Good morning, thank you very much for answering these questions. How's everything going for Heerhugowaard?
Hello, thank you for taking the time to listen to our music and the interest you have for it. It means a lot to me, and us.
I am doing fine, great perspective this year with music releases (including our new album, 4 scheduled this year for me personally), and career options. A well rested mind gives more space for creating music, my true passion.
The rest of the band is also doing fine, we are all going through many great and beautiful things. I am very grateful that everyone finds time to share our common passion besides their busy life!
1. You've been active since 2017. Looking back, how did the opportunity to create Hellevaerder come about? Why did you decide to use the name Hellevaerder and what does it refer to? Was there a turning point in the band since Bas and Arjen joined the guitars in 2018?
Before I started Hellevaerder I had the band Throne of Time (still do, just as studio project now, new release coming this year). After wanting to create black metal in my native tongue (Dutch) I had two tracks: ‘Langs eindeloze paden’ & ‘Heksensabbat’ and pitched those to the former vocalist/guitarist. He did not support the idea of that, but suggested his (now ex) girlfriend Miranda Visser as vocalist. We connected, and she instantly fell in love with the music and after that we took Throne of Time’s lead guitarist and bassist (Vlad & Rene) with us and formed Hellevaerder.
The name ‘Hellevaerder’ came from a brainstorming session with Sulphvris, she also wrote the lyrics for the two tracks named above (and still makes all our artwork to this day and remains a close friend of the band). Its name refers to the journey towards the underworld.
After some time our creative paths were divided and we decided to part ways with our first two guitarists. Arjen and Bas came in place and have brought a more serious attitude and aligned goals with the band. To this day I can call them very good friends of mine, and we still share the same passion together from day one. Their input does not only make me a better musician, but a better person as a whole.
2. Before the 2022 release of your debut album, "In de nevel van afgunst," you had released some demos, a split album, and even a compilation. Were these decisions a necessary step, a sort of rehearsal, for the creation of this first album? How did you deal with the recognition achieved with "In de nevel van afgunst"?
We were very enthusiastic about every opportunity we were handed to have our music brought on physical platforms. We see them as genuine releases and not as a necessary step. Of Course each release gave us lessons in what to do after that, and we are still learning from every release. That is part of the joy!
After the release of ‘In de nevel van afgunst’ (in the mist of envy) we got a lot more recognition, we really made a statement. We were offered many good shows and for the first time we really put the concept into play. We want to give a show for more senses than just the ears. We do not say a single word between tracks, but there is no silence to be heard. We want to really drag you into the abyss, and as far as I know, we are doing a pretty good job at that!
3. I consider your participation in the shared "Verloren vertellingen" (The Greatest Show //////////Lost tales\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\), a gathering of four bands from the new Dutch era, to be of vital importance. How did the idea of producing this project come about, and what do you think it has meant to you?
The idea about this split (or as I prefer - conjoined album) came from Alex from Zwaertgevegt. Besides Hellevaerder I have a solo project, ‘Duindwaler’. Asgrauw’s drummer, Floris, also has a solo project called ‘Schavot’. Alex wanted to bring us all together on vinyl.
We have met Asgrauw and had great contact since our show together playing for the mighty Horna. So we were no strangers at the time of request.Everyone instantly said yes.
We started a chatgroup together and spewed ideas back and forth. After some sparring we came to the idea of telling folklore and saga’s from our region. So started the lost tales. After a relatively short brainstorm session we agreed in detail about tracklisting, tales to be told and artwork. It was a great experience working with likeminded people, with the same, or even more, level of passion. To this day we are very close friends, and I was even honored to become a member of the Zwotte Kring collective.
The time between the first idea and the deadline was very short. In just a few weeks we went from idea to recording, to mix and mastering. Asgrauw members also performed on ‘side west’ (Hellevaerder & Duindwaler) and Hellevaerder members performed on ‘side east’ (Schavot & Asgrauw). We all helped each other and shared a common vision.
For me personally this was an eye opener. Finally working together with people that share my vision, carry the same passion as I do myself. This has set the bar for split releases, and it will be damn hard to get to this level.
In November this year we will also perform this conjoined album as a whole. Bringing Duindwaler and Schavot live for the first time. I am looking forward to working yet again with our friends, and this time sharing the stage as one act.
4. You will soon release your second album. How did you approach the writing and recording process for this second album? Was it difficult to live up to its predecessor? What brands of instruments did you use in the process?
After some shows following the ‘In de nevel van afgunst’ release, we started writing more material. After Luuk joined the band we made a big step up in songwriting and documentation of the tracks. He proved to be priceless in the process.
