The Band: Iscariota
Country: Poland
Answers by:
Justyna Szatny (keyboards)
ISCARIOTA is a band with a long story, hailing
from the city of Sosnowiec Poland
Hello Justyna and welcome to our site!
Hello :)
Iscariota is a Polish band that started off in
1992, more than 20 years ago, what do you remember of that?
Well, not
much as I was 7 years old .) But I have already listened Metallica, Nirvana and
feared of all these t-shirts with skeletons J
Of the initial project how many members are
still active in the band?
2 – Piotr
Piecak (ex-drummer-presently vocal) and Dominik Durlik (guitar)
In 1995 you released Cosmix Paradox, your first
full-length. What changes in your sound have happened since that time?
Everything.
It's been 20 years. Recording studio, equipment, even instruments, as the
keys replaced second guitar. Additionally band members. It’s not without
significance, because everyone creates very own sonic space.
We are now in 2016 and we get your fourth album
Upadłe królestwo, a very powerful album, how long have you worked on it?
About 1
year. During promotion of “History Of
Life” we have composed new material for forthcoming album. We never wait with
that. When we have some ideas we play it immediately. We can’t let them go J
Don’t stop me now or keep the fire burning, we
could name it. We were very surprised by the heavy speed metal you deliver and
the great combination of guitar and keys melodies. Who is usually in charge of
the composition process? Are guitars on command or you on the keys has the
first and the last word?
With this
is different. The whole team is in general involved in the creation of music. The
guys grew up on old school thrash and heavy metal. I bring my inspirations that
I draw from both the symphonic and progressive music.
And the result is very good. I would like to
underline your great work on the keyboards. And exercise of elegance, precision
and good taste. Moreover, we get different kind of keys playing along the album
Thank you
for your kind words J I always try to approach each song
individually. Refer to the whole character, enclose in notes all feelings that
I want to give back to the music. Additionally my great Korg Triton Le and Korg
Krome have a lot of sounds which I need to express music in many different
ways.
How did you start playing keyboards and what
has been your bands or musicians of reference?
Very young.
When I was 5 years old I was very curious with very old piano, which stood in
the nursery. My mother saw it and sent me to private teacher for learning. My
teacher always said: You have a great gift for impart feelings into music. So
is till now J When it comes to musical influences,
I must mention: Moonspell, Dimmu Borgir, Emperor, Dream Theater, Katatonia,
Nightwish.
Justyna, I was surprised by your style, because
you can play atmospheric, neoclassic, heavy tunes, you always play what every
song needs, you are not the kind of egocentric musician seeking her own show
and the lights upon you…
Ha ha! Well
I’m not egocentric musician and never will be J Variety of my style is nothing but a reference
to the feelings diversity. Being in the band is not a solo carrier. I’m part of
Iscariota. Every member is important – like good constructed machine. Without
one element the whole won’t work.
The guitars also make and awesome work and they
remind me of East Europe classic bands such as Hungarian Kalapacs or Russian Aria
I know Aria
and I like it, Kalapacs I heard few hours ago. I cannot say if I can compare
it. First of all, different style, and
absolutely they are not bands with whom we are auscultation. I think with a few
probably millions of bands in the world is difficult to find somewhere some
similarities. In this case it has no great
meaning.
One of the strong points in your new album
Upadłe królestwo is the variety of styles you play, built on a heavy metal
ground we could say, they make your work very amusing and powerful
I
understand “heavy metal ground” as regular rhythm, legible melody and a little
bit of pathos. Our tastes are fulfilled this way. We always try to play so that
pleasant to listen to us.
By the way, you sing in Polish all the songs. I
think it gives a special feeling to your songs, more genuine. But if we talk
about reaching other countries it might be a set back…
There are
different opinions. Singing in other language than polish doesn’t suit to
Iscariota. Once I tried to translate some Iscariota’s lyrics but the result was
not acceptable for us.
Talking about singing, Piotr Piecak is a guy
with a really wide range because you try him in almost every song with thrash,
speed metal, heavy, grindcore, hard rock and he never gives in, he defends his
ground without a moment of doubt
That’s
true. He had a hidden talent as at the beginning of Iscariota, he was a
drummer. I think his vocal is very powerful and exact express all feelings
running through our music.
Oh so he was originally a drummer, cool…What
are the lyrics about?
The lyrics
are about philosophy and journalistic. You can find there some politic and
social comments, ideological manifestos, a little bit of self-reflections, a
lot of existential poetry. Lyrics are very important part in our music.
I will study Polish some day. What kind of
songs are more demanded by your fans, the thrash/speed sounds like in Koleżanka
szklanka, the heavy goods of Sny o potędze or some more modern approach like
Judasz (Iscariota)?
Every kind.
The true is that it’s very difficult to please everyone. Every man has some
expectations and it’s hard to foresee what is it. It depends form many
elements.
With the variety you show in your compositions,
what can we expect from Iscariota in the future?
We already
have some concept for next album. Do not expect big revolution or extremely
change of style. We keep our spirit :) For sure we will invite some musicians –
it’s our tradition.
If you keep the high level you show on Upadłe
królestwo that is more than enough for me. What
bands have influenced your music?
Different.
My inspirations I have mentioned above, Dominik: AC/DC, Iron Maiden and
Metallica; Piotr Piecak: early Slayer, Cynic, Death; Piotr Zapart: everything
from 80’ and 90’; Tomasz: Manowar and Kat.
Have you
ever played out of Poland
Not yet.
But who knows, maybe we will have a chance. Now we promote “Fallen Kingdom Poland
Hopefully we will see you some day on a stage. We
cannot waste this chance to ask you, Justyna, about the metal scene in Poland
Very hot :)
A lot of bands, gigs, styles. Everyone can find something for himself.
Good, Is it easy to be a Metal band in Poland
Well, it’s
hard to say. But I think it’s very hard to come out with something new. It
seems that everything was.
Thank you very much for your attention Justyna,
if you wish to add something…
Thank you a
lot for interview. I would like to greet all metal heads in Spain
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