Please note that these questions were sent via e-mail a while ago, prior to the recent line-up change in the band. This is why some questions asked don't seem to fit the current circumstances Sinister faced upon answering the questions in a response e-mail. Thank you.
| Hello, Aad. Thank you very much for taking the time out to sit down with me. I know right now has been a busy period for Sinister. How have you been since Legacy of Ashes dropped, and what's going on with the band at this point? |
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Aad:
After the CD we were active for some time. But then the musicians stopped and the band felt apart. I am the only one left but I have already a complete new line-up together. We are also now a five-piece band and I am really happy about that. We are now working to learn all the old stuff for the live shows. There are also two new tracks ready for the new record that will get the name The Carnage Ending!
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| Has there ever been any thought in your mind that you'd still be waking up to this day to still find Sinister active? |
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Aad:
*Laughs* As long I have fun doing this i will go on with Sinister. There is nobody how will say to me when will you stop playing with the band because you guys are already so long around.
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| How would you describe the band's musical growth and maturing since the group first started up to the point of your latest album, Legacy of Ashes? |
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Aad:
Alot. Really alot but that is normal I think when you do this over 20 years. When you will not get better there is a problem. But, as always there will be people saying your first record is the best. Okay cool, than we did something good from the start.
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| Legacy of Ashes dropped in December of 2010, and it's now the end of march, beginning of April pending when you get these questions. What is the band currently working on? Is Sinister currently touring? If not, is the band actively doing anything productive for the band like gearing up for more dates or already coming up with material for the next release? |
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Aad:
As i told you before, I am now working on the old tracks with four new members and that takes some time. In the same time we are working on new tracks. Two are ready and they are fucking brutal. Of course we try to complete the set fast as possible so we can start playing live shows again.
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| I see you guys are gearing up for some festivals. How excited is the
band about these upcoming shows, and is there a specific festival Sinister, as a band, is anxious to play and why? |
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Aad:
I am really sad that we have to cancel alot of gigs because of the band split up, but what can I do about this? Nothing right? I only can do my best to come back soon with the new guys and unleash some sinister brutality again.
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| What does the set list look like for these festivals? Sticking mostly
to the songs that the fans really enjoyed throughout the years, or are there plans to push some newer material? |
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Aad:
We had a great set list with songs from every record so that everybody will be pleased to hear something they really like. But, now with the new line-up, the set list will look different than before.
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| Given how many releases Sinist has put out, is hard to sit down and actually come up with a track list that the band is happy with and thinks the fans will be satisfied with? |
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Aad:
Yes we had always problems with this. Fans like to hear different stuff than that the band like to play. So, then you have to find out what is good for the band and fans so everybody is happy.
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| Are there any plans for Sinister to come back to the States anytime
soon? Or is that something that won't really be happening anytime in the near future? |
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Aad:
When we are ready to start playing live again with the new line-up, then we like to come right away *Laughs* That will be so great to come back to the States and play some killer shows. Hope it will happen soon again.
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| Given how long the band has been around, is it easy for the group to write new material? Say, maybe the band is stuck in the same kind of musical state of mind where the material comes quickly and naturally? Or is it a struggle at this point to try to keep the material fresh and challenging to the listener? |
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Aad:
You like to try something new sometimes but, of course, it always have to sound like Sinister. It's not easy to come with new music but I think we are doing ok with this. Now I have two new guitar players in my band, new material will be no proble at all. They can not wait to start creating new Sinister tracks. And what I said we have already two new ones. This new record will be of course Sinister, but maybe also a bit different because you have new members in the band. But, that it will be fucking brutal that is for sure.
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| What was the writing process for Legacy of Ashes like? Were there
any problems, or anything you guys did that was kind of out of the ordinary for the group? |
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Aad:
At that time Alex came with ideas to the practice room for a track and from there we worked everything out to a track that everybody was happy with.
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| Are you guys happy with the way Legacy of Ashes turned out? If not,
is there anything you look back at now and wish you did differently? |
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Aad:
Yes man, we were really happy with the end result. The only thing was maybe the drum sound. I think this can be better next time, and for sure this will also happen *laughs* believe me.
