Sardonic Witchery’s King Demogorgon Talks Under The Sign Of The Trident , Maryland Deathfest, and the Relentless Underground Spirit
The underground metal scene thrives on passion, independence, and a refusal to compromise. Few artists embody that spirit more than Ricardo “ KD” Mota , better known to extreme metal fans as King Demogorgon of Sardonic Witchery .
During a recent appearance on The Zach Moonshine Show on Metal Devastation Radio , the Texas- based black thrash mastermind sat down for an in- depth interview discussing the band’s savage compilation Under The Sign Of The Trident , their upcoming album, international tour plans, and the personal journey that brought Sardonic Witchery into existence.
The conversation covered everything from underground metal philosophy to occult inspiration and the reality of building a band across continents.
And one thing became clear quickly. Sardonic Witchery plays by its own rules.
“ We do exactly what I wanna do and we don’t have compromises with nobody.”
The Purpose Behind Under The Sign Of The Trident
While Sardonic Witchery fans are eagerly waiting for the band’s next full- length album, Demogorgon revealed that the record is already finished .
However, instead of rushing it out, the band made a strategic move by releasing the compilation Under The Sign Of The Trident , featuring powerful re- recordings of earlier material.
The goal was simple. Keep the ritual alive while preparing the next era of the band.
“ We did this compilation because we cannot release the new album yet. We want to find a really good label for it.”
The compilation acts as both a tribute to Sardonic Witchery’s past and a brutal preview of the band’s evolving sound.
Fans of black metal, thrash metal, and underground extreme metal will recognize the raw aggression and stripped- down intensity that has defined the project since its early demos.
A New Sardonic Witchery Album Is Coming
One of the biggest reveals during the interview was confirmation that Sardonic Witchery has completed its fifth full- length album , which promises to push the band into new sonic territory.
According to Demogorgon, the upcoming record will surprise some listeners.
“ That will be a very different album. Some people will say, ‘ What the hell is happening here?’”
While the band’s black metal roots remain intact, the new material leans more heavily into black thrash influences , delivering faster riffs, tighter songwriting, and stronger production.
A key contributor to this evolution is guitarist and producer Lubys Rina , who recently became an official member of the band.
Demogorgon praised his impact on the new material.
“ He gave a lot of power to the new riffs. He’s an excellent guitarist and producer.”
The album is currently being submitted to labels, with hopes of a 2027 release .
From Portugal to Texas: The Origins of Sardonic Witchery
The story behind Sardonic Witchery is deeply personal.
Born in Portugal and raised partly in Switzerland, Mota grew up immersed in heavy music before forming his first bands in the early 1990s.
After years performing in Europe, life took a dramatic turn that eventually led him to Texas.
“ I came to Texas to clean my mind… it was supposed to be three months. I’ve been here fifteen years.”
During that time, Sardonic Witchery emerged as a one- man extreme metal project , allowing Demogorgon complete creative freedom.
“ When you do music by yourself, you can do whatever you want when you feel it.”
That independence has resulted in an enormous catalog of demos, splits, and underground releases dating back to 2012.
The Meaning Behind the Name Sardonic Witchery
The band’s name itself comes from a combination of personal experience and symbolism.
Demogorgon explained that the word “ sardonic” reflects the idea of a sarcastic or bitter smile , something that resonated deeply during one of the darkest periods of his life.
“ When you are pissed off but you give a smile to people… that is sardonic.”
Combined with the mystical imagery of witchcraft, the name perfectly captures the band’s identity.
Dark. Defiant. Uncompromising.
Touring Plans and Maryland Deathfest
Sardonic Witchery has a busy year ahead on the live front.
The band will perform several major appearances including a highly anticipated slot at Maryland Deathfest , one of the world’s most respected extreme metal festivals.
“ Maryland Deathfest is something I wanted to do for a long time.”
The band will also be heading overseas for a performance in the UK at an underground festival called Weekend of Darkness , before returning to the United States for a tour with Polish black metal veterans Besatt .
Tour stops are expected across multiple states including:
Wisconsin
Illinois
Indiana
Louisiana
Texas
North Carolina
New York
Tennessee
Sardonic Witchery will also make their first- ever appearance in Mexico later this year.
A True Underground Metal Warrior
What makes Sardonic Witchery stand out is the relentless drive behind it.
While many bands rely heavily on industry backing, Demogorgon built this project through pure dedication.
Outside of music, he works as an electromechanic , balancing everyday life with the demands of writing, recording, and performing extreme metal.
It is a reminder that the underground metal scene still thrives on passion rather than profit.
Stream the Full Interview
Fans of black metal, thrash metal, and underground extreme music will want to stream the entire conversation, which dives even deeper into Sardonic Witchery’s history, influences, and future plans.
From stories about early bands and European tours to the philosophy behind creating uncompromising extreme metal, the interview captures the mindset of an artist fully dedicated to the craft.
As always, the message from Metal Devastation Radio is simple.
Turn it up loud.
Put the speakers in your windows.
And let the neighbors know real metal is alive and well.
Track List:
Battle Of the Bands Top Six Winners:
1 - NIKOLA'S CAGE - Chopped Up Jesus - (38,609 votes)
2 - Ethereal Darkness - The Cycle - (14,118 votes)
3 - Mistress - Terrified eyes - (10,714 votes)
4 - Fury date - Wait for me - (9,744 votes)
5 - RUNT - FOREVER - (2,730 votes)
6 - DoomsVein - Unholy - (2,085 votes)
The Zach Moonshine Intro
7 - Ozzy Osbourne - Flying High Again (Live 93)
8 - HÖWLER - The 9 to 5 Trap
9 - Six Feet Under - Unmistakable Smell of Death
10 - Lamb of God - Into Oblivion
Sardonic Witchery - Interview featuring Black Fucking Metal/Freezing Darkness
11 - Monstrosity - The Colossal Rage
12 - Lair of the Minotaur - I HAIL I
13 - Corrosion Of Conformity - You Or Me
14 - Crème Flesh - For Your Ass Only
15 - Rahvira - Stone by Stone
16 - FREQUENCY OVERLOAD - THRASH KING
17 - FALSE MESSIAH - Iron Sky
18 - Distant - Spirit
19 - Synthre - The Searing Dream
20 - NECROTION - SON OF DOG
21 - Dethlores of Gehenna - Behemoth.
22 - Nocturnal Ceremony - Carnage
Full show streaming on Mixcloud:
Check out the interview segment on YouTube:
Spotify and Apple:
Big shout out and thanks to the 178,791 metal maniacs from around the world that tuned in to the live devastation Friday night!
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