In this
interview, we dive into BleedSkin's latest album, Homicidal Therapy,
exploring its concept, fan response, and the band's evolution within the
Belgian death metal scene. Join Céline and Rémy as they share insights on their
creative journey and future plans.
1. First
off, congratulations on the release of Homicidal Therapy! Can you tell us a bit
about the concept behind the album and what inspired its creation?
Céline (Vocals/Guitars): Thank you! Indeed, Homicidal Therapy is a concept
album that tells the story of a man who struggles with his internal demons. He
ultimately loses control and descends into murderous madness to soothe his
urges and his malaise. The story of this album is inspired by thriller movies.
2. Homicidal Therapy was released on September 10, 2024. How has the fan and
media response been so far? Has it lived up to your expectations?
Rémy (Vocals/Bass): Yes, even beyond that! We are super happy with the public's
response; the pre-sales went very well, and we’ve also sold physical copies on
every continent! The press has been very supportive as well. The audience
really seems to appreciate Homicidal Therapy.
3. BleedSkin has been active since 2016, carving out a space in the Belgian
death metal scene. How has the band’s sound evolved over the years, and how
does Homicidal Therapy reflect that growth?
Céline: The sound of Bleedskin has evolved over the years thanks to the
experience gained from previous recordings. We first recorded an EP, and we
wanted the next album (Blood Reign) to be more violent and mixed like a true
death metal album. For the following single (Physical Redemption), we aimed for
something even more violent and fast. We wanted to push our limits in terms of
speed and technique. For Homicidal Therapy, which comes three years after our
last single, we wanted something more mature. Yes, speed in death metal is
great, but the groove and heaviness of the riffs are just as important, and we
wanted to create a mix of both. We also wanted to combine our two voices with
Rémy. They complement each other, so we wanted to leverage each other's differences
to develop an even more aggressive metal sound in the vocals.
4. The title of the album, Homicidal Therapy, is quite evocative. What message or themes are you exploring with this release?
Rémy: It's a concept album that tells a story throughout the songs. It’s about a man who wants to repent for his past crimes, but the little beast within him gnaws at his mind and pushes him to commit the irreparable against his will. We follow his psychological evolution and his murders.
5. As a self-released album, what were some of the challenges you faced during the production and promotion of Homicidal Therapy? How did you overcome them?
Rémy: Indeed, we haven't found a label that meets our expectations yet. We're keeping an eye on offers, but there are almost as many labels as there are bands in the market. It's quite difficult to find a true label that works in the best interest of its bands.
To finance Homicidal Therapy, we did a crowdfunding campaign with exclusive merchandise, and the audience really showed up, which helped make the project a reality! The rest of the production comes from our non-profit organization.
6. The death metal scene in Belgium is relatively small but growing. How do you see BleedSkin contributing to the growth of this scene, and what do you think sets your band apart from others?
Céline: The fact that we are a power trio, with two singers and a woman in the band, and that we play extreme metal already sets us apart on the Belgian scene. There aren’t many women in the metal scene, and even fewer in extreme metal on guitar and vocals
7. Could you walk us through the songwriting process for Homicidal Therapy? Were there any particular songs that stood out or were more challenging to create?
Céline: For writing the songs, I often write a first part and share it with the guys to get their feedback, and then I continue with the demo. Once the demo is finished, we listen to it together to see if there are any changes needed for the musical aspect. Logan takes care of modifying the drums and adding his personal touch. Then, we create rough drafts for the placement of the vocals, and Rémy writes the lyrics.
Writing the music wasn’t a challenge, but placing the lyrics was. We were just starting with the vocals, and getting them placed correctly without being redundant was a real challenge for all the songs.
8. Given the intense themes and aggressive sound of Homicidal Therapy, how do you channel your energy during live performances, and what can fans expect when they see BleedSkin on stage?
Rémy: It’s true that the album is aggressive from start to finish! We try to reproduce that energy live at every concert with a dynamic performance. It requires a lot of preparation, both in rehearsals and physically. A concert is a real workout for us! Since we have two singers, we try to bring energy and engagement everywhere on stage and during the songs.
9. Finally, what’s next for BleedSkin after this album? Are there any upcoming tours, new projects, or other plans you’d like to share with us?
Céline: Yes, the next step for this album is indeed to find more concerts to promote it live. We would like to play abroad and on bigger stages and festivals.
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