METALLIAN - Inner Thought

Worldly Separation - 1993 - Witchhunt
Perspectives - 1995 - Witchhunt

Members

Vocals

Gastric Pus>>Kelly Montico>>Caesarian Section, Caesarean Section - Spur>>Dennis Dalesdent

Guitar

Atrox, Tchort, Gastric Pus>>Roland Murray>>Caesarian Section - Lethal Presence, Strappado, Slaughter>>BOB SADZAK

Bass

Atrox>>Mirko Zadrevic

Drum

Keyboard

BOB SADZAK

History & Biography

The reflective boys were a socially conscious Canadian underground band formed around former Slaughter/Strapapdo man Bob Sadzak and were occasionally managed by Canadian writer and label owner Ed Balog. The latter even played bass for the band early on and contributed lyrics.

The Toronto-based act was formed in 1989 and issued a 7" through Witchhunt called Disorder Of Battles. The albums were also licensed, with slightly different presentations, for the US market by Dwell Records which also invited the band to appear on a Celtic Frost tribute CD. The release show for Worldly Separation was held in Toronto and featured Cryptopsy and Kataklysm. Perspectives was recordded with producer Mark Peters at Metalworks Studio. Roland Murray was dismissed and for a while replaced with former Slaughter man Dave Hewson. A remix CD appeared later on Balog’s Utopian Vision label and was called Is There Hope Amid The Ruins. This, in fact, was the band’s 1993 demo. This band participated in the Celtic Frost cover CD In Memory Of Celtic Frost in 1996. Playing on and releasing these CDs was a particular trend during this period. Slaughter was featured on the same CD. Utopian Vision also announced plans for a third album, which as much came to fruition as a promise by a marketing manager douche.

Reviews

Interviews

Being a member of the Toronto metal scene practically since its inception in the glorious days of the mid '80s when Infernal Majesty, Sacrifice and Slaughter ruled supreme, guitarist Bobby Sadzak, ex-Lethal Presence, Slaughter/Strappado is still here in the form of Inner Thought whose second album Perspectives has just seen a release on both sides of the Atlantic. To obtain the details and get the latest surrounding the unit, Ali “The Metallian” called the laid-back musician one cold afternoon. Read on. - 1996

METALLIAN: Firstly, in an odd turn of events Inner Thought is officially on two labels. How did this arrangement come about?
BOBBY SADZAK: We first got signed to Witchhunt of Switzerland for Europe. Dwell Records’ A&R man, Raul, somehow got hold of the CD, enjoyed it and noticed that we only have European distribution. He then contacted me through the mail and said that they would really like to license the album (the band’s debut Worldly Separation) for North America. They approached the situation well and have good financial backing from CMH, which is one of the biggest bluegrass labels! So I said, “let’s go for it.” They’ve sent out 1,000 promotional CDs and now they’ve signed some other acts.

METALLIAN: Staying on the albums’ topic, how, if any, do you feel that your new release differs from your debut?
BOBBY SADZAK: I’ve been in and out of bands for eight, nine years. With I.T. I had to use drum machines, which was new to me and didn’t feel right. The first album was, therefore, experimental. It was me getting introduced to some of the new technology. With the new album, I was more focused. I could concentrate more on writing. On this album you can see a natural progression - nice tunes coming out.

METALLIAN: Why don’t we get into more detail concerning Perspectives? What does the album title signify?
BOBBY SADZAK: Let’s say that you bump into a crowd like at a show and you ask them, “what do you think of this band?” Everyone has different opinions and sees things differently. I view life like that. Everyone has a different perspective - their own point-of-view. So I thought that is a neat, little title. It leaves a lot to the imagination.

METALLIAN: Speaking of views I couldn’t fail but notice your political lyrics on the album.
BOBBY SADZAK: Yes, there is a couple. Sanctioned Situation is one. Autodogmatic is another. We have a couple of tunes, which deal with the situation across the sea. Things haven’t gotten better in former Yugoslavia and until it does I’ll have something to say about it.

METALLIAN: It is fine for an artist to express his views on his album, but realistically what value to you believe your lyrics have? Isn’t it ultimately 'preaching?'
BOBBY SADZAK: Absolutely not. It’s a topic that’s very close to me; I have family there. If someone reads the lyrics and sees any kind of daylight in it, then that’s great - that’s a bonus. I write them because that’s what’s happening in my life. It’s personal. It’s very hard for me to explain or express, because I do get upset. It’s not that I want to dodge the question, but it’s a topic that I do not want to talk about because I get upset. I am not taking sides. I get upset at both sides. So it’s not preaching. But I can see how people might think that.

METALLIAN: In other areas of your activity, Inner Thought appears on the Utopian Vision Music compilation. Tell me about that.
BOBBY SADZAK: Ed Balog (the owner of UVM) is our manager and good friend. He has this label that he’s starting. Actually I think he wants to start this whole entertainment business, but anyway, he came up with the idea of this compilation. I thought the more exposure I get the better, and I thought it would help him out, too, as we have a slight name out. The compilation is changing a bit for the European version and being re-released by Black Mark Production.

METALLIAN: Speaking of compilations, you are also featured on the Celtic Frost Tribute compilation. Personally, I am sick and tired of saluting older bands left and right, but regardless why don’t you fill us in on your involvement.
BOBBY SADZAK: Again, Dwell Records comes up with a great idea. I grew up listening to Celtic Frost and I remember hearing Hellhammer years and years ago. To modernize those heavy tunes can only give you a different view of how they would have sounded had they existed in the '90s. We have great bands like Grave, Soilent Green, et cetra. Also Tom Warrior and another original member are doing one of their own tunes. I and Dave Hewson of Slaughter did Morbid Tales.

METALLIAN: Speaking of different members, I’ve noticed the revolving door of members in Inner Thought, which is fairly typical for all the bands in the province of Ontario. How can you explain the situation?
BOBBY SADZAK: That’s the great thing about Inner Thought being a project of mine! There are many band hoppers who like to jump on this wagon this week and on another the next! To me, it’s fine. You want to come, you want to go, I have the ability to end relationships. Inner Thought has a solid line up.

METALLIAN: ...in that the line up is comprised of yourself solely right now.
BOBBY SADZAK: Exactly. If you like the music and the songs, then what does it matter who is in the band. The band is going to be around.

METALLIAN: Going into the realm of your songs, the one thing I specifically despise is the female backing vocals.
BOBBY SADZAK: You don’t like her vocals?

METALLIAN: I don’t like female vocals in metal. Period (laughs). Why would a metal or industrial act have female backing vocals?
Man, that’s a very good question. I’ve never had anyone ask it so intensely. (Pauses) the only thing I can say is that I enjoy the female vocals break up the monotony of death metal vocals. It’s a mood shift. I actually want to have more melodic vocals for the next album. The way I see things it’s so hard to be original. In my case when I started the band I hadn’t even heard the word 'industrial.' I had no clue. All I knew was Slayer, Metallica, et cetra. What I had written was me being free to write whatever I wanted to. Then all of a sudden I am 'industrial death metal.' All it is to me is thrash with a drum machine!

METALLIAN: I enjoyed the performance of Dennis Balesdent, your second vocalist, on the current album.
BOBBY SADZAK: Oh yeah. Isn’t that guy great? He’s in Nova Scotia now, but don’t rule him out. I still talk to him and he said that any time I have something happening he is one phone call away.

This interview initially appeared in Pit Magazine No. 16.

If you enjoyed this, read The Exalted Piledriver

Inner Thought