Interviews: Beyond Forgiveness

On this new occasion, we had the opportunity to interview the Symphonic Metal band Beyond Forgiveness from the USA. Check out the interview and follow this band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name? Did you plan it or came out like that?

That was actually Rich that came up with the band name- the band Eternal Oath had a song called Beyond Forgiveness that Rich liked and thought the name was cool, and so we changed the band name; it was previously called Anifornum 

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Greg: For me, it’s always been the dream project. Bands like Nightwish, Xandria, and Epica have such an amazing sound.

Sean: I like a fuller sound, I’ve always loved metal, always loved classical, and just love the epic-ness of it.

Talia: I came from a classical music background and then discovered metal later. Rich actually introduced me to a lot of different symphonic metal music and bands, and I found the genre really resonated with me.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Greg: Rich and I played in Hell’s Eden together, and I kind of knew Sean a little before, too. We also knew Talia, because our old bands played shows together.

Sean: I knew Greg before, but didn’t know Talia before.

Talia: Yeah, I was friends with these guys before, but didn’t know Sean until the other guys brought him into this band.

4. Each band member's favourite band?

Greg: Blind Guardian

Sean: Eluveite and Moon Sorrow

Talia: My favorites change all the time. I often become a fan of musicians I meet or interact with personally, and for a while, different bands will become my favorites. I really love Fleshgod Apocalypse, and I also always loved Within Temptation.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Greg: Just the music in general, whatever is inspiring at the moment

Sean: Yeah, whatever you are listening to at the moment, and whoever you kind of like at the moment.

Talia: Well, for me, I write lyrics about a lot of different things. I have always written poems and songs to just process whatever is going on in my life. When I’m writing for a band, though, I try to think about the larger concept, and when I know what the song is about, then I can write about the concept in metaphors and poetic sorts of things. I usually write about deep personal experiences, but I write about them in metaphors.

6. Where was your last gig?

Our last show was at the Black Sheep in Colorado Springs, actually in 2023. It has been a while since we played shows, as we were working on our album, and one of our band members had an injury and couldn’t play for a while. But now that our album is done, we are ready to get back out on stage and share our new music, and will be performing at a festival here in a couple of months.

7. Where would you like to act?

Greg: I’d love to play Wacken and 70,000 tons of metal!

Sean: Anywhere and everywhere

Talia: Yeah, I would love to play at more festivals also. I love performing, though, whether it’s a small club or a big venue. I would love to tour again sometime.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

Greg: Blind Guardian, if I could open for Blind Guardian someday, that would be so awesome!

Sean: There’s no one band in particular; there are too many bands that I love that I would love to play with. I can’t pick just one.

Talia: I agree with that, every time you share the stage with another band, it’s such an interesting and fun experience, so I would love to play shows with as many bands as possible. I would also like to be able to perform our music with a live symphony orchestra someday. 

9. Who not?

Sean: Honestly, there’s probably not one I wouldn’t want to play with.

Greg: Usually, when we get offered a show, we don’t really care who it’s with. We get to play a show, it’s going to be fun, and if the people we play with are cool, then we get to have fun.

Talia: Yeah, I mean, we would want to play with bands who are cool and professional about things and have a good experience, but really can’t think of anyone who we would decline playing a show with.

10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tips for beginners on how to beat that?

Greg: Originally, the first show I ever played live, yes. And then soon after that it wasn’t anything anymore. You just let the adrenaline kick i,n and you won’t think about it. Before every show, you get butterflies, but then you hit that first note and you get that rush, and the butterflies are gone.

Sean: I still have stage fright when I go on stage. I always have. It’s not always as bad. But sometimes you go on, and maybe it’s a bigger show, but you can’t let it overwhelm you. You just have to do it. Like Greg said, you just have to overcome it, and once the adrenaline hits you forget about being afraid and you just enjoy it and have fun, and there’s nowhere else you want to be.

Talia: I always got stage fright really bad whenever I was playing piano solo or singing solo. But whenever performing with an ensemble or a group, I did not have stage fright. I always prefer to perform with friends; it’s a lot more fun, and the energy of the collaboration keeps me from getting nervous. But sometimes I still get nervous right when I’m going on stage to start a show, and I have to really focus and remember all the techniques I practiced in order to keep the nerves from affecting my voice. My advice would be to just focus on having fun and connecting with the audience and everyone in the room, and not worry about being judged or trying to be perfect.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Greg: There are too many to think of. Marcus and Andre of Blind Guardian inspire me with their techniques; the music they write is just amazing. John Shafer inspired me to learn how to play gallops. Kai Hansen’s music has always been inspirational. Many years ago, at Progpower 3, I met Kai Hansen and got to talk to him for a bit and tell him how much he inspired me. That was pretty cool.

Sean: I have a long list, particularly certain drummers who have been inspiring to me, like Neil Peart, John Bonham, Nick Barker, Hellhammer, and many others

Talia: Early on in my songwriting, and when I was discovering symphonic metal, Within Temptation was probably one of my biggest influences. But most of the time, it is the rising bands, or more local bands, that really inspire me a lot, because they are creating their music without a lot of industry backing and often have sounds and ideas I’ve never heard before. Also, when I have a chance to get to know the musicians personally, their lives and stories, and everything behind the music always inspires me a lot. And also, Ad Infinitum is really inspiring - I met Melissa Bonny once back in 2017, before she had started that band, and have been following her music since. And it’s been really awesome to watch all that she has done and accomplished over the past few years. I think it probably gave me some inspiration to try to do more with my own music than I might have done otherwise, as well.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

Sean: Nothing weird, just the basic stuff - autographs and photos and things.

Talia: Yeah, our fans have been great, mostly they just want to take pictures with us, or have me send autographed photos or things like that.

13. What do you think of your fans?

Greg: Our fans have always been really great, they seem to be really loyal, a lot of them have followed and stayed with us since our very first EP.

Talia: Our fans really are like friends, they are all really cool to hang out with and talk with, and have been so supportive of our music, no matter what.

14. What do you think of our site?

We love your site, we were so happy to talk with you back in 2019 about the artwork and everything with our last album release, and it’s great to chat with you again. We love how you feature so many bands and the behind-the-scenes of what everyone’s creating!

15. Something you'd like to add?

Thanks so much again for the interview! We hope everyone will stay tuned for more music to come. Our album comes out July 18th, and there are some things we can’t wait to share in the meantime!. Please follow us on social media and check out our website!