BEAUTY IS BETRAYAL INTERVIEW:

Beauty is Betrayal is: 

BRi - Lead Vocals 

Ryan Frost - Guitar/vocals 

Kenny - Guitar 

Katie Klutch - Bass 

Sam - Drums

BOOTLEG METAL: So let’s get things started with the name. Who came up with the name and what’s behind it?

BEAUTY IS BETRAYAL: An ex member Travis & myself (BRi- singer) collectively came up with our name. The meaning, to put it briefly; we have a deep wanting to be accepted. So we look to the media to tell us how we should act, dress, and enhance on our bodies. Hoping that will finally make us whole as a person. In reality we are robbing ourselves of finding our own uniqueness & beauty from what makes us truly ourselves.

I know this from experience dealing with a physical disability/disease that takes over my whole body. I know I will never be super model status, and I’m  a okay with that (mainly because I love burgers); My disability forced me to love/accept myself for what I am. In that I find true happiness; hopefully through my unfortunate situation I can influence others to let their freak flags fly!

BOOTLEG METAL: Very cool, nicely said.

BOOTLEG METAL:  Where is the band from?

BEAUTY IS BETRAYAL: We are from Sacramento, CA, dude.

BOOTLEG METAL: Is this the original line up and how did you guys find yourselves in the same band ?

BEAUTY IS BETRAYAL: We’ve had some member changes here & there, including the resignation of our last lead guitarist, Travis who helped me (BRi) start the band. I think the, “Want to join my band?” guitar riff is what brought together our current members I have now.

BOOTLEG METAL: How long has Beauty Is Betrayal  been around and how long after your first rehearsal was it before the first show?

BEAUTY IS BETRAYAL: We’ve been together for about a year & a half. We practice a little over six months before our first show.

BOOTLEG METAL: Does everyone contribute to the writing process or does someone generally write the lyrics and/or music?

BEAUTY IS BETRAYAL: Ryan, our bearded guitar player, is an amazing musician. He composes the draft of the songs. Later, Ryan & I will bounce back and forth with vocal melodies, harmonies, and lyric ideas. Then as a band, we learn it, morph it, then record it.

BOOTLEG METAL: What are your songs about? Fact?  Fiction? Personal experiences? 

BEAUTY IS BETRAYAL: Our older music is from personal experiences. Our newer music will be a mix of fiction & personal. I think fans of Beauty will really dig the new direction of the band.

BOOTLEG METAL: Nice job on the Holy Water video. I love the 70’s horror movie vibe (at least what I felt). You guys definitely have a dark side to your music. Any story behind the song?

BEAUTY IS BETRAYAL: The song is written about someone falling from grace. Giving into something that you thought was going to be great, but ended up creating your personal hell, now you want to go back before you lose yourself completely. You know, deep stuff. haha

BOOTLEG METAL: I stopped by your Reverbnation page and found a more upbeat song called Point Me Home which I really dug. Having only heard two songs I’m wondering which style better describes Beauty Is Betrayal.

BEAUTY IS BETRAYAL: Well, our new music we will be releasing will be much different, but we’re definitely sticking to the darkness of our song, “Holy Water”.

BOOTLEG METAL: What genre do you feel Beauty Is Betrayal fit’s in the best and what influenced your writing to get you there?

BEAUTY IS BETRAYAL: Our new music will be much darker & heavier leaning on the metal side. We were influenced by all emotions we have bottled up from our past; we have a lot of issues. haha

BOOTLEG METAL: What was your latest gig? 

BEAUTY IS BETRAYAL: Our last show that we played was at The Rock Bar in Reno, NV! Rad venue, awesome staff, and a great place to play.

BOOTLEG METAL: Where have you played live this year?

BEAUTY IS BETRAYAL: We’ve played at a handful of venues this year from Reno, Sacramento, and all the way to Orange County.

BOOTLEG METAL: Is there a favorite cover that always finds it’s way on your set list and is there a story behind it?

BEAUTY IS BETRAYAL: Dark Horse by Katy Perry! That is a KILLER song to play live; we put our own spin on it & made it really heavy. Its my personal favorite, but I get to get personal with people in the audience.

BOOTLEG METAL: Is there a past show that stands out from the rest?

