Sympathy is a Technical Death project band from Canada. It's a one-man project.

JesusMetal: You write the music and lyrics on your own, where do you get your inspiration from?

Dharok: This may sound strange, but I think that it makes sense: the music inspires the lyrics, and the lyrics inspire the music... Usually, when I write a new song, I start with a title and a concept. As I think about these two things, the riffs and arrangement start to take shape. It is actually after I have recorded the music for a song, that I begin to think about lyrics. So then, when I am writing the lyrics, I can get a new perspective on the music and let it truly inspire my thoughts.

To me, death metal is all about aggression. It is barbarian music: it is harsh, angry and powerful. These emotions and concepts need to fill me as I am writing - without them, the music seems lifeless and stillborn. Since these are the emotions that accompany death metal music, the concepts behind the lyrics and the inspiration for those lyrics tend to be much the same: dark, aggressive and filled with a sense of power.

JesusMetal: If you had the chance you could get a full line-up, would you take it, or stick with the one-man project?

Dharok: Yes, without a thought. I would love to work with other musicians, but I haven't yet found anyone who lives near me that can keep up with me... I really haven't been looking hard, but I have kept my ears open.

JesusMetal: With which bands do you compare Sympathy?

Dharok: I am not really sure who I sound like, but I would say that Invocation had a lot of similarity with older Morbid Angel and Suffocation. But if you listen to any Immolation, you will hear some vocal similarities, plus I think that the music on Invocation shares some melodic similarities with Dimmu Borgir.

The new album that I am working on right now is much heavier and faster. I would say that the Suffocation influence is still very strong, but it is quite easy to hear a Hate Eternal and Origin influence in the music. It has been a natural progression for me to write music that is heavier and faster, but I never intend to mimic the sound of any other band - that just happens because they are artists that I respect musically.

JesusMetal: You released Invocation about a year ago through Fear Dark, what do you think of it now?

Dharok: Well, there were things that I wish I could have done differently as soon as I mailed the pre-master away, but now having a year's worth of time to reflect, there are a lot of things that I would like to change. First, I wish that I had crafted some of the songs a little better: changed a riff, played at a different tempo, etc. Secondly, wish that I had worked a little harder on my guitar tone, I feel that the sound I am getting now is far superior. Third, I wish that I had paid more attention during the production for all sorts of mistakes that I can hear all over the place. But it was a learning experience, and I am still proud of the end product. It is not as if everything went wrong with it or anything like that...

JesusMetal: You're working on a new cd, there is also a new mp3 on mp3.com, what can we expect from it?

Dharok: The newest disc takes Sympathy to a new level... perhaps Christian death metal as well... Each song is much more finely crafted, the riffs are played and arranged much better than they were on Invocation, the vocal sound is much more powerful and their delivery is much harsher and thought through, and the drums are much more present and clear. Expect to hear fast, heavy and technical music. The new disc has a lot more brutality and yet it retains the melody and atmosphere of Invocation. I believe that this new disc will really surprise a lot of people.

JesusMetal: Will Angel sing on a song again?

Dharok: Yes, she will sing. I am currently arranging her vocal parts. But at this point, I do not think that there will be any songs that she will be singing lead parts in.

JesusMetal: When will it be released?

Dharok: Fear Dark and I are currently working that one out. I need to complete three or four more songs and finish the lead guitar and female vocals on most of the tracks yet. So from my perspective, it will be a month or so before I am done.

JesusMetal: What is the idea behind the name Sympathy?

Dharok: There really isn't any deep meaning behind the name. I thought it sounded cool, and that it looked cool as a logo, so I went with it. It is rather superficial, but I admit it.

JesusMetal: Sympathy has existed for about 13 years, and you finally broke through with Invocation, how does/did that feel?

Dharok: It does feel great. I have had so much music inside me wanting to get out for so long, it felt really good to finally take the first step on that journey.

JesusMetal: How important is the message bands bring to you?

Dharok: To me, message is important, but it is not everything. Some people listen to music to learn how they should act from their favorite artists, but to me, music is about music. I don't really have any trouble separating music from message in my mind, I am generally not interested in what other bands believe or promote - in fact, I think far fewer "evil" bands believe or promote what they music communicates. Music is simply about music for most musicians, the message is simply a method to create the emotion and atmosphere that the music is intended to evoke.

What does this mean for Sympathy? Well, I try to be very conscious of how the message of the lyrics fits with the music - by carefully putting the two together, it can enhance their power. But on the other hand, I am not surprised that people are more captivated by the music than by the message. I haven't yet had anyone e-mail me and comment on the messages of the songs, they always talk about the music...