| Interview with Helmuth & Sigurd By: Blissfulviolet |
Blissfulviolet: Can you give me
a recap…a little history on the
band for those who are unaware
of the mighty Belphegor?
Sigurd: Belphegor formed in
´93 with the intention to create
some of the most brutal and
blasphemous music possible.
Back then we were inspired by
some of the best Death metal
bands and later also
incorporated Black metal
influences into our music, which
since then became one of our
trademarks. So far we´ve
recorded 6 studio albums and 1
Live album, for further info check
out our website.
a recap…a little history on the
band for those who are unaware
of the mighty Belphegor?
Sigurd: Belphegor formed in
´93 with the intention to create
some of the most brutal and
blasphemous music possible.
Back then we were inspired by
some of the best Death metal
bands and later also
incorporated Black metal
influences into our music, which
since then became one of our
trademarks. So far we´ve
recorded 6 studio albums and 1
Live album, for further info check
out our website.
Helmuth: Hell yeah, we leave in six days and fly over to New York, we are
fucking excited about that monster tour, 33 dates in about six weeks. We want
to offer the demons who come to our shows a good performance and brutal
metal music. This is what they await from us and we give them the absolute
blast and shoot our death hits into their heads. But I don’t think we are a show
band har har, that was never our imagination of what we want to be, it's all
about the fast and aggressive sound,...u know Blissfulviolet, let the musick do
the talk!
Blissfulviolet: What are some of Belphegor’s plans for 2007? Looks like the
band will be playing a few festivals.
Helmuth: Yeah nonstop touring is the master plan,....world wide. This year we
blast some huge festivals, such as Wacken, Party San, Brutal Assault and so
on. Go to our websites tour section for all details and confirmed dates.
fucking excited about that monster tour, 33 dates in about six weeks. We want
to offer the demons who come to our shows a good performance and brutal
metal music. This is what they await from us and we give them the absolute
blast and shoot our death hits into their heads. But I don’t think we are a show
band har har, that was never our imagination of what we want to be, it's all
about the fast and aggressive sound,...u know Blissfulviolet, let the musick do
the talk!
Blissfulviolet: What are some of Belphegor’s plans for 2007? Looks like the
band will be playing a few festivals.
Helmuth: Yeah nonstop touring is the master plan,....world wide. This year we
blast some huge festivals, such as Wacken, Party San, Brutal Assault and so
on. Go to our websites tour section for all details and confirmed dates.
| Helmuth – Heretic Grunts, Chainsaw |
Blissfulviolet: What does the band
plan to do after returning from tour?
Helmuth: After this monster Us/ Can
tour we need a break to reload the
batteries, that’s for sure. Next thing is
to start some auditions with
drummers and trying to recruit a
permanent, talented member. In
middle of April we return to Russia
with DARK FUNERAL.
Blissfulviolet: How has the hunt
been going to find a new drummer?
Any candidates?
Helmuth: Right from the start, Sigurd
plan to do after returning from tour?
Helmuth: After this monster Us/ Can
tour we need a break to reload the
batteries, that’s for sure. Next thing is
to start some auditions with
drummers and trying to recruit a
permanent, talented member. In
middle of April we return to Russia
with DARK FUNERAL.
Blissfulviolet: How has the hunt
been going to find a new drummer?
Any candidates?
Helmuth: Right from the start, Sigurd
| Sigurd – Six String Flagellation |
Blissfulviolet: The band signed to Nuclear Blast not too long ago...has this
change opened any new opportunities for the band?
Helmuth: Sigurd and me are happy to have found a good and strong partner
in all things metal with Nuclear Blast. We`ve got all the possibilites now that we
were refused in the past.Sigurd: Thats the whole point in having a record label,
getting budgets for recordings, tours and producing videos helping to promote
the band. For BELPHEGOR it`s a big step forward in aspects of distribution,
promotion, and touring. We feel honored being on a label like Nuclear Blast,
and it`s also an evidence that our music has gotten more demanding. Its
amazing,...alot of really euphoric responses from all the major magazines, etc,
probably the best we have ever received. There are definitely a lot of people
taking notice on this one and we are glad. We´re fuckin motivated to work even
harder in the future.
Blissfulviolet: Tell me about Belphegor’s latest album Pestapokalypse VI?
How well has it been perceived? What prompted the decision to use several
languages in the albums lyrics?
change opened any new opportunities for the band?
