1.For those that have never heard of your before, can you tell us a little bit about the musical project?
J: I guess that means everyone since we’re a new band with our first demo literally to be released in December. What can I say? It started when a close friend of mine showed me the first Runeboy demo and said “J, I’m thinking this is something for you”. He made the right assumption as it triggered me almost instantly to take my first western guitar I ever bought and start blurting out primitive stomping riffs. Yeah, that’s right, it was supposed to be acoustic at first but things took a turn as they usually do.
I added some floortom – enter Neofolk vibes – because I’m not a drummer and then asked T. to come up with some bass lines, he told me that he immediately heard what he wanted to do and also how it should sound like. I don’t argue with people like him who know exactly what they’re doing. Black metal vocals because fuck it. Then we gave our complete mess to J.D.B. who did a fine job as per usual making it sound the way it does now. I’m pleased with the result.
2.You have a demo coming out later in December, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?
J: I believe the previous answer covered this quite well.
3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored so far with the music?
J: The lyrics are inspired by diverse poets but mostly Balkan ones. There is intense melancholy to be found in their writings I hardly read anywhere else. Not pessimistic nor nihilistic but truly, deeply melancholic. I enjoyed using the contrasting ideas of dealing with loss and death in a sincere manner written down so well already, and the emotionless banditry in one concept.
4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Burial Heist'?
J: According to the Cambridge dictionary – Burial: The act of putting a dead body into the ground, or the ceremony connected with this. Heist: A crime in which valuable things are taken illegally and often violently from a place or person. The music and lyrics inspired the name, not visa versa.
5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the demo cover?
J: It’s the floor plan of a cemetery. Telling you which one would be stupid, the spoils shall be ours! When one intends to steal bones and/or other paraphernalia or funerary decorations, you must study the surroundings, learn the quickest way in and out. For this demo we used this map but did leave out the vital instructions. There are other ways though to go about and raid a cemetery, google ‘Jules Roets’ and learn from the master.
6.Currently there are only 2 members in the band, are you open to expanding the line up or do you
prefer to remain a duo?
J: To be honest, it has already crossed my mind but we’ll think about that at a later point when the first dust has settled. In the future when we perhaps decide to go live we’ll at least need one more villain to fill the ranks. An outfit of three must do the trick, everyone knows, more is asking for trouble!
7.Are any of the band members currently involved with or have been involved with any other bands or musical projects?
J: T. and myself are also doing things in La Merde, Kosmokrator, Serpent Mass, Ish Kerioth etc..
8.Can you tell us a little bit more about the masks you wear in the promo pics?
J: Thieves and bandits wear masks, it has always been this way!
9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your recordings by fans of underground music?
J: Since the digital release and at the time I’m writing this, just one review has reached us, and it came from you.
10.When can we expect a full length and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
J: We’ve just managed to round up material written for 2 demo’s, I’m not thinking of an album just now.
It could go any way, one direction could be to focus more on the punk side and recruit a third member and go live, we’ll see.
11.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
J: Not gonna lie, Runeboy was a massive influence and I’m really happy it didn’t turn out to be a cheesy copy but that it got a life of its own. Nowadays I’m listening non stop to Gilles Binchois, Johannes Ockeghem and Walther von der Vogelweide, also Reverorum Ib Malacht and Dead Congregation.
12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
J: Stay clear from the cemeteries, we’re not done yet! Also, go check Haunted by Ill Angels’ new batch of tapes and their back catalogue, if you can’t find anything that will scratch your itch, you should rethink your life choices.
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