We held some writing sessions with the entire band, everytime someone else pulled the cart. It became days where we shared a drink, told some good stories and pulled together for some musical ideas. The goal was writing together and having a good time, but became highly efficient ways to write tracks. Every session gave birth to a new track, something we all felt connected with. In a relatively short time we wrote the entire album. After the last track I planned the recordings, starting with my own part; drums.
With the help of Arjen I recorded all nine tracks in 2 days at the beginning of May last year, within the next 2 months we planned sessions with the rest of the band. Only exception being Arjen himself, he recorded remotely as we always re-amp the guitars. He received the finished drumtracks and played his parts remotely. At every step the entire band spewed their thoughts on it thus far.
We were not at all busy with living up to the previous album. We have grown as people, and musicians and are just excited to share our vision of Hellevaerder. The music being more ‘mature’ is just a direct result from us being together for some time, and driving each other to greater heights.This was the most efficient way thus far in our recordings, every step was documented by tabs through Luuk, once agreed we had a battle plan, and went towards it.
Of Course we have our own preferred brands we use:
-Miranda (Vocalist) - SM58 - or any decent microphone (live), believe me, she is a volume powerhouse! & Shure SM7B (studio)
-Luuk (Bassist) - Aria pro 2 Bloody white, Hartke combo (live) Bias FX2 (studio).
-Daan (Drummer) - Tama Rockstar with Evans Powerstroke set, Zildjian hats & ride, Meinhl crashes and china’s + second hat), Tama Iron Cobra’s for pedals.
-Bas (Guitarist) - SKG - Gemini + ENGL Gigmaster 15 + self build cab (Live), SKG -Gemini + BiasFX2 (studio).
-Arjen (Guitarist) - Ibanes RGIR20FE (live and studio), EVH 5150 mark 3 (live) Bias FX2 (studio).
5. The sound of "In de nevel van afgunst" was more anchored in the classic sound of black metal. However, the new album displays a darker, somewhat immersive sound, where rawness and melody are contrasted, always with an eye to black metal tradition but also without renouncing certain more innovative aspects. How would you describe the sound of the new album for those who haven't heard it yet? What musical inspiration inspired you to compose the new album?
It is raw and ferocious, yet hauntingly melodic. This is the first time the entire band wrote together, instead of just my own doing. We were all facing the same direction on what we wanted to sound like on this album. Almost exactly the same as before, but more refined now.
The drums were recorded with Arjen Kleiss behind the mixer, and he recorded his parts remotely. All the others were recorded by myself, and the mixing was done by me, with feedback from the entire band. The mastering was done by Devi Hisgen, a first one for Hellevaerder to not do everything ourself.
We all wrote some riffs and pitched that to each other during our writing sessions, and it all went naturally from there. There was not a specific goal to be achieved, we just went with the flow. This album came very natural to everyone of us, and our best work so far!
6. You've always emphasized the lyrics, unraveling a story in your first album that continues in this second album. How did you approach the thematic approach to your lyrics? Is there a philosophical concept that fits into your lyrics? Who wrote this story, and how does it develop in this second album? Is it very difficult to fit the story with the music, or is everything done with both aspects in mind?
This album is a continuation from the previous one, it all revolves around daily life made darker than is reality. It’s about the duality of mankind, light versus dark, the will to live against the urge to delve into nothingness, to become a grain of sand in the vast desert, a single cog in the machine of the universe.
These stories are told from the perspective of the ‘Guardian of light’ versus the ‘Worshippers of nothingness’, each track a different event in the everlasting battle between them. Celebrate life - worship death, our motto. Enjoy the now, it is death that gives us meaning.
I wrote the story myself, although I cannot exactly tell how and when it came to me. It was just a spurt of inspiration and the pen wrote quicker than my mind could comprehend.
It always starts with a semi-finished track. I just start writing and make it fitting to the music, as I see vocals as another instrument to add to the track. It is not difficult at all to make everything fit together, it comes naturally to me. Some parts ask for a specific type of vocal, or length of words, it needs to be a complete picture instead of forcefully adding stuff.
7. I find Miranda's role in the bands and the personality she imbues the sound with with her voice most interesting. It's also noteworthy that she had only previously spent a year in the thrash band Mutator. How was it to make the leap between the two styles? Was it very difficult to play the role of frontwoman in a black metal band? What female vocalists have influenced you in defining your style?
Miranda always had a love for more aggressive kinds of music. The power she brings with not only her voice, but her personality is a big part of this band. She was there from day one, and her energy cannot be missed from this record!
