From the deepest bowels of Dutch Black Metal recently awoke the dreaded beast: Botulistum. Out of nowhere, the vicious outfit came out with their self-titled debut album. That album, which you thought would never come, still manages to surprise even a quarter of a century after the band’s first sign of life. It sounds like Botulistum, but more organic and at the same time more depraved than ever. If they have managed to prove anything with this album, it is that they have more than confirmed their position as misfits, lepers and, frankly, nobody’s friend: the hatred and darkness, the utter loathing of anything that reeks of anything remotely new, drips off as never before. Vocalist Botmuyl, exceptionally, explains it to us once more…
Hi Botmuyl, welcome to The Whispering Darkness. As is actually always the case with Botulistum, you surprised again. This time not with a (split) EP or demo, but with a proper album. The first in the quarter-century the band has been around. What made you think that now was the right time to come out with a full-length?
Greetings Felix. It was a natural process fueled by our longing for the old spirit. Our loathing for a lot of nowadays uninspired touristic ‘black metal’ combined with our passion for the days of mysticism, underground and an actual scene forged our full length peat metal assault.
In my review, I wrote that Botulistum is actually always characterised by unexpected twists and turns. So not only the fact that there is an album, but also with the musical content you manage to surprise again. One of the most interesting turning points is actually the return to a much more organic sound compared to some of the more recent recordings, where electronics played a prominent role. Where did the choice, intuitively, to take a step back in sound come from?
We wanted to go back to the ‘Wederopstanding der Veenlijken’ sound, a little less chaotic and a bit more structured and atmospheric. The old Peat Metal sound. Hoerenzoon joined us in the recordings and provided actual real drums for the first time. A logical choice for us, it sounds better and the recordings are way more fluent that way. We just wanted to record an album that sounds fucked up and sick, something that is pretty rare in nowadays crystal clear productions.
Botulistum, to the good listener, has always been a band that may have had Black Metal as its foundation, but whose musicians obviously have a much broader view on (extreme) music. The mechanical, almost industrial sound of the aforementioned recordings gave a glimpse of Norwegian Industrial-style Black Metal and even had a dash of something close to a band like Laibach. But in the even further past, Botulistum opted for an ultra-rugged sound. This album seems like the ultimate melting pot of all the musical “phases” the band has gone through. Was this a deliberate choice, or did the creative process take its natural course?
All natural and because of primitive recording equipment back in the day but also deliberate like I mentioned before. A selftitled debut LP should be an obliterating fist that combines our 25 years of peat metal hell! It’s angry, oldschool, and completely devoid of modernity. Just like us.
Incidentally, the rather short playing time of ‘Botulistum’ is also striking. While it is presented as an album, there are bands who release EPs that are a lot longer than the less than 24 minutes of your self-titled debut. For me, this works out perfectly and the overall experience is a lot more powerful than if it were twice as long. Was there any particular philosophy behind this?
Nope, after our recordings we totalled enough time to warrant a full-length. 24 minutes are long enough to hang, drawn and quarter any unsuspecting poser so it didn’t need to be longer for a proper impact.
Speaking of philosophy. Botulistum has always been a band that is clearly averse to trends and doesn’t mind trampling some sacred cows. Have those thoughts and motivations behind Botulistum changed over the course of its 25th anniversary?
They have only intensified. We are more angry, resentful, tunnel-visioned and focused on the past than ever!
Botulistum emerged from the womb of what we can safely call the “second wave” of Dutch Black Metal. Towards the end of the 90s, both you and N. (Nachtraaf) were at the cradle of this movement with Fluisterwoud. Through the many other bands you are (or were) active in, including Wederganger and Urfaust, the Dutch Black Metal scene has gained considerable ground in terms of size and creativity. How do you look back on that quarter-century of history?
It used to be a lot better. Jim and me are like Waldorf and Stattler haha. Bitter resentment towards progress and lack of boundaries and direction. I also don’t think you can speak of a ‘scene’ for a long time anymore. That bands resemble a certain style or aesthetic and are from the same country doesn’t imply that they belong to a scene. Or perhaps they do, but NOT TO A SCENE WE ARE A PART OF ANYWAY. It’s all so clawless, virtue signalling, humble, warm, arty, inclusive, try-hard and approachable. We are the pit bull in their cats cafe! We listen mostly to the old records anyway.
