Pic courtesy of: "I think what makes our music special is that almost everybody in the band contributes to the songwriting, plus we always have guest musicians"

CR: What has the band been doing since the release in 2004 of your latest record Serpent's Embrace? (Can we expect a new album soon?)
Sathonys: Of course, we're writing on a new album currently. We did a bunch of shows, sadly our plans to tour didn't turn out in the end due to various reasons, but hopefully we'll do one after the next album is released. We've been involved in other projects as well, but at least I did quit this side project to concentrate on Agathodaimon. I can't tell you when the new album will be released, but we plan to have finished the work on it within the next six months.

CR: You guys have a long career now, starting back in 1995, and in a period of 10 years only 4 full length albums, is there a special reason why Agathodaimon have release that amount of records?
Sathonys: Well, nowadays it seems that all bands release their first demo also as their first album, as CD's are a widely common format and there's lots of labels around. In 1996 it was a little different- we recorded two demos (on tape, of course) before we got a record deal. And you have to remember that there's a big difference between a band like us and those that "work" full-time as musician- we have to make a living, so we work besides doing music or study. Therefore it takes us longer to write songs, as we can't invest as much time as professional musicians have per week. But we want to achieve the same quality, so it takes a while until everything is finished.

CR: Do you have any ideas how many copies have Serpent's Embrace sold so far? I have read many great reviews about the album, any special one that you guys remember?
Sathonys: To be honest, I don't know the exact sales, I'm a little superstitious there, it's no good luck knowing it, hehe. But sales could be better- there's simply too many albums out there these days, and the promotion for our last album was quite weak, plus there was no tour to support the album etc.. but the reviews mostly have been very well. I don't remember a particular one, but it was very interesting to see how different people interpret the music. There were many that thought it's quite different to its predecessor "Chapter III", while I think this album is closest to it, while there were huge differences between the first three albums.

CR: According to your web site last year you guys played very few gigs, why? I have already seen two concert dates (for 2006) in the Nuclear Blast web site, do you guys expect this year to be a little more “active” in regards of live presentations?
Sathonys: Well, we did a few, but I always delete the gigs that were done after a while from the website, so usually there's only a bunch of them mentioned. As I said initially, we didn't tour due to various reasons. But we had a lot of gigs at the weekends, mostly in Germany, but also Austria, Switzerland, Turkey (we've been ripped off by the organiser, a great experience), Spain, Czech Republik etc.

CR: Serpent's Embrace has being qualified as a mix of many elements, like (of course) black metal, symphonic metal, progressive and even that it has some 70’s feeling in some parts of it. Was there any special sound that you guys were aiming to when composing each and every song?
Sathonys: No, I think what makes our music special is that almost everybody in the band contributes to the songwriting, plus we always have guest musicians. So it's always a wide mixture- I was always more into rather experimental stuff than bands like AC/DC that without a doubt do a good job, but that I don't find satisfying as many songs are so similar to each other. We always try to do the music that we ourselves would like to hear, and as we do have a very big range of styles that we enjoy, our music often reflects this. Of course there are boundaries, there should always be a red line that we don't want to cross, but we take the right to have artistical freedom with our music.

