Emerging from the heart of Brooklyn, New York, Sanhedrin has been steadily carving out their place in the modern heavy metal scene since 2014. With a sound that blends classic heavy metal grit, hard rock energy, and a distinct NYC attitude, the band has built a reputation for powerful songwriting and electrifying live performances. As they continue to evolve with their latest album Heat Lightning, we caught up with the members of Sanhedrin—Nate Honor, Erica Stoltz, and Jeremy Sosville—to talk about their origins, creative process, influences, and what’s next for this unstoppable trio.

Interview

TheNwothm: Welcome and thanks for this interview! Can you tell our readers who you are and where your from?

NH: Formed in NYC in 2014, Sanhedrin is a hard rock and heavy metal band from the Empire State.

TheNwothm: Can you tell us how Sanhedrin was formed? How did each of you come to join the band—what’s the backstory?

NH: Jeremy and I had played in another band together a few years prior. While that project came to an unfortunate end, our chemistry was undeniable and we always knew we wanted to keep working together. It took us a few years and a few different lineups and members before we decided we wanted to keep things simple. Erica and I had been working together as sound engineers for a few years, and we had also decided it was time we tried collaborating.

ES: I met Nate on the stage crew for the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Occasionally, if there was a drum kit to soundcheck, he would play and immediately recognised his talent and wanted him to use it. I didn’t realise it would eventually be with me.

TheNwothm: What was the original vision or goal when you started the band in 2015?

NH: We simply set out to write music that the three of us liked. While we hoped someone would pick us up and put out our record/s, but there were no delusions of Grandeur.

TheNwothm: What inspired the name Sanhedrin?

JS: It’s a Hebrew word that literally translates into “Council” or “assembly.”It also has some biblical connotations in relation to the story of Jesus Christ and his persecution, but that’s not really where the inspiration to name our band comes from. We chose it as a reflection of our artistic process.

TheNwothm: Being from Brooklyn, New York—a city with such a diverse music scene—how has that influenced your sound or approach to heavy metal?

NH: There’s a certain attitude and swagger that bands from NYC have. Something about living on top of each other, working yourselves to the bone and then finding the will to do it over day after day hardens you. We were never really trying to sound like anybody else specifically, but we always wanted to keep our inherent “toughness.”

ES: Someone recently pointed out in a review that there are some hints of Hardcore that sneak into the songs and I think that may be an effect of growing up in NYC.

TheNwothm: “A Funeral for the World“ was your debut full-length album. Looking back, what are you most proud of on this record?

NH: The sound. Nobody believed we were a 3 piece band at first listen. While we were still figuring out our songwriting formulas and feeling each other out, we had wasted no time establishing this wall of sound, where each instrument occupied its own space and where the full auditory spectrum was represented. No Religion is also still one of my favourite songs to play live, the interplay between each of us in that song is electric and to this day, deeply cathartic.

JS: For a debut, it sounds like a band with a very clear identity and vision. Our only intention when we recorded it was to document our songs in the highest quality we could afford at the time. We certainly got much more from it than that upon its release.

TheNwothm: Was there a particular message or concept you wanted to convey with this album?

ES: As the primary lyricist for the band, I move between autobiographic and fictional storytelling, reflecting the world around me, and putting intentions out into the world. I go between personal and universal themes. Lately my sights are on the Christofascist regime that has taken over our country.  

TheNwothm: What’s your writing process like—do lyrics come first, or do the riffs lead the way?

JS: With rare exceptions, it starts with riffs and musical passages. Typically that inspires Erica to create melodies and lyrical concepts. From there, the three of us collaborate to help tell the full story with maximum impact and power.

TheNwothm: “The Poisoner” seems to build on the foundations laid by your debut but with a more refined and polished sound. How did you ensure the growth of the band’s sound while keeping the spirit of your first album?

NH: We had come out swinging with Funeral and established “the sound.” With “The Poisoner” we got a little more ambitious in the songwriting side of things. We played with odd times, space and dynamics in a way we hadn’t on Funeral. It’s an honest representation of the pure excitement of playing together and the deepening our collective bonds.

TheNwothm: Were there any particular songs on “The Poisoner” where you felt like you really pushed yourselves musically or lyrically?

NH: “The Poisoner” is easily the hardest song to play on the whole record. Anybody can play fast or blow chops, but this song is all about the space, the dynamic range of our instruments and the slow burn to the final crescendo.

JS: In general, that album was us deciding that we would not be bound by genre expectations. We can really step outside of the heavy metal foundations and know that we will sound like us no matter what.

TheNwothm: Outside of music, what are some of your personal interests or passions?

NH: I love to cook and have long enjoyed the company of the road by way of two wheeled vehicles.

JS: Music is really the centrepiece of my life and what informs everything I do. That said, I find spending time in nature to be inspiring and humbling so I make an effort to do that as much as time permits.

ES: Music is my north star. I have played in bands since I was a teenager. I really enjoy choral music and have been in choirs. I also spend as much time as possible in nature and have begun foraging. I have an abundance of edible mushrooms in the forests near me. 

TheNwothm: How did the writing process change for “Lights On” compared to the earlier albums?

NH: Lights on was the first record we completely demoed in full prior to going into the studio. While the bulk of it was written with all of us in the same room, due to Jeremy leaving the city and the forced separation of the pandemic it was also the first record where we dabbled in writing songs remotely. Fun fact: the drums on the demo that we gave to Metal Blade were recorded entirely from my iPhone..

JS: Much of the record was in the process of coming together when I left New York City in 2019. Instead of weekly rehearsals, I would go to the city every month and a half or so to practice and work on stuff in person with the band. Once the pandemic hit, we had to adapt even further to a remote collaboration.

