16/02/2022
Back in 2011, Unseen Forces was handed this brilliant release idea by Greg Meleney (Danava). At the time, we had no original record to work with and no idea who was behind the Astaroth name. At the time there was still debate over when the record was recorded and every other imaginable question.
The Astaroth 7" became the 4th Unseen Forces release. We erroneously thought the song "Salanispiritus" was supposed to be "Satanispiritus" and amended the center label of the 45 to reflect this. We also altered the center labels to reflect the colors associated with Astaroth in the correspondences in our possession, as well as the Sigil of Astaroth on the B-side center label.
About one month ago (2022) we finally heard from someone associated with the project. Dr. Mark Young graciously answered several questions related to Astaroth.
Miraculously, we had set aside a box of singles in case anyone ever made themselves known.
~When and where was Astaroth recorded?
Dr. Mark Young: 1975 in Farmington Hills Michigan
~Who was involved with the band?
MY: Jim Burch, Alan Remick, myself Mark Young. At the time of the recording, Jim and I were 18 years old and Al was around 16. Jim has moved to California, and Al and I remained in Michigan and are still best friends to this day. The band eventually became the band Mercenary and recorded several more songs under that name. I eventually went on to other bands such as Allied Force. Al was drums, Jim was guitar, I was bass, all vocals, and keyboard.
~Who is the J. Burch credited with the songwriting?
MY: Jim and I wrote everything together, but he wanted the credit on the A side so I was fine with it.
~Adesta Records? With a catalog number of AR 4287 it would seem that there was an attempt to make this look like it was on an established label, but there seems to be no label called Adesta.
MY: There really is an Avesta but it was a label from Europe that my family recorded on years ago. It is gone now but did exist.
~How was the name Astaroth chosen?
MY: Jim was the big occult person and he choose it based on the female version of Astaroth which was a goddess of sexuality and power.
~Please explain the song title Salanispiritus.
MY: The name of the song in Latin means to sell your soul.
~Did you ever record more than these two songs?
MY: Not as Astaroth.
~What inspired you guys to write these songs? You said Jim was into the occult, but were you and Al also into such things?
MY: Jim was the most involved with the occult and I had some interest in it. My Grandmother was a medium and witnessed a lot of strange events.
~Who were your influences at the time?
MY: At that time we were very influenced by Black Sabbath, Montrose, Robin Trower, Zeppelin.
~Did you record with Mercenary or Allied Forces, and is anything available from either band? ]
MY: We did record some stuff, in fact much better than the Astaroth music. We became a local touring band in the Detroit and surrounding area, sometimes opening for bigger names in the area. We eventually got an offer to record and tour Europe as an opening act but by then I had a son and didn't want to be gone that long.
~How did you find out about the reissue? I admit to being surprised that it took 10 years to hear from someone in the band.
MY: My nephew found it one day.
