1.Hails King Demogorgon, please introduce yourself to the readers.
-Hails! I’m King Demogorgon, founder and manager of SARDONIC WITCHERY. I’m also the vocalist, lyricist, and I played all the instruments on the past recordings. I started SARDONIC WITCHERY in Porto, Portugal, back in 2012, and since 2013 the project has been based in Texas, USA.
My involvement with music and the underground goes back much further than SARDONIC WITCHERY. I started playing in garage bands in 1993, and from that point on I became increasingly involved in the underground metal scene.
From 2000 to 2011, I founded and managed Infernal Kingdom, my first major band, where I played all the instruments. I also played bass in Nocturnal Wolf, drums in Judas Goat, and all instruments and vocals in Drunk Mötör Rider. From 2009 to 2016, I was also the live bass player for Cryfemal.
My involvement with the underground was never limited to playing music. In Portugal, I promoted underground festivals such as Extreme Devotion Fest and Hellmaster Ritual from 2005 to 2010. During the same period, I also ran my own printed underground zine, Devoção Extrema, dedicated to the underground scene.
After moving to the United States, I continued working within the underground. From 2013 to 2019, I ran Underground Longhorns Records, an underground label focused primarily on releasing and distributing SARDONIC WITCHERY, while also releasing material from other bands.
So, basically, I’ve been involved in the underground for more than three decades - as a musician, vocalist, songwriter, founder, manager, promoter, zine editor, label owner, and now with SARDONIC WITCHERY. All of these experiences have shaped who I am and what SARDONIC WITCHERY represents today.
2.At what age were you when you first discovered thrash black and death metal? What is it about these genres that drew you in so many years ago?
-I started listening to Heavy Metal and Thrash Metal around 1993, when I was a teenager, with bands like Pantera, Slayer, Judas Priest, Overkill, Fear Factory, Black Sabbath, Motörhead, and many others. That was the beginning of my journey into extreme music.
Then, around 1996, I discovered the Portuguese extreme underground, and I became completely addicted to that cult. It was a totally different world - raw, obscure, rebellious, and truly underground. Discovering that scene had a huge impact on me and made me want to dig deeper and become part of it rather than simply being a listener.
After that came Black Metal. I discovered bands like Venom, Celtic Frost, Darkthrone, Immortal, Dark Funeral, and many others. But later I started discovering the true underground Black Metal bands, bands that came from the deepest levels of the scene, Azaghal, Besatt, Infernal, Inquisition, Horna, Silva Nigra,Inferno, etc…but Maniac Butcher, for example, became one of my favorite Black Metal bands of all time. Discovering bands like that took me to another level.
It wasn’t only about the music anymore; it opened the door to a much darker atmosphere and a different level of spirituality, including Satanism. The darkness, philosophy, rebellion, atmosphere, and occult side of Black Metal connected with me in a very different way.
I was never a huge Death Metal fan, but I cannot deny how important certain bands were to me during that period. Obituary, Deicide, Cannibal Corpse, Possessed, Cryptopsy, Napalm Death, Vader, and others were definitely part of my musical journey and influenced me in different ways too.
3.Who are some of the current bands that you have been listening to?
-These days I’ve been listening to bands like Baphomet’s Blood, Bewitched, Hellbutcher, Lord Humongous, Atronos, Ironsword, Archgoat, Naastrand, Toxikull, Transilvania, NunSlaughter, and, of course, I never get tired of listening to Maniac Butcher and Gospel of the Horns.
I haven’t actually been listening to as much music as I normally would over the last few months because I’ve been listening to my own new album, Hell’s Thorns Attack, a lot. I need to memorize all the lyrics for the upcoming live shows, and honestly, I have a hard time memorizing my own lyrics sometimes! Hahaha! So right now, my own album is probably the record I’ve been playing the most.
4.When did you first become interested in playing and writing ? I believe you are a multi-instrumentalist - what are the instruments that you currently play? Are there any that you would like to learn to play one day?
-I actually started playing guitar in 1991, when I was very young. By 1993, I had already started my first grunge band, and we were trying to write and play our own original songs. So writing music has been part of my journey almost from the very beginning.
In 1996, I started playing bass when I joined a band called Red Rum. There was another guitar player who was much better than me at the time, so I decided to move over to bass. That turned out to be an important step because it opened another door for me as a musician.