CR: Personally I see Agathodaimon as one of those great bands that for some reason have not yet gain the respect they deserve (commercial respect) Do you think that’s true or is the band better commercially placed that many of us know about? Do you care about that commercial respect? (I mean for commercial respect, lots and lots of sales)
Sathonys: Well thanks! Speaking of being commercial, some people think we're commercial, whatever that means- this started when we announced that we'd sign to Nuclear Blast. People obviously think that you get lots of money when you sign to a big label, but that's mostly nonsense. Yes, you get a decent recording budget, but that's almost about it. We never make money with the music, as we always invest everything into the recording of the next album. Last time we had a few bucks left and did a video- we had to pay this ourselves. It was worth a try and a nice experience, it was something I simply wanted to do at least once, and I think we won't do another one, it's simply too expensive and it's no use as there's no metal TV show left that could broadcast it anyway. But we aren't into it for the music, but for the passion of doing music and for the passion of gaining unique experiences. We're happy that we can travel to distant places, playing our music for people that want to hear it- that's simply awesome. People who talk about being "commercial", "true" or "untrue" mostly don't know much about the music business, and I'm meanwhile quite pissed off when I always have to face the same discussions with some "cool" black metal-fan who thinks he's the centre of the world and tries to convince me that we're doing commercial crap. I'm into this scene since 1988, started as tapetrader, organised gigs, worked for several magazines, am still freelancer for Metal Hammer and work at a record label, so I think I don't need to proof anymore that I'm really into this music because I really enjoy it. There's easier ways to make money than playing in a metal band.

CR: Through out Agathodaimon’s career your sound has been evolving from black metal to something more melodic and complicated, to the point that some qualify you as melodic black metal, others as symphonic black metal and some as progressive black metal, are you happy with the evolution of your general sound, could it be possible for you guys to go back and play a more basic and raw black metal?
Sathonys: Actually I thought of doing something in the vein of some rather old-school Black Metal stuff, something like the first Emperor, or the first mini-CD of Dark Funeral. I'm not sure if this will happen, as we always try to do things a little different. Maybe this would be something for a side-project, but I rather think there'll be a lot of different styles again on the next album. But I'm quite sure there'll be more brutal parts, too... on the last album we only had one or two blast beats, and I'm currently in the mood for some faster stuff. We'll see.

	Pic courtesy of: Agathodaimon "Speaking of being commercial, some people think we're commercial, whatever that means- this started when we announced that we'd sign to Nuclear Blast. People obviously think that you get lots of money when you sign to a big label, but that's mostly nonsense"

CR: Why don’t we go back a little and talk about the beginnings of the band. Reading your biography I found out that you guys placed and add in some magazines looking for other musicians to join the band, that’s something (at least I) don’t hear every day. When you guys got answers from some of those adds, how was the audition and why did you picked the guys you picked?
Sathonys: Well, what do you do when you live in a town where there's actually no metal-scene at all? So, I decided it would be wisest to put out some ads, and we checked out a bunch. But actually it mostly always led to having a friend of a friend joining us, hehe. In the beginning of course, things were different. Vlad and Marko were friends and came together to the rehearsal, as Matthias and I formed the band, we had quite a solid core from the beginning. Shortly after, Hyperion joined and the rehearsals were cool, so we had our first line-up. Later when people had to be replaced or were fired, we already had more contacts and recruited people we already knew.

CR: Your second demo, Near Dark was a success selling approximately 2500 copies, did you guys distributed this material by your selves? Why do you think people like that demo so much? What did it have that your first demo (Carpe Noctem) didn’t?
Sathonys: Well, the first demo helped us in getting a good reputation! We had cool reviews even in big mags like Rock Hard, and it led to an offer of Century Media Records, who gave us a little financial help to record our second demo. We're not very proud of the first demo nowadays, we had to record six songs in one day, everything on 8 tracks! So the sound was quite awful, hehe. But it was cool to have your first self-recorded demo, back then I felt like it couldn't be getting better. So when I sent out the second demo to various mags, it was surprising that so many people liked it. So I offered the demo to mailorder companies like Nuclear Blast and Last Episode, and they did sell lots of it... back then, I copied all tapes myself, it was horrible... I spend weeks and weeks just sitting at my desk and changing the tapes in the recorder. It's not like nowadays where you can burn CD's with 52* speed, hehe. But back to the demo, I think we did a good job there. We had time to record and mix 30 minutes within 4 days (well, that's the time Metallica take to change their guitar strings, but...), and were able to record in a proper studio on 16 tracks. The sound was good, the songs were good.. I still can enjoy this recording, hehe.

