It was only recently that the Dutch doom/death band Beyond Belief saw its second coming, somewhere in 2004 the band reunited and presented two new members in its line-up. This was not the only thing that has changed in the wealing an dealing of the band. Founding member, vocalist and guitarist AJ van Drenth took this opportunity to tell us about the band’s future plans (there is some coming up), his own personal changes… All in all a quick update on Beyond Belief. Enjoy…
Hey A.J., time for a little update around the band, right? Where have you been up to lately?
Well, I wrote some new material for BEYOND BELIEF and so, but further we didn’t do that much, we did some rehearsals to play our setlist well! And besides BEYOND BELIEF I did the LEGION project, this MCD is to download for free from the BEYOND BELIEF webside, plus both instrumental songs I did fot The Monolith Deathcult.
First of all I would like to know what made you decide to bring the band back alive somewhere in 2004.
That was because I was still active in the scene, I was asked many times if there was a possebility BEYOND BELIEF would do some shows in the near future, as a reunion. And the fact that Painiac Records from Belgium released both our demo’s on real vinyl we did in the ’90’s. So it seemed there still was interests in BEYOND BELIEF. That was the moment that we concluded that we thought about re-unite. So I started writing new material for the third album.
In this new line-up we find two new members, being Sjoerd Visch (Altar, The Monolith Deathcult and To Elysium) and Michiel Dekkers (Dead Head, The Monolith Deathcult etc.). Where did the original members go to? And what made you decide to use the help of Sjoerd and Michiel?
This line up is our best line up since ever. These guy’s a much more proffesional, the way I always wanted it to be. Michiel and Sjoerd they just came along, but before, I was rehearsing with a complete other line up, there was Martijn, also from TMDC on guitar, and Helena Michaels on vocals! But I thought this would accepted by no one, BEYOND BELIEF with HELENA! I did record one track with Helena, but I was looking for a new line up. And there was Robbie who wanted to join again, and not long after that, Michiel and Sjoerd completed the band. I know our former drummer quit playing in bands, don’t see him that much anymore.
Robbie Woning left the band around 1995 if I’m correct because he was too busy with his job as a journalist. Nowadays he still is a journalist, how did he find time to resurrect Beyond Belief?
He didn’t! There’s alway a deadline! We don’t rehearse that much as we did earlier. And the fact that I write everything, only at the rehearsal we change some thing together. So BEYOND BELIEF is not that busy for him, the more it is for me!
So you guys are writing new material, is there any progression on this matter? How will the new songs differ from the older ones?
The new songs are complete BEYOND BELIEF songs, There are some faster moments with melodic guitarpart like Dissection had, and theres some real spooky parts and even a song that reminds of Judas Priest! Four songs are over the 6 minutes, with ofcourse some beautifull changes in the typical BEYOND BELIEF style.
Once there has been said that you planned to record the third album, have you got any idea where to record it and what label will release the album?
Yes we’re still planning to do that. First we have to rehearse all the new tracks, then we will go to Franky’s recording studio’s, were we recorded “Rave the Abyss”, to record the drums but we’ll record the rest at home. Don’t know yet which label but there are several labels serious interested, so that wouldn’t be a problem I quess.
Last Easter you have been christened, does this affect your way of writing music or writing lyrics at all?
No not at all, I just don’t write Deicide like lyrics, they are stupid anyway. I know some Christian people in the scene, and it’s always nice to talk with them. I’ll always love brutal death metal! And the fact, this scene is my social life.
What was the reason you decide to yourself christened anyway?
That’s a personal thing, so many reasons, I was always interested, I’m a very spiritual person. As I almost passed away in 2004, the moment was there to think over my complete life, like being for 40 days in the desert. But further I’ll like it to keep it personal.
Last year quite a few festivals were done such as the Dutch Doom Day, Stonehenge and Doom Shall Rise. How was this for a reunion?
They where great to do. At the Doom Shall Rise fest we were the hardest band between all these stoner, hippie rock bands hehe. We came, we saw, we conquer! Stonehenge was great to, the whole scene was there, we’ve got very positive reactions so…
And this year you have been scheduled for the Dutch Doom Day afterparty, where else can we see Beyond Belief on the stages?
We do a show in Deventer, september the 16 opening for Entombed. But no shows further because we want to record the third CD first. Right now I’m busy writing new lyrics and still writing newer songs.
What else can we expect from Beyond Belief in the near future?
A third CD, many shows and what more, who knows… anyway the working title for the next album is “World Exit”.
Ok AJ, thanks for answering and we’ll meet on the Dutch Doom Day! Feel free to add anything you like or something you think I missed?
No, I think you’re updated for the moment. Just check out our site at http://www.beyondbelief.nl/ and just write in!
