NUNSLAUGHTER – interview

Photo: @necroshorns

Cleveland’s unholy denizens of the underground, NUNSLAUGHTER, are about to unleash their BLKIIBLK debut album, ‘Satanic Chaos Legions,’ set for release on June 26, 2026. We took the chance to have a talk with vocalist Don of the Dead, and got to touch some details related to the album, their live shows and musical themes and now we’re so looking forward to see how fans will receive the upcoming chaos. Until then, enjoy the lecture:

“Satanic Chaos Legions” marks your BLKIIBLK debut. How did you go for this collaboration and how has it impacted the album release process?
We started lookin at different labels a few years ago. Working with Hells Headbangers has been awesome but we thought it might be advantageous to change things up a bit since they have released the last three NunSlaughter albums.
Our drummer was friends with Mike Gitter and sent him an advance of SCL. Mike dug the music and since he was spearheading the new label BLKIIBLK he asked us to come onboard.
The process is basically the same except for me having to know a lot more people and their positions in the label. Gitter has been a huge help and he always has time to answer a call or an email.

There’s been some releases of “Devil Metal” from your side, yet you still find fresh blasphemous themes for your new albums. How do you keep it ‘fresh’ after so many years?
I think the biggest advantage has been working with dedicated and experienced musicians. All of us currently in the band treat music as something we have dedicated our lives too and that makes a huge difference when creating new music. Gone are the people that are just watching the clock and trying to get home as soon as possible.
The dedication helps when writing music because we all have some input to the shape of the music and how we craft a song.

Some might consider that on tracks  like “Peukharist” and “Unsacrament”, you’d twist Christian concepts into grotesque inversions. What inspired these particular reinterpretations?
The music and lyrics for Unsacrement were written by Tormentor, our guitarist. Peukharist was an idea I had for a while so ever since I was a child. The fucking chrisitans put you in this stupid cult and then feed you “the body of christ” It is just dumb and I always thought about spitting it out. After the idea the lyrics were easy and I finally found the music that it fit perfectly.

What about the songs and lyrics with vivid, decaying depictions. What leads to having such narrative in your texts?
Most of our songs have a story behind them. Very glad you can hear / see the visions we have created as it is by design. I envision these tales and see it in my minds eye. It make for a great way to tell a story and some killer lyrics, too.

The album’s themes are steeped in anti‑Christian venom. Do you see your work as satire, rebellion, catharsis, or something else entirely?
It is mostly rebellion but in the case of the lyrics that I write there is some catharsis mixed in. Growing up and being made to go to church really scars you for life. The church corporation creates a bastion for hypocrisy and pedophilia. These filthy bastards preach morality but in reality the bible is anything but morality.

The album art for Satanic Chaos Legions is striking. What’s the story behind it?
We had the idea for the album title and gave it to the artist. It is his interpretation of Satanic Chaos Legions and I think it fits perfectly with what we were trying to achieve.

Are there new musical explorations on your latest release or you prefer to stick to what’s considered ‘old school’? Given you are a band that embraces a raw type of production.
We have continued to do the same as we have done for 39 years and that is what we will continue to do. The label may have changed but our devotion to our craft has not. Death Metal is very important to me and I can not put the Nun Slaughter logo on something that I am not totally behind.

You’ve described your music as a “Luciferian audio onslaught.” What does that phrase mean to you artistically rather than spiritually?
We bring a unique approach to a dying part of death metal which is the essence of what drew me to this particular form of music. We don’t add in keyboards or solos nor do we use studio tricks create our music. This makes is possible to reproduce the music live and in full.
I believe when people see a NunSlaugher show they are left knowing they were treated to Hell in music form.

There’s an upcoming tour in Europe, and some festival appearances. How will the new songs be integrated in your ritualistic live appearances?
We have not figured that one out yet. We do intend to incorporate at least 2 new tracks into the set list but when you have 300 songs to choose from you back catalog it makes it difficult to figure out which ones to cut.

How do you prepare for such a tour? How is the playlist decided, how often do you practice and what else besides the actual songs and their arrangements need to be practised and agreed upon by everyone?
We will have 50-60 songs that we practice for some of the longer shows. We like to mix it up for the people that come to see us more than once on tour.

How different is it for a band like you to play Europe vs US?
The shows are much closer together and the reception that we get is much grander than here in the states.

Nunslaughter has been named to have influenced generations of underground bands. How do you feel about your legacy within death and blackened thrash scenes?
It is wonderful to thnk that we have inspired new bands to create their form of art and music. This is how our music will continue for generation to come. We are honored.

After nearly four decades of blasphemy, what still excites you most about writing new Nunslaughter material? Do you still have a continuous process of touring/writing/repeat or has that toned down lately?
The writing part is OK but I personally like being in the studio to see what it all sounds like and how it finally comes together. I do find it challenging to develop songs and lyrics that have not been covered by ourselves let along other bands.
We never really had that kind of process. This is not a “for profit” band so we just do what makes sense and if there is a good time to be had.