| Swedish
Black Metal Ledgends LORD BELIAL have done it
again! Their latest release Nocturnal Beast has
taken a whole new approach to black metal and has created quite
a phenomenon. A more instrumental approach, focusing more on the
overall atmosphere instead of pure brutality, these Swedes have
let the world know that LORD BELIAL is still
one of the top black metal legions. And to tell us all about their
latest album is Micke Backelin.
Ashley:
You guys have been around since 1994 that is a long time! Can
you describe what it is like to have grown up in the black metal
scene? OR can you describe you thoughts on how the metal scene
has progressed since 1994?
Micke: Yes we got our first record-deal back in 1994
but we have been around since 1992 with LORD BELIAL
and even earlier we were involved with some other bands from mid
80’s. The metal scene has progressed a lot and one of the
main things to reflect over is of course the musicians skills…
nowadays the level is so much higher than it was in the eighties
and beginning of the nineties. Metal in general is more technical
now and the different genres in metal have been more and more
mixed together and also mixed with non metal styles as well…
Ashley:
Sweden is better known for its death metal, except for bigger
bands like Marduk, what is it like being a black metal band in
a death metal world?
Micke: It is no problem at all… I like death metal
as much as I like black metal. I don’t think about it that
much actually.
Ashley:
You debut album Kiss The Goat, was quite a phenomenon
- except for the front cover! So, how exactly did you end up with
a pink cover?!
Micke: Hehe… well it was supposed to be a quite
dark red cover, but obviously someone fucked up the color codes
when it was printed. We don’t really know who to blame for
this mistake but I guess it was the responsible layout-guy at
No Fashion Records that made a big mistake.
Ashley:
You guys have released countless unforgettable albums, so which
one is your overall favorite?
Micke: I think you already know my answer hehe…
Nocturnal Beast of course! :) To be
honest I really think this is our best album until now; at least
it is my absolute favorite. I always think that our latest album
is our best of course, because it would be very unsatisfied for
us to make an album that is not better than the previous one.
But I do really like the style of the songs on Nocturnal
Beast and I think it fits LORD BELIAL
better than for example the songs of the Angelgrinder
album that was much more death metal riffs and grinding drums.
Ashley:
Along with the amazing albums under your belts, what was the most
memorable show you have ever performed?
Micke: One of the most brutal shows was definitely in
Paris in 1997… the audience was totally crazy! It was like
a big fight on the floor all the way through the whole show, it
was just great! Another really great gig was at the Party.San
festival in Germany in 2005. The whole festival was great and
except for a technical problem with microphones for the bass drums
it was really one of the most memorable gigs ever.
Ashley:
In November 2005, you released Nocturnal Beast, which
was more focused on the overall atmosphere of the music, rather
than the speed and brutality that you are better known for. What
made you decide to go to this sound?
Micke: Actually it was not a decision we made before
we started to write the songs… they just turned out to be
like that. We write songs the way we feel like for the moment
and we don’t use to discuss what direction the songs will
take. If we write a slow album it still is OK for us since we
don’t care about any speed records at all :)
Ashley:
Nocturnal Beast was amazing I gave it a 9 of 10! You
newer approach on the sound was a refreshing treat! So are you
planning on touring any time soon?
Micke: Thank you! Yes, we are right now planning a tour
in Europe this spring. We will make all dates official at our
website as soon as everything is confirmed with the booking agency.
It seems like we will be supported by Dark Fortress, Azamoth and
Born Of Sin.
Ashley:
If you could choose any bands to play a gig with, who would they
are and where would you play?
Micke: Slayer! It would be cool to play at some big arena
somewhere.
Ashley:
What is the best show you have ever seen?
Micke: Hmm, that was a quite difficult question since
I have seen so many bands when we have been on tour and gigs…
but one of the best performed gigs ever was definitely Opeth in
2005. Another really memorable show was Judas Priest in Gothenburg
on the Painkiller tour.
Ashley:
Are there any side projects amongst the members of LORD BELIAL?
Micke: Yes we are involved in a few other bands as well.
Thomas just started a death metal band called Fleshbound and I
joined that band as well. Some other bands we are involved in
are Enthralled (Hjalmar), Latex (Micke and Thomas), Septic Tanks
(Hjalmar), Domini Cultus (Thomas and Micke) and Vassago (Micke).
(www.fleshbound.info.se) (www.latex.info.se) (www.theseptictanks.com)
(www.dominicultus.cjb.net) (www.vassago.se)
Ashley:
Who are some of your favorite bands? Both local and international?
Micke: There are so many great bands so I could make
a list of hundreds of bands… but still it would look different
in the next week… but some of the favorites are; Slayer,
Bathory, Black Sabbath, Cannibal Corpse, Opeth, Atheist, Angelcorpse,
Morbid Angel, Emperor, Exodus, Enslaved, Root etc…
Ashley:
What is the metal scene like where you are from?
Micke: It is quite dead… there are some bands from
here but there is not very much gigs and stuff like that.
Ashley:
Are there any local bands that you enjoy?
Micke: Of course our rehearsal-roommates Born Of Sin!
They play some really good death metal. I also enjoy both Impious
and The Crown that is from Trollhättan as well.
Ashley:
Describe, in your own words, the sound of LORD BELIAL.
Micke: Black metal with elements of death.
Ashley:
What are your top 5 favorite albums of all time?
Slayer – Reign In Blood
Slayer – Hell Awaits
Slayer – Seasons In The Abyss
Slayer – South Of Heaven
Grotesque – Incantation
This list would most likely look different if you asked me this
some other day, it is really difficult to just mention five albums
out of several hundreds of really great historical albums.
Ashley:
What are you top 5 favorite albums to headbang to?
Micke: I think it is the above mentioned albums…
at least for now :)
Ashley:
Is there anything else you would like to say to your fans?
Micke: Hope to see you all on tour really soon! |
