Have an email from Jeff Rolland (bassist) telling me that Sacrilege is back and that have a two album deal with Pure Steel records which will see two releases almost back to back imminently.
More New Wave of British Heavy Metal days relived and to look forward to.
A “retrospective” entitled Ashes to Ashes is slotted for release on June 26 followed on July 3rd by six6six which is an album of new material.
Here’s a quick interview with responses from both Jeff and original member Bill Beadle.
NWOBHM: Always good to find another NWOBHM band from the “old days” reactivating. What triggered that for Sacrilege?
BB/JR: After re-recording a few of the older Sacrilege tracks I had a studio built in my garden and started writing some new tracks for what I thought was going to be just for me. I had listened to a great guitarist online and decided to contact him in view of putting a few solos on for me as I have never been the fastest guitarist. After writing a few more albums and my friend Guitarist Pekka Loikkanen who lives in Finland was getting busier and busier with his own projects so I decided to look near home. I met a guitarist called Neil Abnett and he recorded a few solos on the wraith album. He persuaded me to play live again and I’m glad he did as I am really enjoying it.
NWOBHM: How did the deal with Pure Steel happen – was the band actively looking for a record deal?
BB/JR: Everywhere we played we were always getting the comments of why aren’t you playing all over Europe and you must have a record deal? etc. In fact, when we played in London, Blood and Iron Records came especially to see us with a view to doing a re-releases album but weren’t so much into a new album. So I decided to contact a few record companies to see if they were interested. The first one I saw on Facebook was Pure Steel so I sent them two older tracks and a track from the new “six6six” album and gave a brief history. They replied with they were interested in a re-releases album as NWOBHM is very popular in Germany. I then asked about a new album. They came back with they would like to do the two albums together which was what we really wanted and now we have both coming out in the next few weeks.
NWOBHM: Ashes to Ashes is described as a “retrospective”. How true to the original is the recording or has it been a case of touching things up a bit?
BB/JR: These are the original recordings. We had considered re-recording the tracks but decided to leave them. I think it’s a nice tribute to the guys who played on them.
NWOBHM: An album of new material is due to follow quickly after Ashes to Ashes on, I understand, July 3rd. Are the NWOBHM roots still there for all to hear?
BB/JR: That’s right, our sixth album “six6six” will be released by Pure Steel on July 3rd. It’s unmistakably Sacrilege! The album as a whole is probably heavier than any of the previous albums, and we hope that those who know us will really love it – as well as picking up new fans of course!
NWOBHM: Any plans to gig/tour to promote the new album?
BB/JR: We’ve been playing tracks from the new album – as well as from “Ashes” – since the start of the year from South Wales to Scotland. We’ll be continuing to play right through the rest of the year and into 2016. We’re also working hard to try to get on the bill for festivals in Europe this coming year. We love to play to a decent crowd – if you’re reading this and you want us to come to your town, let us know!
NWOBHM: What next after six6six for Sacrilege – may more new stuff follow in due course?
BB/JR: Obviously we’re heavily tied up in promoting these two albums at the moment. That said, we’re always coming up with new ideas for songs. There’s definitely a good feel about all things NWOBHM at the moment, thanks in no small measure to people like yourself Andy who are helping to keep the flag flying, and we’re keen to be a part of that for many years to come with new material.
My thanks to Bill and Jeff for taking the time to supply the answers. And my best wishes to them for the album releases and beyond.
If you may need to “re-acquaint” yourself with the band from the old days and/or check out what they are up to, here’s the link to their web site:
http://www.sacrilegenwobhm.com