BEAUTY IS BETRAYAL: I have to say it was our recent show at The Rock Bar in Reno. It was the second show with our new line up & stage set up. we got so much love that night from everyone. We all walked away feeling accomplished & motivated.

BOOTLEG METAL: So what’s in the works for Beauty Is Betrayal?

BEAUTY IS BETRAYAL: Without giving away too much; we are revamping & moving forward with a different direction, I think people will love.

BOOTLEG METAL: What are your thoughts on your local music scene?

BEAUTY IS BETRAYAL: Our local music scene in Sacramento is diverse; there are many talented artist/bands that have a lot to offer. Everyone is stepping up their game & is worth checking out.

BOOTLEG METAL: Is there a recent album/EP release you’d like to tell us about and where can we get it?

BEAUTY BETRAYAL: Right now, we are in the writing process for new music. Until then, you can get our first single, “Point Me Home” for free on our facebook.

BOOTLEG METAL: Do you have merchandise for sale?

BEAUTY IS BETRAYAL: We do! Just message us on any of our social media sites; we can mail it to you. Or if we’re in a town near you, come to a show, we want to meet you in person!

BOOTLEG METAL: Where can you be found online?

BEAUTY IS BETRAYAL:  Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, SnapChat, ect.. 

BOOTLEG METAL: As far as videos, sites, merch, ect. Are you guys more of a DIY band or do you hire out?

BEAUTY IS BETRAYAL: We are a DIY band to an extent; obviously we have to get a photographer for band photos; unfortunately selfies aren’t acceptable. Our friend & fellow musician himself, Julian Mendoza. Has helped with printing our shirts, taking band photos, and shot our music video for, ‘Holy Water’.  Everything else, it’s usually my bass player, Katie & I creating things.

BOOTLEG METAL: Do you have or are you looking for a label/manager?

BEAUTY IS BETRAYAL: Right now, we are looking for management/label. In the time being we are working & practicing our craft.

BOOTLEG METAL: One question I like to ask. What song (if any) by another artist do you wish you wrote?

BEAUTY IS BETRAYAL: You know, I’m bummed we didn’t think of “My Humps” from Fergie, I mean who doesn’t appreciate some good lady lumps?

BOOTLEG METAL: Is there another artist or band that is totally not your genre that you listen to?

BEAUTY IS BETRAYAL:  We have a lot of personalities in our band. In our van you get a spectrum from Hip-hop to Disney songs (brings out the boy’s inner princesses).

BOOTLEG METAL: How do you think downloading music whether legal or illegal affected the music community?

BEAUTY IS BETRAYAL: I don’t think it’s been affected too much. The way that I see it, if people really want your music they’ll get it whether its legally or illegally. Dowloading music has its advantages & disadvantages, I guess it’s all how you view it.

BOOTLEG METAL: Thanks for taking the time to talk with us and answering the questions. Is there anything you’d like to add?

BEAUTY IS BETRAYAL: Thank you for reaching out to us!

BALEFUL CREED INTERVIEW:

Baleful Creed is:
Fin Finlay - vocals, guitar 
JohnAllen - guitar 
Davy Greer - Bass, vocals 
Dave Jeffers - Drums         

Buy Music Here

BOOTLEG METAL:  So let’s get things started with the name.  Who came up with the name and what’s behind it?

BALEFUL CREED: John:  It was name given to me by an old friend – way back in the early 90’s – and was used for one week only when we tried to jam out as ‘Baleful Creed’ for the first time – as that was a non-runner, the name was placed on ice for 16 years until Fin suggested forming the band.

Fin: I always loved the name – so when we wanted to start a band again it had to be that name.  It means a dark, sinister, menacing system of beliefs – basically you’ll do anything to be top dog.

BOOTLEG METAL:  Where is the band from?

BALEFUL CREED: Fin:  We are basically a Belfast based band – but we do come from other bits of Northern Ireland, so we are spread out over Belfast, Bangor, Craigavon and Newtownards.

BOOTLEG METAL:  Is this the original line up and how did you guys find yourselves in the same band?

BALEFUL CREED: John:  It’s just Fin and myself from the original lineup – the 2009 version.  The two Dave’s revamped the engine room in 2014.

Fin:  We knew Davy Greer (Bass/Vocals) from other Belfast bands, and Dave Jeffers was suggested to us for the drummer position by a friend.

