Interviews : Ne Obliviscaris (Benjamin Baret) – 12/09/2008

After many longs months without a guitarist, Melbourne ‘Progressive Black Metal’ band NE OBLIVISCARIS recently announced the addition of French guitarist Benjamin Baret to the band. We recently caught up with Ben to speak about his life back in France, his reaction to joining Ne Obliviscaris, and also his hopes for the future of the band.

MetalObsession.net: First of all, welcome to Australia and thanks for having a chat with us here at www.metalobsession.net.
Ben (NeO): Thank you. It’s my first interview in Australia and I am glad it’s for Metal Obsession.

MO: You have been in Australia now for a little while, how have you been settling into your new life with Ne Obliviscaris in Melbourne, and how do you like the Australian culture so far?
Ben (NeO): Well, I just arrived a month ago, I’ve been living at Tim’s house (Thanks Tim) and I am now moving to Brunswick. The first rehearsals went very well, and I can’t wait to be on stage with the guys. I feel good here in Oz. People are very nice and open-minded, it’s really different from Europe, but I miss our good food!

MO: Tell me about your previous experience in metal? I believe you were in at least 1 band back home in France?
Ben (NeO): I’ve been part of a death metal band for 4 years, we recorded two demo CDs and did a lot of gigs around France, but the band members were just arseholes (the worst kind), so I left them. I’ve also been part of a studio project with two very good friends, Olivier and Tiphaine. It’s called Unbreathable and it’s the most sick Death metal stuff ever, all about groove and melody, so it’s too bad I had to leave the band. Unfortunately we never found the right drummer so we never performed live- my biggest regret I think.

MO: How did you enjoy your first local gigs (as a fan) in Melbourne? How does it compare in quality and atmosphere to those in Europe? Any new found bands you would recommend?
Ben (NeO): I saw three concerts since I am here. You guys have some crazy bands around here, the level is higher than in France (especially the technical level of the musicians ), nevertheless we have more bands. I really liked Separatist, Mephistopheles and The Ocularis Infernum. I was already hugely into Psycroptic and Alarum before I came, and I can’t wait to see them! I’ve also been blown away by Sleepmakeswaves. I’ve been listening to them for a few months now and seeing them was magic! Playing with them for the NeO’s comeback show is sick!

MO: What attracted you to the music of Ne Obliviscaris? And what made you decide to apply and take on the guitarist position?
Ben (NeO): In the beginning of the year, Thibault, a very good friend, told me that I should listen to a young metal band coming from Melbourne called Ne Obliviscaris. I did, and really loved the songs. I like the ambiance, the melodies, the diversity, the singing, the swinging bass and the drumming. I think they created their own universe, and for a first demo, it doesn’t happen very often (to say the least)! I was actually at a very bad point of my life in France for a lot of reasons, and I was planning to move away anyways, when I saw that they were looking for a new guitar player. I was thinking: “How far can I go in a future professional band audition?“ I never thought they would pick me up, but they did, so I took my guitar, my bag and a few months later I was here in Australia. I was also studying music in France, and I now get to mix all that I like: music, travel and English.

MO: Given the worldwide interest in the position in Ne Obliviscaris, what was your reaction when the band said they wanted you?
Ben (NeO): Well I danced in my flat alone for about one hour and couldn’t stop smiling for the whole day. I felt very honoured and proud, and know I work hard to make sure I don’t disappoint them.

MO: How much input will you be having in writing music for the new NeO album due out in 2009?
Ben (NeO): I have made a few changes on the older songs (nothing extraordinary) and I will write all the lead parts for the new ones! All the guys are keen to listen to what I have in mind, and I like that.

MO: What hopes and/or expectations do you hold for the future for the bands music?
Ben (NeO): I just hope we will make good music, enjoy it all together and the most importantly play live as much as possible. I want to tour everywhere and play, play, play. I am addicted to the adrenaline rush I feel on stage.

MO: A question for all the guitarist’s out there, what guitar gear and set up do you use in a live show?
Ben (NeO): Not a very good one at present … I use a Ibanez RG 1527, 7 strings (my weapon of choice for years) routed with an EMG 707 and left-handed! For pedals I have one MXR Dyna Comp, one MXR Smart Gate, one Guyatone Metal Monster (distortion pedal) and the Whammy by Digitech. My amp head is a B-52 AT-100, my cabinet is still in France …

MO: We often like to ask what local Australian bands you think we should check out, but I’m going to change that around a little to ask what local French/European bands that we in Australia may not have heard of, and you think we should?
Ben (NeO): I think you all know Gojira, but they’re far from being the best French metal band. You should listen to the first 3 albums of Scarve  (amazing progressive/melodic/technical death metal), Gorod (awesome technical/groove/jazz death metal), Adagio (dark/neo-classical prog’), Asmodee (finest progressive black/death metal). That’s it for the really mind-blowing stuff, but we also have cool bands such as Kronos, Benighted, Blockheads, Offending, Ashura …

MO: And to finish up, any words to the readers of MetalObsession.net and Ne Obliviscaris fans?
Ben (NeO): Stay true guys, integrity is the most important thing. Play with your heart, I want to see your soul in every movement you do, because you will see mine. Don’t cheat, don’t lie, be happy, spread love and happiness! I know it sounds cliché, but that’s what I think.

MO: Thanks a lot! And I’m really looking forward to seeing you and the rest of NeO at your comeback show, 4th of October at The East Brunswick Club, Melbourne.
Ben (NeO): Thank you, everyone can come and buy me a drink haha, I will be the guy with no hair!

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www.myspace.com/neobliviscaris
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Catch NE OBLIVISCARIS at their Melbourne comeback shows this October!

4th Oct 2008
Ne Obliviscaris @ East Brunswick Club, East Brunswick
w/ Be’lakor and sleepmakeswaves
Tickets available at www.eastbrunswickclub.com or at the door 8pm, $10+bf.

5th Oct 2008
Ne Obliviscaris @ East Brunswick Club, East Brunswick
w/ Be’lakor, sleepmakeswaves and Severed
Tickets available at the door 1pm, $15, ALL AGES.