Sinister Realm Interview

1. Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?

We just released our third album entitled "World of Evil" which we're very excited about! We also not to long ago released a video for the title track to the album. We're also lining up some dates now for a few short tours heading south to places like Virginia, Carolina, Atlanta and were ever else we can add. So in a nutshell, we're pretty busy and we like that.

2. How would you describe the musical sound of the new album and how it differs from previous releases?

I don't think it's anything radically different. It's still traditional metal with some doom influences. We did try some different things, there's a long epic number that closes out the album called "The Forest of Souls/Four Black Witches". There's another epic number called "The Ghosts of Nevermore" that has some cool stuff going on. We tried to go in a bit more of an epic direction and just kept trying to write strong songs.

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the new release explores?

Good vs. evil. The end of the world, madness, fortune telling witches, buried ghosts and other fun stuff like that.

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?

Anyone out there who has had to try and come up with a band name knows it's really hard to do as every possible name feels like it's been taken. I wanted a name that had a real old school 80s feel to it and also had a bit of a darker feel. I was reading a magazine about power metal bands and it said their subject matter tends to be "tales of sinister realms" and I thought it sounded really cool. I was sure someone must have used that name but to my shock and luck no one had.

5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?

Metal Assault in Germany was awesome. We've had some really killer shows locally opening up for people like Diamond Head, Accept, Lizzy Bordern and Y&T. I would say we definetly rise to the occasion when we play live. We put on a good metal show with lots of energy. Our frontman Alex is great at getting the crowd moving and invloved.

6. Do you have any touring plans for the new album?

Yeah, like I mentioned in the first questions were in the process of working on some dates south of us. We live in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Were basicially going to try and be playing anywhere we can. Hopefully we can make it over to Europe at some point. Anyone out there who wants us in their town, let us know!

7. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of traditional and doom metal?

Overall is has been positive. Traditonal metal fans seem to relate to us because they can hear the Maiden and Priest in our sound and because we have that bit of an epic vibe and some slower heavy moments the doom fans find something to like also. I don't really consider us to be a doom band though, we are influenced more by albums like "Heaven and Hell" or "Diary of Madman" which have some slower heavier moments but aren't really straight up doom albums. I'm also really into Candlemass so I think that's where some of the doom sound comes in.

8. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases/

Longer more epic songs. The next album is definetly going to be moving into some new territories musically speaking. It feels like it's time to try some different stuff. I want to go a little more epic with some longer songs. Maybe try an acoustic ballad like Sabbath's "Planet Caravan". Maybe a multi part concept song. We shall see as I haven't really started working on the next album yet.

9. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

I listen to lots of stuff. Trad. metal and doom are my favorites and biggest influences, like Ozzy (first 4 albums) Priest, Maiden, Mercyful Fate, Savatage, Candlemass, Dio. Lately I've been listening to the new Sabbath album "13". VoiVod "Target Earth", Queensryche "2013" and Carcass "Necroticism"

10. Does Occultism play any role in your music?

No. I do like darker subjects like death and the afterlife, good and evil. I'm also a fan of supernatural horror movies like "Suspiria" and books by Poe and Love Craft so that probably influences some of the songs. I like to put a twist on things though, the same way someone like Dio did. From our first album the song "The Demon Seed", the main character, the demon seed, is a good guy fighting against opression. The title track off our new album is about all the evil we have in our world and how sometimes being a good guy can make you feel like you are standing alone wondering what went wrong in the world. I like to write songs about the underdog, the little guy winning. I'm a Catholic so if anything some of those religous stories of good versus evil have probably influenced my writing.

11. outside of music what are some of your interests?

I collect vinyl records, metal vinyl to be exact. I'm a big hockey fan, the Philadelphia Flyers are my team. I like to watch 70s horror movies and documentaries. Mostly though I just love listening to music.

12.Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?

Thanks a lot for the interview! Please visit our facebook page and like us to stay on top of all the latest news. www.facebook.com/sinisterrealm. Were also working on www.sinisterrealm.net that should be up soon. Buy the new album from Shadow Kingdom Records and it should be in your favorite metal store soon. See you on the road and long live heavy metal!!!