Around 1998, I started learning drums by myself. Basically, the drummers kept not showing up to rehearsals, so I had to improvise! Hahaha. I started teaching myself how to play drums, and from there I continued developing as a multi-instrumentalist on my own.
Today I play guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and vocals. I’m mostly self-taught, and I think that independent approach has always been an important part of who I am as a musician. I learned because I needed to, and I never wanted the lack of another musician to stop me from creating music.
That’s also why, eventually, becoming a one-man musician came very naturally to me. If I have an idea, I can pick up the guitar, bass, or sit behind the drums and build the whole thing myself.
5.When you first started to play instruments did you take lessons of any kind or did you teach yourself over the years?
-Like I mentioned before, I started playing guitar at a conservatory in 1991. I stayed there until 1993, so I learned the basic foundations of guitar and music during that time.
After I left the conservatory, I basically took those basic skills and continued learning by myself. From that point on, I became completely self-taught, learning through practice, playing with other musicians, listening to records, experimenting, and simply trying to figure things out on my own.
I never followed a traditional musical education after that. I just kept playing, writing, experimenting, making mistakes, and improving over the years. I think that approach also helped me develop my own way of playing rather than trying to follow somebody else’s rules.
6. Who are some of your influences and favorite musicians over the years?
-Over the years, I’ve had many influences, and they come from different generations and different sides of Metal. If I had to name some of my favorite musicians, I would separate them by instrument:
Drummers: Fenriz from Darkthrone, Flo Mounier from Cryptopsy, Proscriptor from Absu, Menthor from Enthroned, and actually Simon from Marduk.
Guitar players: Vlad Blasphemer from Maniac Butcher, Infernal from Desaster, Majestic Fire from Infernal, Mantas from Venom, George Lynch from Dokken, Dimebag Darrell from Pantera, and G. Lucis Ruina from Sardonic Witchery—hahaha!
Bass players: Lemmy Kilmister from Motörhead, Akhenaten from Judas Iscariot, Beldaroth from Besatt, and Cronos from Venom.
Vocalists: Ronnie James Dio, Ozzy Osbourne from Black Sabbath, Blackie Lawless from W.A.S.P., Tom G. Warrior from Celtic Frost, Rob Halford from Judas Priest, King Diamond from Mercyful Fate, Hellbutcher from Nifelheim, and Barbarud Hrom from Maniac Butcher.
These musicians have influenced me in very different ways. Some because of their technique, some because of their songwriting, and others because of their attitude, personality, and the unique identity they brought to their music.
I’ve never been interested in technical ability alone. For me, what really matters is having your own identity and making the instrument or your voice sound like you. That is something I’ve always respected in the musicians who influenced me.
7. King Demogorgon you also handle the vocals for Sardonic Witchery when did you first start screaming and growling? Do you do anything special to keep your throat and voice healthy?
-Honestly, I was never interested in being a singer before Sardonic Witchery. Until 2012, I was mainly a musician. When I started Sardonic Witchery, I wrote the lyrics for the first demo, Hidden Shadows, and initially I tried to find a good singer to record them.
After some auditions, I basically thought, “If it’s going to be that bad, I can do it myself!” Hahaha. So I recorded my first vocals ever on Hidden Shadows back in 2012.
Since then, I’ve tried to improve my vocals with every new release. I’m still learning and experimenting with my voice, and I think that evolution is part of the Sardonic Witchery sound.
As for taking special care of my throat and voice… honestly, I don’t! Hahaha. I smoke, I drink like a beast, and I probably do everything a vocal coach would tell me NOT to do!
But for me, especially in this kind of extreme music, having a technically perfect voice isn’t the most important thing. The attitude, conviction, aggression, and the way you deliver the vocals are much more important. I’d rather have a raw voice full of attitude than a technically perfect voice with no soul or character.
8.Who would you say are some of your favorite vocalists over the years?
-I think I already answered most of this in one of the previous questions! Hahaha. Ronnie James Dio, Ozzy Osbourne, Lemmy kilmister, Blackie Lawless, Tom G. Warrior, Rob Halford, King Diamond, Hellbutcher, and Barbarud Hrom are definitely among my favorites.
They all have completely different voices and styles, but what they have in common is personality. You hear them and immediately know who it is. That kind of identity and character in a vocalist is something I’ve always respected.
9.Sardonic Witchery was started in 2012. What gave you the idea to start this band? How did you choose the name Sardonic Witchery as the name of the band?
