The world’s doom community might be small but nice and never cares for trends and charts. The atmosphere this special kind of music creates and the delight in slowness is what the fans are focusing on, especially, when it all sounds so beautifully heavy ;)
Despite of its niche existence regarding its market potential and the couple of bands that already exist for ages, now and then new groups pop up and give new impulses to this genre. One of these new but in the meantime established bands is FORSAKEN from Malta. Over the last years they gained a good reputation with their releases, skillfully combining classic doom with other metal elements and create a well-done composition of tradition and modern spirit that actually deserves more popularity! Most of all the last record entitled Dominaeon I’d like to warmly recommend. Not only for doom fans, also for anybody else into classic metal.
In 2006 FORSAKEN celebrate their 15th anniversary, one more reason to talk with singer Leo Stivala about the band, the anniversary and future plans…

Forsaken

Psycho: Let me first say: Congratulations to your 15th anniversary!
How would you like to describe your development as a band from the day of formation up to now? How did things change?
Leo: Thanks for the comment. Yes definitely there has been total improvement from the band as a whole and also individually. When we formed up we always wanted to promote our music locally and abroad. We started out and continued as a consistent live band. From the first days we never looked back and I can say that our history was always an uphill struggle. When we released the first Requiem demo I remember sending a lot of tapes to fanzines and magazines around to globe. The response was very positive and this encouraged us to start contacting labels and Arkham Prods from France offered us a 7” deal and further on Virtues Of Sanctity was released. Moreover Arkham organized a tour around France and Spain for us and this gave us the first opportunity for us to play abroad. Until this time the band also had member changes especially in the guitar department. Our first keyboardist Cay left and was replaced by Daniel Magri on guitars and Kevin our first guitarist was replaced by Sean Vukovic our present guitarist. I, Albert (bass) and Simeon (Drums) have been in FORSAKEN from the first days. Until the 7” FORSAKEN played more epic doom stuff and then we started to experiment with more groovy style of doom, mixed with traditional heavy metal. The band was still in a multi directional state. Then we signed for a 1 album deal with Maltese label Storm Records and our first full length album was released in 1996. As you can see the changes in the band were rather hectic in those days and after the Evermore release, due to various reasons, we split the band for nearly six months, and reunited the band with a clear direction to concentrate more on going back to the roots and play epic doom metal. We also got in Mario on keyboards and started writing new tracks and started playing locally on stage again. Unfortunately the band was dealt a huge blow when Daniel was diagnosed with cancer and we concentrated more on supporting him than on playing although we did record a Black Sabbath cover version of Neon Knights which was released on a compilation released by an American label called Midwest metal records. Sadly enough Daniel passed away in January 2001. There was again a feeling of giving up but gave it a last chance by recording the 2002 demo which was exclusively sent to labels in order to get a proper deal for the band. This resulted in signing with Golden Lake Productions who released the Iconoclast mini CD. Things started to look brighter for the band from there on. We played at the first Doom Shall Rise Festival in Germany and Golden Lake wanted to sign a full album deal with us. In 2004 Anima Mundi was released and we also played at the Headbangers Open Festival in Germany. Golden Lake again offered us a two album deal and Domineaon was released in November 2005 followed by a performance at Keep It True festival. Immortal Vinyl from Germany has also released all our releases on DLP format. So to the present day I can say that these last five years were the best ever for FORSAKEN consistently seeing the band on the forefront of the global doom metal scene.

Psycho: To my knowledge you are the one and only metal band in Malta… What brought you to do metal? Are you sort of exotics? If yes, how to deal with that (world and home country)?
Leo: We were always fans ourselves. I remember watching Albert play with his first bands Kremation and Vandals. We all had passion for metal from a young age and our dream always was to have a band and show our music abroad not only locally. No were are not exotics we are Mediterranean people having a European/Mediterranean culture similar to countries like Greece, Sicily, Italy, Spain. Cyprus etc. Being from Malta can cause some curiosity from foreign metal fans and this can help the band as regards to recognition. On the other hand it can be problematic as regards to sending promotional material abroad because postage costs are high here and also to travel the expenses are high considering our isolated geographical position in Europe. Locally the scene is small compared to other European countries and you can only sell a restricted amount of your merchandise.
We have a very healthy metal scene here in Malta and bands are popping out frequently with enthusiasm to play live and show there capabilities abroad.