Helmuth: Sigurd and me are happy to have found a good and strong partner
in all things metal with Nuclear Blast. We`ve got all the possibilites now that we
were refused in the past.Sigurd: Thats the whole point in having a record label,
getting budgets for recordings, tours and producing videos helping to promote
the band. For BELPHEGOR it`s a big step forward in aspects of distribution,
promotion, and touring. We feel honored being on a label like Nuclear Blast,
and it`s also an evidence that our music has gotten more demanding. Its
amazing,...alot of really euphoric responses from all the major magazines, etc,
probably the best we have ever received. There are definitely a lot of people
taking notice on this one and we are glad. We´re fuckin motivated to work even
harder in the future.
Blissfulviolet: Tell me about Belphegor’s latest album Pestapokalypse VI?
How well has it been perceived? What prompted the decision to use several
languages in the albums lyrics?
Sigurd: Mainly we get some ideas
from books on history, religions,
demonology, etc., paintings, and
even movies. The cover art just has
to always fit the lyrical content and
the music.
Blissfulviolet: Who did the cover
art for the Pestapokalypse VI
album? Is there a concept behind it?
Those ravens look interesting and
awesome by the way…
Sigurd: The music is of course
most important, we usually write the
lyrix when the songs are finished,
but sometimes also a great
sounding title can give you the
from books on history, religions,
demonology, etc., paintings, and
even movies. The cover art just has
to always fit the lyrical content and
the music.
Blissfulviolet: Who did the cover
art for the Pestapokalypse VI
album? Is there a concept behind it?
Those ravens look interesting and
awesome by the way…
Sigurd: The music is of course
most important, we usually write the
lyrix when the songs are finished,
but sometimes also a great
sounding title can give you the
Sigurd: The Concept is based on the Pestilence, the Devil and the
Apocalypse. There´s interesting historical and religious backgrounds to it,
which we thought would be interesting to write lyrics about. According to the
book of Revelations the pest (along with famine, war and death is a sign for the
upcoming apocalypse, at least the superstitious population were taking this shit
for granted, and were eventually losing their faith in god, turned to Satan and
started celebrating black masses. You´ve got crumbling / burning churches in
the background symbolising the powerlessness of the catholic church, there´s
heads of corpses with horns symbolising the rise of Satanism. As for the raven
headed priests depicted, there´s room for own interpretations, the raven was in
some countries the Symbol of the plague, they could also be the 4 harbingers
of the imminent apocalypse.
Blissfulviolet: I love the video and track “Bluhtsturm Erotika” from the
Pestapokalypse VI album. The song is written in German. What does this song
signify?
Apocalypse. There´s interesting historical and religious backgrounds to it,
which we thought would be interesting to write lyrics about. According to the
book of Revelations the pest (along with famine, war and death is a sign for the
upcoming apocalypse, at least the superstitious population were taking this shit
for granted, and were eventually losing their faith in god, turned to Satan and
started celebrating black masses. You´ve got crumbling / burning churches in
the background symbolising the powerlessness of the catholic church, there´s
heads of corpses with horns symbolising the rise of Satanism. As for the raven
headed priests depicted, there´s room for own interpretations, the raven was in
some countries the Symbol of the plague, they could also be the 4 harbingers
of the imminent apocalypse.
Blissfulviolet: I love the video and track “Bluhtsturm Erotika” from the
Pestapokalypse VI album. The song is written in German. What does this song
signify?
Blissfulviolet: Any highlights
you wish to comment on, based
on your music career up to
date?
Helmuth: PESTAPOKALYPSE
VI is a climax to us, u know the
album is such a huge
evolutionary step for this band
in terms of sound, song writing
and the musicianship. I think
we have managed to melt ultra
blast beats and heaviness to
one union, no bullshit when I
say we gave the demons the
strongest album we’ve ever
made.
Blissfulviolet: Any final
comments you’d like to spew
out to our readers?
Helmuth: Well Blissfulviolet,
stay fuckin tuned and thanks
for space and interesting
quests, death regards to your
readership. Hail Metal - Hail
Death!
Sigurd: Massive hails to all
BELPHEGOR fans and make
sure to catch us live when we
shred the Us/ Can the next
weeks.
Blissfulviolet: Thanks guys...