-Sardonic Witchery was born in 2012 because I simply felt that I needed to create something of my own. After years of playing in different bands and being involved in the underground, I wanted to start a project where I could have complete creative freedom and make the music exactly the way I wanted.
I didn’t want to depend on other musicians to write or record my ideas. I wanted to create everything myself—the music, lyrics, vocals, instruments, artwork concepts, and the whole atmosphere surrounding the project. That was the beginning of Sardonic Witchery.
As for the name, “Sardonic Witchery” represents very well the atmosphere and philosophy behind the project. “Sardonic” brings the idea of something mocking, cynical, dark, and twisted, while “Witchery” connects with the occult, witchcraft, darkness, and the mystical side of extreme Metal.Together, the two words created exactly the kind of feeling I wanted for the band: something dark, sinister, sarcastic, and underground. I also wanted a name that would sound like it belonged to an old underground Black Metal record from the 1980s or 1990s.
From the beginning, Sardonic Witchery was never meant to be a polished or commercial project. It was created to be raw, aggressive, occult, and completely free from outside rules. More than fourteen years later, that spirit is still there.
10.I believe you started out as a one-man band. When did you decide to add G. Lucis Ruina as a permanent member? Would you like to add more members for a full band or do you prefer working as a duo?
-Yes, Sardonic Witchery started as a completely one-man project in 2012, and for many years I handled everything myself.
G. Lucis Ruina had already been a live guitarist for Sardonic Witchery since 2022. Before officially joining, he had also recorded the guitar solos and mixed Barbaric Evil Power in 2024. At a certain point, he showed me a huge amount of dedication to the band, as well as great respect for my creation and for me personally. I felt that he was the right person to join me on this dark journey of steel, so in 2025 he officially became a permanent member.
As for adding more official members, I’m not going to say it will never happen. Maybe some of the musicians who are currently playing live with Sardonic Witchery will eventually be crowned with official membership if they continue to show the same dedication and devotion to the band.
But the reality is that we don’t need anyone else in the studio to continue this new era of Sardonic Witchery. G. Lucis Ruina and I can create and record everything we need. Where we really need the other musicians is on stage!
I also see the current live musicians as a very important part of Sardonic Witchery. Even if they remain live members, they are still part of the machine. Hahaha! It’s actually difficult sometimes to focus on something that is already recorded and finished and then have to reproduce it in the best possible way on stage. That takes dedication, preparation, and musicians who really care about the band.
So maybe one day some of them will become official members—but for now, I’m very happy with the structure we have.
11. Hell's Thorns Attack was released earlier this year how long did it take to write the music for this release? How long would you say it usually takes to complete one song?
-Actually, Hell’s Thorns Attack didn’t take that long to write. We started composing and recording the album in September 2025, and the whole album was basically finished by January 2026.This time, the majority of the riffs were composed by G. Lucis Ruina. He already knew exactly what I wanted to do with this fifth album and understood the direction I wanted to take Sardonic Witchery. Because of that, everything was very easy and natural between us.
He brought the majority of the riffs and ideas, and I worked on them with him, making adjustments where necessary, especially with the lyrics, vocal arrangements, and overall structure. We understood each other very well, so there was no need to waste time explaining every little detail.
The ideas were already there, we knew the direction we wanted, and we put everything together very quickly. It was probably one of the easiest Sardonic Witchery albums for me to work on from a creative point of view.
As for how long it takes to complete one song, there really isn’t a fixed amount of time. Sometimes a riff can turn into a complete song very quickly, while other songs need more time and adjustments. With Hell’s Thorns Attack, everything flowed naturally, and that’s why the album came together so fast.
12. Where do you usually draw inspiration for the lyrics and what are some topics written about on the new release?
-My inspiration for lyrics comes from many different places, but mostly from darkness, personal experiences, spirituality, occultism, Satanism, war, death, hatred, lust, and the darker side of existence. I also get inspiration from the atmosphere that the music creates. Sometimes I can hear a riff and immediately have an image or an idea in my head that develops into a complete story or concept.
With Hell’s Thorns Attack, the lyrics continue exploring the darker side of Sardonic Witchery, but there are also some different approaches compared to the previous albums. The record deals with themes such as occultism, Satanism, darkness, violence, war, death, destruction, and lust.
I don’t write lyrics just to fill space between the riffs. For me, the lyrics are another weapon. They have to match the atmosphere and aggression of the music. I want the words to create images in the listener’s mind and make them feel something.
