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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