Take the speed and aggression of 80’s punk, plus the gloom, doom, and fuzz of 70’s metal bands, and bless it in the blood of a virgin sacrifice to Lucifer. The result is Satan’s Satyrs, a three-piece metal band based in Herndon, Virginia, who will be bringing their blasphemous onslaught to Strange Matter on Tuesday, May 28.
There are way too many things that make this band as cool as they are. Formed as a duo in 2010, they released their first demo, Lucifer Lives!, when bassist/vocalist Claythanas was only 17, according to an interview he did with Deafsparrow.com. Their debut full-length, Wild Beyond Belief, was released last summer by Trash King Productions in the US and At War With False Noise in Europe. On these early releases, Claythanas was writing all of the material and performing most of the instruments in the studio; it wasn't until original drummer The Ghoul left the band last summer that Claythanas put together a full lineup capable of extensive touring and live performance. The current lineup of Satan's Satyrs features guitarist Jarrett Nettnin as well as drummer Stephen Fairfeild, who also plays in screamy math-rock three piece Dial Up.
The band gives off a strong 70’s B-movie horror film aesthetic, performing live wearing leather and bell bottom jeans, while singing about the occult and doing drugs. The artwork for Wild Beyond Belief depicts a collection of bikers, looking straight out of a photo essay on the Hell's Angels. Their strength of their music is only reinforced by their image, and they have connected well with audiences all over the world as a result. The group recently played Roadburn Festival in The Netherlands, sharing the stage with bands such as Electric Wizard, High on Fire, Alcest, and fellow Virginia natives Cough. Satan's Satyrs opened the festival on its first day, then later in the weekend played a set of songs originally by late 60s legends Blue Cheer, who were pioneers in the heavy metal and psychedelic rock genres.
Now, Satan's Satyrs will be touring the country on their Born Mean 2013 Tour, which will keep them on the road for at least a month. It begins this Tuesday at Strange Matter (929 W. Grace St), where they will be playing with three different RVA bands: rock n' rollers Dirt Merchant, punk ragers Olde Shame, and Sinister Haze, a new band featuring members of Cough and Balaclava. The show starts at 9pm with a $6 cover charge and is 18 and over. For more info, check out the facebook event page HERE.