Although it’s only an assumption, I can imagine that all the side activities in other bands have played a role in Botulistum becoming ever in-and-out of activity. Or is there something deeper underlying it? Does it take a certain trigger or state-of-mind to come up with new Botulistum material?
Both. Botulistum is always there, simmering in the bogs of old. Lately we have intensified our outbursts but in times of silent slumber the beast is always vigilant and sleeps with one eye open. It needs a certain state of mind, but I think I can say that we are always in that state of mind anyway. But the resentment towards a lot of nowadays eunuch ‘black metal’ might be some extra gasoline on an already violent fire.
As already briefly touched upon, you are currently active in a fairly wide selection of bands, including Duivel, Hellehond and Urfaust. If I’ve seen correctly, new material from Duivel is coming soon, are there any other things we can look forward to?
Duivel’s Heiligschennis is out now, a perfect black metal record. Vile, sinister, filthy and oozing with old atmosphere.
New Peat Metal filth has been recorded for two split releases of which I will not spill the beans. It will be known in due time but expect pissed of soundtracks for violence and depravity!
If you want to look back with me again…. Anno 2023, what do you consider the biggest sources of inspiration, both musical and non-musical, for Botulistum? And to what extent has that changed over the course of the years, after all, you yourself have aged an equal number of years….
Just to name a couple of bands: Bestial Summoning, Funeral Winds, Countess, Lugubrum, Sarcófago, Niden Div. 187, Arckanum, Master’s Hammer, Mortuary Drape, Necromantia, Sadistik Exekution, Von, Blasphemy, Black Witchery, Graveland, Rotting Christ you name it. The old, original, primitive and feral sound. I can’t name non-musical influences but I think our characters bring some fanatism to the music too.
Judging from the sidelines, you are a person with broad musical tastes, as mentioned earlier that is something that I think has always shone through in Botulistum’s music, how does that wide view of (extreme) music translate to your record collection? Can you take me through some of your personal favourites?
I have quite some different styles in my record collection. From the psych-rock from The Black Angels to albums from Hank III, The Coffinshakers and Sixteen Horsepower. I sold all my cd’s a while back, I only have tapes and vinyl left. I will mention some of my personal favorites and I will pick only 7″ EP’s for sake of it.
- Master’s Hammer – Klavierstück EP on Poserslaughter Records.
One of the best bands out there, truly wicked and occult and these two tracks on green splatter vinyl are like an everlasting time machine to Czech cult splendour. Perfection. - Order From Chaos – Jericho Trumpet EP
A harsh knuckle sandwich of a band that keeps on giving. Brutal as fuck and aesthetically pleasing overall. - Repugnant – Hecatomb EP
The sound, the grooves, the artwork, the lyrics. This band nailed it all and is the pinnacle of that second wave of oldschool death metal from back then. Flawless discography! - Goat Molestör – Realm of Evoked Doom EP
This is Grave Miasma’s earlier incantation. If you want it dark, moldy and bellowing from the deepest caverns and crypts, this is definetely a hugely satisfying slab of wax. - Napalm Raid – Drowning EP
Perhaps the ‘weird one’ in here but I love agressive D-beat like Driller Killer, Wolf Pack and Halshug. This is music to slam skulls in between car doors for as long until the doors shut again. The vocalist sounds like a mental U-boot captain that bumps his head and starts cursing furiously while a destroyer is right above them and picks up his hellish cursing. MENTAL. - Nefarious – Diabolorum EP
Haunting, like being chased by ghosts in the middle of the woods. Great sound, with members from Sear Bliss and Forest Silence. Very underrated.
I would like to mention that I’m a huge fan of Armagedda (Only True Believers, aaargh!) and all the bands that those guys are active in. Saiva, LIK, Lönndom, Ehlder, Stilla Leviathan. All great, all recognisable but also different. Very much respect for those guys and Nordvis.
A question that naturally springs to everyone’s lips…. We have had to wait a long time for new Botulistum material, will we have to make do with this record again for a considerable time or has Botulistum now awoken from its hibernation for a longer period of time?
Expect more sickness in the foreseeable future, the peat is on!
Alright, Botmuyl, thanks for sharing a glimpse into what could be called the unique world of Botulistum. I’d like to leave this space to you to wrap things up.
Thanks Felix, for asking interesting questions that are worth answering. Even though they took me some time haha. AND REMEMBER, WE ARE THE UNDERGROUND’S UNDERGROUND. PEAT METAL FOREVER!!!
Tof interview!
Bedankt!