RYCHUS SYN  - Interview with Metal Coven, Metal Magazine-Germany
http://www.metalcoven.de/

MetalCoven: Hi Greg, the history of Rychus Syn dates back to the early 80s when you and your brother Drew decided to form a Heavy Metal band. Can you still remember those times? How old were you guys when you started Rychus Syn, what musical background did you have and what were the early days of the band alike?

RychusSyn: Those times are still fresh in my mind. Drew was 20 and I was 17 and all we wanted to do was play music. From the days of Zeppelin, Aerosmith and Black Sabbath all the way through the days of Priest, Maiden and Metallica, we wanted to be just like our heroes. In the early days it was all about learning the new Ozzy tune or Maiden to beat the other bands to play it live. We eventually realized we were not just a bar band and moved on to the serious Rychus Syn project.

MetalCoven: It took almost five years until your first EP "License To Kill" got released.That’s quite a long time, isn’t it? What happened in the Rychus Syn camp in the year from 1983 to 1988?

RychusSyn: Well there were many versions of the band and we were mainly a Priest/ Maiden cover band. It wasn’t till 1987 that we hit upon the lineup on the EP. That was the time when Drew became inspired to start writing the riffs for the "License to Kill" EP.

MetalCoven: Your EP got released by Azra/Ironworks, a label that a lot of metalheads from all over the world still worship due to the release of legendary records by cult bands such as Jag Panzer, Ripper or Stormtrooper... what was it like to work with the Azra guys and how did it feel to be on the same roster as so many classic bands?

RychusSyn: It was an honor to be on a roster that included all those great 80's bands. It helped spread the name of the Syn crew to larger audiences. Looking back it was a great experience, and working with Azra, well, no comment.

MetalCoven: Azra/Ironworks is well-known for the many special formats they did of their records, like Picture Discs, Shape Discs or colored vinyl editions. Do any such special editions exist of "License To Kill", too?

RychusSyn: No, just the picture disc and a cassette.

MetalCoven: In what way did the EP release bring the career of Rychus Syn onward?

RychusSyn: In the beginning it didn’t amount to much but over the years it gave us quite a bit of notoriety. We recently found that it was selling all over the world and was pirated for a compilation cd called "Hard and Heavy Rarities volume 11", which by the way is not the best quality of the EP. Now it seems to be a collector’s item of sorts and is sought after. Who the hell would have guessed?

MetalCoven:However, only a few years later, in the early 90s, the band disbanded... what were the reasons forthe split and what have you guys done in all the years when Rychus Syn was put on ice?

RychusSyn: Creative differences. Drew and I liked the heavy direction the band took and A.D. and Mike didn’t. So they left. We decided to shelf the Syn project and started a new band called Dr. Kayne, with new band mates Dan Reid on vocals and Damone as a 2nd lead guitarist with Jeff costanza on bass. That band would last 2 years and disbanded in 1994. Dan remained very close with me and Drew but we lost touch with Damone.

MetalCoven: In 2006, however, Rychus Syn did finally rise out of the ashes again to continue its reign of steel. What were the main reasons for the reunion and in what way would you say has the band improved over the years?

RychusSyn: The main reason was to record the 5 un-recorded songs and to have Dan put his vocal signature on all ten tracks. We were getting the itch to get back on the horse and we really missed playing. Drew and I felt like we had some unfinished business and we were not going to rest till we took care of said business.

MetalCoven: In 2007 Rychus Syn’s new CD "Rebirth" came out through Photon Records. This CD sounds oldschool as fuck and vontains 10 ripping hymns of purest Power/Thrash Metal at its best!! If you listen to the album now, are you satisfied with it or would you have changed a lot of aspects and details with hindsight?

RychusSyn: I wouldn’t change a thing! This was me and Drew’s vision of what the original EP should have been and we are more than pleased with the 5 additional tracks. With the addition of Dan’s vocal flare and his ability to manipulate his killer melodies and Damones thunderous bass to solidify our sound, we feel we accomplished what we set out to do in spades.

MetalCoven: What are your favorits songs on "Rebirth"? Why?

RychusSyn: One Voice and Shadow King really defines the bands style, so they stand out the most for us. We are also partial to Power, Thunder and Steel and Air Raid, especially because we were able to achieve what we couldn’t on the original EP.

MetalCoven: As far as I know, "Rebirth" contains only songs that have been written in the mid to late 80s and early 90s... so I wonder if you’ve also already written any brandnew songs? If so, what are some of the songtitles and what do these tunes sound like?

RychusSyn: Fuck Yeah! We have at least 6 new tunes in the can for the follow up cd. You will hear songs called "Divine Enemy", "In What We Trust" and "Bleeding the Demons" just to name a few. They sound like Rychus Syn. In other words balls to the wall, headsplitting, riff shredding HEAVY METAL!

MetalCoven: What does the songwriting process look like in a band like Rychus Syn? Do you have one main songwriter among your rows or do all of you guys contribute ideas? And what are the biggest influences for Rychus Syn, musicwise and lyricwise?

RychusSyn: It is a combined effort in Syn. Drew starts us off with killer riffs, Damone and I explode through the rhythm and backbeat, Dan and I arrange the songs, Dan rips out the melodies and I write the lyrics. As far as musical influences we would have to pay homage to Black Sabbath and Metallica. Of course there are the ties to Maiden, Priest, Megadeth, Savatage and so forth.

MetalCoven: Where do you see the band 2 or 3 years from now? What points are on top of your metallic agenda for the next couple of years?

RychusSyn: I see us still pounding out albums. I see us stomping through the world with our in your face brand of metal. As long as we get the exposure we need, we will be a force to be reckoned with. And let it be known we will not follow any trend, which has ended the careers of too many great bands.

MetalCoven: Do you still buy a lot of records and attend a lot of shows? If so, what are your fave metal bands at the moment? What albums (apart from "Rebirth", of course) would you recommend to our readers?

RychusSyn: We still buy a lot of albums, but tailed off on the amount of shows we frequent due to the lack of great shows out there at least in our neck of the woods. I would recommend Any Black Sabbath or Metallica 1-5. I would also say Ten Thousand Fists from Disturbed and The River Runs Red from Life Of Agony. Great albums one and all!

MetalCoven: Is there any band that you’d love to share the stage with once in your life?

RychusSyn: METALLICA and BLACK SABBATH without a doubt!

MetalCoven: If you look back at more than 25 years in the music business, what’s your favorite story or anecdote to tell?

RychusSyn: Actually the Rychus Syn story is a long and interesting tale which may be told in a book in the future. A book of True Metal.

MetalCoven: What’s the best place for all curious headbangers to check out your music and stay up to date about all news in the Rychus Syn camp?

RychusSyn: That would be our website (Which is currently under construction, but the temp site is there brimming with info) www.rychussyn.com.

MetalCoven: Thanks for your time and answers, Greg!! Hope you had some fun doing the interview... all the best & cheers!!

RychusSyn: Thanx a million for this awesome opportunity and let’s drink to raising the Rychus Syn Banner up for a long time! Cheers from "THE HEAVY METAL WRECKING CREW" RYCHUS SYN!