Dutch Death metallers Sisters Of Suffocation have just released their third album Humans Are Broken and it is a huge slab of energetic and powerful metal. We had a chat with vocalist Els Prins about the album and how the recording went as well as speaking out on sexism, the bands history and influences, Metal from Holland and favourite death metal albums.
You have recently released your new album Humans Are Broken. How did the creation of the album go?
We all worked very hard on the songs and it was a pretty stressful. All the instruments were recorded in different locations in a short period of time. We all took some needed time to relax after recording but are very proud of what we made.
What does the title of the album refer to?
The album speaks about our views of important topics. We wanted to speak up and use our voice to spread messages that are important for us. One of the topics is that the meat- and dairy industry is causing a lot of environmental devastation. We don’t understand that people would still support that industry with all the knowledge that is out there. In our opinion humans are pretty much broken.
What inspired the lyrics on Humans Are Broken?
As I said in the last question, the song Humans Are Broken is about the consumption of animal products. It’s about how the meat- and dairy industry is destroying the earth and torturing animals. The rest of the songs are about other hot topics. It’s mostly critical on our society.
What has the reaction to the album been like?
It has been great. We’ve got loads of positive reviews and our fans really love it. It’s amazing since we also really believe in this album. It’s great that other people agree with it.
Do you have a favourite song on the album so far?
My favorite is Little Shits. Mostly because it was really important to us to speak out about sexism. It’s a real thing, it exists and it’s horrible. I’m done white people sweeping it under the rug and say it’s not a real thing. I talk with a lot of females in other metal bands. Since there are not a lot of us, most of us know each other and are in contact. All these women experience the same thing. It is important to talk about. We wanted to defend ourselves and speak up in a creative way.
How did the recent release shows for Humans Are Broken go?
The release shows were great. A lot of people came to see it and the support was awesome. I appreciate everybody that supports us, it’s wonderful. We love playing the new songs.
Will you be heading out on the road in support of the new album?
We are currently busy with booking new shows.
Will you be playing any festivals in the summer?
We will play Amplified Open Air and Metal On The Hill!
What has been your favourite festival to play and why?
It’s a hard choice. I love festivals so much. I’ve been to loads of festivals as a visitor and just really love the atmosphere of most festivals. I think Antwerp Metal Fest is one of our all time favorites. They take great care of their bands, are really nice and have amazing visitors. All positive vibes!
What can fans who have never seen you before, expect from a Sisters Of Suffocation live show?
Loads of Death Metal, headbanging and silly jokes from me.
Who would you love to tour or play a show with in the future?
I don’t care. I just want to play. There are loads of bands that I admire and would love to join the stage with. It’s hard to pick one. I would love to tour with other Death Metal bands.
What’s the best metal gig you’ve ever been to?
That’s a hard question haha. I’ve been to a lot of shows. I always love Vader, Obituary and At The Gates live. They are great bands. There are a lot of bands that come to mind. I am not able to pick one!
How did Sisters Of Suffocation get together in the first place?
I wanted to play in a band with other girls. When I was a little kid I really loved The Runaways and wanted to do something similar. When I met our guitarist, Simone, we talked about it and decided to form a Death Metal band with only girls. That’s how it all started.
What have been some of the highlights of your musical career so far?
Getting to work with our previous manager, Bidi. Unfortunately he passed away and we miss him a lot. Doing our first festival season was pretty amazing. Loads of people came to watch us. I also loved seeing our first big que at our signing session. That stuff feels surreal. It is also amazing to talk to girls/women that feel inspired by us. It makes me feel like I’m actually doing something useful to other people.
What is the extreme music scene like in Holland at the moment?
It’s good. There are a lot of people that like extreme music. It’s hard for me to compare it because I haven’t been to a lot of different countries.
Are there any bands you could recommend for us to check out?
People probably know most bands that I will recommend haha. I love Nervosa, they are amazing musicians and great people. My favorite bands are Gorefest, At The Gates and Bloodbath. People should also check out the band of our producer, Furia.
Who are some of your all time favourite Dutch metal bands?
Gorefest and Asphyx are great!
What music are you currently listening to?
I play in 2 metal bands so I am around metal most of the time. In my free time I usually don’t listen to a lot of metal at the moment. I’m currently listening to a lot of Keaton Henson, AURORA and Fleetwood Mac.
What are your favourite metal albums of all time?
Gorefest – Erase
At The Gates – Slaughter Of The Soul
Bloodbath – Nightmares Made Flesh
Cattle Decapitation – Monolith Of Inhumanity
Carcass – Heartwork
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