Interviews: Beyond God

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Symphonic Metal band Beyond God from the Netherlands. Check out this band and follow them on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

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

We wanted to come up with a name that referred to something big. With that in mind, we concluded that “God” or “a God” is seen as something which is grand and elusive. Everyone can define for themselves what it means for them or how it is interpreted, without pointing to something specific. If you then want to reach a superlative degree, it is something that goes even beyond God. As such we came with the name Beyond God. So, to avoid misunderstandings, it has nothing to do with something religious or something that is against a religion.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

As a symphonic metal band, we've never felt exclusive to just one genre. Our core drive has always been to create music that resonates with us, music that we truly like. If you check our music from our first album to now, there's a clear evolution. Our sound has grown more dynamic, carrying a heavier punch and melodic guitar solos. While the symphonic foundation remains, our exploration across genres adds layers of richness and depth to our tracks. We play what speaks to us, and if that defies genre boundaries, so be it

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

No, we did not! Ferry has been the founding father of the band and found everyone either via a ‘find musicians’ website or Facebook groups. We all live in different parts of the Netherlands so thank heavens we have the internet!

4. Each band member's favorite band?

Meryl: Evanescence, Stream of Passion, Jinjer, Fleetwood Mac.

Dennis: Trivium, Avantasia, Toto, Dynazty, Parkway Drive

Mariusz: Sleep Token, Polaris, Lost Society

Ferry: Epica, Delain, Carach Angren, Textures

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs? 

There is no single thing that inspires to write a song. Inspiration can come from everything. A story you read, or you are being told, a (world) event that happens, or even a nice walk through nature. As long as you are open to the world around you, inspiration can come in all shapes and forms. Sometimes just fiddling on a guitar or a piano is enough to write a song. For example, on our new album, we have a song about femicide, about the medical condition aphantasia based on the story of a content creator and how that would be if someone also were to have a condition called prosopagnosia or face blindness. And then there’s a song about the Greek Titan Cronos. Inspiration comes when it does, and you cannot force it. 

6. Where was your last gig? 

Our most recent performance took the stage at the Metal Days festival, an experience that was truly electrifying!

7. Where would you like to act?

Wherever we can! …it is not that we want to perform in specific countries or regions, if there is a stage to perform and the crowd to support, we are good! Performing outside of The Netherlands, of course, always gives some sort of special touch to it, but it doesn’t mean that we do not want to rock all the great venues in The Netherlands as well. (Which we have been doing over the last couple of years.)

8. Whom would you like to feature with? 

That’s a very tough question. If we include people who have sadly left the world behind… Ronnie James Dio would be amazing. To name another singer, a duet with Floor Jansen (Nightwish) would be amazing. Considering other musicians, a guest solo by the likes of Jason Richardson (All That Remains), Tommy Johansson (Sabaton), or Jeff Loomis (Arch Enemy) would be amazing. Maybe something less conventional like a bass solo by Victor Wooten or a feature with James Brown or Alan Walker could create a masterpiece.

9. Whom not? 

In the broad sense any highly controversial individuals and bands. We are not a band to pick sides in public debates, for example, we are here for the music! Other than that, we would be open to anything and everyone. Rather than creating a divide, we would like to bring people together! This might sound ironic, given our album is called The Great Divide. Let’s hope the album can close that divide haha.

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

Yep, standing in front of a crowd can be super nerve-wracking, and trust us, we've been there. Feeling nervous is totally normal. Our best tip? Just be super prepared. The more you practice and know your stuff, the easier it gets to focus on just having fun on stage. So for anyone starting out, keep practicing, and remember, we all get nervous. Use that energy to pump up your performance.

11. What bands have inspired you the most? 

It is not specifically certain bands that form the basis of our inspiration. It is more certain elements, emotions, or vibes of bands that we really like, which we use to create our own sound and style. To give a few examples, we really like the beautiful tunes and vocal lines of Amy Lee from Evanescence, the dramatic and spooky orchestral creations from Carach Angren, and the brutality and aggressiveness of the sound and songs of Jinjer that we really like. This album is a great melting pot of all those ingredients that give the album its specific color. 

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

When we started having fans, it actually felt weird that they would want our autograph or take a picture with us! It felt very unreal that we could have this effect on people. I don’t think there really has been something actually weird going on, but as soon as it does, we will let you know.

13. What do you think of your fans? 

They are amazing. The feeling you get when you create something as a group or as an individual and there are people who enjoy and appreciate it is just amazing and gives a sense of pride. To see people who get out of their way, travel, spend money just to see you perform, or take the time to look up our music online brings a smile to our faces and warms our hearts. If only for one second someone is touched, inspired, or simply enjoys our music, our goal is reached!

14. What do you think of our site?

We appreciate sites like Breathing The Core Zine. It's a fantastic space that presents lesser-known bands, giving them a voice and helping them reach a broader audience. It's crucial for the metal music community to have such dedicated platforms that help artists get noticed and grow. Kudos for the great work you're doing