Steve Sylvester – The Entity Discussion
1. Steve, “The Entity” feels like a deeply personal and mystical journey—what originally sparked the concept for this album, and when did you first envision it?
The Entity” is an esoteric-horror concept composed of 12 tracks dedicated to the Entity, the paranormal spirit that has always been at the center of the artistic project DEATH SS. The basic idea came to me several years ago, talking to my friend James Hogg. James is the last descendant of the homonymous Scottish writer who in 1824 wrote the novel “The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner”, a masterful gothic satire on the paradoxes of faith and on the theme of the duplicity of the human soul, considered the precursor of the famous novel by Robert Louis Stevenson “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”. Both novels explore the “dark side” of man and his double nature, the good one and the evil one. Starting from this inspiration I included various other elements, ranging from Aleister Crowley, who tries to free man by awakening his artistic genius through his magical invocations, to then continue with historical figures such as Jack the Ripper and the painter Walter Sickert, and also fictional, as one of the heroines of the Italian erotic comics of the 70s Cimiteria and much more, up to reconnecting to the history of the band.
2. This album dives into the duality of human nature through figures like Gil-Martin and Mr. Hyde. Do you see yourself reflected in any of these characters, or are they purely symbolic?
I think each of us has a “dark side”, a hidden part that is repressed by our conventions and by the fear of expressing ourselves in total artistic freedom. The characters of Hogg and Stevenson are the symbol of this duality of ours. I have merged them into the Entity, a figure of which, when I become Steve Sylvester on stage, I sometimes feel like the spokesperson.
3. You’ve always mixed occult themes with rock theatrics, but “The Entity” feels especially literary and esoteric. How did works like Hogg’s Justified Sinner or Crowley’s teachings directly influence your lyrics and worldview?
Since it is a concept album, I conceived “The Entity” as an original literary work that, starting from the occult teachings of Crowley and Hogg’s book, developed in an indigenous way, as if it were a rock musical, a shocking and esoteric theatrical show in pure DEATH SS style.
4. Aleister Crowley is central to the album’s concept. In your view, what is The Entity that Crowley summoned, and how do you interpret its role in the creative process?
The concept of “The ENTITY” is not actually based only on Aleister Crowley. He is only the starting point that I deal with in the first song of the concept entitled “Ave Adonai” as one of his poems. In the course of his magical work Crowley came into contact several times with “magical entities”, above all the one he called Aiwaz, a non-corporeal being who dictated to him the text of the Book of the Law. This Entity had the aim of to free man by awakening his artistic genius with the ultimate aim of transcending the limitations of personality and realizing Cosmic Consciousness, thus fulfilling the magical formula of the New Aeon. For me, the Entity is the astral manifestation of the magical force hidden within each of us, the one that, once evoked, can give us the artistic strength to realize our true will.
5. You co-produced the album with Tom Dalgety, a Grammy-winning producer known for working with Ghost and Rammstein. What was that collaboration like, and how did he influence the sonic or emotional landscape of the record?
Tom is a great professional. We talked for a long time to understand how the album should sound. He first wanted to listen to the demos I had prepared and then together we agreed to give a more classic sound to the various songs, with references to the 70s and 80s. Working with him was very pleasant because we both traveled on the same coordinates and we always understood each other immediately.
6. Each track is linked to a literary figure or philosophical concept. Was there a particular song that challenged you most to write, either emotionally or conceptually?
Not particularly. Since each track is connected to the other, I understood the various songs as if they were one, as the various moments of a single long song. It was certainly fun to write about Cimiteria, a character from Italian horror-erotic comics from the 70s, which I managed to fit coherently into the concept.
7. DEATH SS has always had a unique aesthetic, from your early days to now. How do the visuals of the deluxe 12” releases reflect the transformation of the band’s vision with The Entity?
The artwork of the four EPs that preceded the release of “The Entity” reflects a type of aesthetics closely linked to the content of the songs they contain, especially their Title Track. However, the band’s aesthetics continues to evolve album after album, while always remaining linked to the horror characters we have always played, namely the vampire, the zombie, the mummy, the ghost and the werewolf.
8. Your vocals often feel like incantations, especially on tracks like Ave Adonai or Possession. How do you approach embodying these characters in your vocal performance?
Ha! Ha! Thank you! I just try to interpret the lyrics I sing in the songs to try to give them the right vibes..
9. Since DEATH SS’s resurrection in 1988, your music has evolved while staying rooted in horror and esotericism. How do you balance innovation with the expectations of your cult fanbase?
I think it’s a question of charisma. I like to question myself every time without trying to retrace paths already traveled previously and experimenting with new musical solutions. The important thing is to always keep your artistic personality unchanged to create your own type of sound that is always recognizable by fans.
10. Looking back over decades of DEATH SS, where do you place The Entity in your creative legacy? Is it a culmination, a new path, or perhaps a ritual in itself?
Both of the last two things. It’s definitely a new path, but every new path is also a ritual in itself, so we could say that this album is the manifesto of what the DEATH SS Entity is at this precise moment.
11. What advice would you give to emerging artists who want to explore the darker, more philosophical sides of music without losing their authenticity?
It is difficult to give a precise answer to this question. I can only suggest that you always follow your heart and internalize your experiences on the dark side, trying to develop your own form of artistic and spiritual philosophy that is always authentic and genuine.
12. Can fans expect live performances that bring The Entity’s ritualistic and theatrical elements to life—and how important is stagecraft in your storytelling?
We have always tried to interpret our songs in a theatrical way when we play live, using projections and performers who interact artistically with the audience during the shows and we will certainly continue to maintain this characteristic also for our new concerts, which will include several extracts from “The Entity” as well.
Information: deathss.com/