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| The last Sinister DVD was back in 2006. Is the band interested in putting out another DVD at any time? |
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Aad:
Maybe? But when this will happen than it will be for sure after our next record, not sooner.
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| The Prophecies Denied DVD seemed to be fixated on the live performance. Did that show have a special set list specifically for the DVD, or did the fact that the performance was being recorded affect the performance such as any mistakes or more energetic performances then normal? |
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Aad:
What you see is what you get *Laughs*. We had no special set for this. We played the set that we had for that year and with that set was nothing wrong it was a good one.
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| Did it feel natural for the band on stage even knowing that the cameras were recording the live performance? |
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Aad:
No *Laughs* I was feeling different than normal. You know the will shoot this dvd and than you even whant to play better than normal! *Laughs* But, at the end, every was cool.
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| Sinister also has a discography box set coming out through Metal Mind, the Altered Since Birth box set. I've spent some time with it as of now, and I gotta say, it's a great collection. What are your feelings about this collection, are you pleased the label put it together, or are you against it? |
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Aad:
I am so happy with this box. Its so great when you see your own Sinister CD box collection! Proud like a child *Laughs*. This idea came from Metal Mind Produtions and, of course, I said yes. I dont know or you already saw this, but it looks fucking great with a booklet in it from almost one hundred pages.
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| The CDs in this set are digitally remastered. So far I'm finding some sound great remastered, while others don't really seem to benefit the album. What are your thoughts on the label doing this to your releases? |
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Aad:
What can i have against it? Its great that they like to do this for us. No I am only super positive about this.
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| For much of your career, Sinister has been signed to Nuclear Blast, and with the past two releases have had a home with Massacre. Has the change in record label changed the way the band handles anything such as the recording or
writing process, or even touring? |
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Aad:
No everything stayed the same for Sinister When you are speaking about playing live gigs or recording new records. I am in good contact with Massacre Records and [there are] times when it's important they are always there and that is really cool.
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| Have they been very supportive of you guys, especially when it comes
to funding shows? |
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Aad:
For live gigs we are by the agency Blastcorpse from Germany. Massacre is really for bringing out the record and the promotion.
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| Is this going to be your home for a good while, or is the contract you have with them not that extensive? Or, do you think Sinister might call it quits before that day ever comes where you'd be looking at being without a label again? |
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Aad:
Why everytime speaking about stop playing? We shall see what the future will bring for Sinister. for now we are still hungry for playing and recording and I hope we can do this by Massacre records.
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| In all the time the band has existed, do you think the band has accomplished all that it could, or is there still more Sinister could do, or you would like to do with Sinister over the coming years? |
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Aad:
I am already proud what I did with Sinister. Making records, travelling the world, making people happy with my music... Can i ask for more? No!
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| What do you think about the fan reaction to Legacy of Ashes, or just the band in general as of late? |
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Aad:
The reactions were absolutely killer about Legacy of Ashes! Everybody was saying this is back to the old Sinister and that is fucking great. That is killer to hear, but on the first place I make music for my self and I have to be pleased on the first place with a new record from Sinister. But, of course, I am happy to hear when they say its great.
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| Do you think the fan reception to Sinister and your releases has changed for the better or for the worse over the years? |
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Aad:
That is by every record different. But as you know you can not make everybody happy with your music. It's all a matter of taste right?
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| Sinister is coming up on the 25th anniversary. Are there any special
plans the band has in mind for it? |
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Aad:
For now I can not say this because I am now only focused to get the band ready again for live shows. When i have this behind me, I will think about it.
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| How much longer do you see Sinister going on for? Is there an actual end planned, or are you going to keep going until you physically can't anymore? |
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Aad:
When i have no fun anymore, or when my body will say to me S! When this will not happen i go on as long as i can.
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| I'd like to thank you for the time, and the honor of being able to ask you these questions. I wish you guys the best of luck with all your future endeavors, and hopefully we'll see you guys here in the States at some point soon. Take care. |
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Aad:
No problem at all, and Hail the beast !!!!!!
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