Lebanese metal (Lebanon)

1_In the first place, I’d like you give me a brief description about the Lebanese Metal scene. What is the reality of Headbangers in Lebanon?

Where should I start? It's like a timed bomb ready to go off and make this huge explosion. This is the Lebanese Metal scene; an unstable community, yet very powerful and ready for the "timer" to finish ticking and the bomb to explode. The Lebanese Metal scene is currently a major scene in the Middle-East and home to many of the leading Metal bands in the area. It’s like the start of your Metal journey to the Middle-Eastern world. The future of the Lebanese Metal scene is definitely uncertain, though I have high expectations since we have hosted one of biggest bands and I feel something great is going to happen; however, I know that we are growing slowly, due to the lack of support; it’s like the scene is establishing itself, by itself. As long as we have the support of the Metalheads and the bands, we won’t ask for more.

2_how do Lebanese Headbangers see politics and religion in Lebanon? How do you see Christianity, Islam (Shiite and Sunni Muslims)? Hezbollah? War?

We're FAR FAR ... FARRR away from all that! As much as the Headbangers focus on the music and concerts and supporting the local bands, there is no place for Politics nor Religion nor anything related.... the only thing we feel sorry for is that people like Hezbollah (since you mentioned them) are in this amazing country and you wouldn't know when you’re facing the next war and when our scene will go downhill because of that. But you know, on the positive side, it keeps our government’s eyes away… HAHA!

3_how do Lebanese bands make concerts? Is there freedom?

Is there freedom? It’s as if you’re talking to me like I’m a camelhead lol. Freedom is, and will remain, in Lebanon; it's one of the things which makes this country amazing. Yes, we’ve faced censorship before; the whole Metal music faced it in the world, but we’ve reached a stage where freedom is thrown at us and we’re free to do concerts and events. Of course we still get attacked by religious people; it's normal. Many Metal festivals, around after years of remaining, keep getting negative vibes from priests and other religious figures in their regions. However we’ve learned, as far as the concert is clean and there are no drugs, you’re even free to throw in some strippers (imagine haha)


4_Talk about Heavy, Thrash, Death and Black Metal bands from Lebanon. What are the main bands?

We mainly have one or two major bands from every style you mentioned.... a few to talk about: Blaakyum as a Heavy Metal with a slice of Thrash, Postmortem as a Thrash with a slice of Death,Oath to Vanquish as a death metal with a slice of grind…
We also have some very well-known bands like Kimaera, who’ve been around for ten years, in the Doom/Death category, Blood Ink in the Metal Core category, Ayat as the most extreme Black Metal band in the Middle-East…. I could mention Weeping Willow for their long term in this scene and they would be included in the Death Metal category. Kaoteon for the aggression they hold in their music driven from Black metal with a slice of Death. Tristmoon, Melancholy, and Element 26 are the bands to release their first full length albums and I’m sure it's going to be a kick ass release for each band! However, I feel sorry for losing bands like Cimmerian Path, Void, and Nightchains as I feel they could have made some history in this part of the world.

5_Do foreign bands play in Lebanon?

Of course, as I said before, we're not camelheaded. We’ve hosted many major international bands, whether they are Rock or Metal. Some to mention are: Macbeth, Apocalyptica, Anathema, To/Die/For, Scorpions, Deep Purple, Hail!, Theater of Tragedy... and not to forget our neighbors who chose Lebanon to appear on stage as it was forbidden for them in their countries. Last thing to add, some of the bands I mentioned are bands that have performed in Lebanon since the 90's, when censorship was striking the Middle-East, so I think it was a great push for Lebanon back then.


6_Most people in Lebanon are of Arab origin. Does the Arabic society/culture accept and see Heavy Metal with good eyes and in a good way?

Whenever a Metal head interacts on a social level with an “ignorant”, it will take him a few minutes to change that person’s mind from hating this music to accepting it and not being bothered by it. What we lack in Lebanon is GOOD MEDIA EXPOSURE! There’s something I’d like to correct in your question though; I wouldn't call Lebanon or the Lebanese people Arab since every culture is taken from its roots, and our roots are Phoenician. If you know history you would understand how open minded the Phoenicians were and how much they discovered and invented. So I see the Lebanese are always up to understanding and accepting anything, as long as you explain and deliver to them the good image and, mainly, the TRUTH.

7_Is the Heavy Metal scene strong in the Middle East?

If you gather all the Metalheads in the Middle East, you will be shocked! Many of them are very important people in the society, whether they were from the Royal Family of a specific country or a Manager in a major worldwide company. The number of Metalheads in the community is still closed or unknown; however, I believe if you throw a huge event with some well known big bands in Lebanon, you will definitely get the Middle Eastern metalheads’ attention and you could see 80% of the true number… Hopefully soon! :)

8_How does the Lebanese society see Headbangers there? Because you play Western music some people in the West, see you, in Middle East, as terrorists?