This album is also part of a new era for Sardonic Witchery. The music became more aggressive, faster, and more focused, and I wanted the lyrics to carry that same energy. Hell’s Thorns Attack is basically another chapter in the Sardonic Witchery story - dark, violent, occult, and completely unapologetic.
13. Where can the readers purchase the new release Hell's Thorns Attack? Besides the new release are the past releases still available for the readers to purchase?
-Hell’s Thorns Attack will be available through the official websites of both labels. In Europe, you can get it directly from Firecum Records, and in the USA through Jems Label LLC.
You can also check the official Sardonic Witchery Bandcamp, where you can find Hell’s Thorns Attack as well as previous releases, depending on what is currently available.
Firecum Records: https://www.firecum.com
Jems Label LLC: https://www.jemslabel.com Sardonic Witchery Bandcamp: https://sardonicwitchery.bandcamp.com
So if you want to support the band and get the physical releases, check the labels and our official Bandcamp. Support the underground - buy the fucking records! Hahaha!
14. King Demogorgon you live in Portugal - what is your opinion of the black,thrash and death metal scene in Portugal over the years?
-Actually, I don’t live in Portugal anymore. I’ve been based in Texas, USA, since 2013.
As for the Portuguese underground scene, I think it has always been very strong, and there are still some great new bands coming out of Portugal today. The scene continues to have that underground spirit that I discovered back in the 1990s, which is something I really respect.
Overall, I think Portugal continues to have a very active and passionate extreme Metal underground. There are good bands, dedicated people, promoters, labels, and maniacs keeping the scene alive, and that’s what matters.
15.Who are your all time favorite bands coming out of Portugal? Are there any new bands you could recommend to the readers?
-Portugal has always had a very strong extreme Metal underground, and there are many bands that had a huge impact on me over the years.
When it comes to the classic Portuguese scene, some of my all-time favorites are old Moonspell, Filii Nigrantium Infernalium, Decayed, Grog, Corpus Christii, Celtic Dance, Azagatel, Morte Incandescente, IRAE, Grievance, Sonneillon, Scarificare, Pestifer, Sacred Sin, Genocide, In Tha Umbra, Infernüs, Goldenpyre, and many others.
There are so many great bands from the old Portuguese underground that it would be impossible to mention them all. Some of these bands were very important to me when I was discovering and getting deeply involved with the Portuguese extreme underground in the 1990s.
As for the newer generation, there are also some great bands coming out of Portugal. I would recommend checking out Chavasckall, Sigilo, Law of Contagion, Toxikul, Gandur, Voidwomb, Caes De Guerra, and many others.
And again, I’m probably forgetting some excellent bands! Hahaha. The Portuguese underground has always been much bigger than the names that get international attention, so I encourage people to dig deeper and discover these bands for themselves.There is a lot of fucking good Metal coming from Portugal!
16.When you need to take a break from working on new music and band business what do you like to do in your free time?
-Well, first of all, Sardonic Witchery is not really a business for me. I have my regular job, and I’ve been working for the same company here in Texas for 14 years. Sardonic Witchery is something that comes from passion, not something I do as a business.
And honestly, Sardonic Witchery is always in my mind every fucking day! Hahaha. Even when I’m not actively working on the band, I’m always thinking about something related to it.
When I actually have some free time, I like to spend it with my family, ride my motorcycle, and go to Metal shows. Those are probably my favorite ways to disconnect from everything for a while.
But even then, somehow Sardonic Witchery is probably still somewhere in the back of my head! Hahaha.
17.Thank you, King Demogorgon, for taking the time to fill this interview out do you have any final comments for the readers?
First of all, I want to thank Patrick and Painful Reality Web-Zine for giving me the opportunity to do this interview and for supporting Sardonic Witchery and the underground.
To all the readers and maniacs out there, thank you for your support, for listening to our music, buying the records and merchandise, coming to our shows, and keeping the underground alive.
Hell’s Thorns Attack is coming, and this is only the beginning of a new chapter for Sardonic Witchery. Stay fucking loyal to the underground, support the bands you believe in, and never let this music become just another product.
Hails to all the true maniacs! See you on the road!
King Demogorgon
SARDONIC WITCHERY
Sardonic Witchery https://sardonicwitchery.bandcamp.com/merch https://www.facebook.com/sardonic666witchery https://www.instagram.com/sardonic_witchery/reels/
