Interviews: Whore Of Bethlehem

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Blackened Death Metal band, Whore Of Bethlehem from the USA. 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?

Good question, back in the day (around 2009 or so) the members at the time and I intended to go in more of a black metal direction, so we wanted to come up with the evilest name possible. We had a really hard time doing that, and it's no secret that the band Archgoat (whom we were and still are big fans of) has a record by the same name and we thought it would make a cool name for our band. So it was a tribute to them in a way. We actually did play a gig with them a few years back and they never brought it up so I think we are good. Haha!

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

For me personally, when I started playing guitar in the 90s, extreme metal was the most challenging form of music out there. I wanted to be the best I could at my instrument so that was the direction I gravitated toward the most. I had some other bands that I played in which had a more mainstream sound, but I always just felt like I needed more and needed to push myself harder. By the time I was out of high school and ready to play in an "adult" band, I fell in pretty quickly with some guys in the local death metal scene and that was that!

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

Yea, we did actually. Phil, James, and I all played in different local bands for a few years before we ended up playing together. James and I were actually planning to do a death metal cover band together when the WoB singer quit. Within hours of that happening I hit up James and he said yes. Phil joined a couple years earlier when our original guitar player lost interest in jamming regularly. Up through the touring cycle for our first album "Upon Judas Throne" we had a revolving door of members and even a couple of us still currently in the band took breaks from it. We knew Sam and Alan from another local band they played in called Cathexis, and we formed a bond pretty quickly as we had been sharing a rehearsal space. Once the bass and drummer positions in WoB opened up, it was a really easy and natural transition to have them come aboard and we have had this lineup for quite a few years now. Each new member who has joined along the way has added a ton of value to our sound as well as our friendship as a band.

4. Each band member's favourite band?

I can't really speak for the other guys, but Pantera was always my favorite band growing up. After them probably Morbid Angel. Everyone in the band listens to a wide array of metal and non-metal bands from Peturbator to Dark Funeral or Deeds of Flesh. I personally am heavy into all sub-genres of rock and metal regardless of what is considered "true" or "in" at the time.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

All kinds of things - books, movies, video games, real-life experiences, current events. Primarily though I just love to play the guitar and when I sit down to practice or jam at home and come up with a cool idea, I try to build on it to bring to the guys at practice or send them a rough demo recording of it. Then we hash out the details as a band and each member contributes. I go through phases where I may be listening to a certain band or album a lot so I'll try to write something similar to that, but in the end, I usually fail miserably and end up with something completely different.

6. Where was your last gig?

Come and Take It Live, in Austin, TX

7. Where would you like to act?

I'm guessing you mean perform (I'm not a very good actor lol!), so I would say anywhere in Europe or a different country/continent. New York City would also be cool.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

We have been very fortunate to share the stage already with some of the all-time best metal bands and our biggest influences, but if there was one left to check off the list for me it would be Cannibal Corpse. They always have amazing crowd energy at all of their shows, we are all massive fans of theirs, and it would be an honor to perform alongside them one day. If we are talking more lofty goals, I'd say Megadeth or Metallica, something like that!

9. Whom not?

We are down to play with anyone so there is nobody that I would include here. I think it'd be great to play with some artists who are outside of our genre if their audience would be receptive to our style. Even if I am not personally a fan of a particular artist, I still respect and appreciate their vision and their efforts.

10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tips for beginners on how to beat that?

Absolutely, I went through a period of several years where I would be super anxious all day before our gigs, and sometimes I would have full-blown panic attacks! I just had to remind myself that metal is a huge part of my identity, playing music is what I love, and I am proud to be the person I am regardless of what anyone else thinks. So you just gotta psych yourself up, go out there and do it. Once you start playing and feel the reaction from the audience the nerves usually go away!

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

For me personally and the way I play and write for this band, I would say, Morbid Angel, Dark Funeral, Dissection, Vader, Suffocation, and Behemoth. Outside of WoB and as a guitar player in general it would have to be Pantera, Ozzy/Sabbath, Metallica, Dream Theater, Judas Priest, etc - all the big-name bands that every metalhead grows up listening to.

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

Oh man, we have had people ask us for all kinds of crazy stuff. But the one that sticks out to me the most was a show we played a couple years ago in San Antonio, one of the more intoxicated patrons made a serious inquiry about if we would sell her some crack cocaine LOL! Nobody in our band uses cocaine or any hard drugs so I truly don't know where she got that from, but it was hilarious to me.

13. What do you think of your fans?

We love our fans! Without them, we are nothing and would not be doing any of this!

14. What do you think of our site?

Looks great, is very professional, and is clean! Honored to have been selected for an interview in your fine magazine.

15. Something to add?

Ryan: Our new album "Ritual of Homicide" comes out this March on Comatose Music so please pick up a copy and look for us on the road this next year! We are going to do our best to play out as much as possible to support the record so we are looking forward to meeting our fans in different cities and making some new friends. Thanks again for the interview!