SOURCE WEBZINE | We don’t have readers – we have believers.

SOURCEWEBZINE – I’d like to start with talking about your new album “AEALO”. Congratulations first of all, it’s fucking excellent album, one of my current favourites! How long did it take to record?

Sakis Tolis (V/G) – Really? That make me feel honored my friend. That was my goal. My music to talk to your soul and if I did manage it then you made my day. You made my day that the album that I was working for more than a year to compose and another 3 months to record it find response to you.

SOURCEWEBZINE – “AEALO” has really been creating a buzz within the metal world and getting great reviews and write-ups. How does that make you feel?

Sakis Tolis (V/G) – Yes the album started to be received from the metal community very hot and that me feel Honored. That’s all.

SOURCEWEBZINE – Who produced the album “AEALO”? How involved are you in the mixing process?

Sakis Tolis (V/G) – I did as well as the mixing mastering etc. Being a big fan of the mode DO IT YOURSELF I manage to do everything by myself the last years because I want to be as fair as possible to the bands fan and the most important is that I do express myself artistically as a I really want and not as a producer wants. I am honored that people around says that our albums sounds bombastic!

SOURCEWEBZINE – Do you feel as each member of the band the ways of old heathen beliefs are very lacking in the modern world or do you see the ways of old coming back?

Sakis Tolis (V/G) – The old ideas always are back and I think generally in life ideas are recycled.The same happens and with music. Even if we lare currently live in a really faceless eras that everything sounds good or better unmistaken the bands that are creating soul dedicated albums and they put their soul on that make the difference cause the humans deep inside their DNA have this order… To be human and not robots.

SOURCEWEBZINE – Are Rotting Christ fans of Myspace and Twitter as promotion outlets for these days or do you see it as more a need ?

Sakis Tolis (V/G) – No. I was never a fan but I became a follower of the nowadays ways of promotion because it simply are important for a proper promotion. We start up by trading demos and sending letters through post in order to corporate with our metal brothers worldwide. Now things have dramatically changed and as those means of communications are so important nowadays we can not just be observers!

SOURCEWEBZINE – Do you find it difficult being an ‘indie’ metal band in 21st century with digital promos and pirating of music .Where do you see the future of music in general?

Sakis Tolis (V/G) – Music will always be alive cause it is a need of humanity. Now who is going to survive is another question… Maybe will survive the real artists the people that  perform music in order to express their artistic worries and not those that exploit music to express their ego.

Concerning now piracy etc I am always saying that if you do not have money feel free to download our music. I have traveled all around the world and I have met people that very hard earn their living. I can definitely understand that for those people are so hard to buy an official release.

SOURCEWEBZINE – Are you able to make a living playing music, or do you have day jobs?

Sakis Tolis (V/G) – Sometime we do and some other jobs in order to earn our living but mostly we get money enough to pay our bills and that’s all. We do not play for the money but if they come are welcome because as normal citizens we have so many things to take care and believe me playing in a band is not the easiest thing concerning the financial matter.

SOURCEWEBZINE – In 2005 Dave Mustaine of Megadeth refused to play a show in Greece if you were on the same setlist.  How did this change your opinion of him and Megadeth as a band? Do you have any words for him that you would like to put down here? What’s your opinion about “Endgame” CD?

Sakis Tolis (V/G) – Anyway I never had a good opinion about Megadeth even if I did like their last album but never the voice! No I do not change opinions about people even if they act conservative like this.Metal is a punch to any conservative idea and make sad feeling that some “Metalheads” follow the rules that much.

SOURCEWEBZINE – The metal scene in Greece is a strong one. Has it been that way for a while, or has it been a recent development?

Sakis Tolis (V/G) – Yes it was always strong and I have the feeling that it is getting stronger and stronger. Just search in Google the name Greek Metal scene and you will find out many interesting newcomers that come from my land. Keep an eye open. It make sense in my opinion.

SOURCEWEBZINE – A lot of bands are more respected in other countries than their homeland. How is Rotting Christ received in Greece?

Sakis Tolis (V/G) – Now I can proudly announce that we are accepted with respect in our homeland and that make us honored. I do not say we gave our battle for this but finally we prevailed! If you have a strong base in your land then that makes you stronger.

SOURCEWEBZINE – Any chances of a Brazilian tour?

Sakis Tolis (V/G) – See you in June Brazilian brother and sisters. We feel always great when we do visit your land and this is not a compliment be live me. Brazilians have been supporting our horde since our first steps and we really enjoying your mentality as persons that is similar like Greeks. We feel like our home and we look forward to visiting your land again… Till then…

SOURCEWEBZINE – Thank you for the time of interview any closing thoughts here?

Sakis Tolis (V/G) – KEEP THE HORNS RISING.

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