Psycho: Are there other bands from Malta metal heads should definitely check out?
Leo: As regards to Doom Metal bands there aren’t any bands who this genre other than us. There are Weeping Silence who play atmospheric Metal ala MDB and Within Temptation featuring our ex keyboardist Mario on guitar. They are now signed to a Greek label. There debut album should be released soon. Loathe and Slit are two Maltese Thrash metal bands who are working hard and have played abroad and released albums which have been received very good reviews. Beheaded is a death/grind Maltese band that also has toured extensively abroad and played some of the best festivals in their genre. On the power metal front we have a band called Angelcrypt who are also trying their best to gain recognition abroad.

Psycho: In last year’s fall I was visiting Malta. I loved to be there but a metal scene I couldn’t spot. At least not being masqueraded as a tourist… *g* Is there any? Are there clubs where you can play (and recommend), related shops, pubs and bars?
Leo: As I told you we have a good metal scene. The scene nowadays is more fragmented. People go to watch bands that play the style they are into. Yes we have a couple of rock clubs who are accepting metal gigs like Luxol Club. This is a very good venue which can hold up to 500 people easily. There is the Poxx Bar in Paceville in which we shall be playing in the 16th December and then there’s a very small club called Remedy. As regards to shops there a record store in Valletta which brings all kind of stuff including Metal but I believe that the majority of the Maltese metal heads prefer to buy from the internet.

Psycho: For many internationally working bands the own CD sales in the home country are an important source of income to cover running costs. Not to mention about gaining… I imagine that as a difficult task regarding the population figure in Malta…
Leo: Yes definitely, selling our own releases and increasing items of merchandise is important to cover the recording costs which are extremely high. Gaining was never our issue as a band. If it was, than the band would be already dead because we never saw any profits. For us the most important thing is that at least we break even with the recording expenses. The metal scene here is small compared to foreign scenes and people who like more extreme brands of scene think twice before buying our releases. But we manage to sell 200 copies of each release and also some vinyl and t-shirts. We also manage to earn some extra money from gigs.

Psycho: On your latest album Dominaeon you worked with a choir from Mosta. How you got together? Were there provisos coz of being just noise… erm… metal (and assumed Satanists)?
Leo: After the Anima Mundi recordings, David from Templestudios suggested that we should try to include a real male choir in one of our future songs to add more to the epic feeling of the band. Once we started the composition process of the album, one of the first tracks we wrote was Obsidian Dreams. Albert (bass) wrote this riff for the chorus with the choir idea mind. We again talked with David and he contacted the St. Monica choir to see if they would be interested in doing this thing. We went to the St. Monica Sister’s convent in Mosta and started discussing what we wanted. They wanted the lyrics to see what we write about, in the beginning stages of this choir thing we were a bit afraid that they would give us a Satanist print but on the contrary they were very open to our music and ideas. So we agreed on payment and rehearsal. The choir was made of 4 males and 4 male tenors. Sean wrote the music lines for them for both Obsidian Dreams and The Celestial Alchemist and after a couple of rehearsals they were prepared for the recording. The choir recording process was a very difficult task. It took nearly 8 hours to finish not including the editing and mixing needed afterwards but we are very happy with the final result.

Psycho: Are you planning other collaborations with classic musicians and other musical styles?
Leo: Until now we have no plans for something in that vein but God only knows what we will come up with while writing future material.

Psycho: What’s your actual state of affair? Do you already working on new stuff? If so, what to tell about?
Leo: Unfortunately Golden Lake Productions have closed shop so we ended up without a label behind us but immediately we started to work on this and we already have received positive replies from labels who are willing to sign the band. We are in the middle of negotiations right now. Hopefully we shall finalize soon. In the meantime we are working on new stuff. We already have three full finished tracks. All they need is tightness and they will be ready for recording. We shall be playing locally live on stage this month, in January and March. But obviously our most important aim right now is to sign for the next album.

Psycho: Do you see yourself as pure doom band or is there other stylistics that influence and form you generally?
Leo: Yes I believe we are a pure epic doom band especially in the Dominaeon album but other styles of metal are of an influence on us like traditional heavy metal, old school power metal and early thrash.

Psycho: What about the line-up situation? Will you go on as a four-piece or are you seeking a keyboarder and maybe an additional guitarist?
Leo: Our present line up consists of myself on vocals, Sean Vukovic on guitars, Albert Bell on bass and Simeon Gatt on drums. When Mario quit from the band we had an underlying idea of getting a second guitarist but it would have been problematic for us to teach him our backlog of material in the only one rehearsal we do every week. And Sean is doing a great job by himself, so we shall remain a four piece for the time being.

