BELPHEGOR emerges as one of the most extreme line ups to ever come out of the death black metal scene. The band members themselves describe their hellride as “Supreme Death/ Black Metal Art”. BELPHEGOR`s new opus “BLOOD MAGICK NECROMANCE“ will be released on January 14th (today) in Europe and February 8th in North America via Nuclear Blast Records. Belphegor are: Helmuth: Heretic Grunts, Chainsaw – Serpenth: Bass Devastator.
Some days ago Belphegor’s Helmuth replied to my questions, just in time for the “BLOOD MAGICK NECROMANCE“– release date, that is today…
Hi Helmuth, I’m Tarja from Metal Shock (Italy) and Metal Shock Finland. thanks for this chance to interview you! How the things are going on?
Things are going infernally. Did about 90 interviews these weeks, the feedback is beyond amazing, so all is good. Can’t wait till the release date of the new monster, entitled, BLOOD MAGICK NECROMENCE.
Helmuth, you describe yourself as an icon status when it comes to supreme death / black metal art. Can you tell me what exactly does it mean?
BELPHEGOR is elite. Never described me nor the band as an icon. BELPHEGOR stands for Antilife – Antigod. We always shred the brutal Metal of Death. It is about rebellion in man, free will to make your own decision, walk your own path. In my opinion freedom is the most important thing in life. Anyways, the musick rules above all.
In 2006 you signed the contract with NB, tell me about these last 4 years, lets say, the main and most important moments…
Nuke Blast is doing a good job, with proper distribution and opened some doors for BELPHEGOR. The rest was a hard fight to get the band where we are now. We were never an overnight sensation, nor a shitty marketing whore band, we never knelt down for anyone. Never will. Everyone knows, we are one of the hardest touring bands, and strong albums brought us on top of this genre. We never changed our sound drastically, only developed and get it tighter/ better in my opinion. All without compromise.
Your new album “Blood Magick Necromance” will be released on the 14th january. Would you like to tell us about its birth, and how was its labor?
Hell yeah be prepared. This time we recorded in Sweden, in the Abyss studio with Peter Tägtgren. The soundwall is massive and fits perfectly to the new BELPHEGOR album. He is experienced and motivated us to give a lot of extra energy. We recorded five weeks, devided in 4 sessions, so everything could grow and to get the best result. I mean, it is always a pleasure to try something new, it’s important u know,….or see our music from another perspective though, I’m blown away by the brilliant soundwall. It’s BELPHEGOR to the highest, more heavy and epic than ever, that was the masterplan as we started with the songwritting/ rehearsals. There are a lot of new elements and structures added, to explore our chaos sound and take it to the next level, more shredding, more magic, more of everything. Exactly how we wanted to sound in 2011.
What stories and feelings there are behind this new baby? Where you’ve taken the ideas to the 8 tracks of album?
Lyric wise we drew from many magical currents which deal with necromantic death pacts, prophesy, and sadism for BLOOD MAGICK NECROMANCE. Of course there is the elements of witchery and the occult but also a strong Anti-Christian sentiment, with tendencies to Nihilismus.
What are the main differences to your last full-lenght “Walpurgis Rites – Hexenwahn” (2009)?
I don’t compare albums. Yeah u hear a lot of classical influences on BLOOD MAGICK NECROMANCE, from ingenious composers such as Mozart, Bach, Brahms, etc. We also added for the first time some haunting – majestic orchestrations, to make all more intense and to get a cold ritualistic atmosphere. “BLOOD MAGICK NECROMANCE”, is a very special and magnificent album for BELPHEGOR.
I’ve listened your new album, and especially the 2nd track “Rise to Fall and Fall to Rise” attracts me a lot for its majestic and monumental sounds. Tell me about this song…
Yeah one of the most epic hymns we ever created, we added a lot of new structures, to explore the sound and bring all to the next level, that’s the masterplan, to get more intense u know.
Also wanna mention the first track IN BLOOD – DEVOUR THIS SANCTITY. The chorus melody is inspired by the classical composer, JOHANNES BRAHMS “Hungarian Dance” # 1 (1833 – 1897), u also hear a violine there, played by Meri “Lou” Tadic.
Or the titletrack, a seven minutes opus, we worked eight months on this complex hymn. And arranged everything in each detail. You find everything there, spoken words, chants, choirs, grunts, acoustic guitars, doom parts which turn to ultra blast beats. I’m really proud of this massive song. the most difficult – varied track we ever created. Also new is that we ended the album with a highspeed riff attack, entitled SADO MESSIAH, not with a slow track as we did on the last albums.
You’ve chosen “Blood Magick Necromance” as title track, why this choice?
It fits perfectly to the eight sound collages, the lyrical content etc. Its all about, Anti – Magic – Art – Freedom – Sex – Death.
In these months, you’re touring around the world. How has it gone so far?
Just returned from a mini tour, five hell convents with GORGOROTH & IMPIETY, beyond amazing…ultra brutal package.
Have you ever playing in Italy and/or in Finland? If so, what are your memories about these two countries?
Harrrr. Sure, both are amazing countries to visit and to shred. We toured Finland in Winter time with our brothers of UNLEASHED, I remember that we froze our asses off, lots of good memories stuck in my head.
How did you spent your Xmas-time? And which was the best gift you could wish for?
I don’t celebrate this Xmas sheep shit, we rehearsed for the mini tour.
When you’re not on stage, or in studio or reheasing, what do you do?
Drinking, talk shit, – fucking – work out with weights…and of course music, life is worthless without music.
What are your plans, after this tour season?
The masterplan is now the nonstop touring, worldwide, we start with Usa/ Can with DEICIDE, then again with SEPULTURA, after this two raids we cover Europe, two Festival tours to be announce soon. In September we shred Central America, 3/ 4 weeks again.
Anyways, hope we can return to Finland and Italy in 2011. Nowadays when it comes to extreme music and metal attitude you have to mention BELPHEGOR. We shred everything to death. Whatever try to cross our path, doesn’t matter where and which country we play. At the moment all is focused on the new album.
Helmuth, now the last question… what are your greetings to your fans in Italy and in Finland?
Regards to ya readership and all demons who stuck with us, who just got into the band, or who came to the shows. Check out the new album, BLOOD MAGICK NECROMANCE.
Helmuth, thanks a million for this interview. Hope to see you around soon! Horns up!
Hails for support and space in metal Shock Magazine, see ya on the road… http://www.belphegor.at
Interview by Tarja Virmakari – Photos: http://www.belphegor.at
Belphegor – Impaled Upon the Tongue of Sathan
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