A Celebration Of Music With STEVE MERRY From BE'LAKOR

Australia’s own BE’LAKOR finally return for a powerhouse run of
home shows this October, bringing their signature blend of melodic
death metal and progressive depth to stages across the East Coast
to celebrate 20 YEARS OF LIVE BE’LAKOR. Renowned for their
immersive soundscapes and acclaimed releases such as their most
recent and much lauded effort, Coherence, the Melbourne five-piece
continues to push themselves and captivate audiences
worldwide.
Joining them on this monumental run are progressive metal masters
PERSEFONE, for their very first time on Australian soil. Hailing
from the picturesque lands of Andorra, they have been a formidable
presence in the progressive death metal scene since their inception
in 2001. Renowned for their intricate compositions and thematic
depth, the band masterfully blends technical prowess with melodic
sensibility.
Complimenting an already stellar lineup is ORPHEUS OMEGA, who will
be celebrating the 10-year anniversary of their landmark album
Partum Vita Mortem. A cornerstone of Australia's melodic death
metal scene, they are well known for their dynamic blend of
aggressive riffs, atmospheric keyboards, introspective lyrics and
have consistently pushed the boundaries of the genre.
With the tour set to start in just a few short weeks, HEAVY caught
up with keyboard player Steve Merry to find out more. One of the
topics of discussion was Be'Lakor's live show and what we can
expect.
"Well, to be honest, it's just going to be a lot of riffs, a lot of
melodies, a lot of harmonies, and not much else," Steve replied.
"Not much chit-chat. We get up there, and we play our songs, and
that's the way we like to do it. We're there for the music. What
drives us is writing the music and then playing it so it'll be good
fun."
The term "immersive" is often used to describe Be'Lakor's sonic
output, so we ask Steve just what that means.
"I think what that whole bit is talking about is a combination that
the songs are long, and they go in all directions, and they often
don't return to riffs," he measured. "So there's sort of a journey
feeling to the music. We use a lot of atmospherics and a lot of
spacious sounds around the actual guitars and drums and the core of
the song. We'll chuck a lot of atmospheric stuff in as well. And I
guess the lyrics, we do tell a story with the lyrics. So I think
those three things together would be maybe what makes people say
it's a bit immersive."
In the full interview, Steve shared more details about their
upcoming tour, 20 Years of Live Be'Lakor, highlighting the band's
extensive rehearsal efforts and the inclusion of supporting acts
Persefone and Orpheus Omega. He described the live performances as
immersive experiences focused on music rather than audience
interaction.
We further discussed the evolution of BE’LAKOR's sound from their
debut album, The Frail Tide, to their latest release, Coherence,
noting a shift towards longer songs and a more mature style.
Despite the success of Coherence, the band is dedicated to writing
new material that resonates personally, currently being 60% through
the writing process for their next album, while opting not to
perform new songs on the tour to allow for further refinement, and
more.


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