I believe, and it's a fact, that the music community, and especially the MetalHeads, are the only people in Lebanon who are delivering the right image about our music, our country, and our neighbors. You ask me how? Well simply, as every metalhead (or any kind of western music listener) has around 5 to 10 western friends ATLEAST who they speak with EVERYDAY, and I’m sure the Lebanese people are explaining and fixing those false facts the Media have been delivering. I myself keep my schedule busy during my free time explaining to my friends abroad and to major bands in the world what Lebanon is and how we roll in Lebanon as Metalheads.
Coming to the terrorists part; Lebanon was NEVER a terror country. It's not the fact that we are in the Middle-East that makes us one of the bad guys. We’ve always supported foreign countries against terrorism and we’re always neutral about tensions.

9_Thank you for the interview. I would like you (Lebanese Headbangers) to give us, Brazilian Headbangers, some last words.

I would like to thank you so much for this interview, as I got to deliver the RIGHT truth about Metal in Lebanon and about Lebanon in general. I would also like to tell our Metal brothers in Brazil, YOU ARE SOME SICK BASTARDS! All the support from the heart of Beirut, Lebanon! KEEP THE BEERS ROLLING! Hope someday we share the stage, the crowd and the insane METAL ATMOSPHERE!
http://www.lebanesemetal.com/

Decayed (Portugal)

1 - hate against christianity is it the main theme of the band or the band looks other chaotic mankind matters?
JA - Basically, my words are against the Church and all those who live by their laws or according the laws of hypocrisy.

2 - whats your opinion about life and death?
JA - Life was ruined by Christians. Death is the release from this Hell.

3 - how do you see the conflict between good and evil inside all human beigns?
JA - There is no good and there is no evil. Those are christian concepts. There is only right and wrong.

4 - is there god? is there satan? is the redemption for mankind or total destruction?
JA - Which god are you refering to? Satan as seen by the christians is of no importance to me. I sincerelly hope that this whole shit goes to waste soon.

5 - for you what is the truth? the lie people can trust in something or someone?
JA - Truth is reality. You can trust, after people have proven themselves. But remember, words are nothing, only actions are real.

6 - what do you think about the fusion of black metal with ,industrial etc?
JA - Metal is Metal! If you feel the need to change Metal, maybe you're listening to the wrong type of music.

7 - what are the main influences of decayed? band members only listen black metal? read some specific books?
JA - The main influence is VENOM. We listen to real BM, stuff released in the 80's alongside Thrash, Speed, Heavy, Death. My fave books are the ones written by Tolkien.

8- what black metal signify to you?
JA - Honour!

9 - how do you black metal scene from 80´90´and see new scene?
JA - Fuck this scene. It all went to shit when the norwegian started their little joke back in the early 90's.

10 - do you think so that radicalism will be the unique from to exterminate mode that infects the actual scene?
JA - What scene? Is there a real BM scene? Where? I only listen to clone bands.

11 - war final?
JA - Check us out!
www.myspace.com/decayedlusitania

Witchburner (Germany)

1 - talk in a brief words about bands history?
The idea of Witchburner came to life in 1992. Me (Tankred) and Florian Schmitt (guitarist on the first album) were just fans and wanted to play our own music. In the beginning it was just the two of us jamming around and we didn..t take it that serious. Everything developed to the next level when we met Tony and Seegel. As soon as we got into our first rehearsal room we were writing songs for the first album and in the meantime we played our first gigs. In 1997 Florian Schmitt left the band because of personal reasons and we recruited Christoph Ungemach as our new guitar player. We continued to play gigs and recorded our second album "Blasphemic Assault" which got us the deal with Undercover Records. After a short 3 day tour with Goddess Of Desire and Sacred Steel I left the band in 1998 and Seegel continued to keep Witchburner alive within the years. The band had to struggle several line-up changes, Tony left and Andy joined to fill the bass players position, but always managed to play shows and record new albums as well as material for other releases. In 2008 Marcel left the band and I joined Witchburner on guitar again. At the moment we are working on new songs for the follower of "Blood Of Witches".

2 - what the band talk about behind your lyrics?

The lyrcis have to fit with the music. It..s all about the typical thematics thrash metal bands in the 80..s were writing about. We are not philosophers or something we write our lyrics as they come. Mostly they are about party, war and death.

3 - what do you think about modern thrash metal?

We are not into modern stuff. Most of those modern oriented bands have nothing to do with "real Thrash Metal".

4 - what are musical influences of the band

All german thrash bands of the 80..s. Especially Sodom and many other bands.
But we also try to do our own thing and every member of the band for sure has its own personal influences as well.

5 - what do you think about split release with brazilian band bywar?
It..s definitively a good thing which stands for the friendship and connection between Bywar and Witchburner.

6 - one day everyone will die how the band see the death?

We don..t think about it. We are just “now”.
Sooner or later everybody will pass away.
So why should we waste time thinking about it?

7 - what the band knows respect brazilian metal scene?
Sure we have respect for the barzilian metal scene.
A lot of good bands are from Brazil, Bywar, Violator and many others.