Stay brutal...best wishes on the
upcoming tour.
| Belphegor Discography Daemonolatria Demo 1991 Kruzifixion Demo 1991 Bloodbath In Paradise EP 1992 Obscure And Deep EP 1994 The Last Supper 1994 Blutsabbath 1997 Necrodaemon Terrorsathan 2000 Infernal Live Orgasm 2002 Lucifer Incestus 2003 Goatreich-Fleshcult 2005 Pestapokalypse VI 2006 |
Helmuth: It is and always was the goal of BELPHEGOR to grow as musicians
and heighten the intensity. No matter if leads/ vokills/ drums, we try to set in the
instruments more effective in each album, to arrange it better and to develop in
every aspect. BELPHEGOR shreds Supreme Death/ Black Metal Art since 1993.
Blissfulviolet: Belphegor was the fastest band on the Blackest of the Black
bill and it was also the first time that the band invaded the U.S. How did that tour
go and what were some of the crowd’s reactions?
Helmuth: Yeah, we got a lot of huge responses and very positive reaction
from the crowd, a huge challenge for BELPHEGOR to shredding this cool U.S.
run with DANZIG. Billings like this attracts lots more people than a normal death/
black metal package. Its was a blast, u know and a real honour that Mr. Glenn
gave us the chance to be a part of the Blackest Of The Black festivals.
Sigurd: This whole thing just exceeded our expectations.
Blissfulviolet: Is the band ready for the United States tour and What shall we
expect at a live Belphegor show?
and heighten the intensity. No matter if leads/ vokills/ drums, we try to set in the
instruments more effective in each album, to arrange it better and to develop in
every aspect. BELPHEGOR shreds Supreme Death/ Black Metal Art since 1993.
Blissfulviolet: Belphegor was the fastest band on the Blackest of the Black
bill and it was also the first time that the band invaded the U.S. How did that tour
go and what were some of the crowd’s reactions?
Helmuth: Yeah, we got a lot of huge responses and very positive reaction
from the crowd, a huge challenge for BELPHEGOR to shredding this cool U.S.
run with DANZIG. Billings like this attracts lots more people than a normal death/
black metal package. Its was a blast, u know and a real honour that Mr. Glenn
gave us the chance to be a part of the Blackest Of The Black festivals.
Sigurd: This whole thing just exceeded our expectations.
Blissfulviolet: Is the band ready for the United States tour and What shall we
expect at a live Belphegor show?
and myself were always 100 % responsible for all the musical work, we are
BELPHEGOR, u know. Of course it`s a pity if you have a changing line up, but
that allowed us to surpass ourselves every time, because of the fresh blood in
the band, you know - through the hiring of better musicians. I always consider
that as a chance to push the band forward.
Touring line - up:
Helmuth: Guitar, Vokills
Sigurd: Guitar
Serpenth: Bass
Lille: Session Drums
BELPHEGOR, u know. Of course it`s a pity if you have a changing line up, but
that allowed us to surpass ourselves every time, because of the fresh blood in
the band, you know - through the hiring of better musicians. I always consider
that as a chance to push the band forward.
Touring line - up:
Helmuth: Guitar, Vokills
Sigurd: Guitar
Serpenth: Bass
Lille: Session Drums
inspiration and the idea what a new song could sound like. Our lyrix go hand in
hand and compliment each other, some having historical backgrounds, while
others are promoting free will and basically saying "fuck the church."
Helmuth: Yeah the ravens are awesome, the artist is Mr. Seth from Greece,
he did an awesome job.
hand and compliment each other, some having historical backgrounds, while
others are promoting free will and basically saying "fuck the church."
Helmuth: Yeah the ravens are awesome, the artist is Mr. Seth from Greece,
he did an awesome job.
Helmuth: BLUHTSTURM EROTIKA for example features verses of Goethe and
the Marquis de Sade, we wanted to let those two contrary characters collide.
The beautiful and pure on the one side, and the decadent and sinful on the
other. Since BLUTSABBATH ( ´97 ) I ´m very inspired by Marquis De Sade and
used many of his original verses in our lyrics on each BELPHEGOR album.
Blissfulviolet: Belphegor has been around for quite sometime…
Helmuth: Yeah, and it still is a fun, the feeling to produce hard music is still in
us, I'd say we are even more ambitious than ever before. Hail Metal - Hail Death!
All hail the mighty Belphegor...Their latest album Pestapokalypse VI is
brutal and wickedly delightful. These guys continue to push the
bounderies of extreme black metal. I was honored to ask Helmuth and
Sigurd a few questions before they ventured off to invade and conquer
the U.S.
brutal and wickedly delightful. These guys continue to push the
bounderies of extreme black metal. I was honored to ask Helmuth and
Sigurd a few questions before they ventured off to invade and conquer
the U.S.