FEATURE ARTICLE IN DEATH SS

One of the darkest groups that saw the light of the day is Death SS from Italy. Death SS have been formed back in 1977, by the musical idols Stefano Silvestri (Steve Sylvester – Vocals) and Paolo Catena (Paul Chain – Guitars) in Pessaro.
\r\nHeavily influenced by the dark bands of this era, Alice Cooper, Black Widow, Atomic Rooster and horror classic movies (such as flicks from Universal and Hammer horror), Steve and Paul gave birth to Death SS (The name Death SS stands for Steve Sylvester’s Death and has no connection with the well known Nazi movement).
\r\nWith three additional members Claud Galley (guitars), Danny Hughes (bass guitar) and Tomas Hand Chaste (drums), they begun to write some material and in the same year they released their first demo “Horned God Of Witches”. This Demo Cassette featured their two first tracks, “Terror” and “Murder Angels” and Death ss created a new musical movement that the band used to call “Horror Music”. They continued to write more material, releasing some rehearsal tapes (“Death SS I” and “Death SS II”) and playing live shows with unique stage clothing (Steve Sylvester – The Vampire, Paul Chain – The Death, Claud Galley – The Zombie, Danny Hughes – The Mummy and Thomas H. Chaste – The Werewolf), real human bones that had been stolen by them form the local cemetery and many pieces of rotten meat that Steve used to throw in the first rows. I think is worth to mention that during a show, the audience said that while Steve was in a Hypnotic state (calling a demon or something), he disappeared from the stage in the middle of the show and have been found some days after. Steve used to involve with the Occult and dark arts from these days since now. Sylvester stated that those days he was the leader of a satanic sect and Paul Chain was the sect’s
\r\nhigh priest. The years passed and back in 1982 while the band was the top underground Italian group, they released their first two private 7 inch, “Zombie/Terror” and “Night Of The Witch / Black Mummy” (about 50 copies each) also they appeared with the demo version of the track “Terror” on “Gathered Compilation”. In 1983 Death SS released their third private 7’’ inch “Profanation / Spiritual Seanse” and after this release, Steve left the band for his own private reasons. Sanctis Goram replaced Steve and Death SS released their first “proper” 7-inch form the Italian label Metal Eye (di Pavia). The 7’’ contains 3 tracks “Chains Of Death”, “Inquisitor” and “Schizophrenic”. On “Schizophrenic” vocals made by Paul Chain in a language that do not exist, it’s purely phonetic. The Label due too awful mastering soon has recalled this 7 Inch, entitled “Evil Metal”. No one knows the exact quantity of the copies that have been sold, but for sure were lesser than 100. (The original Copy has red label on the 7’’ and the catalogue Number is: ME-001). In 1984 Death SS appeared on the “Heavy Metal Eruption” collection featuring their legendary track “Black And Violate”, this was the year that Paul Chain transformed the band into “Paul Chain Violate Theater”. This was the first legendary Era of Death SS, without a “proper” release, but with a very good name in underground scene and the most important with about 20 demo tracks written by Paul Chain and Steve Sylvester.
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\r\nIn 1987 the Italian record label “Minotauro” that had been releasing the first works of “Paul Chain violate Theater” released the compilation “The Story Of Death SS – 1977 – 1984” which was a compilation of some early death SS demos, live, rehearsals and the “Evil Metal” tracks.. Listening to this compilation anyone can consider the reason why death ss became such a legendary band before release anything “proper”. The album met a huge success (Seven times repressed) but according to the Official Death SS web site, can be considered as a bootleg release. And this because the selection selection of the tracks made by Paul who also promoted his new band with an insert in the first two lp versions.
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\r\nIn 1988 Steve decides to re – form Death SS and hence, phoenix risen but with new members, except Sylvester of course. 4 new members and a contract with Discomagick / Metalmaster made their first album reality! The name of the album was “…In Death Of Steve Sylvester” and contains 9 compositions, 8 of them are the early demos of the band (written by Paul Chain) and one Cover to Alice Coppers “I Love the Dead”. Steve insists on, that Paul Chain has no rights on the ownership of the tracks, although the LP states his name as the compositor. The name of Chain also appears in the LP thanks List as “Paul ‘Traitor Of The Faith’ Chain” and this because Paul changed religion and stop his “satanic” activities (this is the reason why the “Paul Chain Violate Theater” first release was named “Detaching From Satan”. Musically the “…In Death Of Steve Sylvester” has the classic horror forms, very nice guitar work, although attached to the demo versions (with Paul). Very heavy, grim atmosphere, shivering cuts and the characteristic vocals by Steve Sylvester with the Italian accent that soon became the trademark of the “new” Death SS.
