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Even from your name someone can understand that you have chosen the hard path. That only a few can pass: Sorrows Path…
We don’t know to what extend that is true Chris, but in our conscience and our minds the name SORROWS PATH was connected from the beginning with the life of all people. A life that, no matter how it looks, short or long, ugly or beautiful, has a quick ending and from that point only we consider it to be a vain path of sorrow. But even if our life was eternal, vanity would still exist. Man would be like a sad vampire, lost into a pointless eternity!
November 1993 and the journey through the Sorrows Path began. I still find very strange the fact that back in 1993 were the Greek scene was under the strong influence of Black / Death metal, two guys (Takis Drakolpoulos – Bass and Kostas Slaomidis – Guitar) decided to join forces and create a… Doom Metal band! Not only you did not follow the path of the many, but you decided to cross your own route through the strange path of Doom Metal. What made you to take this decision for a Doom Metal band forming?
Our passion for doom metal music and philosophy!
Let's take a longer trip through time. Before the forming of Sorrows Path, have you got some kind of experience with other bands and if yes can you recall some names? How the two founder members of Sorrows Path did came in touch? Was it through some other bands maybe?
Takis was a quite mature musician for his age (18yrs), having already participated in a band which played covers of heavy songs but also had some songs of their own. Kostas had just left the bass that he tried to learn for 1-2 years but found it wasn’t good for him and having decided to found a heavy doom band(MARCYAS) with his friend and singer Mike Smeros, he met Takis due to an add. That band was soon torn apart since the other members wanted to follow more classic heavy roads, so the two young doomsters (Kostas and Takis), having already a strong friendship between them, were able to do what they were destined to do, and that was the foundation of Sorrows Path. The drummer, Kostas Farmakis participated in Takis’ old band and then joined Sorrows Path, while Angelos also had experience with two small bands. None of the members however had a previous release with their past bands.
Angelos Ioannidis (vocals) and Kostas Farmakis (drums) completed the line up. My information says that before those guys fill the slots on the vocals and the drums there were many line-up problems and changes. Can you be more specific about them? Was it so difficult to find the current members in the current slots and why?
Of course there were 2-3 different singers that we tried before Angelos, while Kostas was the last one to join the band, since our previous drummer didn’t quite fit in our music style! Finding the right members was really difficult because our demands as far as vocals and drums were concerned were high, plus the fact that, as you already said Chris, there were very few people into that kind of music at the time.
Leaving the line-up problems behind the band was ready for work. Can you remember the first song that you composed as Sorrows Path? How did you feel when you rehearsed a full completed song all together?
Our first song was “Flower”. We were moved. At last the dream became true. A clearly doom metal band was born!!
Your debut demo "Sorrows Path" released a year and two months after the band's formation (January 1995). Give us some details about that demo. The exact track list, in how many copies was it released and when the recording seasons were started? Also give some info about the recording seasons. Where the demo was recorded and under what circumstances? Recall something strange that happened in the studio and you may want to share with us.
It included the following songs: 1) Flower 2) Prince Of The Night 3) True Hope 4) Land Of Illusions (CHOPAR) 5) Sorrow’s Path. We didn’t determine the number of tapes to be released. We simply made new copies of the demo depending on the demand. It was recorded in a few days time (4 or 5 days) at Christmas ’94 at the old Studio Live which was at Kamatero, Athens and the most interesting part of the story is that considering the fact that we were youngsters, we had a really hard time finding the money that its recording demanded.
What was the feedback of the demo back in 1995 form the fans and the press?
It was released in Greece only (according to the band’s wish). Later, the American Doom Records made a world distribution of the demo. It sold around 250 copies, and of course we gave away some free copies (over 50) to radio shows, magazines, and fanzines. The greek Metal Hammer declared it doom demo of the year 1995.
It was autumn 1995 and the drummer Kostas Farmakis left the band. Why did this happen?
Kostas wanted to follow a different musical path and so he went to the power thrashers Brainfade.
Unfortunately in November 1995 Takis Drakopoulos -one of the two founder members of the band-, died because of a serious brain disease. The rest decided to continue with the band…. Was it a hard decision? Have you ever thought to change your name since the founding line up was not the same?
It was a tough decision because Takis was a very close friend to Kostas and Angelos. There was absolutely no reason to change the name since one of the two founders was still alive.
End of 1995 and Stavros Giannakos (bass) and Gregory Vlachos (drums) joined Sorrows Path. A new era, a new beginning. Am I right?