BOOTLEG METAL:  How long has (the band) been around and how long after your first rehearsal was it before the first show?

BALEFUL CREED: Fin:  We first started practicing in early 2009, and I think the first show was in May of that year.

John:  Fin must have hidden in a cave I think in 2008 and handed me a disc of self-penned songs saying he wanted to get ‘Baleful Creed’ together – so we had a fistful of tunes already there to work on to get up to gigging speed.

BOOTLEG METAL:  Does everyone contribute to the writing process or does someone generally write the lyrics and/or music?

BALEFUL CREED: John:  The first set of songs was all Fin’s work, Killing Time EP and half of the debut album.  I added a few tweaks but the songs were amazing as is.  They inspired me to start writing.  Now strangely for me – the first thing I did was write the lyrics for ‘Forgiven’ as Fin had the riffs in place.  But nowadays I would usually just write riffs and some chord ideas – try and get the bare bones of a song in place and then hand that over to Fin where we both go over them or play them in the practice room – let the band take it where they think it needs to go to or be changed and then the lyrics are added as the final piece.  It’s Fin that takes care of most of the lyrics, but all four of us have put in a few ideas that are all on the new album – some contrasts in opinions pop up too lol.

Fin:  John pretty much has said it, other than he left out "The Sofa" where John and I spend time at my home on the riffage, tweaking, creating, losing or adding, usually to fit with some lyrical ideas I have.  I find this process important as it's better to go into practice with not just a bunch of riffs but also a melody.  It gives us all a better idea of what the finished piece would sound like, and of course from there it's either binned or gets the seal of approval.  It has to be a team thing in my eyes, that way you get 4 different influences which I think is a good thing.

BOOTLEG METAL:  What are your songs about?  Fact?  Fiction?  Personal experiences?

BALEFUL CREED: Fin:  I like writing about personal experience or just my thoughts on a particular theme – mostly about worldly subjects and the way I see things unfolding.  I like singing about something that means something to me – or telling a story within the song that I would tend to have strong belief in, some fictional and some factual as I personally would see it.  As for ‘Faux Celebrity’, ‘Lose Religion’ and ‘Memento Mori’, you would need to ask the other guys.

John:   My only other original band was ‘Memento Mori’, which lasted for about 2 years in the early 90’s, then I gave up playing altogether until Fin coaxed me to pick up the guitar again.  I had always wanted to write a song about no matter what happens to you – we’ll all destined for death – and I had to use the old band name to capture that too.  Dave Jeffers penned the lyrics for ‘Faux Celebrity’ and Davy Greer did ‘Lose Religion’ – but we’ll let you listen to them on the new album.

BOOTLEG METAL:  What genre do you feel (the band) fit’s in the best and what influenced your writing to get you there?

BALEFUL CREED: Fin:  I feel we are a Heavy Classic Rock band with a touch of Stoner Rock/Metal in the guitar sound.

John:  At the start when we talked about influences to bring into the band – without creating a huge list, Fin and I stuck to three bands to use as core influences – although its not restricted to that but they were Black Sabbath, Danzig and Fireball Ministry.

BOOTLEG METAL:  What was your latest gig?

BALEFUL CREED: Fin:  Our latest gig was just recently on the 16th December at the Pavilion Bar, Belfast.  It was really good to get out and try almost a new set of tunes off the new album and I am glad to say they were received very well indeed.  Playing new material is always an anxious moment lol so we were very happy to say the least.

John:  It was also our 100^th gig, so was a brilliant way to round of 2016 for us with achieving that milestone.

BOOTLEG METAL: Congrats on the 100th

BOOTLEG METAL:  Where have you played live this year?

BALEFUL CREED: Fin:  It’s been a quiet year due to focusing on writing and recording the new album.  We had a couple of local gigs just to keep us out and about a little and we also had our debut full gig in Scotland – at the amazing Wildfire Festival – highly recommend that to anyone – takes place the last weekend or so of June.

BOOTLEG METAL:  Is there a favorite cover that always finds its way on your set list and is there a story behind it?

BALEFUL CREED: John:  Set list wise we always struggle to work out what to play of our own stuff, so throwing covers in has been a very rare thing for us.  We played ‘Ace of Spades’ back in January  2016 to mark the passing of Lemmy and our tribute to Motorhead – and that’s the first and only time this line up has done a cover.