8 - what are the plans of the band for a new full lenght?
We already started to write songs for a new album. As soon as there is enough material composed we will enter the studio and start to record . In my opinion it will turn into the best Witchburner album so far.

9 - witchburner thinks humanity is in the end?
Yes, humanity will kill itself!

1O - thrash final?
Greets to all the thrash maniacs out there!
For the future we hope to play some shows in Brazil.
We..re sure it will happen some day.
www.myspace.com/witchburner

Nunslaughter (Usa)

1 - mankind signify something for you? what do you think about religion,politics and society?
Mankind is just another bug on the earth that will soon be extinguished. There is no benefit to mankind.

Religion was created by man to justify our existence. Rather than just admit we are an anomaly man created some kind of magical reason for our existence.

Politics are corrupt and very few have the betterment of their constituents in mind.

Society is hanging on by a tenuous link

2 - in fact what is thought about band lyrics behind?

Most of the lyrics are to hold a mirror up to the hypocrisy of the Christian faith. The rest are to tell stories about the dead.

3 - exists some conflict problem among band´s work and your own label´s work?

No problems at all. I make the decisions for the band. Most of the time I do release NunSlaughters material. We like to work with a variety of labels and bands.

4 - what you hate in this world?
Christians

5 - at present, you think positive or negative labels and bands by heaps?

It is positive but eventually most of the people will leave the underground and only the strong will be standing.

6 - death metal is a way of life for you? if not, what meaning?

I think it is more METAL is a way of life. I listen to lots of different music and everyday I search out a new bands to add to my collection. For me this is what I do and what I live for.

7 - you appreciate some personality got idols?some reference? what do you think about hitler,charles manson,aleister crowley,anton lavey,nietzsche?

I would say I look up to Cronos for lyrics, Dogs for loyalty, and myself for integrity!

8 - how do you see the old and the new music formats to the music? what do you think about lp,cassete,vhs,dvd,mp3,etc?

I think the MP3 format sounds bad but I understand people wanting to download music. The music industry just needs improve the sound quality.

LP’s are ok but I enjoy 7”s better…ha But vinyl is my preferred format.

VHS always sucked. Once the tape is damaged you are fucked. I like DVD’s and Blue Ray formats much better.

9 - how do you see death metal scene world wide? are there food bands? are there different styles?

Over all with the advent of email and the internet aggressive music has moved forward but it is not as exclusive as it once was. Before when you saw someone with an underground metal band shirt you knew he was one of the few now I just figure they got it on ebay.

I dig grind and black metal for sure. There are people out there making music that tests to boundaries but I don’t much care for it.

10 - nunslaughter band members have some extra activity far band activities?

All of us have other bands or projects. Our guitarist has Nekrofilth our bassist has Crucified Mortals the drummer has a few things he works on and I have some projects working but nothing solid yet. Music is our way of life.
www.myspace.com/nun666slaughter

Acheron (Usa)

1 - in first place i would like to know if the band has a new studio album? i would like you do a brief review about it?

VC- Yes, it is called “THE FINAL CONFLICT: Last Days of God”. Is is a concept about the earth purging itself from the filth of the world’s 3 most powerful religions, which are Christianity, Islam and Judaism. It is about a New Age of wisdom and strength.

2 - what kind of contact you still have with the church of satan ? after anton lavey death how is the church about dogmas,followers?

VC- I don’t. I resigned from the organization back in 2000. And since I am no longer involved with them I really don’t see a need to talk about them.

3 - occultism,satanism and paganism must be exposed among people through internet ,tv,magazines etc?

VC- I agree that information should be able to be obtained by those who realy want to know what it is about. But the problem is it all depends who is giving the information. So in the end, it all depends on your contacts and connections.

4 - war is it a good or bad thing for mankind?

VC- Life is War! There is no getting around it. And it will never stop.

5 - what do you think about beliefs,religions around the world?fanaticism?terrorism?

VC- It is all a part of the human condition. Mankind has endless flaws and we just have to learn to deal and react to them. Dying is easy, living is hard!

6 - you think that christianity has some guilt by the evil existent around the world? what the better way to erradicate it?

VC- Christianity has been doing the same atrocities for years. They are used to these brutal things. If they can’t show you the way to Heaven, they surely will break you down and drag you there! (Ha, Ha)

7 - what is the true satanism, in your opinion?

VC- A philosophy that is being true to yourself and no one else! Living your life the way you see it should be. Not feeling guilty about what you do.

8 - a lot of people knows the black bible you really think the people understand real message of this book?

VC- Not really. In fact, most people who comment to me about it always think it is about “devil worship” and “reverse Christianity”, which is far from the truth.

9 - which is your opinion about heaven and hell? our world is a really fucking hell?

VC- I don’t believe in either one. And as you said, this world is a living fucking HELL!
10 - what you want to talk to the people with your own music?

VC- Just listen to the music and it will speak for itself.

11 - hell final?

VC- Thanks for the support! We hope everyone buys our new album. You can check us out at www.myspace.com/acheron. Keep the Darkness alive!
www.myspace.com/acheron