Interviews: River Of Souls

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Doom Metal/Death Metal band, River Of Souls, from the Netherlands. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1.Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

Bart: The subterranean river Styx, swarming with the souls of the dead. The river can take you across realms and dimensions like a portal. Very much like how music can work...

2.Why did you want to play this genre?

Mathijs: Because of the bands that influenced me, like Candlemass, Unleashed and Crowbar to name a few.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Mathijs: I knew Koen from previous bands and projects.

4. Each band member favourite band?

Mathijs: I think I'm going to be different from the other guys here, but I really like the band Extermination Dismemberment.

Bart: Iron Maiden, my entry into metal.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Mathijs: It really depends on the mood I am in or the mood the song needs to be in for me at least, could be Dark Funeral, could be an older 80's thrash band.

6. Where was your last gig?

Mathijs: It would be with a different band I'm in but I think it would be Leipzig if I'm correct, it's been so long ago haha. With River of Souls I have yet to stand on the stage.

Bart: the Dutch Doom Days festival at the Baroeg in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. 

7. Where would you like to perform?

Mathijs: As many places as I can, but I would love to play some of the big festivals.

8. Whom would you like to perform with?

Mathijs: Candlemass would seem really fun but also some old school death metal bands like Unleashed.

9. Whom not?

Mathijs: That's an easy one, Opeth, never liked it and never will.

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

Mathijs: I've been nervous but never really scared. Bart – Try to get into the flow of the music as soon as possible and just go with it! A few beers can help, but not too many 😉.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Mathijs: Metal Church made me want to play guitar so I would say that's the main one. Other than that, Extermination Dismemberment (but that's for different bands).

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

Bart: I once put a mixture of fake blood and apple syrup on my head during a show with my former band World Funeral. Two girls smelled the syrup and asked me directly after the show if they could taste it. A unique experience indeed 😉. 

13. What do you think of our site?

Bart: It's a cool site with lots of new, diverse content and a great place to discover new bands, even sorted by country or very specific sub-genres.

14. Something to add?

Thanks for the support!

You can follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riverofsoulsband/

Please check out our latest full-length album called ‘Usurper’ which can be purchased at our website https://www.riverofsouls.nl/product/usurper-cd/, or digitally on https://riverofsouls.bandcamp.com/, iTunes, Amazon, or streamed via Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4YTY52z5Uietm2rBUhhvel And be sure to check out our brand-new lyric video of the track “A Spirit’s Weight” from the “Usurper” album on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oQ1GXgTdFk