Lost Soul

interview by - Wouter Roemers

Four years after the highly acclaimed "Chaostream" Wrocław-based Lost Soul is finally back. With a spectacular new record "Immerse In Infinity" released through Witching Hour Productions the band is now at the height of its power. This new album a big step forward and will cement Lost Soul's position as one of Poland's best and most underrated death metal acts. Masterful Magazine talked with Lost Soul vocalist/guitarist and lyricist Jacek Grecki about the creation and inspirations of this new album, how the new line-up came to be and how the past has shaped this band's future.

Hello Jacek! Thanks for doing this interview with us! So how does it feel to have Lost Soul back up and running and a new album, "Immerse In Infinity" to promote?

Hi, what's up? I am really very excited about it. I managed to invite really great people and great musicians to my band. We have just done our first gigs with the new line up. We played Warsaw and Katowice with Marduk and Vader. The fans are awesome, the reception is great. The shows were video recorded and people showed they really enjoyed it. This was a comeback I'd dreamed about. Speaking of Witching Hour promotion - it is way better and more efficient than Earache itself. With a hindsight I believe it was a good choice. Our album will not get lost in a music store among other CD's. We're really proud of "Immerse in Infinity", and the Witching Hour deal is just what we wanted.

You've recently signed a two album deal with Polish label Witching Hour Productions. This new record "Immerse In Infinity" is the result of that new cooperation. In the past you've worked with Empire Records, Osmose Productions and Earache/Wicked World Records. In what ways is the deal with Witching Hour Productions more beneficial for Lost Soul than past recording contracts?

"Immerse in Infinity" will be released as an exclusive digipack, we're just shooting our first video. We've got perfect conditions, Witching Hour makes us feel really important band on the label. It has never been like this before. Until now we've always been far beyond flagship bands of labels, Vader and Decapitated to mention few. But I personally believe my band deserves the top position. Now, we've reached the position we've always wanted. Witching Hour does really best to promote the band. They have got perfect know-how of the business. They are the best in most ways - with marketing, public relations and our relationship is just perfect. Advertising of the album looks just like it should. We have got really high hopes and I believe the fans will appreciate of the new CD. I deeply trust the good times for Lost Souls have just come. I believe people will love "Immerse in Infinity" - the album feels great to me, it's full of fresh ideas and arrangements and most importantly - original lyrics. The album makes an integrate, perfect whole. It's still extreme music, but with a dose of anxiety and underlying beauty. I truly believe Beethoven himself would headbang to it!

Let's go back in the past a bit now. "Ubermensch (Death Of God)" is recorded in Wroclaw at Tower Studio in 2002. It is released in Poland on Empire Records soon after. In support of the album Lost Soul play a 10 concert trek as part of the Thrash'em All Festival tour, together with Monstrosity and Vomitory. In 2003 the album is released worldwide through Osmose Productions and the band partakes in the prestigious Metalmania Festival alongside Samael and Vader.

Those were the times Lost Soul was just taking shape. Musically it was great, but it still lacked the impeccable rendition of our musical concepts to make us a top band. I think the lack of a good band manager was somehow also influential for us not getting the top critical attention we, as I believe it, really deserved then. Now I can easily feel I'm among the best death metal acts. Most of them are our friends - Nile, Vader, Rotting Christ, Krisiun, Vital Remains. I really look forward to touring with them again.

"Ubermensch (Death Of God)" had abstract and esoteric lyrics mainly penned by Adam Sierżęga (drums) and Krzysztof Artur Zagorowicz (bass). All music was written by you, were lyrics less of a concern for you, at that time?

Touring with Vader made me think of many things which could have been improved in the band. I could observe what a professional band should look like. Now I know that I should have written lyrics and stand up to being a true, absolute frontman. This could much improve Lost Soul's sound. I made a few mistakes, but since the hiatus in 2006 I improved everything more than I could have expected. "Immerse in Infinity" and the band's performance can easily serve as a proof. I do appreciate former members' input to the band, but it just didn't work that way. Once again, I made some mistakes and openly admit them (which some people find hard to do). Now the band is great and I believe we'll conquer the world!

2004 sees the recording of the critically acclaimed "Chaostream" at Hertz Studios in Białystok by yourself and then drummer Adam Sierżęga. It is released through Empire Records in Poland and Earache/Wicked World Records worldwide. Once again the music was written by you and the lyrics penned by Adam Sierżęga. What made Sierżęga and yourself such a good writing team in that period of the band's existence?

