Интервю с Lefteris (BIO-CANCER)

Interview with Lefteris (BIO-CANCER)

Satania: Hello, guys! You are a beloved band in Bulgaria, can it be said that you feel „in your own territory“ here?

Lefteris: 100% hell yeah! I think this will be our fifth time playing in Bulgaria and all previous visits were amazing. We are really glad that we are starting the new album shows in Sofia as this was the last stop of our previous tour back when we were promoting „Tormenting the Innocent“. Can’t wait to party… Balkan style!

Satania: What impresses you the most about Bulgaria and Bulgarian fans?

Lefteris: Well having played there bunch of times and basically crossing through the whole country on tours I can say that it’s a beautiful country. It sure have been through many hardships but the people are really enduring. As for the metal fans it’s no secret that they are fucking amazing! Even with small attendance shows their energy is really intoxicating and guaranteed. I remember playing there after we had a Central and Scandinavian Europe run and I was like: “ FINALLY we are back in the Balkans“ haha . Pretty sure I also said that during our set.

Satania: Your new album is released by Hammerheart Records. When did you sign with them, for how long, and what does this step mean for you as a band?

Lefteris: We singed with them for a couple of albums earlier this year. It’s really an important step for the band as it is a really respected label with deep knowledge and years of experience but far from being corporate and soulless leaches. Perfect combination for an underground band!

Satania: Tormenting the Innocent and Revengeance were released eight years apart. Why did it take you so long to release a new album?

Lefteris: To be honest we really took our time with the new record till we finally decide how we wanted it to sound like. We didn’t want to release the same record again and again so it was a slow process. You can add to the mix the whole COVID madness stuff Which basically put a stop in everything related with music and some uneven label delays and there you have it. The 8 year drought makes sense.Not that we are proud of it of course.

Satania: How does Revengeance differ from your other albums? Stylistically, lyrically, ideologically?

Lefteris: I’d like to believe that no record of ours is identical to the other and Revengeance couldn’t be an exemption. We always have a basic core around the Thrash/extreme metal moniker of course but at the same time we always try to evolve. We had a lot of time to experiment that’s why you can find elements of melodic death metal or even atmospheric parts which were absent on previous records.

Satania: Do you think that Thrash Metal has lived its time and what are the challenges for you as musicians to stay „on the crest of the wave“?

Lefteris: For sure the genre doesn’t have the same glare as it did 10 years ago. Especially from younger bands. I mean too many of them pursued more mainstream sound/image completely disregarding their past efforts. Of course we too changed our sound but it was on something even more extreme than before! I don’t think that we could play something completely different ever so we don’t bother much with current trends to be honest.

Satania: What were your personal inspirations that prompted you to start playing Thrash Metal?

Lefteris: Well Thrash metal always excited me because it can be really narrow with not much open mindness going on (musically) but still there is huge variety amongst specific scenes around the world . For example Bay area thrash compared to Teutonic sounds completely different! I always enjoyed the natural intensity of the genre too and the social/political issues that many bands dealt with.

Satania: How much of the new album will we hear on December 2nd?

Lefteris: Naturally a big portion of the show of course will be dedicated to Revengeance but as always we will perform tracks from our whole discography so we can guarantee an explosive show!

Satania: A bit of an atypical question, but are you familiar with the work of the Bulgarian bands you will be playing with and what do you think of them?

Lefteris: Well regarding Terravore we really go way back together so its a pleasure to have them on board! We were scheduled to play together for couple of shows in Europe back in 2018 I think but the whole thing was postponed so finally we’ll share the stage with them, awesome band and really nice guys too! I wasn’t aware of Certain Demise before they were announced but gave them a listen and it’s some serious death metal right there. I’m sure they will rip everyone’s head off!

Satania: You have toured many stages, what has been the most memorable show for you?

Lefteris: Probably the 2 shows we did in Japan are the most memorable for me. I never thought I’d visit that country let alone play in it so it was really special. The shows were awesome too, people were screaming the lyrics waving Greek flags and stuff like that. To see this kind of spectacle in the other side of the world is not something you can see every day.

Satania: Which band has been the greatest honor to share a stage with? Let’s say something like a dream come true.

Lefteris: Definitely when we were asked to join Voivod on their 35th anniversary European tour! I remember binging their records years and years ago before forming Bio-Cancer. Especially Killing Technology which I still listen to this day. I never have seen them live either so touring with them for 20 shows or so was just incredible. They also were super nice and humble guys so the whole thing went smoothly with no ego attitude at all.

Satania: Your greeting and message to Bulgarian fans! Thank you for the interview!

Lefteris: It’s been too long since our last show in your lands, hope you are as impatient as we are! Can’t wait to greet old friends and of course make new one’s!