Betzhaida has really impressed us on their two first albums. They has established themselves as one of the best bands from Norway. We sent their fellow countryman Lord Trondheim to their address for his first interview for this ‘zine.
1. Well, let's start with the history of Bethzaida. How did you get to the point where you are now ?
After recording two demo tapes, we were offered a deal by French label
Season of Mist. We recorded our first album "Nine Worlds" for them,
they wanted to renew the deal so we recorded our new album "LXXVIII"
and the split CD "WAR: Bethzaida Vs Anata" this spring. They should
both be released soon.
2. I've seen your music been labeled as a lot of different styles,
like death metal, black metal and dark metal + a number of others.
How would you describe your music?
In my eyes our music has always been death metal, but of course, we
have a lot of different influences, 80s thrash and doom like VoiVod,
Sabbat and Candlemass, and also 90s black metal bands.
3. A couple of years ago, the "Nine Worlds" album was released.
Are you satisfied with the album today, and what reactions did you
get from the audience on that album ?
Yes, I still think the album is quite good, a bit uneven maybe,
but still listenable. But the album cover is terrible! We had nothing
to do with the cover, we had chosen a different picture, but the
record company changed it without us getting a chance to check the
new picture out. Anyway, I think our new album is a great improvement
both musically and visually! It is more even, with more killer songs!
4. Your new album "LXXVIII" is now ready (Congratulations!).
Was it hard to do a follow-up to the "Nine Worlds" album, and
how does the material on "LXXVIII" stand out from the older stuff?
Thanks! It was not hard to do at all, we had a lot of time writing
songs, and the result is much more aggressive, more in-your-face than
the music on "Nine Worlds". Less doom, more death, still keeping a
lot of melody. We even did a version of Bellman's "Epistel no.30"
for the WAR CD which is a real killer !
5. What does the title "LXXVIII" really mean?
It refers to the song "Lengsel LXXVIII". You should check out the lyrics
when the CD is available!
6. Can you tell me more about the lyrical side of Bethzaida, and
do you think lyrics are important to this musical genre?
I think our lyrics have quite a lot in common with the gothic literature
genre. They are of course quite dark and melancholic, and I also try
to give them a bit of substance so it won't be your usual death/black-
lyrics. I try to do my own thing lyrically, and I think the lyrics
are quite important to our music. It's a lot of crappy lyrics both
in death and black metal, but I still think lyrics matter. Good music
with good lyrics is of course better than the same music with crappy
lyrics.
7. How does Bethzaida stand in religious and political questions?
Well, you can't blame us for electing the present government, that's
for sure! I can't speak for all of us, but personally I oppose the
power of Christianity in the Norwegian society.
8. What reactions do you have for being under a christian government
in Norway these days?
I'm not at all happy with it, I think it's almost unbelievable that
this is allowed to happen in the 20th century. If it was up to me,
all religious parties would be banned.
9. You're at the moment under contract with Season of Mist.
How is your relationship with them these days? Do you think they
do a good job for Bethzaida?
At the moment we are a bit fed up because of a lot of delays, but
such things happen and are best dealt with internally between us and
Season.
10.As so many other well known bands in the extreme music genre, you
also come from the Trondheim area. Do you have any comments on the
Trondheim scene at the moment, and what in general do you think of
the Norwegian scene?
The Norwegian scene is the best in the world, and it is really great
that so much is going on in the Trondheim area. There are really a lot
of bands in such a small city, Frost, Atrox, Bloodthorn, Keep of
Kalessein... I think it's a good place to develop musically.
11.Any bands at all you would point out for being outragously good in
the world right now? What kind of music do you really prefer?
Bands I think has released exceptionally good records lately includes
Borknagar and Arcturus. I've been told that Arcturus is no more, so
I guess Borknagar may be my number one. Other good records are
the latest offerings from Emperor and Death. Hey, three Norwegian
bands out of four, not bad! And, last but far from least, watch out
for the coming ANATA album, that is a real killer, the best death
metal album I have heard for years!
12.I've seen you play live sometimes now, but to my knowledge you don't
do any gigs except from in Trondheim. Why, and have you ever been
planning any more live shows, or for instance a small tour or something?
If we got a gig somewhere else, we would love to play, but as four of
us have regular jobs, we don't have too much time to work with booking.
So I guess it is up to Season to get us on the road...
13.Are anyone in Bethzaida involved in any other projects/bands?
Tom and I have the Mist Enticer project, which is straight, catchy
death metal, and I am also involved in another project, as far unnamed,
that is a bit darker and technical.
14.What plans do Bethzaida now have in the future?
We hope to record another album in 99, either for Seasons or for a
bigger label. Also, we hope to play some gigs in Europe, but that is,
as mentioned earlier, up to Season.
15. Do Bethzaida have any contact adress for correspondense/merchandise, and
if so, please inform our readers.
Anyone interested can write to
Lars Ruben Hirsch
Dronningens g.52
N-7012 Trondheim
NORWAY
16.Well, I guess that should have given our readers a taste of what
Bethzaida is about. Anything you would like to add before we end this
interview?
Yes, if you like good, aggressive, metal, you should go out on buy LXXVIII !!!