She did not feel at home with her previous band, and she did not have the certain creative freedom she has in Hellevaerder. Being a frontwoman is in her blood, she can enthrall the crowd with her hypnotising voice, drag you down the abyss.
Her voice was always suited for more ‘raw’ music, and when we connected it felt like it was fitting the music perfectly. As the years went by, she definitely grew as a musician, and person. She does not act to be the part, she IS the part.
The main influences from Miranda are Kristin Hayter (from Lingua Ignota) and Caro Tanghe (from Oathbreaker), those define her on more than one level. And for a long time she keeps those persons close to her, as a part of growing as a person and as a musician.
8. You made the leap from a record label like Zwaertgevegt to a relatively larger and more visible label like Void Wanderer Productions. At what point did you decide to change record labels? Why did you choose Void Wanderer Productions? Was this a logical consequence after the impact your first album had?
We are still working together with Zwaertgevegt, Alex and Storm are very dear friends to me and this band. Zwaertgevegt is releasing this album on Pro-tape and Vinyl, as well as our newest patch. And for every project I release, Zwaertgevegt plays a big role for me.
We did not change record labels, we are working together with two more (VWP & WAR productions) for the digipack release (and shirts via VWP), as Zwaertgevegt does not do CD releases. Ward from VWP is a good friend of mine, and we are both Zwotte Kring members. He offered to bring this release on CD as a co-release with WAR. After some back and forth we both agreed to the terms, and that’s how it became what it is.
9. Did you work with an external person, such as a music producer or sound engineer, to record the album, or did you handle the entire process yourself?
We almost did everything ourselves, from writing, recording and mixing. But this release we wanted to outsource the mastering progress, as it truly is a realm of its own. Devi Hisgen (also from the Zwotte Kring collective) is a great mastering engineer, who works with analog equipment, and felt a connection with the tracks.
After some back and forth between our wishes we came with the ‘simple’ request: We are happy with the allround sound we have, but want to make everything sound fuller and more clear. And did he deliver!
This is the most mature sounding record to date, and we are all very content with the final product. This album sounds as we envisioned it, and we are looking forward to work with Devi in the future (devihisgen.com).
10. Who was responsible for the cover and the rest of the album artwork this time around? What does the album cover represent and how does it relate to the album's content?
We always work together with our dear friend Sulphvris, she was part of the band from day one, and besides always making cool new art, keeps getting better and better. We work together on many projects, and if I want something made for a release, she is the go to person for me.
The album cover speaks about the concept we have for this album. The guardian of light is captured, and forcefully taken through many villages to spread the word of death. But the guardian does not give up, there always is a bit of light even in the darkest situations. But on the opposite side: the worshippers of nothingness are bearing the torches of light. They embody the dark, but carry tiny shards of light, as one cannot exist without the other.
On the backside of the album you see a landscape that was first shown in our demo ‘Aan de aarde teruggegeven’, a small reminder of what came before, the hurdles that were conquered. But the vision moves forward towards the gates of enlightenment.
11. More and more bands are deciding to abandon English and write their lyrics in their native language, just like you do. Why did you decide to use Dutch? Do you take this as a risk? Is it something you feel more comfortable with, and what do you think it brings to your band?
We all feel more connected with words we use in daily life. The Dutch language has many nasty sounding words, which add to the aesthetic of black metal. But to do vocals in our own language makes space to let our inner self out more confidently.
When I started Hellevaerder I was not worried about any risks or something similar at all. It felt right, and came at the right moment. Nor was it something I was actively searching for in the Dutch scene. It fitted the feeling I want to bring across, and was not done with an agenda in mind.
12. There's a perception that a rather interesting movement is emerging in the Dutch black metal scene. Are you aware of this? How is this movement perceived from within, as a part of it?
I am not aware of said movement, and thus cannot say that I’m part of it. I started this band to make black metal, and do it my way. That has grown to what it is now, and we will keep moving forward with our own vision, we do not try to fit in a certain way.
Every member of this band has their influences, and that shapes the way they perceive and play music. This combination makes it something of our own, but we never try to achieve an already proven concept. We do what feels right to us, what brings the joy of writing memories together. The music is just a source to achieve this, but not an aspiration.
13. Do you already have any live dates scheduled to present the new album? What can your fans expect from a concert?
We have one confirmed show on the 21st of September, and another (not yet made publicly) on the 27th the same month. We are also starting to book for next year, but mostly selective shows as we have a lot going in our personal lives.
When we perform live, we are trying to make a show from it. We are displaying the battle between the light and dark, guardian of light versus worshippers of nothingness. Not a single word spoken between tracks, just total immersion. But there never falls a silence, we want to overpower the crowd with the aggression from our tracks. The aim is to achieve only one reaction from the crowd after the show: WOW!
