Good morning, thank you so much for answering these questions. How's everything going in Manchester?
Si: it’s a grey, miserable traffic jam. Other than that, all good.
1. Wolfbastard started around 2012. What led you to create the band back then? Why did you choose the name Wolfbastard, and what does it refer to?
Si: Wolfbastard was a project started by Dez and Dave wanting to do something more punkier, but still with a black metal edge. I don’t know about the name but it seems to fit the music and it made people laugh back in the day. I suppose that says it all!
2. The band members came from, or were later involved in, other projects with different styles, from death and black to stoner, etc. However, over the years you've remained together in Wolfbastard. What attracts you to this project compared to the others you're involved in? Is Wolfbastard more than just a band for you? Could we say you're almost a family?
Si: we’re three very good friends playing the music with love. We all grew up with heavy and extreme metal, but also have a great interest in punk, especially older bands like Discharge, Varukers, Misfits, GBH, plus post-punk stuff, like Manchester’s Joy Division. It’s fucking miserable like us.
3. You will soon release “Satanic Scum Punks,” your fourth studio album, four years after its predecessor, “Hammer the Bastards.” How do you think this time has affected the evolution of the new album's sound? What was the songwriting and recording process like? What brands of instruments did you use?
Si: the recording process was fairly smooth as we’ve done a few full-length albums now. Dez loves adding spooky black metal elements to certain songs and Dave is a fucking relentless drummer. The songs emerge after a few jams and once we’re happy we get them recorded.
In terms of instruments, Gibson guitars, Fender basses, Mapex drums. Good solid equipment, big amps, no crazy pedals, straight to the point. Stuff that can be bashed-about on tour and have beer spilt on it.
4. Over time, you have remained true to a style that blends a strong retro character in your music, fusing a black metal sound with significant punk and crust influences. Some even describe the new album as a punk album disguised as black metal. How would you describe the sound of the new album, and what inspired you to compose it?
Si: I’m quite happy with “a punk album disguised as black metal” hahaha..
5. Punk has always been associated with struggle, rebellion, and nonconformity. Is there any of this in your lyrics? What specific themes do you address? Do the lyrics adapt to the music, or vice versa?
Si: we’re very much ‘music first’ when it comes to songwriting. Lyrically, we don’t tend to go near politics, not because we’re not necessarily interested in politics, because the music is an escape from the depressing world we live in. That’s why we sing about beer, Satan and madness.
6. The new album will be released by Apocalyptic Witchcraft Recordings, initially available on CD, cassette, and vinyl. How did the opportunity to work with Apocalyptic Witchcraft Recordings for the release of the new album come about?
Si: Dez and Dave have worked with Apocalyptic Witchcraft with their other band Burial, so we knew how good they were to work with. We approached AW on completing the album and they were really keen to release it. It’s been a great partnership and they seem really ‘get’ what we’re doing.
7. There isn't much information available about where the album was recorded, mixed, and mastered, but the ability to capture that raw and direct sound while maintaining clarity is remarkable. In which studio did you record the album?
Si: we recorded the album with our very good friend Chris Taylor at Noise Boy Studios in Salford. He did a fantastic job, as you say, at capturing the raw sound whilst still keeping some clarity and professionalism. Chris Fielding at Foel Studio did the mastering and he did an equally fantastic job. They made us sound like we know what we’re doing!!! What an achievement!
8. The cover art is both simple and open to multiple interpretations, ranging from violence and alcohol to elements of street fighting, even incendiary imagery. How did the idea for the cover come about, and what do you intend to convey with this image?
Si: The superb Branca Studio in Barcelona did the artwork. We went to him with an idea, and he said “fuck that”, and came up with the design we have now. It fits the music really well, and I personally really like the street fighting imagery.
9. Your musical style lends itself to fiery and violent concerts. How would you describe one of your concerts? What dates do you have confirmed for the release of the new album?
Si: we have an album release show in Manchester on 14/03, then another 6 dates touring it in the UK in March. We’ve also a few dates confirmed throughout 2026 including Cosmic Void Festival in London. We’re always looking for new shows though!! Get us to mainland Europe ok!!
10. Has the contrast between traditional Manchester, in the sense of a working-class city that played a pivotal role in the Industrial Revolution, and modern Manchester, a business city more oriented towards the service sector, influenced the style and themes of your music? What is the extreme metal scene like in a city like yours? What bands from your area would you recommend?
Si: the scene has always been strong in Manchester, and we’re lucky that a lot of touring bands come through the city, despite some venues closing down over the years. We grew up around the city in the working class areas and the pubs and clubs. I think a bit of that may have crept into the music. Great Manchester bands include Wode, Aggressive Perfector, Cairns, Argesk, our brothers in Burial and Foetal Juice too. There’s loads to be fair.
11. How did you get started in music: the first concerts you attended, the first albums you bought? What event in your lives pushed you to become musicians?
Si: We’re all obsessed with music and it’s a huge part of our lives. I grew up with my mum and dad both playing music in the house and the car. Especially my dad, with old rock like Neil Young, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple etc. As for the first concert I went to, a family friend bought us tickets to watch Nickleback when I was about 14. That’s why I’m the coolest one in the band now.
12. Which album represents the essence of black metal for you? What are the most recent albums you've bought?
Si: Black Metal is a varied beast these days, but if you made me pick only one to represent the essence I’d say Darkthrone’s A Blaze in The Northern Sky. The riffs and the coldness. Perfecto.
13. Thank you very much for taking the time to answer these questions for Black Metal Spirit. If you'd like to add anything for Wolfbastard fans, this is the place. I hope you enjoy the question.
Thanks mate, and thanks for checking out our music. ¡Vamos!
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Mourning Dawn – The Foam Of Despair 29,99 €
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