Patrick
fiendformetal@live.com
Interview with Beldaroh vocalist and bassist of Besatt and Det Gamle Besatt done by Patrick
1.Hails Beldaroh when did you first discover metal music? Who were some of the first bands you listened to?
Greetings. It was year 1986 when I recorded from the radio song „Broken heroes” played by Saxon. After that I was more into Saxon buying their MC. After Saxon I discovered Accept and this band pulled me into metal for good.
2.When did you become interested in singing and screaming? Do you do anything special to keep your throat and voice healthy?
As a vocalist first I started to sing in the band called Mystes. It was about 2001, I’m not sure. I was not vocalist in Besatt from the beginning, but sometimes I was doing parts of backing vocals though. In 2008 during some line up changes besides playing bass I also began to sing till this day. To protect my through and preserve my voice during the gig I take special pills before and after.
3.Who are some of your favorite vocalists?
I do not have any special favourite black metal vocalists but I very admire vocals of Ihsahn from Emperor
4.Besides handling the vocals you also play the bass when did you first start playing the bass?Besides the vocals and the bass do you currently play any other instruments?
I’ve started to play bass in 1991 when Besatt was formed. I’ve started as a total beginner learning all my skills all by myself. Sometimes I have also play guitar but not as a musician just to show my ideas when we are composing new material.
5.I believe your first band was Besatt formed back in 1991 what gave you the idea to form this band? How did you choose the name of the band?
It was pure coincidence actually. From some time there was a pack of metallers on our settlement. We was drinking beer together roaming places and listening to metal tapes in basements. Then during the spring of 1991 we came up with idea to form our own band. We did so. None of us can play any instrument so we had to start from zero. Name Besatt we figure out when we was checking names in Swedish dictionary. It sounds great and fit to our planned bands satanic message.
6.What is the current line-up of Besatt and for the readers are any of the past releases or merchandise still available for the fans? If yes where can the readers buy your merchandise?
Besatt line up have changed repeatedly through all these years. Present line up is: Beldaroh, bass and vocals, Colossus, guitar, Astaroth, guitar and Exernus on drums. Our old releases are available at our labels (Undercover Rec and Mutilation Rec) and of course there were many re-editions of our old stuff so as you see getting something today, specially via internet, is not that hard.
7.Besides Besatt you formed Det Gamle Besatt in 2012 when did you get the idea to start this band? What is the current line-up of the band?
In 2011 we celebrated 20th anniversary of Besatt existence. So for this occasion we release special 3 CD box set. For this we’ve recorded our very first song ever. I wanted to record it in original line up from that time. After the song was recorded we thought that playing with each other gives us hell of satisfaction. So we decided to play as before. However we were Besatt original line up from 1991, present Besatt was doing great with me being in another project so we’ve decided to name ourselves Det Gamle Besatt with Beldaroh on bass, Weronis on guitar and vocals and Dertalis on drums.
.8.For the readers who have never heard Besatt or Det Gamle Besatt how would you say each bands music sounds?
Musically Besatt is extreme as hell, technical Black Metal and Det Gamle Besatt is more like atmospheric, raw, mid tempos Black Metal. Both have satanic message of course.
9. Beldaroh you live in the mighty country of Poland what is your opinion of the Polish metal scene over the years?
I have to say that we have one of the best and strongest black metal scene in the world which I’m very proud of. Just at the very beginning of the 80’s we had bands which can be easily compared to Bathory or Venom. One of those bands was (and still is) Kat. In the early 90’s very strong underground Black Metal scene developed in Poland. Many great bands appear on this scene. Bands like Graveland, Behemoth, Arkona, Sacrilegium and many many more which unfortunately didn’t persist. Besides bands I have just mention I could also recommend bands like Taran, Infernal War, Mgła, Aryman, Empheris and last days revelation Batushka.
10.Who are your all-time favorite bands from Poland? Are their any new bands you feel the readers should watch out for ?
I think I have gave an answer to this question in previous one.
11.Besides bands are their any good fan or web-zines you can tell the readers about? And what are some of your favorite labels/distro's you feel the readers should check out soon?
I do not know a lot of web-zines. I just don’t observe web on a regular basis. As for the paper ones for sure I can recommend R’lyleh zine and labels such as Seven Gates, Warhead Records, Agonia Records or Pagan Records.
12.In your opinion what is the best and worst thing about the underground metal scene today? And what does underground metal mean to you?
One of the best things and yet the worst at the same time in the underground Black Metal scene nowadays is the internet. Now if you want to contact anybody across the whole globe you just click one button. In just one second you can check on your favorite band, shuffle their discography and listen to their music without moving from your room. The other side of this whole technological blessing is the fact that now anyone can record their own material and put it on the web. That is why internet is a crappy place to search for good bands with good music. There is just to many shitty stuff flooding you when you want to seek for something valuable. Well this is just the way it goes, I think, but because of all of this we have lost the spirit, the whole old atmosphere created by sending traditional mail, paper flayers in envelopes, sending demo tapes recorded on crappy recorder… Those times will never come back.
13.When not working on new music or band business what do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I have normal, regular „9 to 5” job, wife and 16 years old daughter which means more responsibilities. And moreover regular rehearsals with two bands, writing new riffs, lyrics, playing gigs, so believe me I haven’t got much spare time left.
14.Thank you Beldaroh for taking the time to fill this interview out.Do you have any final comments before we end this interview?
Hail Lucifer forever!