CR: After those two demos there was a “Best of” (Tomb Sculptures) compilation released, I think by your ex singer Vlad, I’m right? Why was that if so?
Sathonys: Well... it's rather an official bootleg- we, the band, did hear about it many months later. Vlad didn't ask for permission, but oh well... that's his romanian blood I guess, hehe. I was just quite surprised when Prophecy did sell this tape through their mailorder, and was very angry when I heard about it as I thought someone is ripping us off. But it turned out that Vlad (at that time he already was stuck in Romania for a while) did it. Until today, I never saw this tape, so if a fan wants to get rid of it, send it over to me, hehe.

CR: You first album Blacken The Angel was very…black metal with some clues of the future sound that you guys will eventually develop, but the black metal roots were there, that dark atmosphere and a few ups and downs in the speed of some songs. Looking back at it, are you satisfied with the final product, and what it meant for the band?
Sathonys: It was again an awesome experience. To record your first official CD is something very special, maybe like having sex for the first time, just that it takes longer, hehe. When it was released, I was damn proud of it, but nowadays I rather hear all the mistakes we did or the things I'd like to change meanwhile. But it's still a cool album, and we're still very proud of it.

CR: Your previous singer Vlad, he was just Agathodaimon’s lead singer for that first full length album right (and the previous demos)? Is he still in contact with you guys? I’ve read that he still collaborates with some lyrics. Can he now get out of Romania?
Sathonys: Yes, he can get out of Romania, at least more easily than years ago. But we already have a steady line-up, and of course the years led to different progressions between his musical taste and ours. We're still in touch; actually I dropped him a mail a few minutes ago. Maybe he'll contribute with some music or lyrics for the next album. I still have big respect for his songwriting and lyric skills. Oh, about the albums- he did only sing on the first two demos and on Higher Art of Rebellion- Black the Angel was sung completely by Akaias, as Vlad was cached numerous times before he could cross the border… He didn't have proper papers, but wanted to join the recording, that’s why we delayed the album twice. But it didn't work out, so we flew to Romania for the second album to record with him there. Also a good experience, but we'll never do this again. The sound on the second album is just not satisfying. We weren't involved in the mix, so when I finally got the master CD and put it in my stereo, I was so damn angry after a minute that I wanted to throw that damn album into the gutter. Nowadays I can enjoy the album even with the bad sound, but I still wonder how it would have been with a proper mix and mastering.

CR: In Blacken The Angel there are four very long tracks, can you please explain why did you guys thought this was a good idea?
Sathonys: Oh well they just happened to be that long. The track that stands out most is probably "Near Dark", about 15 minutes. The difference there was that we had a finished lyric sheet and wanted to build the music around it- that's what happened. It took us months to complete the monster, so nowadays we rather finish the music and work on the lyrics later on.

	Pic courtesy of: Agathodaimon "To record your first official CD is something very special, maybe like having sex for the first time, just that it takes longer, hehe"

CR: In your next album Higher Art Of Rebellion, I can hear some gothic touches added to the mix, was that intentional or it just sort of happened? The recording for this album was performed in Romania right?
Sathonys: Yes, I wrote a few sentences about this already above. It was horrible. The producer was very optimistic in the beginning, but it turned out that he didn't have the experience to deliver a metal sound. There were just so many strange things happening... we recorded one day, came back the other, all amp settings and microphone placements were totally different, meaning that we wouldn't be able to reproduce the sound from the days before. One of the studio engineers said "Yeah, another band recorded during the night and used your equipment. Where's the problem?" Problem? Hellooo! There were lots of things that wouldn't happen to you if you recorded in a western studio. But well, it was a good experience nevertheless, although a lot of fans didn't like the record.

