POSSESSION from Belgium have just break into the scene
recently with the debut demo "His Best Deceit". It can be described
as a perfect example of "back to the roots" demonic Black-Death
metal. Well executed, with hellish passion and ferocity. The music speaks for
itself, but to know more about this hellish force here is an interview with
Mestema (vocals) and V. Viriakh (bass).
Please Introduce yourself and the other members of Possession and give us a brief summary about the beginning of the band...
Possession is Mestema (vocals), V.Viriakh (bass), I.Dveikus (guitars) and Pz.Kpfw (drums). We have been hanging around together for years so that at some point it was kinda natural for us to start playing together. In December 2012 we had a first rehearsal all together and the alchemy took life.
Is possession the first band for you and the rest of the members?
We have all been involved in other bands in the past but there’s no point mentioning them over here.
Possession, as a band name is total oldschool and fits perfect for your style of music, is that the reason why you choose it?
We chose that name because when we started the band, we decided that the demoniac possessions was a theme we wanted to explore.
Are you satisfied ith the result in terms of sound and production? are there any "mistakes" you already sense, and that you would like to improve for the next release?
We are satisfied with the sound and the production of our first demo. There are mistakes but we chose not to spend hours in the studio trying to overdub them. We think that the feeling is way more important than recording the perfect demo from a technical point of view. This is also why we decided to record live in the studio. This way we think we managed to capture the bestiality of our music. We are not sure at all whether we feel like improving something sound wise. We prefer focusing on writing new tracks instead of jerking off on how good musicians we are and how cooooooooooooool it would be to have an Abyss studio like sound.
How was the recording, did you work on a "live" basis? How long took you to record the demo?
As we wrote in our previous answer, our demo was indeed recorded live in the studio. We spent 4 days in Phorgath of Enthroned studio named ‘Blackout’.
The intro of the demo sounds really blasphemous and seems to be inspired by The exorcist (The movie), though the sound of bells and religious chants makes it even more haunting…which intro would you say that is the best you ever heard?
What you hear is a mix between real recordings of Anneliese Michel’s exorcism + a Latin hymn called “Dies Irae”. Bells can also be heard. They’re announcing the beginning of our demo and they’re also to be heard at the end of the demo announcing the end of a chapter and the coming of a new one. We think Sextrash Sexual Carnage album intro is the one of the best intro ever.
How do you describe your style? Do you find it closer to death or black metal, or is it something you don´t mind at all? Do you feel comfortable with the term “old school”?
We play black / death metal. Period. Old school? There is no such thing as old school metal. Using the term ‘old school’ is acknowledging that there is a new school while we strongly deny the fact that what is called modern metal has anything to do with what metal was and still is meant to be.
What's the meaning behind “His Best Deceit”?
His Best Deceit was convincing the world He did not exist … This is one of the frightening truths lying behind a veil blinding most people.
Lyrically, your songs deal with religion. Do you feel this topic inspiring? Are you open to write about other topics in the future?
Demoniac possessions, the perception of the Devil throughout Western European Middle-Age and witchcraft in general are topics we feel like exploring in our tracks.
You recorded a Sepultura cover, “Necromancer” from their EP Debut Bestial Devastation, a great song from a great EP. What bands inspires and/or influences you, is Sepultura one of them?
The 80’s South-American scene is one of our main influences but we are also influenced by acts such as Archgoat, Blasphemy, Ungod, Katharsis and so on. Nothing really original.
What do you think about Ancient Rites and what can you tell about the actual scene in Belgium?
Everything Ancient Rites did up to ‘Blasfemia Eternal’ is outstanding. The rest is meaningless to us. 95% of the Belgian metal scene is just a bunch of retards trying to play music they do not even understand. Some bands are interesting though and we support them.
They know who they are!
How did you come to the deal with two different labels (Iron Bonehead and Invictus) to release the demo on CD and Tape?, why do you think there is this “revival” of using cassettes again?
Invictus Productions and Iron Bonehead Productions are the only labels we ever got in touch with when we were looking for someone to release our first demo because we felt that they both were the labels we wanted to work with the most. Luckily they liked what they heard. We salute them. Have you played live, do you have scheduled gigs to support the release of the demo, maybe abroad?
We played our first live show the 16th of November at the occasion of our first demo release along with Necroblood, Vortex of End and Maleficence. It was a kinda private show so that we did not promote it. We just invited a bunch of people we know who could enjoy our music. There is nothing sure for the future yet. We are not like those lame bands jumping on every gig opportunity. We value quality over quantity.
Do you have new material ready? Do you have plans for a debut album shortly?
In early 2014 we will announce our next release for April 2014. It’s already recorded. We hate the idea of rushing the recording an album so that do not expect listening to a Possession albums before at least 2015.
What are you listening to nowadays? Do you remember the first record you bought?
As far as recent releases are concerned, we gotta say we really enjoyed Cultes des Ghoules and Cult of Fire albums. As far as the first records we bought are concerned, we cannot really remember them but they were probably an Iron Maiden or Metallica album.
What is the strangest place and the most shocking one you've ever been?
The earth.
Thanks and good luck in the future, is there anything you would like to add to end this interview?
We thank you for your interest and salute your readers.
A.M.S.G.
