We are discussing the EP versus a full album considering the costs, the inspiration behind the title of the only EP by the French band Sabertooth. They faced some difficulties over the years, given the town they are located in. We discuss this with Max.
1. There are several instances of the name Sabertooth in the musical domain across different genres, which can be confusing for fans. Why did you choose this name over another?
We are true geeks. We were geeks before geeks were cool, even before playing music.
Name is inspired by the villain from Marvel Comics. We wanted something different from the serious/social/streetwise topics and monikers used in the hardcore scene. Something primitive, unique but still badass.
Since then, we saw other bands using that name, one of them being a Beatdown band from Indonesia. There is now plenty that you can find on Spotify!
2. What motivated you to form this band and in which year was its official formation?
Well, long story short, the guitar player and I used to hang around a local metal band, and we did cover a couple of hardcore songs with them, like 25TL, SOIA, SOD, No Innocent Victim. We played a bunch of them during their set.
As a matter of fact, once we got a bass player full-time, we started in 2002 for the French Music Day, mostly playing hardcore covers, for fun, between friends.
We live in a small area 50km from the bigger student town, with no hardcore scene at all, and even the metal scene is small here. We had several line-up changes over the years, and we even stopped several times because we couldn't find a bass and drums replacement. Literally for years! Actually, we began as a five-piece, and our other guitar player had to switch to bass duty to allow us to continue. I moved to Belgium for 5 years, so that didn't help, too.
Our latest drummer moved to the area and joined us in 2016, enabling us to reactivate, and we have the most stable line-up ever since.
3. We saw the Straight Edge image on your Facebook. Does the band identify as such?
Nope, they're casual drinkers, I am the only drug-free kid in the band. X'up for 28 years!
3. Your only EP "Of Shadows Yet To Come" dates back to 2020. What explains why you haven't released a full album despite being active for over 10 years?
It turns out we recorded songs ways before, DIY, but our drummer at that time quit, and the raw version ended in a cardbox, put on the shelf. Too many line-up change and start-over don't help to be productive, so we actually used those tracks for learning/training.
As a matter of fact, the EP was released late because of the 2020 lockdown. Couldn't see each other easily, rehearsal/recording place was shut down, and it was technically impossible to record drums at home. We had to schedule on the long run. So digital version was released on BC at the end of the year, and the CD version was released start of 2021.
We chose the EP format because we were unsure about a full album release. Everything is related to time and cost here. Beside a demo and some songs on V/A compilations, we decided to go for a 4-track debut to reduce cost, and it forced us to select good songs, no filler. Most albums, in any style, have 10–12 songs, but how many can you remember at the end of the day? Except if the band is really talented or if you're a diehard fan. No rush, we took our time and I think it's a pretty decent record. Got only good feedback on it.
5. The title track of your EP refers to the fight against insecurity during great human storms, doesn't it?
I read about that line in an RPG sourcebook. True geeks, remember? That song title stuck for all of us, so it was an easy pick for the EP title. In the lyrics, I talk about being true no matter what, and standing against challenges, life changes... It's also defending and protecting people we care about, today and tomorrow.
6. Does "One Heartbeat Away" address isolation, the call for reconciliation, and silence in the face of past internal conflicts?
It's a little bit of all that, indeed. I wrote it with no one specifically related, keeping in mind a balance between the positive and negative. Dying feelings. Failed relationship between compromises, also ideas or ideals torn apart, but behind being selfish or self-centred, there is always a way to mend them, if we are really willing, aren't we? One may interpret it differently, depending on the point of view. I call it our 'emo' song.
7. Are you planning a writing and recording period soon to offer new material to fans in the near future?
Actually, we are. Writing process is almost over, now, so we focus now on finetuning our latest songs. We have selected a dozen amongst our small unpublished repertoire, from brand new and old ones that stood the test of time and our ever changing taste. And we are currently preparing to record as soon as possible, as many as we can. Depending of the time we'll be able to spend, some of them will be freebies, others will be included on an upcoming release, probably end of 2024, fingers crossed!
8. Besides Agnostic Front, have you opened for other bands of similar stature in the past?
Agnostic Front has been the biggest so far. But we had the chance and the privilege to open for Billybio, Biohazard side-project, in a local bar. Billy is a machine. Very small venue, Sunday morning, packed to the roof! Great memories from that day.
Less famous but not least, we also opened for the upcoming crossover/core kings from Québec, Prowl! We played with the Dutch band All For Nothing, too. Heard they are back! "The Rotterdam posse is not dead"!
So we'd love to do more and are open to anything. Because we also missed good opportunities back in the days, as with NRSV à long time ago, Terror (hello Covid, how's your lockdown?) and damn, we were that close to open for Sick Of It All, but a local metal band did it in the end. You know, Michael Scott biting his lip, that GIF…?
9. Your last concert was in April at the PYHC Festival. What are the upcoming dates?
PYHC Fest was cool. Passionate people, the DIY way we love! About upcoming dates? Looking for them! We have a reduced planning due to weekend jobs, fam and other side-projects. One will be local but we have plans North/East of France and above, tba-tbc...
As a conclusion, thank you very much for your time and your work for the hardcore scene, that is real dedication! As I say, posers and fake know who they are. It's our role to thank people who take part and do something! xMaXx
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It was inspiring to witness their determination to persevere through the adversity and challenges they faced. We also noted the interesting discussion about their perspective on prioritizing quality over quantity and their preference for releasing an EP rather than a large album with many tracks. This viewpoint is compelling. We wish them to continue strong and come back with a record that will generate even more interest than its predecessor. Sabertooth is back.
