Interview with Steel Prophet Guitarist Steve Kachinsky

By Mick Michaels


COSMICK VIEW: Hello, Steve! Welcome to The Cosmick View. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to chat with me, it’s greatly appreciated.

CV: How would you describe US Power Metal compared to its European counterpart? Are there specific variances as some fans and critics would suggest?
Steve Kachinsky: I’d say it’s less diatonic, and sprinkled with more dissonances. The flat 5^th gets a lot more use along with major 2^nd’s and the Phrygian mode in general. I think Rock and Hard Rock started with the blues and early Rock and Roll in the US first, got sent over to Britain, then came back here as the British invasion. That came back to the US and went all over the world. You know, Zep, Purple, Priest Maiden, UFO… It was all pretty blues based at that point, but then Accept got a hold of it and added a lot of diatonic classicism to the whole thing and that kind of became the Euro strain. Whereas Metallica defined the US strain. But all the ideas just get intermingled these days. In a way it’s all Euro and all US because both types keep getting redefined by each other.

CV: Do you see popularity differences among fans comparing US Power Metal to European versions? Does one seem to be more favorable or is it just a matter of taste?
SK: I think Euro style is more popular because it’s diatonic and is easy to digest because of that. These are melodies branded into your head from an early age in the form of nursery rhymes and Christmas songs for example. Bluesy stuff is more minor, and slightly more dissonant to people’s ears.

CV: Steve, have you found having a traditional singer in Heavy Metal these days, given the popularity of growlers and screamers fronting bands, gives a band like Steel Prophet an edge or a stand out identity?
SK: Yeah, it makes us stand out, but it’s a double edged sword; some people don’t think it’s extreme enough because of that. I think it’s hard for some people to differentiate between a lot of more extreme Metal bands because growling doesn’t allow you to show a lot of nuance in your vocals. There are typically no actual melodies being sung, unless you consider a variation between two notes (sometimes three) to be a melody. So I think that vocalists that sing traditional vocals can be more distinctive and recognizable. Certainly, most Metal fans can tell the difference between Dio, Tate, Dickinson, and Halford almost at once. With extreme metal, it’s more a case of is it low guttural, or high? Do they switch off to clean vocals for the chorus? Just my opinion.

CV: The band recently released their latest video for "The God Machine." Tell us a little about the song and the video. Is there a particular message you were looking to convey?
SK: Yeah, times are tough these days in America. The institutions that were supposed to have integrity and set the example for people, are generally just found to be unethical and corrupt. The church, the government, etc… I think that when there are cover ups about priests molesting children, and politicians that call other politicians liars, but have a record of lying themselves, it looks bad. The God machine, is corrupt and morally bankrupt. That’s why the lyrics say “punish the pious, be one with it is your shame”. Some of the most powerful people in the world can sell lies to us little people with a spoonful of sugar, and we swallow it gladly.

CV: Times have surely changed since the band’s birth back in the 80’s. Has the decline of physical album sales and the surge in digital downloads affected or altered the way Steel Prophet approaches writing and recording new material?
SK: It doesn’t really affect songwriting, but recording has changed a lot. It tends to happen on a more spread out timeline because no one needs to show up at the studio altogether, unless that’s the way you want to do it.

CV: Steve, as the band's only founding member, how do you feel Steel Prophet has adapted to the ever-changing Heavy Metal climate?
SK: Good question, I’m not really sure. Critics and fans are probably better able to answer that question. I don’t really feel like I’ve adapted, but just continued doing our thing.

CV: With also being Steel Prophet's primary songwriter, have you seen a change in how you write now compared to when the band formed in 1984? Has the songwriting progressed in a way you are happy with?
SK: Some parts of the way I approach songwriting are the same. The riff is king in my mind, and then the melody is constructed to work with the riff. I feel like I’ve learned a lot over the years, and have mastered some of the ‘tricks’ that eluded me in the beginning. Sometimes I would make things more difficult for myself. Less is more is a cliché, but it can be true. Some harmony construction techniques get better over time.

CV: The band has experienced several lineup changes over the years…not uncommon for a band that has been around since the mid 80's.  What has been the hardest part, in your opinion, about making such lineup changes? How have fans reacted over the years…have they been supportive?
SK: Just getting used to new people and the way they work. Luckily we have the guys that were from our golden period in the band these days (between 1987-1995), so that is comforting. Fans just want what they want, and make no apologies. If you want a Coke at the 7/11 and they give you orange soda, you have the right to say no thank. It’s that way with bands. Some of our supporters stick around no matter what though.

CV: Speaking of lineup changes, Steel Prophet has gone through seven different lead vocalists, with the dynamic R.D. Liapakis currently at the helm.  Does such diversity with the position affect how the band writes material or has there always been one goal in mind regardless of who is at the mic?
SK: Well, we don’t really count most of those singers! We have only three that have done albums with us…eight of the albums were the same singer. It’s been pretty consistent goals when writing; write a killer song! We always like variety in our song writing, but strive for excellence all the time. Sometimes we get it right. Especially on this new album, everything just lined up right. Our “Dark Hallucinations” album was like that too. We’ve got a great singer right now. We’ve had great singers before, but R.D. is a producer, mix engineer, and all around musician. That’s a first for us.

CV: Steve, do you see music videos as still a necessary component to a band's branding? Do videos push album sales even in the digital streaming age?
SK: I really don’t know about that, but our label seems to think they are good promotional tools. Let’s face it, if you go to Youtube and see zero videos for a new band you want to check out, you probably look for a different group.

CV: Has the heavy splintering of the Heavy Metal genre in recent years done more to create divisions with fans and musical tastes rather than promoting unity in embracing musical diversity?
SK: Yeah, I think so, but nothing like the days when it was hair Metal vs. Thrash Metal! A lot of fans cross genre lines pretty easily these days I think.

CV: Since 1984, Steel Prophet has weathered the storm of countless changes in the music industry, especially those in Metal.  What do you feel has been the band's secret to such focus and drive to maintaining its foothold in the Heavy Metal world and with fans?
SK: Just the love of music. You could play this music on acoustic guitars and bongo drums and the melodies, harmonies and arrangements should still hold up. There is just an art to constructing music and I love to do it. Ideas are just always coming to us. We’ve got five guys that love music, and that’s what we do…not everyday, but consistently. We’re very grateful we have devotees that stick with us and appreciate what we do.

CV: What's coming up next for Steel Prophet?
SK: Oh, we’ll see. We have a record release party in a couple days, and a new video for the song “Thrashed Relentlessly” just came out yesterday. If the album does good, I think we may line up some European tour dates and take it from there!

CV: Thank you again Steve for spending some time talking and sharing with our readers. I wish you all the best and continued success.
SK: Thank you to you and your readers. It’s my pleasure. All the best to you as well.

Check out Steve and Steel Prophet at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SteelProphet

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My name is Mick Michaels...I'm an artist, music fan, songwriter, producer, dreamer and guitarist for the traditional Heavy Metal band Corners of Sanctuary. Writing has always been a creative outlet for me; what I couldn't say in speech, I was able to do with the written word.  Writing has given me a voice and a way for me to create on a multitude of platforms including music and song, articles, independent screenplays, books and now, artist interviews. The Cosmick View is an opportunity to raise the bar and showcase artists in a positive and inspirational light. For me, it's another out-of-this-world adventure.

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