Right! We tried a few people once more and Gregory and Stavros became really attached to us not only in musical terms but also with a friendship that lasts until today!
Promo 1996 was released in May 1996. Give us some extra information about it. Which song was included in that promo? Was it only for record labels or for the fans as well? Did you get any positive feedback from any label after the release of this promo tape?
It only included one song, ‘No Possibility’. It was only for the labels but the fans could also get it through the Metal Hammer magazine by sending an empty tape.We received some good comments from record labels and of course there was the agreement with the American Doom Records for the distribution of the promo and the demo later, abroad. This cooperation went on and we thought of releasing our first album with them.
My information says that during 1997 you recorded some more songs. Tell us about this recording season. Were those songs supposed to be included on a possible –to be released back then- full length? Which songs had you recorded? Why had you finally decided not to release them even on a demo format?
We recorded 3 songs in the context of our cooperation with Doom Records. We never intended to release the songs on a demo format. Our purpose back then was to release an album and we were in search of a label to take care of the necessary expenses.
From 1998 until 2005 we can mention the long period of silence for Sorrows Path. In 1998 all the members have to serve their military services so there was no time for bands or any other activities. In the new millennium fate struck again. The other band's founder Kostas Salomidis was almost completely paralyzed because of a neck problem which was caused in the past after a serious motorcycle accident. So the band was put on ice until May of 2005. What happened then?
Actually, during all this time (2000-2005) the band members always kept in the back of their heads the thought that a possible improvement of Kostas’ health condition could bring the band back, even if it was for just one jam. So, that’s exactly the way things happened! The rest was just a matter of time!
Sorrows Path was back in action. You began to work on old songs and the idea of the old stuff's remastering (Demo 95 and Promo 96) was born. Why you decided to go back in your past and not to record something completely new?
Because we wanted to show what the band was like back then, a band that due to bad circumstances did not go on with its course, and we didn’t want to make any kind of connection between the past and the future
We have reached October 2005. The remaster of the old stuff has been done. What are the differences comparing the remastered versions with the originals?
The only difference is an improvement of the sound compared to the past edition.
Meanwhile you had to face some line up changes again. Gregory Vlachos on drums was replaced by Fotis Mountouris. Any comments about this line up change?
It was no’t possible for Gregory, due to personal problems, to play in two bands (since he plays with Marauder for some time now). Luckily, in a short time we found our new drummer in Fotis’ face, who fit in from every aspect!
Finally you made an agreement with Eat Metal Records for the release of the remastered CD. Your first plan was to simply call "Remaster 2005" but the title "Resurrection" was finally chosen, why had you changed your minds?
We found that “Resurrection” was right from many different points of view. It stands for the resurrection of the band, the resurrection of the two founders, since one of them had just partly recovered from a very serious health problem and the other was about to “relive” through his music. Last, but most important, this title had a straight connection with the general philosophy of Sorrows Path. It brings the joyful message of resurrection through the process of pain and sympathy for all those who suffer on Earth, those to whom the majority of the lyrics of these old songs were dedicated. Besides, the lyrics of Sorrows Path in general are dedicated to the extreme human psychological situations, they are dedicated to the weak and the different ( tortured women and children, sick in mind or body, prisoners, old men, whores, ideologists, philosophers, victims of racism and sexism, etc).
I still wonder why you have not add some bonus material in this Resurrection CD. Probably some tracks from this 1997 season…
As we already said Chris, all we wanted was to demonstrate who Sorrows Path were through their official releases. Besides, we intended to include the 1997 songs in a complete album and they will be presented in the future, a bit altered of course compared to their original form.
I supposed that you have composed some total new songs. You have published the titles for only tow of them: 'Queen Of Doom' and 'Hymn Of Differentiation'. Can you make a little comment for each one?
Our comment is that these are 2 out of the 3 songs of the 1997 period that we talked about before. We can say that the songs are heavier but always within the style, musical and philosophical, of Sorrows Path.
How many other songs have you composed? Do you plan to record a brand new album some day? Is there any extra info about it?
There already are around 40 complete compositions, 25 of which we have pre-chosen and we believe them to be released sometime. The fact is that the new album will include 12 songs that we have already decided on!
Let's move now to live appearances. First of all I want you to recall the very first live show of Sorrows Path.
That was in 1994, a few months before the release of the demo and we played at the square of Kamatero in a pretty lousy, in terms of organization, concert!
During the 90s you have done many live shows. Can you recall the best and the worst?