Definitely not. Songwriting is primarily my job. If I had written lyrics back then, Lost Soul would have sounded much better, I believe. However, the band just didn't work with two leaders. Adam was back then much fascinated with old ideas, some crap for people with lots of hang-ups like Thelema, Nietzsche, Parsons or Crowley. It's just the same bullshit like the Bible, St. John, Koran and whatever else. To me, the human himself, and the power and truth it holds, is what really matters. Integrity. To me the word "LAW" is just confinement in its very form. It's contradictory to human will, as simple as that. I oppose to all "adversaries". As I see it, people who find themselves anti-religious and create communities simply show inferiority complex deeply rooted in their childhood. Eventually, their radical worldview represents nothing else than any other cult - be it catholic, muslim or any else. Every organization is created to impose laws and duties - it's simply nothing but taking people's freedom. Working with Adam did not make me feel a free man, because I do not support stale ideas. I don't support people seeking answers out there instead of looking into oneself. Once again - that could have been much better, but now it's just the past.

The 2004-2005 touring campaign for the "Chaostream" album is extensive: first there's the "Empire Invasion Tour" with Dies Irae and Hate, followed by an unprofessionally organized European tour called "Mega Strike In Chaos Tour" together with Sanatorium and Fleshgore. Next there was a 10 date trek through the UK, Belgium, Germany and Poland in June. In September another 12 date trek through Poland
was done and finally "Blitzkrieg 3" - 48 concerts in Europe with Vader, Rotting Christ and Anorexia Nervosa plus several festivals with Nile, Entombed and Decapitated. 2005 ends with Lost Soul's performance at charity concert in memory of late Vader drummer Docent. Did the lengthy touring expose cracks in the line-up at that point?

Telling the truth, I'm not really sure. It might have been like it though. We were able to take a closer look at one another while touring. I also noticed two parties back then: normal people, and primadonnas. I then opposed and will always oppose to lack of friendship, stupidity, common language and lack of support in a band. We just did not feel the same about the band, we did not have the same sense of purpose. With a hindsight, I see things much differently now and understand that it was not just gigs that made the band fall apart. Every band member is somehow responsible for the hiatus. Now things are just fine and I'm simply happy to make it to the heights of perfection.

"Chaostream" was the album that broke the band into a bigger audience and awareness in the international death metal scene. So why is it only now you're releasing your new album - what led to the 4 year hiatus between albums?

Well, sometimes you just meet people who can discourage you from doing things you love, be it bandmates, unbelieving manager or maybe a disrespectful label. I'm myself a marketing major and exactly know the way it should have worked. I don't really want to complain about anybody now, but I just know Witching Hour is giving the band justice. The time between "Chaostream" and "Immerse in Infinity" was necessary for former Lost Soul members to understand that without me they won't exist. For me - the time was necessary to improve and show the band is just mine. I found great musicians (and friends) and now I can't imagine any other line-up. It needed time, and "Immerse in Infinity" shows it was worth waiting.

In 2006 you envisioned to put together a new line-up due to several happenings on the touring cycle for "Chaostream". That never materialized and the band was put "on hold" until July 2007 when you wrote 8 new songs in a mere two weeks.

I was close to quitting music at all. The way my own band's members treated me was embarrassing. Even people from around the band had some negative input. Now I don't bear any grudge, I simply take it easy. Subject closed. I'm not the type of man to remember people's mistakes and stay unforgiving. Life goes on and I truly believe in people. Not everybody can simply stand up and admit the mistakes he/she has done - telling "I screwed it up". I felt like being expelled from my own band. Oddly enough - it's me who was able to continue.

Now I feel I'm really unstoppable. Whoever tried it - it would've been against my free will and against me doing what I love. Now it feels like everything in the band works just by itself - and we're only helping it happen. Together with Czajnik, we did really hard work. He was the one to help me move forward with Lost Soul. The two weeks of writing "Immerse in Infinity" were awesome. I wish myself it could happen with any other Lost Soul album now.

From the "Chaostream" line-up only you and bassist Damian "Czajnik" Czajkowski remain in the band's current incarnation. Tomasz Fornalski (bass) and Piotr Ostrowski (guitars) are both involved with booking agency Massive Music, who represent bands as Krisiun, Immolation, Marduk and Unleashed. So, it doesn't come as a surprise that they left eventually. What were the reasons for parting ways with long-time drummer and writing partner Adam Sierżęga?

