Interview with: Noctem

Hell on Fire: Hello Exo and Beleth and welcome to H.O.F, how are you guys everything ok?

Beleth: Yes everything right man.

Exo: Yes man.

Hell on Fire: For those who don’t know, what do you 2 do in the band? Can you talk a little bit about Noctem history since the begining?

Exo: Well, I’m the lead guitar and Beleth is the singer. We started Noctem in 2001, we’ve recorded 2 mcd’s and a live album with old songs, our last mcd was tittled “God among slaves”, released at 2007, we got a solid line up from that moment. Our debut album is entitled “Divinity” and it was released from April and May of this year in Europe and United States. This album shows our definitive sound.

Hell on Fire: You have a new release intituled “Divinity” i must congratulate you because it has lots of power and 1 well made brutal sound and i also notest that you guys have an orchestral version in the song “Divinity”, what can you say about this idea of an orchestral version for a song? Who had the idea of it? Are you guys happy with the final results of Divinity?

Beleth: Thanks. We thought in the idea of an orchestral song and we had the oportunity to work with Christos Antoniou from Septic Flesh, this adds another point of quality to the album. We’re really satisfied with the final result of “Divinity”. We finally counted with really good professionals in this album and our producer Mario Jezik contributed with all the brutality and experience that he has inside.

Hell on Fire: Beleth i think only you can answer this one, what does your lyrics talk about and were do you get the inspiration for your lyrics? Do you have any kind of special cares with your voice?

Beleth: The thematic is based in the dissapeared Atlantis, in its belligerent population considered demigods by other cultures and its polytheist theocrazy. This album is going to represent the first part of a trilogy that will treat about different and linked storys. The inspiration cames with alcohol and different substances... talking about cares... Yes, normally I need a cunt after the shows (laughts).

Hell on Fire: And now only one for Exo! From what age do you play guitar? Do you or did you have any kind of guitar lessons? Do you use to practise solos and rythms?

Exo: From 15. Of course, I studied guitar for 4 years, playing 4 hours per day, practising exercises every day, solos and different rythm patters.

Hell on Fire: Now back to you 2 (lol)! Who is the composer or composers of the band?

Exo: I’m the one who compose the music,all the songs are born from the guitar riffs; in the other way Beleth does his job with his lyrics.

Hell on Fire: Taking you back to 2004! Noctem commercializes 1 live cd which is really great! What can you say about that? Who had the idea? Did you sell lots of this cd’s?

Exo: Well it was a limited edition, we were really young and we recorded that material live because we had a huge set list to play, and the style was completely different, a past time for the band, now everything became more professional and we’re a new band.

Hell on Fire: Now for something completly different! What do you like to do in your free times?

Exo: Drinking beer and vodka with redbull, drinking cars and travelling are my favourite hobbies (laughs). But this band keeps me involved on it every fucking day. We have a lot of work now!!!

Beleth: To be honest I don’t have free time... this project keeps me 100% involved all the day.

Hell on Fire: Talking a little bit about your country Spain, what can you guys say about supports in there, it’s been hard for Noctem to survive starting in your country? What can you say about the metal scene also in Spain?

Beleth: Spain never was the best country to play extreme metal, but nowadays we’re having a very good succes in Spain and the rest of Europe. Sales are going fucking well and the support from the metal press and fans is really awesome now. The past years were really hard, but from the “God among slaves” release we have a very good acceptance . Thank you motherfuckers.

Hell on Fire: Talking a little about distribution, you have NoiseHead Records and Relapse Records supporting Noctem, how as been so far the relation between the band and this 2 Records and their work?

Exo: Everthing is going on wheels with these authentic professional labels, Noisehead at Europe and Relapse at the States; we have a good support from them, and we are doing our best every day.

Hell on Fire: I must congratulate you guys because i’ve been following you since
the begining and i see a huge growing in your songs and the band members are really professional one’s! Did you guys also felt a growing along this years?

Beleth: Yes, of course. With the past of the time everything becomes more professional, because this band means everything for us, blood, sweat and tears.

Hell on Fire: Something that i use to ask, in this case, which is the meaning of Noctem?

Beleth: From the Latin, a dead language, is the accusative of night . Personally it has a deeper meaning, the beginning and the end, the darkness, madness, destruction, chaos, our vissions of life. For me is everything.

Hell on Fire: I already listen to Divinity and i must say that my hi-fi almost explode with such power of Noctem, do you guys also transmit this blast to the crowd when you perform live?How as been the reaction so far of the crowd in your concerts? Until now which was the best 1 you gave?

Exo: Shows are even more energetics, because we have a common language with over the stage, our performances are based in all that we feel when we compose and write our songs.

Beleth: So you must come and see the bleeding live.

Hell on Fire: Who is the person behind the layout artwork of your myspace and the artwork of Divinity? Both things are really good my congratulations to him!

Beleth: Our myspace artwork was created by Pulpapocalypse studios working with us. They’re good professionals . The cover is designed by Marcelo HVC, he worked before with bands like Satyricon, Vader, Job for a cowboy...

Hell on Fire: What can you say about your concerts so far here in Portugal? Do you like to play here? How do you descrive the portuguese crowd?

Exo: To be honest, you have the best crowd in all the world, portuguese metal heads are just the most crazy, energetic and generous that I’ve ever seen. When we played at Seixal last year it was simply aswesome to see the crowd supporting the band in that way.

Hell on Fire: Now for the last question! What do you wanna say to those that always support Noctem since the begining?

Exo: You’re the most important part for this band, family and friends at the same time, the same blood.

Beleth: Thank you guys for all your support , without you guys we are nothing.

Hell on Fire: Exo and Beleth, muchas gracias for your time :) i wish you guys all the good luck for your concerts and for the new release you have in the market and i hope to see you guys around since Noctem will be performing this summer in Portugal!!!

Exo: See you in September man!!! “Divinity devastation Tour” over Portugal so soon.

Beleth: See you in the pit!!!




By: Nightshade

Noctem myspace
www.myspace.com/noctemofficial