TheNwothm: How did the concept for the album art come about? Does it tie into the themes of the album in any way?

ES: Johan Preger, an artist whose work is steeped in Free will a la Satan, did an original painting for this one. We talked Puritan pilgrims who invaded the shores of this continent with their religious zealotry.  In this wave of immigration the women of their community where only permitted to read religious works. The cover is of a woman reading love poems in secret in the woods, one of the most devilish things one could do at the time.

NH: We have always leaned on our collaborators and given them very loose initial directions when making artwork for us. We chose to work with these artists for a reason and feel it’s equally important that they get to put their spin on whatever we may have had in mind.

TheNwothm: Can you tell us about the writing and recording process for your latest album, “Heat Lightning?“

JS: I’ve lived away from Erica and Nate for about 6 years now, so our workflow has had to evolve around that fact. The first 2 songs we wrote for the album were “Heat Lightning” and “High Threshold For Pain.” With two very different song concepts, our goal from there was to create a diverse enough record where those two songs could live on the same album and make sense in the grander picture.

NH: “Heat Lightning” was the first record we wrote entirely separated. We practiced parts and worked out the kinks in the studio when we were together, but the bulk of the song writing was done apart. At this point we were all pretty familiar with each other’s styles and tastes, so this one came together pretty easily.

TheNwothm: Did you approach “Heat Lightning” differently in terms of production or experimentation compared to your past releases?

NH: While we loved working with Colin Marston and had created three amazing works in his studio, we were beginning to feel stifled in that environment. Matt Brown, Jerry Farley and I often work together on other projects professionally, and when the prospect of working a creative endeavour arose, the excitement was palpable. Matt had met Pete Caigan, the owner of Utopia Bearsville, on another gig and Pete graciously offered us his studio at rates we could afford.

Having the opportunity to work with two world class producer/engineers in a legendary studio was everything we had been missing. The production on this record is crystal clear, honest and crushingly heavy. It’s the truest representation of this band to date, with a level of detail only someone as brilliant as Matt Brown could convey. To say we’re proud of “Heat Lightning” would be an understatement.

TheNwothm: What are some of your favourite tracks or more personal tracks on the album?

NH: The title track is probably my favourite song on the record. To write a song with such consistency of intention and dynamic range was incredibly refreshing. To be compelling without roaring ahead at full speed and full volume is hard and Erica and Jeremy really brought out the magic dust and sprinkled it all over this one.

JS: Currently, I’m very proud and connected to “King of Tides.” It was fun to create a cinematic soundscape that Erica then complimented with a very bold narrative concept.

ES: My favourite might be Lets spill some blood. The lyrics are a stark implication of Christofascism.

TheNwothm: What does a typical day look like when you’re not writing or touring?

NH: I work in live events as a sound engineer and stagehand. I decided long ago that the stage was where I belonged and that even if I wasn’t the focal point, I’d at least be involved. I’m the lead audio engineer at the fourth largest theater in NYC, freelance with the NY Philharmonic, and enjoy working big dumb industrials around the country.

JS: I’m always writing music, so that’s typically part of a day for me in some capacity. Either that or working on improving as a guitarist so I can expand my creative approach to new levels. I also teach guitar lessons.

ES: I like physical exercise, if I am not playing or writing music I am doing some kind of exercise and or meditation. I also really enjoy making plant medicine from the various medicinal mushrooms and plants I am always learning about.

TheNwothm: What have been some of your most memorable live performances so far? And were there any particular bands you enjoyed sharing a stage with?

NH: Both the first time we played the 7er Club in Mannheim and our first appearance at Hell Over Hammaburg will forever be some of my fondest memories performing live. Stallion were hands down the best tour mates a band could ever ask for. Monster musicians, incredible people and I’m proud to call them brothers for life.

ES: I am a huge Savage Master fan. Playing with them is always exciting. I love playing the Golderube in Kassel. 

TheNwothm: How does your music translate live compared to the studio recordings?

NH: We’ve always been very careful when recording to make sure that what we record can be reproduced live.

JS: If you hear us recorded then see us live, the only difference may be the sweat and the energy of the room. We don’t want to rely too much on the tricks a studio can offer you at the expense of pulling the material off in a live setting.

TheNwothm: Do you have a favourite city or venue to play? Either in the US or outside?

NH: It’s always a treat to pass through San Francisco. Erica’s past life and formative years there helped create a scene and family people only dream of being a part of. It’s been an honour to have been accepted by them, and it always feels like we’re returning heroes every time we’re in town.

JS: Hamburg has become a bit of a home away from home for us. We’ve played some great shows there and have some great friendship and business relationships based out of there. And its history as a world capital of rock music cannot be denied.

ES: Part of what I love about touring is getting to know different cities. Recently we went to Tulsa, Oklahoma and discovered I really love that city.

TheNwothm: Do you have any upcoming tours, festivals, or special releases planned?

JS: We will be touring Europe in May and June with our friends Savage Master, which includes a stop at MuskelRock in Sweden and the legendary Rock Hard Festival in Germany.

TheNwothm: How can our readers buy your music and merch?

JS: We have a website run by the band in the US for merch: https://sanhedrinmerch.myshopify.com/

If you can’t find an item there, you can purchase from our label Metal Blade Records or our former label Cruz Del Sur Music who also offer affordable worldwide shipping options.

TheNwothm: Where can fans follow you online?

JS: You can find links to all the pertinent places to keep track of us at our official website, www.sanhedrin.nyc

Bandcamp:https://thesanhedrin.bandcamp.com/album/heat-lightning

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/sanhedrinband

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/sanhedrin_official/

Website: sanhedrin.nyc

Label:https://www.metalblade.com/