We definitely played in a number of lives but we couldn’t possibly recall one that was better than the others! We think that a basic factor in a live is the organization, so that the sound is relatively good. In that aspect, we may think that our live appearances at An Club were better, while we also consider the live of our comeback after 9 years with Solitude Aeturnus, not only to have had a good sound but also to have been excellent when it comes to the execution of the songs!
I suppose that it was somehow difficult to find other Doom Metal bands to play with. With what kind of bands have you shared the stage? Do you think that if you have played more shows with bands of the same genre (Doom Metal) things could have been better on stage for Sorrows Path?
OK, emotionally it’s always better to play with Doom Metal bands! On the other hand though, we were lucky enough to share the stage with some of the best greek metal bands and that certainly makes you go a little higher, even if these bands belong to different kinds of metal like power, progressive and classic heavy metal.
How difficult is to transfer this special atmosphere of your recordings on stage?
We simply believe what our songs talk about, so it’s not necessary for us to have some kind of “theatrical” presence on stage or any other special ability!
Let's move to another topic. Back in the days of your formation where you in touch with any Doom Metal bands from the Greek scene? I can recall some names like Helots, Stargazer, Laurel Path etc. Have you ever tried to come together with all those bands in order to create a more organised and complete "Greek Doom Metal Scene"?
We even ignored the existence of some of the names you mentioned! Ok, the times were different back then, but also, we as people never really liked superficial public relations! Certainly nowadays, with the expansion of the use of the internet, a lot has changed when it comes to the communication of the bands, but still building relations between people is always too hard to allow us to talk about “angelic” circumstances and organized scenes!
How difficult was the things for Sorrows Path in general as a band taking as a fact that Doom Metal was never the most popular genre not only in Greece but worldwide? If you are unique in what you are do or play then the criticism is different and sometimes harder, have you ever felt that way?
We are not interested in that. All we are interested in is expressing ourselves musically and ideologically. In other words we want to express ourselves through the totally free expression of our art!
As the years passing by have you noticed any changes as far as the Doom Metal scene in Greece (not only about the bands but about the fans as well). First of all do you think that we CAN talk about a Doom Metal SCENE in Greece? Are there any bands inside the Doom Metal that have something to offer in your opinion? After you finish your answer about Greece make a small comment about the worldwide Doom Scene, any new bands that you have listened to?
There are definitely more bands compared to the old days, and there are also some qualitative and hopeful looking bands, but we don’t think it would be right to refer to names! On the other hand, it is easy to understand that the bigger the quantity of bands and fans, the bigger the danger regarding their quality. When it comes to the world scene of doom, there are of course some new good bands, but we don’t think that, at least in what we call epic doom, they can even get close to the bands of the past! Possibly we are not the best to judge, since we also listen to many other kinds of music! When the time comes for us to express ourselves as musicians though, we only do so through Sorrows.
Have you ever heard about COTD (Circle Of True Doom)? What is your opinion about this movement?
There certainly are some innocent motives in this movement, but what we want in general are movements that bring people together and make them feel as if they all are one body. We don’t like anything that includes even the slightest hint of bitterness.
It is time for topic changing again. There is a theory that says in order to admire the real bright and happy moments of your life you have to walk your own Sorrows Path. You got to face your fears hidden deep inside you. You got to see the colour of the tears in your eyes. Only then you are capable enough to admire a real beauty the real happiness. Only then you got the power to separate the fake form the real. Do you agree or not?
We totally agree. Besides, the 2 most brilliant religions, which succeed in raising the human spirit in spheres that surpass its mortal existence, that is Christianity and Buddhism, are founded on this inescapable reality!
There is another theory that says that music is a strange gift that can be the most careful partner during the dark times. It can drive both the creator and the listener to a serious emotional breaking and with a strange way help them to share the same message no matter if the one have never met the other. Any comments on this?
What you just mentioned is the exact reason why Sorrows Path present their music and their philosophy to the public. You’ve said it all Chris!
Doom Metal is music for the soul. Do you agree or not?
Doom metal definitely is music for the soul. There are of course many other kinds of music that do the same. Doom metal, however certainly is the only kind of music that’s so close to the instinct of death and whatever this might mean for the personality, the psychology, the sexuality, the whole human existence. It is a highly metaphysical kind of music and the only one that can come in perfect connection with total perversion and challenge.
What kind of force helped Sorrows Path to go through all those difficult times?
Meeting with pain and sympathy. The highest feelings possible for the vain, vulnerable, human existence.
Ok we have (finally) reached the end. Close the interview as you like.
Thank you very much Chris. Doom rules eternally…