These guys are not with Massive Music anymore. There is downside to everything, as they say. Some people say Massive Music don't pay on time, others say Massive Music workers just suck balls. It's just not my business.
The thing I know is that we had a deal with Earache. The deal was that we'll take the money we made with "Chaostream" and buy new drums and hardware for the band - mostly drummer's equipment. I represented the band and asked Mario of Massive Music for giving us the money - the "Chaostream" budget was too small for us to buy new drums. Mario gave us the money for the next album upfront. This was, however, when the band fell apart. They stayed with Massive as tech workers. I realised that they were really poor musicians and that they also cared only for themselves. They tried to continue, but obviously couldn't make it without me. Eventually, it turned out Mario never really got his money back. When I offered to give them back myself, he refused to take it. The guy just understood the situation.
I think the former Lost Soul members still bear the grudge about it. I took their chance to make a musical career they wanted so much. Basically, the hiatus was all about musical skills and resistance to changes the band was going to face. A now all the readers can see - what happened was really embarrassing and not really worth speaking about. It should have never happened. I'd be happy to forget it. Fuck it.

With Tomasz Fornalski and Piotr Ostrowski out of the band, are there any plans to continue the cooperation with Massive Music, their booking agency - or is Witching Hour Productions fully representing the band at this point?

I have clear relations with Massive Music now. Eve and Mario are great people with enormous experience in the business and they have really helped my band and me personally. I'm really thankful for everything and I will always support them. Both Massive Music and Earache deals are, however, closed. Now that we're with Wiching Hour I can openly say it's a great company and can't imagine us working with anybody else. I believe we are on the verge to conquering the whole Universe now! Believe me - aliens will headbang to Lost Soul!

Can you briefly introduce us to Dominik "Domin" Prykiel (guitars) and Krzysztof "Desecrate" Szalkowski (drums)? What made these two guys the ideal choice for the new incarnation of Lost Soul? What do they add to the band that their predecessors couldn't?

The situation was clear. When I first spoke to Desecrate on the phone, he told me "My drumming feels fine to me". I believed he might be the right person and when we first rehearsed - he was really great. The guy just makes Inferno and Kollias look smaller than they really are. He plays with such finesse and power it almost makes you think he must use magical wands instead of drumsticks. With Domin the situation was much similar. He found out we were looking for second guitarist and instantly called me. We met, drank some whisky and we realized he was the right man for the job when he suddenly poked fun at new Lost Soul songs, saying we were playing them backwards to him. Predecessors of both Domin and Desecrate were just sucking my energy. Now we're a dream team. Great musicians and, most importantly, close friends.

Which brings us to "Immerse In Infinity" - an album recorded at a number of studios in Poland. Drums recorded at Progresja Studio by Paweł Grabowski, guitars/bass recorded at Top Secret Studio and vocals recorded at Hellsound Studio by Paweł Kołodziejczyk. Finally, the album was mixed and mastered at Hertz Studio by Wojtek and Sławek Wiesławscy. I take it Lost Soul is a top priority for Witching Hour Productions, considering the big names you've been able to attract for this new album?

That's right. We're now a top band at Witching Hour, we need each other, but I don't just see it this way. It is just a common sense of purpose. I'll put it this way: no Western Europe label representative will ever be so determined as a guy who, apart from being a music lover, is a great economist at the same time. Bart simply rules! This is the best manager we've ever worked with. We recorded "Immerse in Infinity" at our own expense. I am also really thankful to my parents, who helped us financially and never stopped supporting us. We chose a number of recording studios to simply save as much money as we could. Witching Hour deal compensated for most of our expenses. The label really rewards our work. I trust they'll be huge some day.

The playing is once again impeccable and the drumming is the fastest Lost Soul has had to date. The vocals are also enunciated much clearer compared to "Chaostream" - was this to differentiate the band from many underground peers who go for ever more deep gurgling and intelligibility?

It all just came naturally to us. Drums are fast, maybe not faster than previous albums. But hey, music is not sports. It is the way the drums are played. Impeccable technique. The guy is perfect, plays like devil incarnate. Simply - a real drummer, not a drummer wannabe. I am also very proud of the vocals. It is just a year since I started practicing my vocals. After just a few gigs I feel the hardest part is still before me. This is a new chapter in Lost Soul's history. Other bands? Who cares about other bands? It's a Lost Soul interview!

The cover art for "Immerse In Infinity" was created by Mentalporn while on "Chaostream" it was done by Seth and "Ubermensch" had artwork by Jacek Wisniewski. What made Mentalporn such an obvious choice to represent the visual side of this new material?

Mentalporn cooperate with Witching Hour. Qras from Mentalporn, who is personally a Lost Soul fan, is quite controversial and quite stubborn at the same time. We, on the other hand, have always had our own concept and it was very hard to get it through to him. I like the guy and he finally did wonderful job. I like the guy's resistance to our sick ideas. I wouldn't say previous graphics made by Jacek or Seth were worse - but it is just a low-budget past for us.

