Today’s Band of the Day is a group effort with every member of AltarEgo having their say…
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
The Netherlands
How did you meet?
Via Facebook.
How long have you been playing as a band?
Marcel: In this line-up, for about two years.
Before you get sick of being asked… where does the band name come from?
Marcel: It’s actually a combination of the old band name (Altar) and the second album Ego Art. We combined the two into AltarEgo.
What are your influences?
Janneke: My influences are both Angela Gossow (former Arch Enemy) and Randy Blythe of Lamb of God. What Randy can pull off with his voice is amazing.
Bas: Mainly black metal but I can appreciate all kinds of metal. I also play solo guitar in an old school death metal band named Icons of Brutality. I also find classical music very entertaining, as long as the music is put together in such a manner that I can appreciate it.
Marcel: Everything, from old until the present metal music.
Martin: A mixture of (avant-garde) black metal, classical music, and old school 70’s rock.
Erwin ‘Bakvet’: My influences lie in the old school death metal such as Morbid Angel, Napalm Death, Bolt Thrower, etc. Drummers such as Pete Sandoval, Gene Hoglan, George Kollias, and a lot of other drummers from these genres inspired me.
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
Janneke: Instead of making it difficult, let me just say that we make old school death metal. Nowadays, there are too many genres and subgenres of subgenres. I’d suggest you have a listen yourself and decide where we fit.
Do you have any particular lyrical themes?
Janneke: We try to stick close to how Altar started out back in the nineties and that’s to continue with our disapproval of any kind of religion and its fanatics. ‘Unfinished Business’ especially focuses on the Catholic church and how they are doing anything they can in their power to keep the sexual abuse as quiet as possible.
What’s your live show like? How many shows have you played?
Janneke: Our live shows are full of energy and fun. Honestly, I have lost count on how many shows we’ve played and I’d rather think of all the shows that we will be playing.
Marcel: Energetic and kicking ass.
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?
Janneke: The wildest thing I’ve seen was at a show of Lamb of God in De Melkweg, the Netherlands. Some dude who was standing at the front centre of the stage apparently beat this girl. Randy noticed and stopped the band from playing and called him out. Truly epic.
Martin: Nothing wild or anything, but when I bought my first metal album, which was Altar’s Ego Art, I would have never thought that 20 years later, I’d be sharing a stage with the dude who wrote it.
Bas: It was so wild, I can’t .
What kit do you use / guitars do you play / etc.?
Marcel: Michael Kelly guitars, Line6 Pod HD 500x Bugera Trirec
Martin: 5-string LTD basses, Gallien-Krueger 1001RB-II 4×12 stack
Bas: Gibson, Jackson guitars, custom pedal board, Bugera / Boss Katana.
Erwin ‘Bakvet’: Pearl Export drum kit, Roland TM-2 module and Roland triggers. Paiste cymbals Classic/ Alpha series.
Janneke: I use a wireless Shure microphone, Beta58A, and a Sennheiser in-ear system. Naturally, I use matching Shure headphones ;)
What, if anything, are you plugging/promoting at the moment?
Janneke & Marcel: We are currently promoting the hell out of our recently released EP entitled The Exorcism of Jesus Christ. You can have a listen on our YouTube channel or find it on Spotify or iTunes.
Martin: Indeed, and also working on some shirt-designs to they will be available in about a month or so, so keep an eye out on our Facebook page or website (http://altarofficial.nl/)
What are your plans for 2019?
Janneke: We plan on doing as many shows as we can, promoting the EP, as well as finding a suitable record label and then release a full-length album.
Marcel: A good record deal, getting more recognition abroad, and playing as many shows we can get.
If you were second on a three-band bill, which band would you love to be ing and which band would you choose to open for you? A chance to plug someone you’ve toured with, or a mate’s band we’ve not heard of before!
Janneke: I’d love to be ing Rotting Christ, Immolation, Venom Inc., Vader or Nervosa of course! One band I’d love to open for us would be Illusionless but unfortunately those guys called it quits a few years ago. I’m still hoping that they’ll pick up their instruments again. I would also love for Hecate Enthroned from the UK to us on tour.
AltarEgo: official | facebook | youtube