Psycho: What about your tour plans?
Leo: There is no touring planned but we are confirmed at the Elements Of Rock Festival in Switzerland on the 21st and 22nd April 2007 and a week after we shall be flying to Germany to play for the second time at the Doom Shall Rise Festival. We are very enthusiastic and looking forward to play abroad again and this time in two different countries (it’s our first time playing in Switzerland).

Psycho: Heading out for shows, what is essential to deliver a great gig? (except all that equipment stuff)
Leo: Obviously having the ideal equipment is very important but rehearsing seriously for musical tightness is also important to deliver a great gig. On the other hand I strongly believe that the attitude on stage is the most important thing. Heavy metal is a music which is best delivered on stage and being able to transmit your energy to the crowd is essential. If you give all you got to the crowd, the crowd will return this to the band and this will be the best gig you can do.

Psycho: With whom you’d like to share the stage before you chuck in as a band?
Leo: Hmm……. This can be tough. This is my opinion. I don’t know how the other band members would answer this one. So here it goes:
Black Sabbath / Heaven And Hell
Candlemass
Trouble
Solitude Aeturnus (although I have already experienced this with Reflection)
Pagan Altar
Solstice
Pentagram
Venom
Judas Priest
Mercyful Fate

Psycho: Malta, being the number 3 (at least I think so) at the last year’s Eurovision Song Contest, had to accept a harsh defeat this year, while a rock/metal band (Lordi) won the contest. Doesn’t it argue for an application in 2007 for your part?
Leo: What??? Are you joking man???? No FORSAKEN was never and shall never be a Eurovision band.
Yes Malta ended in a disastrous last place this year. My wife is more interested in the Eurovision than I am but this year I took some interest because of Lordi. Although I was disappointed with Malta coming last I was very happy for Lordi winning the contest. This showed that Heavy Metal is a strong musical force in Europe and I also voted for Lordi.

Psycho: In the meantime many bands sing in their native language, something that internationally was in fact impossible in earlier days. Is that an option for you too?
Leo: Till now we have only written songs in English. I don’t know if we will ever write a song in Maltese… I think it would sound a bit strange but again I cannot predict the future and ideas can pop in our heads and write a song in Maltese. Who knows???

Psycho: Leo, what would you do if Leif Edling calls you offering the vacant singer position in Candlemass?
Leo: He he... This one is tricky… Now that Messiah left again and they are looking for auditions. I was urged by some people to send my application and it would be more than dreams come true for me to front one of my all time favourite bands. But in all honesty I believe Candlemass deserve a person who can give his utmost dedication to the band and be able to tour for long periods of time which I definitely cannot do with my work conditions here in Malta and other familiar commitments in my life.

Psycho: What about your homepage. It actually contains a band photo… When fans will get more info and content?
Leo: Yes you are right about this and on behalf of the band I want to apologize for this lack of update in our site. According to Albert the new fully updated website shall be online soon. All that is left is some final designs which are not up to us but up to the web master. But the website shall be online really soon. In the meantime all interested can check out the FORSAKEN and my MySpace site for news etc and also a fan web site. Here are the URL’s:
http://www.silencesoloud.com/forsaken.html
www.myspace.com/leostivala
www.myspace.com/forsakenmalta

Psycho: Actually living on an isle: name 3 essential albums… ;)
Leo: Still this is very hard:
All FORSAKEN albums
Black Sabbath – Black Sabbath
Candlemass – Nightfall
Trouble – Trouble

Psycho: Ok, I’m now at the end of my questionnaire. Anything else that still needs to be said? Your last words…
Leo: Thanks Psycho for the interesting and very insightful interview. I was fun answering it and sorry again for answering it a bit late. Mega-thanks also for your interest and support to FORSAKEN.
I urge all the readers of Nocturnal Hall to keep the flame of metal burning inside their souls and believe in their dreams. If anyone wants to contact us for anything they can freely write to me on leostivala@yahoo.com or Albert on albertbell@rocketmail.com . Get our releases and play them loud.
Eternal Doomed Hails to Everyone.

Psycho: Thank you very much for spending time answering all these questions. Hope to see ya one day performing live anywhere around in Germany. Cheers!
 

12/2006© Michael Cichocki • Forsaken •