Metal Invader - Belphegor Interview



M.I.: First of all, congratulations for your new album, "Bondage Goat Zombie". It has really conquered my stereo for the last month! What are the reactions of the people so far, concerning the album? Helmuth: That's amazing man, fucking great to hear that! So far, the feedback are enormous worldwide, got a lot of huge responses from magazines, radio - tv stations, many reviews are brilliant, seems to me that Metal heads are as content as we are. "Bondage Goat Zombie" is in the stores worldwide, its a real pleasure to promote this massive album. To becoming mightier, more intense with every opus has always been our aim since 1993, we all have exercised a lot on our instruments the last years, the most important thing still is, to improve our playing and compositorical abilities, to just get better in all musical aspects. This release is our most mature effort, the nine tracks reached a higher level of dynamics, besides that, you can hear the most aggressive vocal work I've ever done. And yes, things are going infernally! "Bondage Goat Zombie" just crushed the German and Austrian top charts, I mean its not important to me, I don't give a shit u know, cause charts are for fashion/trend assholes. But hey, it definitely is a breakthrough for extreme Metal in general, a triumph for the devil and a stigma for moralizers, an extra punch in their afces. So we are high on fire and motivated to work even harder in the future… M.I.: In "Bondage Goat Zombie" there is a concept about Marquis De Sade and extreme sexual acts. How come, you did something like that? Was it because Marquis De Sade was a man that represented freedom of speech and resistance against the "so called" moral and ethical laws or just because he really knew what lust for flesh means? Helmuth: Most people don't realize the word "sadism" comes from Marquis de Sade's name. I'm more than impressed since 1997 by De Sade and used many of his original verses for the new album. Yeah he's the man, he was a rebel and was in jail about 25 years for his art, scripts, ideals and even that long he took refuge. His work was a battlefield full of perverted sex but on the other hand his writing is pure poetry. The lyrics are focused on Marquis de Sade (1740-1814) and Sathan, lemme describe the title. BONDAGE = The album deals with bondage, S/M all the fetish stuff, you know and overall inspired by the themes in the work of Marquis de Sade. GOAT = our trademark since the end of the ninties. ZOMBIE = This goes along with my opinion that there are people who are brainless, fucked up zombies who sleep-walk the earth, infesting it like a plague. The message is clear, its about rebellion in man, free will and to take your own decision, follow your own path and do not let them break your will. In my opinion freedom is the most important thing in life… M.I.: In the album I must say, that the death metal parts are more than its predecessor. I believe that you have said that you don't care about what is prevailing in your music, death or black elements, as long as it sounds good. Are we going to see a death metal album from BELPHEGOR in the future, or a BELPHEGOR album without black metal would not be BELPHEGOR music? Helmuth: It seems like everyday there's a new subgenre of Metal. But while trends come and go, Death and Black Metal is forever, real Metal in general. You know, nowadays Death/ Black Metal rules the world and is the strongest, the most archaic of all kinds, we always have to search for evolution and explore the music, and bring it a bit further each time, thats the masterplan. BELPHEGOR always try to bring something interesting to an already oversaturated Metal market, the most important thing, is that when you play a BELPHEGOR album, you immediately recognize that it is BELPHEGOR. Right Kostas, I don't want to label our sound, I'll leave that up to the listener, you know, they should decide what they want to call the inferno. M.I.:In some of the songs you have used German and Latin. Nowadays, many bands out there are using their native languages in their albums. Do you believe it's good for a band to have its lyrics in its native language or do you find it uncommercial because a few amount of people will only understand? Helmuth: I don't care man, really, I mean, we use our mother language since 1994. Each verse is connected. This time we increased the german poems again, next to latin and english. Each language has its own atmosphere, toughness in its pronounciation, thats the main reason why we have been mixing it. Besides, you can't translate most of the old verses, poems, chants we use, u know, cause the sense would be defaced, or the words don't exist anymore. Its the highest blasphemy to growl in latin, the churchs speech, and mock them with their own words… M.I.:Who has created the artwork? It is really impressive! Did you participate in the creation by giving any ideas to the designer? Helmuth: The lyrical content just has to always fit the cover, photo, booklet art and melt the whole into a cold unit and give the brutal music more power. Ralph Manfreda, a great artist from Austria followed my suggestions and did an amazing job on the whole booklet art, it look goddamn sick, I dig it and it was a privilege to work with him again. If it says BELPHEGOR on the outside, it`s BELPHEGOR what you fucking get, we are not here to piss around. M.I.:If I'm not wrong you are looking for a drummer. Have you made any auditions or have you listened to any material sent to you by drummers? How can a drummer contact you and send his material? Helmuth: Since years we work with rotating drummers, we always recruit experienced musicians to gurantee the brothers and sisters an intense BELPHEGOR live chaos. As I already mentioned, it's not a big deal, we are on the road the whole year, the core is goddamn solid and ready to kick some serious ass, thats all you need to know. When we go on stage we want the demons to forget all the bullshit and simply have a blast. Everywhere the maniacs are in a good mood, go crazy, scream their lungs out, begin to bang, to have a good time is always great for the band and keeps you unchain more and more energy in a live situation… takes you straight to hell. M.I.:"Pestapokalypse VI" and "Bondage Goat Zombie" were released from Nuclear Blast. How are things with the label so far? Helmuth: Nuke Blast is the perfect label for BELPHEGOR, it's a good alliance and it`s also an evidence that our music has gotten more demanding, we're fuckin motivated to work even harder in the future. Well, they absolutely respect what we are doing and thats the most important thing for us, no damn restrictions. M.I.:You are about to start playing in festivals in the next month, and right after that a European and a US tour will follow. Are you nervous at all or you will just go out there and show what BELPHEGOR on stage means? Helmuth:For me, its the best to play live, u know, we are always exited, each show is beyond amazing for us and a huge challenge, we did so many brutal concerts the last decade, unforgetable good times, and met so many wonderful dedicated ppl worldwide. Preaching the blast-beat in a live situation is our mission man, we concentrate on the faster songs (he,he). Can't wait to shred the "Bondage Goat Zombie" tracks live… M.I.:Ok now, a more "classic" question. Which are the bands, you most enjoyed playing with? Helmuth:Too many to mention them all, we shred each year and 100 shows and shared many stages with amazing bands! M.I.:All of your albums have received really nice reviews from METAL INVADER and you guys are really loved here in Greece. What do you have to say about that and do you have any plans of coming here for a live show? Helmuth:Exactly man, we are very enthusiasmed and hot about presenting our songs for the Greek Metal demons, its about time to shred there the very first time, just show ppl what we're about, it would be definately an honor for BELPHEGOR. Still waiting on some serious offers… M.I.:Ok, thanks a lot for this interview. All the best for "Bondage Goat Zombie" and your upcoming shows! Any last words...? Helmuth:Thanks for the interesting interview Kostas. Regards to your readership, check out our new album "Bondage Goat Zombie". Throw thy horns, BELPHEGOR are back to skull-fuck you!!!!