The new set we are going to play consists of the most ferocious songs we made to this date, and we are going to drag you into the abyss, giving a glimpse of what awaits us all…
14. How did you get started in music: first shows you attended, first albums you bought? What event in your lives pushed you to want to be musicians?
When I was 14 years old, I discovered Immortal (after already being a fan of Carcass - Heartwork) and was blown away. It was the reason I went into music. That being said, my parents gave me an Ibanez starter kit, and lessons from an old neighbour.
When he asked what I wanted to learn it was plain and simple: Give me the means to make hard and fast metal. And he teached me all the techniques required to play those tracks. From day one I was busy with the creative aspect of making music, writing my own tracks and such. It started very basic but I played 6 hours a day, every moment I had it went to playing the guitar.
After a while (and a whole different story) I started getting more serious with the creation of music, mostly black metal at that time. I picked up the drums to enhance my own tracks, and a bit later also the bass. I breathed music for most hours of the day. That evolved to what it is now, and is still growing every day.
The first live metal show I attended was Arch Enemy in Haarlem (Patronaat), at the first note a pit was raised, and my 14 year old self was one of the first that attended. After that show I have seen many more, and would love to thank my father for attending those with me, as I was too young to go by myself. I was given every opportunity to see bands I loved live, from Carcass (Loud from the South 2008), to Suffocation in Zaandam (sitting at the only table in the venue, with a chair reading a paper), and even going across the country with me to see my (then) idol Abbath from Immortal, multiple times.
A lovely memory I have was attending a Dimmu Borgir concert. There was a big line before the entrance, everyone was wearing completely black clothing. There was my father wearing a red shirt, sticking out like crazy. But we had a laugh about it, and as I grow older I appreciate more and more what he did for me all those years, he fueled my passion for music. And he shapes me who I am, not only as a musician, as a person, to this day.
When I started playing guitar Abbath was my main idol, the ferociousness from the music, the screams, the blast beats! One by one remains one of my favorite tracks to this day, but I only went to listen to harder music along the way. The joy of the internet is seeing so many great and cool stuff, the downside is that the world becomes small. Comparing yourself to the rest of the world gives the feeling you can’t do anything. My favorite beat to play on drums is the blast beat, yet I am beaten by a 10 year old kid in speed and precision. Does that make me a bad drummer? I have fun in the stuff I do and enjoy growing, that pushes me to do better.
15. Which album represents the essence of black metal for you? What recent albums have you bought?
There are so many great albums, and every year that list gets a lot bigger. The essence of black metal? I find that a very difficult question, as I do not have a standard of what is great. I either enjoy the album or I do not, there is no need to hold a certain standard. I can name a few of my all-time favourites though:
1. Immortal - Sons of northern darkness
2. 1349 - Beyond the apocalypse
3. Deeds of flesh - Reduced to ashes
4. Behemoth - Demigod (and the Thelema album)
5. Immortal - At the heart of winter
Those albums shaped my love for metal, but as I grow older (31 now) I have grown in musical taste, although it still is only metal. I’m exploring more death-like bands now. Most favorite being the ‘cavern death’ genre. Bands like Dead congregation, Haunter, Fossilization, and such alike. It has the raw tone of black mixed with the heavy daunting feeling of death.
Hate Forest also has a special place in my heart, after hearing their ‘Purity’ album I was in such a state of trance from it, I have decided to dedicate a solo project to it; Duindwaler. As this project has grown to its own entity, its roots are firmly in the Hate Foreste estique.
A few of my recent purchases includes:
1. Verberis - Vexamen
2. Aosoth - The inside scriptures (Her Feet upon the Earth, Blooming the Fruits of Blood, fucking epic track that is one of my favorite to day).
3. Drastus - La croix de sang
4. Hate forest - all new stuff, I instantly buy new work
5. Thy darkened shade - Liber Lvcifer 2: Mahapralaya (first album was great, this is next level!!!!!)
16. Thank you very much for taking the time to answer these questions for Black Metal Spirit. If you'd like to add anything for Hellevaerder fans, this is the place. I hope you enjoy the questions.
Firstly I want to thank you for taking the time to check out our work, and research you have put into us, and our music. We are thankful for this, it gives us a feeling of appreciation.
The questions asked are thoughtful, I hope I gave some insight in the creation of this album. And everyone can feel free to reach out to us, we do what we love and appreciate the attention!
Daan Bleumink / Hellevaerder, except answers to question seven which was answered by Miranda.
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