CR: Jumping ahead to your now famous Chapter III record (famous because I have read so many great reviews) The general sound of the band is amazing, is like you guys finally got the rhythm figured out and just jam together, what was so different in terms of inspiration and motivation when you guys recorded this record?
Sathonys: First thing, we wanted to have a proper sound after the disaster of Higher Art Of Rebellion, so we worked in a German studio with a good producer. Then we did a pre-production to ensure that the songs wouldn't change that much during the recording process and to work on finer details. And the songs were created differently. In the past, we all met in the rehearsal room and worked on songs together. Since Chapter III, we took our time at home to work on songs and then finish them in the rehearsal room, not going too far away from the first version.

CR: What did Chapter III help you guys achieve, do you think that album got you headed in the direction of a more elaborated and complex composition style?
Sathonys: Well I don't think it changed things for us, but it led to a different composition style, as I mentioned. We don't live very close together, so it enables us to work more efficiently if we spend time during the week and meet at the weekends for rehearsal. I also think you're much more into details when it's more your "own" creation than a complete team effort. Everybody takes care of his baby, so to say.

CR: In Chapter III there are a lot of melodic tunes, but there is one song that just takes the price Sacred Divinity, it’s a beautiful song if I may say so, can you please explain the concept behind it, and the inspiration for it?
Sathonys: Sacred Divinity is the "ballad" on that album- a tradition we had since our second album. On Higher Art, it was "Body Of Clay", which is a little power metal-oriented, "Sacred Divinity" was quite gothic-style, on Serpent's Embrace it was "Solitude", which is er.. Trip Hop? We always try to have a slightly different mood for the ballad, it's the song where actually experiment a lot, while the other songs are slightly more traditional. So, who knows what the next ballad will bring, hehe. The lyrical concept was by Hyperion who isn't in the band anymore, so I can't tell you his motivation, but I think the lyrics are self-explanatory, it's a nice love story with a dark background.

CR: If you had to…I mean really, if your life depended on it (I know many artists hate to be compared, for that I’m sorry), what band can you say sounds like Agathodaimon, or at least has a similar idea about music as you guys?
Sathonys: Ah damn. I don't know! I don't think we're unique, but I don't know any band that sounds really like Agathodaimon. There are always songs that remind of several bands, by purpose or accident. An example, the melody line at the end of "Ribbons/Requiem" was stolen from Entombed's Left Hand Path, because they've stolen it from the movie soundtrack of "Phantasm". It was kind of a double hommage, that one was ripped on purpose. But on "Serpent's Embrace", the beginning of the keyboards reminds of Soilwork, and when we first heard the idea from our keyboard player, he just asked "Who is Soilwork?" He really didn't know it, as he rarely listens to Metal at all, and if he does, it's rather Anathema, Opeth and the likes. So we thought it's okay to keep it. It's not our aim to be unique, but we don't want to rip off other bands. If we come up with a riff or melody that reminds of another band, we usually throw it away.

CR: In some past interviews I read that you guys have day jobs, what exactly do you guys do other than playing and composing music? Would you guys like to just make a living of the music you write?
Sathonys: I think it would take away the motivation of making a living with the music. I mean, what do you do? A few tours, and then? Being in the rehearsal room? I don't think that would make my life complete. As I said, I'm working for a record label, being the Senior IT Manager, write as freelancer for german Metal Hammer, work as photographer here and there (just discovered the new Absu-Best Of does feature live photos done by me.. the guys could have at least send over a copy, damn), I take care of the management of the band and so on. The others are either studying (communications design and something that has to do with chemistry, I don't know the english expressions) or looking for jobs, hehe.

CR: From your point of view, how’s the German metal scene this days, has it increase drastically or is it still the same lets say the same as three years ago? (Have you heard of a band called Dark Age?)
Sathonys: Yes, Dark Age from Hamburg. A very good band, we played sometimes with them. But nowadays I'm not that much into the scene as I was years ago. All the bullshit that was going on a few years ago when these discussions about being "true" and "a black metal band isn't allowed to do XY" made me stay away a little from that scene. Also, the passion for other, new releases isn't as big as years ago. At the moment, I prefer listening to older stuff. Even the new Arcturus has disappointed me a bit... and after I heard a pre-copy of the new Queensryche, I think that feeling won't change...

