Band Interview: Harakiri For The Sky (Matthias ‘MS’ Sollak – Guitars, Bass, Drums)

Games, Brrraaains and A Head-Banging Life are very pleased to being you an interview with Harakiri for the Sky. Founded in 2011 in Vienna, Austria, the aim of Harakiri for the Sky has always been to create a unique mixture of melancholy and aggression, madness and meaning, and wrapped in alternately manic/mellow songs that bridge black metal and atmospheric post-rock.

You can read our review of the new album, Arson here.

1. Tell us a bit about the origins of Harakiri for the Sky.

In fact it was just two friends wanting to make music together. I wrote some songs as I felt trapped in by the limitations of my other band so I wrote some songs & sent it to JJ for some lyrical ideas. In the beginning we didn’t even plan to release the thing. It was more an experiment…anyhow, it harmonized quite well and we kept going like this, me writing the songs and him the lyrics. After we put some songs online it was well received and we got an offer to release it on vinyl and some requests to play live, so we asked some friends and so it went on.

2. You been knocking out albums at a fairly regular pace since your birth in 2011. What’s the creative process like for you guys?

Its always the same, I write the music, send the pre-production to JJ and after we agreed to the lyrics fitting on the songs we record those too.

3. What can we expect from the new album, Arson? It’s a hell of a listen.

Well, hard to say…just listen to it, that’s the best way to find out. For everyone who is familiar what we do its a natural progression to the previous works I’d say.

4. What messages, if any, are you trying to convey with Arson?

We have no missionary agenda. Our music and lyrics try to handle our personal experiences and deal with them. It is best is to sit down and check the lyrics, I guess they speak for themselves.

5. Do you think streaming services and the rise of YouTube has helped or hindered you as a band?

There are two sides to the coin. I’m sure for many musicians it was a bad thing as in parts of the music scenes where fans don’t buy so many physical records anymore. I’m sure it hurt the artists pretty bad, especially in metal though the fans luckily still buy records. So the streaming services can be a bridge to discover new bands and then buy records as well. Just a bit sad that services like Spotify drain the artists and really only give them cents worth for their work.

6. If you could ask rock & metal fans one thing to help the band, what would it be?

Just support the artists you like, go to shows, buy their records and merch. Cause without that the underground can’t survive. I’m really thankful for our fans as they are really committed and supportive, so cheers for that.It would not be possible to go on tour and release proper quality albums without them.

7. Games, Brrraaains (horror) & Head-Banging…what do you enjoy the most?

Never been much of a gamer, Music definitely is the biggest passion…creating it as well as enjoying the work of others. Horror movies…well, recommend me something that’s not predictable from the first two minutes and I’m in! HaHa!

8. What’s the plan for 2018 in regards to touring? Any UK dates planned?

For 2018 its mostly festival shows still, but we will try to go back to the UK in 2019, hope we can make it work. We are working on a tour for early 2019 already.

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We’d like to thank Harakiri for the Sky for taking the time to speak with us! You can pick up the album over on Bandcamp & stream via on Spotify, Deezer & via Apple Music above. Find out more about Harakiri for the Sky on Facebook.