This is also the first record where all the lyrics were written by you. It all sounds very philosophical with titles as 'Personal Universe', '...If the Dead Can Speak' and 'Divine Project'. What subjects and/or themes you touch upon with "Immerse In Infinity"?

First of all: I write poetry, prose and really do best I can linguistically. I like good poetry, I despise secondary thought. I've got my own views, sentiments on stuff. I don't need adjusting to crap conceived by sick lunatics like St. John or Alistair Crowley. I believe they are nothing original and we could find their likes in various cultures and beliefs all over the world. Fuck hypocrisy and exploitation of human personality. Human is a wonderful being, it does not need to identify with any models or thought patterns to find the truth within, to reinvent. It is really simple and all you need is try harder and be honest to oneself. I wouldn't really like Lost Soul to be identified with equilibrium, third power, I don't want putting labels on it. I wouldn't feel fair to myself. I want to be truly consistent and put all this crap even I once used to sing about (some lyrics of former Lost Soul members are good though) to where they belong - fairytales. I was never baptized. My parent probably decided to give me a choice. Thus, I don't have any hang ups rooted in catholic dogmas and that's why am able to have a broader view of the problem. The problem still exists though, be it among believers of different religions or self-proclaimed adversaries, beasts etc. Who am I then, opposing those who oppose? This is the stuff I touch upon. The lyrics are multi-dimensional. There is some mythology, science, philosophy, esotericism. There is even pure love. If anybody believes it just doesn't fit death metal lyrical themes, why don't you try and tell your beloved you just don't love him/her? I find myself the one who transgresses the limits of classification. There must be somebody to do it. If there is no such person, we might easily lose our identity. I encourage any interpretation of the lyrics. Let it be an experience

With each album the band logo goes through cosmetic changes as well. Was this to accentuate that Lost Soul is an entirely new band, with a reinvigorated sense of purpose and direction?

My graphical concept is really huge with new album, but I am still open to ideas than would not usually hit me because of the taste. Being open to the ideas means that taste is prone to changes and, like the Universe - it consistently shrinks and expands.

I never thought much of the logo before but now that I am able to 100% decide about it. I take other bandmates (and not only) opinions into account, though. I wanted the logo to be something great and meaningful, not just a crappy handsketched inscription. The music, the taste, the direction, the message, the sense of purpose - now it all makes full sense for real.

Any concrete plans on how you will promote the release of this new album inside and outside of Poland? How is the touring cycle for this album shaping up so far?

I can't really tell much of it now. We're still planning. It is just going to be great.

Jacek, you also own a rock club in Wroclaw called Diabolique. Is it easy to keep such as operation running and profitable in today's dire financial-economic situation and with record sales dropping each year?

I sold the business four years ago. The financial-economical situation is just hard, but at least I can see mentally Poland is making much progress now and I'm really happy about it. The government, however, malfunctions and is not reliable. It might as well be like this in many other countries, but on different strata. Government functions just like religious or anti-religious organizations. Control and exploitation seems to be all they want. Senseless lawgiving has even worse influence on poorly functioning business in Poland. So it did on my own business.

Last question: four albums into your career, having achieved quite a lot for a band in the underground, what remains the biggest driving force in this band?

Simply - the talent. I wish to reiterate that Lost Soul has always been just my band and I feel it is not an exaggeration. I am a modest and nice guy in private. I've gone through much these days and faced many situations hard to believe. At some moment I realized there is no evil, and that all evil there is just makes no real sense. If any of your family members was simply sentenced to death by, say, terminal illness - this IS evil. Such situation was much a reason for me to work on the new album, "Immerse in Infinity".

Thanks for the interview! Good luck with all your future endeavours. I would like to extend my praise for your killer and disturbing fourth album. The last words are yours.

Many thanks for the support! I hope we could drink a beer on a gig somewhere - my treat! I believe it was one of the best interviews I've ever given. I hope people will always ask such interesting and precise questions. Hail extreme music! Let truth and friendship be our guides. I'm not going to tell anybody who to love or who to hate. I wish you all freedom of thought.
Visit Lost Soul and Witching Hour Production websites. You'll always find news about the band. We've gone through much, but I believe we're just warming up. Remember about "Immerse in Infinity" premiere. The album will smash your asses! Our friends can already confirm it. I believe you want to check it out. See you on tour!

Info/booking: http://www.witchinghour.pl

Lost Soul

interview by - Wouter Roemers

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