Ever thought Greece seemed like a nice place to be? The Sullen probably shouldn’t be on the tourism board to ensure you visit.
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
I’m from lovely-to-visit-but-not-to-live-in Athens, Greece.
How did you meet?
I assume at birth, although many great thinkers believe that finding yourself is definitely not as simple as that, and I tend to agree.
How long have you been playing as a band?
The project was conceived at late 2018, so that makes… 4? 5 months? Wow, already.
Before you get sick of being asked… where does the band name come from?
The Sullen is, I believe, a very good word to describe the faces you meet in your everyday life in a city like Athens. Unhappy, emotionless, apathetic… Sullen.
What are your influences?
A great deal of the older days of bands like Paradise Lost, Katatonia and My Dying Bride, along with bands that I’ve recently grown to love like Tribulation, and Primordial as well as bands that go well beyond that spectrum like A Day to Remember and Saosin (believe me it’s there, albeit not very obvious).
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
Well, it is a mixture of the genres I love: death-doom metal, melodic black metal, occult rock and other. You will find harder parts and blast beats as well as melodic passages and (sort-of) choruses. Unique? The set of influences, the odd structures paired with mainstream-sounding riffs and melodies.
Do you have any particular lyrical themes?
Dealing with the shit life’s giving you. Other than that, concepts like the ancient Greek tragedies, the cycle of life, death and rebirth are all themes that interest me a lot and for which I want to talk about.
What’s your live show like? How many shows have you played?
So far we haven’t played any shows, so they are probably not like anything anyone has ever seen.
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?
Ever seen a show of Mortal Torment? They’re a brutal death metal band from Athens, and each show of theirs is a marvel to behold. You can find the most seemingly un-metal things (inflatable donuts, girly lace dresses, Borat swimsuits etc) being used and thrown around while listening to blast beats and guttural growls being performed excellently. You want crazy (but not the mental asylum type)? The dudes definitely got it.
What kit do you use / guitars do you play / etc.?
I use a guitar I made myself, a cheap Ibanez bass and the rest is all simulations.
What, if anything, are you plugging/promoting at the moment?
“For Strange Times Ahead”, our first single. And there’s more to come in the following months of course!
What are your plans for 2019?
Basically to prepare everything for the full length album. Songs, lyrics, artwork etc. Also to find the right people to start rehearsing with. Hopefully late 2019 will find “The Sullen” ready to release a debut album and start gigging.
If you were second on a three-band bill, which band would you love to be supporting and which band would you choose to open for you? A chance to plug someone you’ve toured with, or a mate’s band we’ve not heard of before!
Without question Tribulation is the band I’d love to be supporting. And I’d love to do so along with Mistveil.
The Sullen: facebook | youtube
