Formed in '94 by Sabu (guitar) and Go (drums),
Suns owl have stamped themselves on the
growing Japanese metal scene with a reputation
as a energetic and explosiye live unit. playing
whai is essentially modern thrash metal with a
large dose of bottom-end nu school groove,they
are ready to release Recharged their second
full length which sees a dramatic Leap in their
song-writing skiIIs and musicianship. Before
embarking on their first tour Down Under, Go
takes time out to answer a few questions.

You were voted #1 in the Japanese heavy magazine Eat..
Does heavy or metal music get much support from the
Japanese music media?

Apart from niche magazines and passionate labels and
promoters.there's not much support from the music media for
our kind of stuff. plenty of overseas acts get enough press
coverage though.... I guess you've gotta create your own scene.
You've played alongside some of the biggest names in metal
such as Pantera, Sepultra and Slayer. Who is the most
inspiring band you've have had the opportunity to play with?

We've been inspired by many bands but if we had to pick one
it'd be SIayer!

Can you please explain what the Beast festival is7
Beast Feast festival is the biggest metal festivaf in Japan which
runs for two days and which last year drew a crowd of 30,000.
It mixes up Japanese and overseas bands and last year's bill
included Pantera, VOD. Deviate, Sepultura, Static-X, Shadows
Fall, Machine Head, One Minute Silence..... and Suns Owl as
well!

You are playing at this years Metal for the Brain festival in
Canberra. Do you know much about the festival or the bands
who will be playing?

I found out recently that it was a charity event. It's　a great thing
that　we　can do what we love and at the same time help out a
good cause! ln regards to the bands I only know of Destruction and Devolved. We're really Looking forward to it!

What do you know about Devolved?

That they're totally fucked up. No, we love those guys!

Are you influenced much by hardcore punk?

Yes we are and anything else that hits us hard for that matter.

You cover SOD's classic song Pussy Whipped. Do you play

any other covers?

Yeah, we've got a few recorded. On our first album we covered
SOD's Kill yourseft; we've also done a Loudness cover and also
a Ramones one too.

How would you say your sound has evolved over the years?

it's hard to say specifically, but we've always used the
elimination process whereby anything that sounded old to us
we'd erase and continuously applied something new that we
haven't done before.

Finally what can Australian audiences expect at a Sums Owl
show?

You'll faint from the excitement! We just want to come out and
have a great time with everyone!

Sums Owl are touring nationally with Devolved and will
perform at Goo Thur 19 Sept, the Tote Sat 21 and the
Arthouse (all ages) Sun 22. Their debut Australian release,
Recharged, is out now on Typhoon Entertainment through
MGM.