Bootleg Metal: Ahhh. Well if you’re going do just one, that’s a great pick.

BOOTLEG METAL: Is there a past show that stands out from the rest?

BALEFUL CREED: Fin:  For me it was playing in the Mandela Hall in Belfast – as it’s the biggest venue we have played to date, and the on stage sound was incredible.  We went over well with the audience and played a great set – so it will always be one I treasure.

John:  I’m a big fan of Firebird, so getting to support them in Belfast was a real highlight – with Bill Steer using my old vintage Marshall head and making it sounds incredible – I’m clearly doing something wrong with it lol - and then the downside – they haven’t played since!  That was their last ever gig!

BOOTLEG METAL: So what’s in the works for (the band)?

BALEFUL CREED: Fin:  Getting the new album finished off, getting that released – and then finally getting back out gigging again.  Trying to hit new areas too – as Wildfire Festival was so good in Scotland – we want to try and get over to the UK mainland more.

BOOTLEG METAL:  What are your thoughts on your local music scene?

 BALEFUL CREED: John:  We’re lucky in Northern Ireland that it’s a really good time for original music – lots of amazing bands out there at the minute, and covering all genres through Rock and Metal – a real pool of local talent on display.

Fin:  Northern Ireland has lots of great bands out there and fortunate for us, we get to share a stage with a lot of them, so we get to see a great deal of the talent.

BOOTLEG METAL:  Is there a recent album/EP release you’d like to tell us about and where can we get it?

BALEFUL CREED: John:  The old debut album and debut EP are available on digital download from our Bandcamp site.  The new album will be available there as soon as it’s ready.

Fin:  I'll just echo that!  And add that we are very excited that the new album will be available soon.

BOOTLEG METAL:  Do you have merchandise for sale?

BALEFUL CREED: Fin:  Our Big Cartel store has the last of the CD’s of the debut album, and our latest t-shirt design and some beanies up for sale.

BOOTLEG METAL:  Where can you be found online?

BALEFUL CREED: Fin:  The usual ones like Facebook and Twitter, you will also find us on YouTube, iTunes, Spotify etc.  In fact if you just Google ‘Baleful Creed’ we normally pop up first on the search engine (the beauty of having a unique band name) so it's just a matter of look and you shall find lol.

John:  Link wise it’s best to get us at:

Digital Store:             http://balefulcreed.bandcamp.com/

Merch Store:             http://balefulcreed.bigcartel.com/

Facebook:                 http://www.facebook.com/BalefulCreed/

Twitter:                      http://twitter.com/balefulcreed

BOOTLEG METAL:  As far as videos, sites, merch, etc.  Are you guys more of a DIY band or do you hire out?

BALEFUL CREED: Fin:  We are definitely a do it all ourselves band, John does a great deal, looking after all the merch, promotion, selling online etc.  Davy is getting involved in the design of artwork and the shirts.

John:  I’m probably an undiagnosed OCD sufferer – but I enjoy handling the running of the band – I want to look back someday and say we achieved what we did under our own steam.

BOOTLEG METAL:  Do you have or are you looking for a label/manager?

BALEFUL CREED: John:  We haven’t bothered looking around for a label or manager.  The band really is a hobby – although that’s not to brush it off lightly – we want to push this as hard as we can and in today’s internet world – there is more opportunities to do things and get connected to people.  Maybe it won’t be as successful as being attached to either a label or a manager – but there is no stress or debt when you are fully independent – or at least that’s my plan for the four of us.  We can always look into changing this policy if an amazing opportunity or offer comes along of course.

Fin:  As John says really!  I think these days more and more bands basically do all their own managing.  From a personal view I would say John manages most stuff for Baleful Creed, and we are fortunate to have someone with that organisation ability in our team!

BOOTLEG METAL:  One question I like to ask. What song (if any) by another artist do you wish you wrote?

BALEFUL CREED: John:  Other than the entire Black Sabbath catalogue lol.  Actually Rainbow’s ‘Gates of Babylon’ has always been a stand out song for me – definitely wished I had wrote that one!

Fin:  Definitely a difficult question.  My music taste varies so wide, but I think it's fair to say I wish I wrote the album "Dirt" from Alice In Chains!