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\r\nNext Year (1999) released their second LP under the name “Black Mass”, for Discomagick / Metalmaster records and with new line up. Black Mass consists of 8 tracks which 6 of them are again taken from the old demos of the band. Musically they used the same Horror Music form but this time the production seems to be more “raw”. The same titled track is the one that really steals the show, representing a Black Mass, the into of which track was made by Aldo Polverari. The “Black Mass’ LP brought to Death SS the reputation as the best horror rock band. In Italian magazine HM (no.85 – April 1990) Death ss shows “Black Mass” as the best voted album and leaves bands like Aerosmith, Skid Row Alice Cooper and Rush to a lower ranking. Shortly the “Kings Of Evil” picute disk E.P. has been released but due too an error bears the name “King Of Evil” and there Death SS made the surprise covering the A.L. Weber’s Track “Gethsemane” from the “Jesus Christ Superstar” rock opera. In the same time they did release through their Official Fan Club “Cursed Coven” a VHS with six live tracks from three different shows the tracks were: Kings Of Evil, Horrible Eyes, Vampire, Terror, Murder Angels and Come to The Sabbat (Black Widow’s Cover). They kept on touring and their top moment were when Death SS supported King Diamond. The Whole tour had a great success, due too their suburb performances that can be heard on Cursed Coven Cd “The Complete Black Mass Tour 1990”
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\r\n1990, and Death SS have been in the studio writing the new demo. From these demo versions somenone realizes the more melodic direction of the band that in specific parts reminds of the U.S. hard rock and A.O.R. bands of that time. Tracks like the outtake “Moon’s Nightmare” and the demo versions of “Baphomet” and “Straight To Hell” reminds nothing of the past Death SS music. The Tracks have been played again with new guitarists (Jason Minelli , Al Priest) and the result was the more popular album of Death SS (by this time) “Heavy Demons”. This album sold so many copies, that their record company (Contempo), released different copies with different cover and staff for Thailand and Indonesia, also released the standard version of the LP in black and in red wax and in Cd version. The success of the album has been based upon the very good production of S. Sylvester and Seven Conquest and the very good work by the guitarists. The change of record company gave Death SS the “push» they needed. Listening to “Heavy Demons” someone stays from the first down to the last note petrified by the amazing solos, production and of course by the voice of legendary actor Oliver Reed (who narrated the intro). Steve tried to improve his accent and he did it well, all the high pitched vocals made by Morby (Sabotage, Domine). This is the first Death SS album that does not include any Paul Chain composition. In 1992 the live album “Cursed Concert” has been released, in 1993 the “Cursed Consert VHS” and MCD “Straight To Hell” have also been released. At this point we can consider that this is the end of the second era of death SS since Steve decided to split the band up again.
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\r\nIn 1993 Steve decides to release his first personal album, entitled “Free Man”. Musically the album is heavy influenced by the 70’s, including an old death SS demo song and the cover in Angelwitch’s “Free Man”. The strong point is that P. Chain who plays the most guitars in this album has composed the most of the tracks. Some gigs took place with the old Death SS members and the relationship between Steve and Paul were not the best at all.
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\r\nIn 1995 Avantgarde records decided to release the first 4 7’’ of Death SS as a box set entitled, “The Cursed Singles” in the limited quantity of 666 copies. This re-release caused the interest of the death SS fans and the band formed again. In 1995 Death SS singed a contract with Lucifer Rising records and they released the collection “Horror Music – Best Of” that includes some of the their best songs, includes some B’ sides, unreleased tracks and the re takes of ““Chains Of Death” and “Black & Violate”. These re - takes released also as a separate 7’’. In 1997 Lucifer Rising Re released their first 3 albums on Cd with many bonus tracks. After Lucifer rising got it’s money from this re releases, death SS started with new members and producer to write new material for their next album, “Do What Thou Wilt”. Some electronic elements added but the album had the real death SS feeling. They released a couple of singes more and the Box “Night Of The Living Death SS” that contained a VHS that contained videos, live material and an interview with Sylvester. In 1998 Steve released his second solo album “Mad Messiah” and Paul Chain contributed once again. In 2000 Death ss released the “hit single” “Hi – Tech Jesus” and the uninspired album “Panic”
\r\nIn 2002 Death ss released the worst album of the running decade “Humanomalies” , many electronic elements caused death SS to be considered as industrial / goth band, a fact that made many old Death SS fans to went away from the band and new fans to get into it. In the years to come the Band did many consents, many (IMO) releases not worth to mention and of course the really DVD-joke.
\r\nWorth mentioning releases were the 666 box set ( A Box that contained 6 7’’ from 1986 to 1996 from Lucifer Rising) and the “Horned God Of Witches” (old demos w/ Paul Chain , from Black Widow Records). With the last release someone realizes that Death ss without Paul Chain, luck of “Magick”. In 2006 the band released their latest album “7th Seal” for Black Widow records, a nice album, but nothing individual. These days there is the rumor that Steve is about to Split the band up again. We shall see…
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\r\nLampros ‘Witchfinder’ Tennes
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\r\nSourses : The Official Cursed Coven Fanzine and Beppe Riva’s Biography of the Band
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