BESEECH INTERVIEW

Swedish gothic metal outfit BESEECH have just released their fourth album, and we found it time to shoot off some questions for the guys ...

Interview by Martin Jørgensen

1. Your previous album "Souls Highway" turned out to be a success. How would you describe "Drama" compared to your previous releases - musically and lyrically?

"Since everyone in the band were more active when it came to working with this new material "Drama" has a wider range of music. On "Souls Highway" Robert Vintervind and Klas Bohlin made most of the work so there were basicly only two persons that made everything from lyrics to music. But since Klas quit the band and that made everyone else more active in the creation of this new album. Me and Robert made most of the lyrics on "Drama" and I think that we succeded with that part. The lyrics on "Drama" is about tragic moments in life, things isn't what they seem to be and also about the weird mind of the human kind. Musically I think that we have evolved and now we are a more experimental band. Every song has its own personal touch in some way."

2. When listening to "Drama" I get this dark and moody kind of feeling in me. Is that your actual intention, and what does the music mean to you?

"For me it´s a way to express my feelings, mostly the feelings I get when I feel anxious, sad, horny or whatever. It's not really our intention to make the music dark, it just turns out that way mostly."

3. I would like you to describe the various lyrical concepts on "Drama" as it seems to me that you really reflect on life and the darker side of the soul. Is that also what you had in mind when you wrote the album?

"Basically it´s about the life, from the day you are born till the day you die and also thought about what´s happen after life. Some songs are more poetic and symbolic and some more straight forward as from dark thoughts to sexual perversion. We write everything from our heart what we feel to write about in that special moment."

4. When I first put on "Drama", the first thing that popped into my mind was the Finnish, also gothic band, HIM. I know musicians hate this, but if you where to compare your self to another band, what band would it be. Why?

"That's a hard question, but I wouldn't pick HIM. I think that our music is of a very wide range and unique in many ways and with own personality but of course are we influenced of bands, but maybe not of those typical "gothic metal" bands that are out there. But to refer from some magazines it´s from Nick Cave, Type o Negative, The Gathering, Lacuna Coil, Alanis Morisette, Sisters of Mercy, Kent etc... so it´s pretty variating we think."

5. You've changed record labels quite a lot over the years, from Metal Blade, to Pavement and now to Napalm Records. Why this need to change labels ... ?

"It´s actually our 2nd album on Napalm (4 totally since 1998). But it´s because they are is the only label that treated us good. The other labels had problems with economy or they were just lazy and didn't do anything for us. But I think that we are quite happy about our label now, but of course you always want they doing more."

6. What made you want to play this kind of gothic rock music?

"I think "DRAMA" (as I said earlier) are more than gothic rock, but the darker feeling and atmosphere are little maybe little "gothic" but it´s just natural for us, it´s nothing we thought of really. Maybe it´s why you gonna hear such great variation in our songs."

7. Although gothic rock/metal seems to be quite popular these days and new bands emerges all over the world, still not many gothic bands come out of Sweden, but why do you think that is?

"Hard to say, but for us it´s good that there aren´t many bands with this kind of music from Sweden. Maybe it´s because bands as for example In Flames, Dark tranquillity etc are pretty big here and influence other new bands to play such music. But in a near future there will be another change of popular style and just hope that our kind will be there..."

8. Who do you think buys your albums? What type musical interests do these people have - in your belief?

"I think that all kinds of people buys our albums. I've seen everything from older ac/dc, motorhead fans to hardcore gothrockers and black metal people on our gigs. I guess those who like great variation in different kind of rock/metal and want to hear something new and interesting gonna like Beseech music."

9. Are you planning a tour to support the release of "Drama"? If so, are you visiting Denmark?

"First we have a couple of gigs here in Sweden, then after the big releaseparty here in our hometown Borås, we gonna head for a minitour in Germany, Holland and Belgium in the beginning of March. Then we have some things on going as well but it´s a little to early to talk about. But we really love to play live and hope to tour as much as possible and promote "DRAMA"! Denmark are unfortunately not in the plans, but we would really love to play there! So demand your festivals and venues to bring Beseech to Denmark!!!"

10. I wish you the best of luck with your latest release. If you have any last remarks, this is the time to say it.

"Thanks a lot, hope all of you that are looking for something new and interesting is going to give "DRAMA" a chance. You can download soundclips and find all kinds of information of Beseech at: www.beseech.net Hope to see you all in Denmark some day!!! "The drama never ends....", Bye."