Interviews About Albums: Steegmoord - MANDATORY (2025)

In this new interview, we sat down with the Belgian Instrumental Metal band Steegmoord to ask questions about their album, "MANDATORY".

1. What can you say about this new EP/CD?

MANDATORY is a boundary-pushing instrumental metal album that fuses the raw intensity of thrash with the atmospheric depth of progressive and stoner metal. With a sound that’s both technically intricate and emotionally charged, STEEGMOORD crafts immersive sonic journeys that speak volumes—without ever saying a word.

2. What is the meaning of the EP/CD name?

For me, continuing to write music after the first full-length album ‘Trepidation’ felt like a ‘Mandatory’ thing. Steegmoord is primarily a studio project, though there are plans to perform live, just not in the near future. As long as the inspiration keeps flowing, I’ll keep releasing music.

3. Which one is the composer of the CD/EP?

Steegmoord is a solo project by me, Maarten Doumen. It began with a collection of old and unused riffs and songs I had written for previous bands and projects. Over time, it evolved into a personal outlet, especially during the COVID era, when everything related to culture came to a halt. Steegmoord became my way of expressing myself musically.

Through this project, I taught myself how to properly record, mix, and master music. I picked up countless tips and tricks about music production and drum programming. These skills have proven invaluable for every project I take on now.

4. If you had to pick one song, which one would you pick?

That might be Man Made Mountain. To be honest, it was originally written by our other guitar player and briefly rehearsed with my first band, way back in 2014. But it never made it past the early rehearsal stages, especially not with vocals. At the time, we just couldn’t find a vocal line that truly elevated the song.

Man-Made Mountain goes all the way back to the beginning. I think it was actually the first track I rewrote when I started Steegmoord. This version has been redefined and re-recorded. It still holds the essence of the demo I released in 2021, but now it carries the sound and weight of the new record.

It’s my personal favorite. I don’t usually listen to my own songs much, but this one is the exception.

5. Is there a special message in this EP/CD? If there is what it is?

If there’s a message, it’s that there is no message. Every listener will interpret the music in their own way—and that’s exactly the point. That freedom of interpretation is what makes it so beautiful.

6. Are there some lyrics that you'd love to share?

Since Steegmoord is an instrumental metal project, the only 'lyrics' I’d want to share are the track titles themselves.

7. Which inspirations have been important for this album? Like musically or friends, family, someone you'd love to thank especially?

For me, inspiration is about releasing something from within. Of course, I usually have a rough idea—sometimes I want to write a fast, aggressive track, other times something slower and more atmospheric. But ultimately, the kind of song that emerges depends entirely on my mood. Whether I’m feeling energetic and riff-driven or in the mood to experiment with slow, swelling guitar leads, I let that emotion guide the process.

I grew up on punk and thrash metal, and those roots still run deep. These days, though, I find myself increasingly drawn to progressive metal, and that shift has naturally shaped my writing. When I start creating, it instinctively begins in that space—raw energy fused with complexity. Eventually, I made the conscious decision to keep exploring and evolving within those genres. It just felt right.

I draw a lot of inspiration from the diversity in Mastodon’s music—their ability to shift seamlessly between moods and textures. I’m also deeply influenced by Opeth’s dynamic contrasts, where crushing riffs meet slow, atmospheric passages. I admire the melodic hooks that bands like In Flames weave into their songs. And like Rabea Massaad, I aim to create instrumental tracks that can stand entirely on their own—songs that don’t need vocals to tell a story or evoke emotion.

All of this comes with its own set of mood swings. And through it all, there’s one person I want to thank the most: my girlfriend. She’s been there from the very beginning and continues to support me in everything I do. Her belief in me means the world. I also want to thank everyone who listens to Steegmoord and connects with the music. That support truly means a lot. Without the feedback from real fans, this would feel pointless.

8. Something to add?

Thank you so much for the opportunity to do this interview! I truly hope it reaches new listeners who can connect with the music. You can find Steegmoord on all major streaming platforms. If you enjoy what you hear, please like, follow, or subscribe—it really helps and means a lot! Kind regards Maarten Doumen STEEGMOORD