SAVINI Take Black Metal Back: "For The People, Fighting For The Oppressed"

Appropriately spooky lighting [photo: Savini]

Hailing deep from the coastal depths of Southampton lies SAVINI, a blackened thrash band fresh to the scene with their debut EP "Into the Arms of Evil". With the release, the band are slowly carving a name for themselves, with shows lined up across the south coast and beyond.

I had the pleasure of speaking to the band not long after they released their EP, getting to find out what they were all about.

R: First of all, I've got to ask - where did the name come from? Am I right to make the comparison to horror's Tom Savini? 

S: Yeah, you know - we're all horror fans and Tom Savini is the pinnacle of horror. Initially we were going to be more of a horror-themed band, inspired by the legendary Send More Paramedics, so it played into that, and we stuck with it when we changed [our] sound early on from pure thrash to having more black metal influences.

"[It's] about the migrant crisis and the horrible treatment these people get when they're fleeing war and persecution - it's a great song I think!"

Who are some of your inspirations as a band?

Danny Bowers [vocals]: The biggest influence for starting the band was Send More Paramedics, but we moved away from that sound pretty early on. Dawn Ray'd, Emperor, Immortal, Spectral Wound and Blackbraid are all big bands for me."

Bill McManus [drums]: Influences on my drumming came from The Berzerker, 1349 and Cryptopsy - Flo is one of the greatest on the scene. Carpathian Forest bridged the gap between black metal and punk which is kinda where we are with the thrash and heavier influences.

Steve Brownlee [bass]: I'll agree with Danny on Dawn Ray'd - our first gig was one of their last shows and they absolutely blew me away. Politically and sonically they are huge influences. I also love Grima and All Pigs Must Die."

"Into the Arms of Evil" is out now [photo: Savini]

Your debut EP, "Into the Arms of Evil" is out now. How has the reaction been?

DB: Meagre! Just joking, everything I've heard back has been good.

SB: If you're reading this and not currently listening to our EP, find it and put it on right now.

Have you got a particular track on the EP that stands out for you? What makes it stand out? 

Jim Hambly [guitar]: "Swing the Flail" - I like the message in the lyrics, and we had to work on this one a lot. The final song is a product of us working together to achieve something we all love.

DB: I really like "Clamouring Ghouls". I like the message and how it sounds.

JH: I think you like that one 'cause it sounds like Emperor and you love Emperor.

SB: "Ghouls" is about the migrant crisis and the horrible treatment these people get when they're fleeing war and persecution - it's a great song I think!

"Clamouring Ghouls" [cred. Savini]

What's the rest of the year looking like for you guys?

We're at Suburbia in Southampton on 16th May with Ancient Rivalry and at Daltons in Brighton with our best dudes in Terraborn on June 6th. Got an exciting gig in July to be announced with an amazing internationally touring band so keep an eye on our socials!

No more recording currently planned but it was a great experience recording our EP at Untapped in Southampton so I'm sure we'll do some more soon.

"The final song is a product of us working together to achieve something we all love"

And lastly, if you could take any song and cover it in full 'Savini' style, what would it be? 

DB: "Partytime" by Grave 45 or "Between the Wars" by Billy Bragg.

JH: That would be a good one - claiming back black metal from the fascists, for the people, fighting with the oppressed. Black metal is known for being right wing and we don't fall into that at all.

SB: I love Billy Bragg so would definitely to see what we would do with that!

Savini play Daltons on the 8th June. Tickets available now

"Into the Arms of Evil" is out NOW on all streaming platforms