1.Hello please introduce yourselves to the readers?
Hello! We’re Blutsauger, apocalyptic black metal band hailing from the north-east part of Italy. I’m H. Škrat (guitar, bass and vocals) and with me there’s Hörske (guitar).
2.When did you first discover Black Metal and what is it that has kept you here all of these years?
I think it was in 2002 when I’ve been introduced to bands like Marduk and Cradle Of Filth. I was a teenager with no internet and no money so the only way for me to discover new bands was asking friends if they had something new for me. Later I discovered hundreds of bands of course. And it fascinated me for the same reason that it keeps me here, after more than 20 years: variety. There are LOTS of ways to play black metal, lots of different styles. And variety is something I always look for, especially in a record.
3.Who were the first bands that you discovered?Who are some of the current bands that you have been listening to?
Yes as I said Marduk and Cradle Of Filth were the first ones and I still listen to them. Marduk is still one of my favourites along with old Gorgoroth, Impaled Nazarene, old Mayhem, Absu, Nifelheim…
4.Blutsauger was started in 2021 what gave you two the idea to start this band?Are you satisfied with how things have gone so far with the band?
I created Blutsauger a few months after my old thrash metal band Nuclear Aggressor broke up; I needed to express the most perverse, chaotic, and nihilistic side of my personality. In the beginning, I was thinking like “well, I will just do a demo, sell it to friends and then stop.” But later, when I had the chance to bring this creature on stage, I thought that I could continue, and started thinking about a new EP...that became the first album “Nocturnal Blood Tyrants
5.Who would you say are the bands biggest influences?For the readers unfamilar with Blutsauger how would you best describe the bands musicial style?
I can say my favourite bands I was talking before are the main influences. I started Blutsauger with the same attitude of Nuclear Aggressor, so there’s a big thrash metal influence in it, along with the thrash bands I always loved, like Destruction, Sodom, Kreator, Morbid Saint, and so on. Last but not least I’d say that MANOWAR had a big influence...especially in lyrics and in the bass parts and sound. About our style: it’s dark, filthy and brutal. No blast beats, no fancy stuff, raw production and 80s/90s black metal sound and attitude.
6.Nocturnal Blood Tyrants is the debut full length how long did it take to write the music for the full length?Do you both take part in the writing process or does one member usually write everything?
The first songs have been composed in the beginning of 2023, just because we had the debut gig coming up and I needed more songs to fill the setlist. So it took like 2 years to have everything complete and ready. I wrote most of the riffs and lyrics but my band-mate Hörske brought a lot of riffs and ideas; so yes, we both took part in the process.
7.Where does the band draw inspiration for the lyrics and what are some topics written about on the debut?Which usually comes first the music or the lyrics?
Mostly visions and metaphores of the modern world. One of the topics that I brought in the beginning was the attitude of the human being when there’s no law, no punishment and no morals...and the beast he keeps inside is free to crawl out. This is the main topic that inspires me, but there are some songs that have different topics, in the album. As I said before, I like variety in music.
Usually I jam in my studio, record the riffs, and then I start to think about the topic and the title, inspired by the music itself.
8.As mentioned Blutsauger is a two man band would you like to add more members to form a full line up or do you prefer working as a duo?
Yes I started this as a one-man band, then Aasimar joined a few months later (then she left in the beginning of 2025). Hörske started giving me riffs and ideas a couple years ago, then became officially a member of the band a few months later, but he doesn’t play live because he’s not ready yet. And I’m happy with this situation, actually. I have two live members that help me to bring this creature on stage, exceptional musicians and GREAT friends. We do rehearsals just before the shows so there’s no pressure, no stress, and I have more time to compose and record new stuff.
9.What does Black Metal mean to you?
Black metal for me is the antithesis of the modern world, done with its own tools, and the reflection of the inner beast we all have inside; and it’s not a musicial genre, it’s an attitude.
10.Blutsauger comes out of Italy's black metal scene what is your opinion of the scene in Italy over the years?
Well...I’ve always been very critical about the italian scene, I can say there are a few bands that are very talented and they make great music, but most of the bands are just made by posers and attention-whores. Luckily they have short life, most of the time. And about the audience, there are still the die-hard fans, those who really have passion for music without following trends.
11.Who are your all time favorite bands coming out of Italy.And are their any new bands you could recomend to the readers?
My favourites italian metal bands...I could say Death SS, Necrodeath, Bulldozer, Schizo..the old guard. Italian black metal bands I’d say Malvento, Spite Extreme Wing, Torke, and surely I forget someone else. New bands I’d recommend… absolutely Unviâr, if you like atmospheric black metal. They should release their debut album by the next winter solstice
12.Besides working in Blutsauger do either of you work with other bands or solo projects? If yes please tell the readers a little about them?
Actually I’m also a member of other two black metal bands; I play guitar with Aganis (black/heavy metal sung in italian) and I sing with Akroterion (old school black/doom metal).
13.Thank you for taking the time to fill out this interview do you have any final words for the readers?
Thanks to you! I want to thank Diego of ATMF/De Tenebrarum Principio for believing in us! For the readers? Just listen to our music (the loudest possible) and buy the record if you like it. Blutsauger https://blutsauger.bandcamp.com/album/path-of-the-bleeding-dead https://www.facebook.com/blutsaugerkult ATMF https://atmf.net/ https://atmfsssdtp.bandcamp.com/album/nocturnal-blood-tyrants https://www.facebook.com/aeternitas.tenebrarum https://www.instagram.com/atmf.official/
