Interview with Belenos

1 ) Belenos is back with a new album, SpicilÀge. Can you introduce it ?

"Spicilège" is the fifth recording of Belenos and it is the collection of unreleased tracks written between 1997 and 2000. There are 9 songs of which 2 are " non metal " instrumentals and it approximately lasts 45 minutes. Once again, it was recorded only with basic means which have hopefully evolved since our beginnings. A limited version of 3000 CDs exists. It is a cardboard box containing a t-shirt, a silver pendant and the CD in a sheath made of ancient cloth.

2 ) What are the themes of this second album ? Where did you find your inspiration to write its lyrics ?

I wrote almost all the lyrics and listening to the whole album you can obviously feel the theme of nature which is developed under many forms. I took my inspiration from some Celtic legends, some weird places I have visited.

3 ) All the lyrics from SpicilÀge are written inFrench. What motivates your choice to keep you native language for your songs ?

The use of French has always been part of Belenos. I remember a time when I used to vociferate in Latin but I thought that after all, French was not such a bad language to use.

4 ) And the fact of being French and writing in French doesnÌt prevent your carrier from evolving ?

Hard question. On the French soil, it didnÌt bring any problem but if we imagine that one day we could be singned on a big foreign label, I donÌt think they would agree with our choice to keep our language, for a commercial reason. All the ÏcommercialÓ black meatl bands use English. To say the truth I hope we will never fall in this pattern as it would make the band lose its original integrity.

5 ) You were recently on tour with Nehemah, Crystalium...What were the benefits of this tour ? Which were the best place you played in ? And what were your feelings on stage ?

It was the first time we took part in a mini tour and it gave us an idea of what could be a bigger tour for example. ItÌs great to be on tour because we have a lot of fun both on tour and on stage and we had good conditions to play : big music halls, big sound systems, important means÷But I have to admit that the rhythm of life is exhausting : several hours on the road everyday, sound checks, waiting for hours, eating when we can and where we can, giving the maximum on stage, tidying up the stuff, seldom sleeping÷Better being fit ! Personnally I couldnÌt have resisted more than one week if I wasnÌt !!

6 ) BelenosÌ line-up evolved recently. Can you tell us more about this change and what it has brought to the band ? Will the current mine-up be the definitive one ?

La latest change of mine-up in our band happened this summer. We changed our drummer : it is not Marc Devillers who played on the album some moths before anymore  but Gilles Delecroix who also plays in Gronibard... HeÌs an old friend of mine like all the other members of this crazy band. We donÌt regret our decision as Gilles fits very well the band both on the humane and the musical ground. ItÌs undoubtedly a real rhythm box incarnate. Belenos has the reputaion of having an unstable line-up and I hope this time the band will remain in its current state at least until the next album.

7 ) You play a black metal both brutal and epic mixed with calmer and traditional atmospheres. Do you have one or several bands as references ? Are you yourself a black metal fan or are your musical tastes more eclectic ?

IÌm a black metal fan mostly of the " old school " stuff. Now IÌm not listening much of this style but that doesnÌt mean that I reject it. However, IÌm  not influenced by black metal anymore. It was the case in the beginning when I had to be inspired by some bands to create our own style progressively. Today, some movies give me inspiration as well as some books and I listen to a bit of folk music, extreme doom, ambiant, death metal÷

8 ) What are your objectives for Belenos ? Do the reactions you face please you ?

First, we will go on making some concerts in France as we really like playing on stage and travelling. But I can already tell you that the next two albums are written at the level of 80%. I think theyÌll be released in 2004 and 2005. I take the opportunity to tell that Sacral will release a double CD containing the first two demos "Notre amour eternel" and "Triste pens»e" in 2003. In 2005 Belenos will be ten years old and from this date weÌll analyze the carrier of the band. If the inspiration and the success are still present weÌll go on and otherwise weÌll simply stop with dignity.

9 ) You are signed in Sacral Productions. Why this choice ?

ItÌs easy, only Sacral suggested to release "Errances Oniriques",other labels more or less interested told about vague promises of signature without real motivation÷Anyway, at that time I was looking for a French label in priority to be first recognized on our national soil. The next step consists in being known abroad, mostly in Europe and in the United-States.

10 ) I let you end by telling what you want as i do usually do. Nothing will be censored of course !

Ah, too bad, IÌll be able to say lots of awful crap !!  Ah dommage je vais pouvoir dire plein de saloperies ignobles !!! Visit our website at www.belenos.fr.fm, there is, among other things, a hidden page with crazy pictures÷

Thank you for your answers !!

                                                                                                                                  Succubus