With five full length records and over a decade of music biz experience under his belt, Glorior Belli mastermind Billy Bayou has seen his share of ups and downs. Hailing from France, one of the greatest places in the world to find exciting and challenging art, Bayou’s music blends black metal atmospherics with down-to-earth rock ‘n’ roll grit to produce a quite unique blend. He took the time to chat with Ghost Cult, and explain a few things about his personal connection to the blues, the band’s recent move to a new label, and the French black metal scene.
Your new album, Gators Rumble, Chaos Unfurls (Agonia Records), seems to be heading for a more pure rock ‘n’ roll vibe, showing the connection of Glorior Belli to the fundamentals of heavy music. What’s your feeling about the good old blues?
We are indeed influenced by the spirit of rebellion and the almost shocking humbleness of the blues. Understand that we are capable as a black metal band of developing a certain atmosphere in our music, and we simply mix that with a non-bullshit attitude—as if music was the last thing we had left. Mixing those influences together is playing with what may seem like two opposite elements but in the end they interact and complement each other. The very first thought that comes to mind when you think about a desert, for instance, would be the heat… Yet if you go further into the reflection, you’ll realise that it can also be deadly cold at night time. Just like the blues can be devilishly attractive and hypnotizing too. It’s nothing complicated to mix up genres if you keep in mind what you’re going for in the end. I personally have a thing for Howlin’ Wolf, Robert Johnson obviously, John Lee Hooker, also some of Stevie Ray Vaughan‘s best hits—more or less all the classics. I’m really in love with a record called Negro Prison Blues. The convicts were singing over a beat they made while actually breaking rocks at the penitentiary. Primal, deep and going straight to your guts and soul. That’s how I like my blues.
Being in a band like Glorior Belli, I guess you have to deal with all those special black metal purists?
Only like all the time. Internet warriors, lunatics and retards. I’m not complaining though, it can be entertaining and when I feel like I need to retreat from it, it’s easy to do so. I Haven’t yet reached the point where I have to run away from paparazzia.
Was the creative process for this new album any different when compared with previous ones?
The process over the years has never changed. I’m the only one in charge of the composition in Glorior Belli, only surrounding myself with musicians for the sole purpose of playing live. As for the process itself, I feel like there’s no point telling you here how I randomly pick up my guitar and let the ideas flow in as I play some chords; it’s just something personal really. I usually start with a concept and focus on a composition theme, record a demo of all the tracks and instruments and then work around it until I consider it perfect.
What about the production? Any new and different approaches in this department?
It was a little different but not much. For the very first time, I took care of absolutely everything regarding the production myself, from A to Z—meaning the recording, mixing, and all graphics, except for the front cover, which was done by Brooke Harding. I had absolute control over every single thing, just the way you like me to.
There’s a concept, lyrically speaking, that connects all the songs on this new album. What more can you tell us about it?
The concept and texts are primarily inspired from the principles that rule the anti-cosmic/chaos-gnosticism; the pursuit of the absolute knowledge to free ourselves from our enslaving condition and our obsession with the ego. Ultimately, the goal is to overcome the vulgar aspects of matter, the lies imposed by the Demiurge and to set our spirits free. The lyrics are seriously beautiful and will transport the listener to a whole new level of consciousness. I’m giving people the opportunity to forge the weapons of their own liberation. May they find in their hearts the strength to do so.
You’ve been active for a good ten years now. What has changed for you as an artist in that timespan?
The strings that I use for my guitar. DR, Dimebag signature bitches. Randall also sponsors me now. That’s about it really.
There are many definitions of black metal, even between the black metal artists. Do you have your own definition?
I believe that black metal is one of the last, if not the last, musical movements through which you can channel ideas, and by that I don’t mean political bullshit but metaphysical thoughts. I can’t say that I’m the biggest fan of black metal as a whole, there only a few bands that stand out for my personal taste: Dissection, Craft, Armagedda, Katharsis, Deathspell Omega, Arckanum, Funeral Mist, Drudkh, … to name a few. I also have my favorite classics of the genre such as De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas. In France, the black metal scene is more like individuals who mind their own business; probably some jealousy flying around the air sometimes but that’s it you know. French bands seem to be challenging to newcomers and outsiders as they have a very peculiar approach to the music, something that probably has started with our thirst for cultural revolution, freedom of speech. “I don’t share your opinions but I will fight and die so you can keep expressing them”. Kinda sums it all up, don’t you think?
Has your music helped you to perceive Satanism in a different way?
It’s the other way around. First I’ve been training my mind, and then came the music.
The band is now signed to Agonia Records. Five full-lengths on five different labels. Why the band is, apparently, always on the move?
I don’t really like discussing business plans in detail, just believe that there is a reason why things happened the way they have so far. As for Agonia Records, obviously they have been growing exponentially lately, with many great releases and a couple of new signings. More importantly for us, they will be releasing our new album on digipak for the first time in Glorior Belli’s career, as well as a beautiful 12″ gatefold vinyl. I could give you more reasons but really, there is no point. We have complete faith in this collaboration and if ever the idea would cross your mind that this deal was a second choice, think again. There is no better place for Glorior Belli to be at the moment.
I know that you’re looking for a bass player to help the band live. How is that going? Do you have any touring plans?
A candidate has got our attention and he will meet his trial by fire in Aarhus on October 12th. Unfortunately, it is too early for me now to speak about tours and plans.
Glorior Belli has been active for more than a decade. How do you look back on this already considerable road?
You sure know how to make me feel old, don’t you? It’s been eleven years actually. I don’t look back, ever. I can’t afford even for just a second to take my eyes off my objective. You see, “Glorior Belli” is Latin for “to bask in pride at times of war”. Basically it means that you have to perforn illustriously through difficult times. And difficult times we have had, but over the course of five full-length records Glorior Belli has evolved into a beast of its own. I still do things the way I used to when it all started, only now this little Satanic geek made his point.
Tiago Moreira