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Interviews : “A Belphegor show is more of a live ritual than a typical metal concert” – An interview with Helmuth Lehner (Belphegor)

By on April 22, 2018

Belphegor – Helmuth Lehner

When it was announced that Austrian blackened death centurions Belphegor were due to tour Australia in 2018, appearing on a bill with Ihsahn from Emperor no less, the charcoal coloured hearts of many in the black metal divisions were overjoyed.

Belphegor is one of the last great enigmas in the blackened genre. Their guitarist and spokesperson Helmuth Lehner, eschewed some of the more immediate methods of technology to discuss the tour and elements of the band’s philosophy via email. (note- authentic grammar syntax kept per Lehner’s authorship)

“A Belphegor show is more of a live ritual than a typical metal concert. As soon as I hear the intro and smell the incense, my mind switches to another dimension and I descend into another realm. I revel in leaving my body during a Belphegor stage performance, letting the demons take over and submitting into total possession with the music, it’s a pleasure. I almost cum if the ceremony is great and the audience gets wild while glorifying death music. Often it is magick between the band and the people, those are the most intense ceremonies if you feel the sweat the obscurity while we fire our tracks into the horde.”

Touring and travelling to places far from the bands original base of Salzburg have certainly kept the band busy. There have been notable occasions when the band’s members have faced both hostility, and on one occasion Lehner’s very existence was in serious jeopardy. Referencing the now infamous attack on the band’s members and touring partners, Nile, at a Russian airport, the following is part of Lehner’s response when asked for his thoughts on that particularly vulgar act of act of insolence.

“I still don’t want to make this an important part of Belphegor’s history. We have more interesting stuff to offer, than what a drunk lowlife thinks about our art.…as far as the situation in Russia goes, I don’t see myself as a victim. I knew better than to attack him and respond to his provocations. It should go without saying that if it happened on neutral ground it would have been different for those degenerates. Thanks to Mr. Karl Sanders of NILE who stood in the way and blocked him. What a loyal gesture from Karl, I will never forget that. Otherwise, everything could have gotten really out of control.”

Indeed, it could have. One moment in Lehner’s life when matters certainly escalated occurred during a tour in South America.

“It’s been seven years since my personal dance with death. I spent six hours with my heart still. I bought a lot back with me. It changed my life entirely. I saw things I never wanted to see, it was like being on a super depressive fucked up drug for weeks. But I came back and I’m still a metal maniac, thanks to the doctors and nurses in Austria who saved me. I could fill a book, man. This was the hardest ride I ever had to experience. I had to restart a lot and learn from the beginning, like breathing – talking and even walking. Big time damage to my lungs, my heart- my body was failing.”

A frank and reflective Lehner goes on to provide deep insight into his NDE…

“The suicidal excessive lifestyle I lived for 20+ years didn’t help me during this time and it had taken over me. I had become an alcoholic and if I didn’t have that open-heart operation I probably would be dead already from my addiction. It sucks when you drink the water in Latin America after a terrible hangover and wake up nearly dead, get typhus, followed by a life-threatening operation, 6 weeks hospital, 8 weeks rehab, and forced to take a break from life for 8+ months- that’s what happened to me in October 2011.”

The outstanding guitar performance that Lehner showcases will be on offer through the bands Australian tour (“I’m inspired by many of great shredders, starting with Ritchie Blackmore, Jimmy Page, to Eddie Van Halen, Gary Moore, Randy Rhoads, Trey Azagtoth, Yngwie.”) so he has this to say to the loyal battalion waiting for the bands shows in the antipodes.

“Hails to all the people who support us by listening to our sounds, attending our ceremonies, getting merch and spreading the plague! See you in May in Australia and New Zealand.”

Catch Belphegor with Ihsahn and Revocation this May in Sydney and Melbourne for Direct Underground Fest. Tickets on sale now via www.soundworkstouring.com.

May 7th – Brisbane, Crowbar w/ Graveir & Blodmane

DIRECT UNDERGROUND FEST with
IHSAHN, Belphegor, Revocation, Diocletian, Wiegedood & Encircling Sea
May 5th – Sydney, Max Watts
May 6th – Melbourne, Max Watts

About

Andrew is a musician who has spent many years performing on the stages of the pubs and clubs of Queensland. A devotee of the broad church that is rock, punk, funk, jazz and of course all genres of metal... he now shares his enthusiasm via a burgeoning pursuit of music journalism. Follow him on twitter @andymckaysmith