CR: Do you consider cd reviews like a good source of promotion and a good way of getting some feedback?
Sathonys: Well, they're essential for people who want to know something about the album. But sometimes, depending on the author, you have the feeling that they listened to a totally different album, hehe.
Anyway, it's always a very stressing period when the first reviews for a new album are coming in...

	Pic courtesy of: Agathodaimon "Metal is always meant to stay underground. Just look at the way it's featured in nowadays radio and TV. Which big company would enjoy paying for advertisement space between songs from Cannibal Corpse and Deicide?"

CR: Do you guys put a lot of thought into your album covers, I can see a pattern (maybe is just the blue in many of them), how involve are you guys in the process of picking a cover?
Sathonys: Holy shit, of course we do everything ourselves. There's no record label or sales person that tells us which artwork we should use! It's mostly me that does take care of the artwork or cover concept. The others are simply too busy elsewhere. Hm.

Some weird questions

CR: Do you think that there is a possibility for metal to take over the radio and television and become THE most popular genre in music, something like replacing pop culture for a more sarcastic one, or is metal always going to be placed in a corner of society?
Sathonys: Yeah, good joke. Metal is always meant to stay underground. Just look at the way it's featured in nowadays radio and TV. Which big company would enjoy paying for advertisement space between songs from Cannibal Corpse and Deicide? It's all about money, advertisement income and a certain image that fits a certain product that has to be sold. And metal is only bad vibes, at least for the "normal" masses. There'll always be place for "metal" like Rammstein or Bon Jovi, but that's about it. That's about enough rebel’s vibes society can accept.

CR: What do you think of people that consider every metal fan a satanic, blood thirsty vampire that is ready to sell his soul to Satan; do you think WE the fans and the musicians are responsible for that reputation?
Sathonys: You mean you didn't sell your soul already? I'm offering a good price! Of course the fans and bands are responsible for this, what else? Metal is about rebellion, it's a youth culture, it's no jazz or classic music. And which music is better to make your parents leave your room when you want to be alone? Robbie Williams doesn`t do the job.

CR: Have any hero of your past disappointed you, and if so how?
Sathonys: Yes. King Diamond-Abigail II was not nearly as impressive as the first part, as well as Mindcrime II of Queensryche probably will be (I only had the chance to listen to it once yet). Iron Maiden don't convince me with their new stuff (well... everything after "Seventh Son" actually...), although they're still cool live. No Autopsy-reunion. I fear the Celtic Frost-Reunion album, oh boy... I keep my fingers crossed. Oh, Samael was disappointing as well, but not bad. I'm waiting for new Slayer, Soil and Rob Zombie...

CR: What metal band you once thought was going to make it big and never did?
Sathonys: Agathodaimon. Haha, no honestly I think there's a lot, but I'd need to check my record collection, and I'm currently away from home, so I can't think of a proper example (as it's already past midnight and my brain is numb), sorry!

CR: Do you consider a band like System of a Down a metal band?
Sathonys: Actually I've only listened once to one of their albums. I own two, but I wasn't motivated to listen to it more closely...

CR: Any good releases that you can remember from this past 2005, cd or dvd.
Sathonys: The new Raunchy is excellent... oh wait, that's 2006. Well, Volbeat (also from Denmark) made a cool debut. Uhm yea. Don't ask me about Black Metal, nothing impressed me. Stop, the last Tsjuder was great.

CR: Well, hope I didn’t bore you to dead, and thank you very much for giving us the change to have you in our magazine is has been a real honor for us, please if you have any last words for all the Costarrican fans, please do.
Sathonys: Hell yes, find a rich concert organizer that is willing to pay our flight tickets so we can play a few gigs over there! Thanks for your interest, and please check our music out. Carpe Noctem!