BALEFUL CREED INTERVIEW:

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

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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!