BOOTLEG METAL:  Is there another artist or band that is totally not your genre that you listen to?

BALEFUL CREED: John:  I’ve always been a fan of Kate Bush – I don’t know what genre you put her in either!

Fin:  Being totally honest, I got into rock/metal when I was 9-10years old and I haven't looked back since, I have probably liked the odd chart song over the years (none really jumps out at me) so it's kinda been rock all the way for me.

BOOTLEG METAL:  How do you think downloading music whether legal or illegal affected the music community?

BALEFUL CREED: John:  Well it’s probably reduce the amount of money circulating into the music business – money that once upon a time would be re-invested back into bands – give them 3-4 albums to grow.  Now its all one hit wonders – quick money making style artists, a few survive to create a career – but its quick flash in the pan music that seems to be the flavour for mainstream audiences.  I feel sorry for the youth of today who don’t have a physical collection – no records, CD’s or even tapes – no artwork to flick through – seriously who can value a digital collection!

Fin:  John has said pretty much it all on this one.

BOOTLEG METAL:  Thanks for taking the time to talk with us and answering the questions. Is there anything you’d like to add?

BALEFUL CREED: Fin:  Just thanks for giving us your time and thanks for checking out Baleful Creed.

John:  Hopefully chat to you soon – thanks so much!

THIRTEEN REASONS INTERVIEW:

                                                                                                                                                                            

THITEEN REASONS IS: 

Marc Kahn

Ian Dizzy Krier

Daran Pfeifer

Buy Music Here

BOOTLEG METAL: So let’s get things started with the name. Who came up with the name and what’s behind it?

THIRTEEN REASONS: 13 is a special number in all of our lives. The name itself stems from some of the reasons we got together and started to create music. It also has to do with signs around us during the initial starting of the band. Everyone was seeing 13’s everywhere in our lives and sometimes in very unusual ways. Maybe we’ll incorporate some of the themes of the 13 into our music in the future.

BOOTLEG METAL:  Where is the band from?

THIRTEEN REASONS: Philadelphia. Ian and I are from the PA/NJ area. Daren is from TX and LA.

BOOTLEG METAL: Is this the original line up and how did you guys find yourselves in the same band ?

THIRTEEN REASONS: Yes it is the original line up. We released our 1^st single called “Hollywood” on September 17^th 2015. We all come from working with many other bands in our separate pasts and formed this band on the basis that we all wanted the same thing musically, revitalizing rock n roll. Ian and I met in mid 2013 and started to collaborate. We wrote about 50 songs, which have grown into about 150. Daren heard our music about a year or so later and liked what we were working on. We started writing, rewriting and building the songs into what they are today. Realistically we have a few albums worth of material ready to be recorded. So a few dozen in the final stages and around 150 total workable ones.

BOOTLEG METAL: How long has (the band) been around and how long after your first rehearsal was it before the first show?

THIRTEEN REASONS: Thirteen Reasons has been around for about a year prior to the 1^st release. Somewhere around that range. It was about a year before the 1^st show. We really haven’t played a real show yet though. Just a couple local practice gigs.

BOOTLEG METAL: Does everyone contribute to the writing process or does someone generally write the lyrics and/or music?

THIRTEEN REASONS: I’d say we all contribute equally to the writing and recording processes. This is really a special band in that we can all work together in a productive way and it only took a year to get to that point. Typically Ian would come up with a skeleton or instrumental he writes and I would write vocals to it. Daren came aboard and brought his creativity to the table. It really is an even split band. Drummers writing lyrics and guitar parts, guitarists writing drums and vocalists just being difficult in general….I’m joking. But we all trade off responsibilities musically and in the studio. Everyone has their own engineering background and home studios. We have a shared studio and rehearsal spot as well.

BOOTLEG METAL: What are your songs about? Fact?  Fiction? Personal experiences?

THIRTEEN REASONS: All the above. I’d say sometimes a combination of all three. Some of the lyrics are about my personal experiences. Sometimes I’m projecting. Sometimes I’m making shit up.

BOOTLEG METAL: So I enjoyed your songs and if I had to pick, I’d say Darkest Days stands out for me. Any back story you’d like to share?

THIRTEEN REASONS: Thank you. Darkest Days is me struggling with life. Telling myself I can do the things I want in life and that I will prevail despite the constant set backs. People, circumstances, etc. I think I embodied my rage in this track. I hope someone gets either an extra push or some energy out of this one.

