting interns? Spill all the beans, please.
Metallic Kitty: Why thank you for enabling me to elaborate on this! As with most things, I taught myself whatever I was interested in or needed (same goes for guitar and vocals!). I mean, for info we have the Internet, right? 'How hard can it be?' I thought. Well, as it turned out, the most difficult part of all was to really understand the whole essence of the music industry, which is quite complex and works according to the old Darwinian principle: Survival of the fittest. So I decided that we were not going to be eaten up alive by this and that is when I started my work with HTI Records (Human Technological Institute Ð has a nice sound to it, right?). HTI Records is a subsidiary company to a mother company, which is also where I learned all about business, economics, etc. As you have probably already calculated, I do not have ANY spare time on my hands, so no internship I am afraid!
Metal Exiles: How did the band get signed to Japan's Spiritual Beast Records, which is under Universal's umbrella, and what role does your baby, HTI Records, play in the release and distribution of 'Chargepoint'?
Metallic Kitty: We are not signed to Spiritual Beast, we are licensed to them. This is the way we work. We had the same arrangement with Massacre Records. We initiated the co-operation with Spiritual Beast in 2007 with the second release of '3rd Stage of Decay'. As we felt comfortable with them and Universal, we decided to continue our partnership and make the official release of 'Chargepoint' through them. HTI Records is not my baby, Decadence is my baby (or 'precious' as I usually put it)! HTI Records is the licensor of all our works so we will be selling the albums also through our own e-shop, 'DecadenStore' (
http://eshop.decadence.se) by HTI Records but with albums sent to us on an export basis from Universal. To put this in plain English Ð we do not have our own pressing of 'Chargepoint' as we did with all other albums Ð but we always have everything available for distribution through HTI Records and our own e-shop as well.
Metal Exiles: You have always made it clear that Decadence is a band dedicated to live performances. How much effort is put in gearing for a Decadence live show? Is band practice ever grueling? Did you ever have to spank anyone for not delivering to standard?
Metallic Kitty: See that is the thing, we do not see our live performances as work; it is what we WANT to do. We have fun, we enjoy it, and we unleash hell. That is also, why band practices are never grueling and no one needs spanking, I am not their mother after all!
Metal Exiles: Aside from the sweat and magic each of you shares every time you play live, what else has bonded the four of you together? Are there any secret jokes only you people get? Can you let me in on your secret jokes? Please?
Metallic Kitty: We have new jokes on every tour or travel and that particular joke at the time goes on and on! During the last time, we played in the Netherlands and a few weeks ago, we were actually standing there on stage hinting those jokes to each other! Silly, really silly... anyway, it is simply so internal that it is only us who are getting those jokes, I believe. At the end of the trip we are reeeally tired of that joke, I assure you, and then something new comes up next time!
Metal Exiles: In a previous interview, you mentioned that the band's best shows to date were in Spain and Portugal. What made those gigs special for Decadence? By extension, how much has the band travelled? Where else do you want to go? Interested in Asia (besides Japan, that is)?
Metallic Kitty: Well, I said that those shows (and especially Zaragoza, Spain in 2008) where one of the best shows we have had. Every show is different somehow and when some of them stand out, it is in different ways with different feelings. Many of our concerts can be seen as our highlights in their own way. However, for me personally, it was on our first big show in Stockholm, Sweden. We shared the stage with the Norwegian Black Metal band Ragnarok and the Swedish cult Death horde Centinex and that was our first big breakthrough that will forever remain in my memory. Equally unforgettable was all the behind-the-scenes work did to make that show possible, along with all the problems we faced on the way. Today I still believe that show was a milestone; it set the direction Decadence would go from then. I want to travel everywhere; I have always been travelling around in my life and not only with Decadence and I want to continue doing that. Asia is definitely a very important step that we want to take soon enough.
Metal Exiles: With five albums under your belt and countless hours of roadwork, do you still have to put up with shitty accommodations in hotels and inns? Any horror stories? Sorry about this, but our readers' curiosity is insatiable. Seriously.
Metallic Kitty: Oh yeah, we have had our fair share of that... luckily not anymore though. Some of the horror stories were sleeping on a cold airport floor; sleeping in a park in Denmark in the middle of April (cooooold); waiting for 13 hours in a London airport; waking up as a popsicle in a circus tent in Sweden; or during an early hotel morning somewhere at 3a.m. after one hour of sleep and then preparing to hit the road immediately. Wow, when I read this now I can only laugh about the misery we had to put up with!
Metal Exiles: One of the more interesting pieces of band merchandise are the Metallic Kitty dolls created by one of your Japanese fans. Are they still available? Are Kenneth, Joachim, and Erik jealous they do not have their own dolls?
Metallic Kitty: Miho and Kisakino are two artists from Japan who created a customized 'Metallic Kitty' doll modeled after me (insane!). I was surfing around the net one day, I stumbled on Miho's MySpace page, and I almost fell of my chair. I could immediately tell she was a Decadence fan, and then I saw that doll, actually a custom action figure. I find unusual, crazy things like this quite exciting, so of course I gave her my full support and after a while, Kisakino had joined in and started to make real miniature replicas of my clothing. Then the interest from other fans started to rise, so this became a limited production in Japan and that's how it all started. I made the website:
http://metallickitty.decadence.se on the basis of Miho's and Kisakino's wishes and to make it official that this doll is now a part of our official merchandise and are being sold with a certificate of authenticity signed by me in person. Overall, I think that the coolest fact with all this is that we are an underground band with a custom dollÑnicely odd! All of these action figures are handmade but as far as I know, Miho and Kisakino are still taking orders! We haven't even begun to discuss having the whole band as action figures. [Laughs.] What a sight! Maybe some fans will come up with that idea too someday, nothing surprises me anymore.
Metal Exiles: Before we finish, let's dip into a little biography. Heavy Metal came into your life when you were put inside a classroom full of guys into metal, am I correct? So how fast did things move downhill at that point? Were you worshipping Satan by the time you got home that day?
Metallic Kitty: You have done your homework! But it was rather by the time I got back to Sweden (I lived in Poland at the time of the "class of metal" Ð starting at the age of 11). I did not get into the Satan stuff until I was like 14 but that passed as soon as it came [laughs], you know that phase. For me, the most important things were a Thrash, Thrash and Thrash or be Thrashed! Still is!
Metal Exiles: Time to say goodbye. The year's almost over. Is the band thinking of the holidays this early, or are you all just hell-bent on pushing 'Chargepoint'?
Metallic Kitty: Hell-bent on working on a new album! We are just getting started here!