BOOTLEG METAL: I hear some John Bush (Armored Saint) in the singer’s voice. You guys ever hear that before?

THIRTEEN REASONS: Never. I did check them out though. That’s a nice compliment. Thank you. He’s definitely got a cool voice and style about him.

BOOTLEG METAL: Yeah man, definitely in "Unbreakable" I hear shades of John Bush.  Very Cool.

BOOTLEG METAL: What genre do you feel (the band) fit’s in the best and what influenced your writing to get you there?

THIRTEEN REASONS: Main stream hard rock/ metal. We are influenced by tons of music. The classic rockers of course..AC/DC, Stones, Aerosmith, Beatles, Queen, U2, Bowie. 90’s rock, modern rock, experimental, classical. Pretty much all music across the board.

BOOTLEG METAL: What was your latest gig? 

THIRTEEN REASONS: Connie’s Ric Rac.

BOOTLEG METAL: Where have you played live this year?

THIRTEEN REASONS: Connie’s Ric Rac and The Tusk.

BOOTLEG METAL: Is there a favorite cover that always finds it’s way on your set list and is there a story behind it?

THIRTEEN REASONS: We haven’t played any covers yet. I owe someone a Depeche Mode cover but we’ll see if I follow through on that one.

BOOTLEG METAL: Is there a past show that stands out from the rest?

THIRTEEN REASONS: No. We’ve played two sort of rehearsal gigs. We are looking forward to booking our 1^st real show.

BOOTLEG METAL: So what’s in the works for (the band)?

THIRTEEN REASONS: We are planning a lot of things. Visual mediums first off. After the next 3 releases in January, we plan to shoot some video. Perhaps a music video. 2017 will be a huge year for us. We will release as many songs as we can and start the visual art process.

BOOTLEG METAL: What are your thoughts on your local music scene?

THIRTEEN REASONS: I didn’t know there was one. The Philadelphia music scene is difficult. At least that’s the history of the rock bands who’ve launched from Philly. Everyone is separate and out on their own mission. And that’s business but personally I’d like to see more community and comradery. My goal this year is to get out more to shows and network with other bands we like. It all starts with that really. Getting like- minded bands together, creating excitement.

BOOTLEG METAL: Is there a recent album/EP release you’d like to tell us about and where can we get it?

THIRTEEN REASONS: We have 3 singles out now. Check out “Darkest Days” iTunes and Official Site

BOOTLEG METAL: Do you have merchandise for sale?

THIRTEEN REASONS: We have t-shirts and XIIIR wrist bands loaded with music and media.

BOOTLEG METAL: Where can you be found online?

THIRTEEN REASONS: iTunes

BOOTLEG METAL: As far as videos, sites, merch, ect. Are you guys more of a DIY band or do you hire out?

THIRTEEN REASONS: We are 100% DIY

BOOTLEG METAL: Do you have or are you looking for a label/manager?

THIRTEEN REASONS: No.

BOOTLEG METAL: One question I like to ask. What song (if any) by another artist do you wish you wrote?

THIRTEEN REASONS: I wish I wrote “Word Up” by Cameo

BOOTLEG METAL: Is there another artist or band that is totally not your genre that you listen to?

THIRTEEN REASONS: Sure. Lots. My guilty pleasure or “losing my mind Pandora station” has been “Out of Touch” radio. Billy Ocean, Hall & Oates, Cutting Crew…all the worst best stuff from the 80’s..the list goes on.

BOOTLEG METAL: How do you think downloading music whether legal or illegal affected the music community?

THIRTEEN REASONS: I think we’ve all seen how it affected us. If anything it’s made the proving ground and the musician gap much more intense. Musician gap meaning class gap. Like the middle class. There are the bands who arise from the depths who work hard and there are the bands who come from the top, formed by the top.

BOOTLEG METAL: Thanks for taking the time to talk with us and answering the questions. Is there anything you’d like to add?

THIRTEEN REASONS: I’d say we’ve covered a lot. We have 3 singles out right now. Also check out “Unbreakable” and “Hollywood.”  https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/unbreakable-single/id1158458814?app=itunes&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Thank you for getting to know us a bit and stay tuned for new music in 2017!!!