*When did you really get involved into music in general and into metal specific? Who was responsible for your interest in (metal) music?

I think that started in a very young age when I discover Manowar, Iron Maiden and Metallica. Also the Dortmund festival in 1983 was a bit thing for me, watch it on a pirate VHS tape and make me get in love with all the great heavy metal bands of that era, Ozzy, Def Leppard, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, amazing show, and that had a big impact on me.

*Which artists or bands did influence you the most?

I think definitely Testament, Iron Maiden and Metallica are the big 3 ones for me, also Mercyful Fate, Venom, and Def Leppard.

*Which instrument do you play and how and when did you learn to play? Did you had lessons in school or private lessons? If so, was that because your parents expected that from you? Or did you learn to play the instruments by yourself? Do yo still follow some lessons?

I play the guitar and also I can play bass, I learned by myself just by listening to various bands and always trying to figure out parts by ear and also watching videos with live shows. I had some lessons later with a teacher that opened my eyes to chords and stuff like that, but mainly I’m self taught and I learned everything the hard way. My parents didn’t like that much the fact that I wanted to become a guitarist, so that was another struggle for me, and I had to face enormous difficulties. I still watch stuff on the internet because I believe you never stop learning, and you always can catch up with something new and interesting that you can add to your own vocabulary.

*Do you listen to or are you interested in other styles of music beside metal? If so, what is the kind of music you prefer to listen to?

I like to listen to soundtracks from movies, they are so huge and majestic, also I love acoustic guitar and trying to use some unusual tunings, makes all the difference because you can come up with very different ideas for songs. Well when it comes to music I try to have my ears open and take anything thats good and use it to my own advantage, its not that I sit down and listen to metal all day long, I appreciate good music from wherever it comes from.

*Is music a full time job for you now or do you have a job beside music? If so, what kind of job are you doing? If you would be really successful with music, would you quit your other job?

Well in a way its kind in the middle for the time being, its like a part time job because we are not earning crazy amounts of money and I need to work also in a studio to make a living as manager and producer. I would definitely quit any job to be able to focus only to the band when we can earn enough from the band, but to be honest its not something that is bothering me too much, since money was never my goal, as long as we are happy and creative with the music we are doing and we can go out and play shows and release albums, thats something very fulfilling to me.

*If you could start a complete new band (something like an all star band) with other musicians on other instruments, which artists would you pick for which instrument and why? Would you still go for a melodic death metal band?

Yeah I would pick Vinnie Paul drums and Dimebag gtr, Cliff Burton on Bass and Ronnie James Dio on vox, even thats impossible but let me day dream a bit here. But these guys are bona fide monsters and I would learn so much from them, we would definitely play metal, pure melodic metal.

*If you had been banned to an uninhabited island and you may pick 5 albums to listen to, which albums would you choose and why?

Metallica-‘black album’, because of the amazing huge sounding songs and killer riffs, ACDC-‘Back In Black’, because is the epitome of great precise amazing rocky riffs, Def Leppard-‘Hysteria’, because of the crazy good songs and innovative production, Sepultura-‘Beneath The Remains’, because they were the kings of thrash and death metal with this album, Pestilence-‘Testimony Of The Ancients’, because never ever death metal wasn’t sounded so richer and innovative.

*Every new album of a band or an artist is the best one, so they say. So here is a chance to promote your album. Why should a music lover buy your album? What are the standout tracks for you on this new album and why?

Yes its kind of cliché that every band has to say that, but on our case I believe ‘Abyss Rising’ is a very mature and strong album with all the great elements that defining us as a band, If you like energy and great hooks combined with the brutality and ethereal melodies you should check out our new album. Stand out tracks for me are ‘Abyss Rising’, ‘Dance Of Cerberus’ and ‘Falsifying Life’, because they contain all the different characteristics of our sound, big riffs, sweet melodies and unstoppable energy.

– See “CD-Review” for a review (written in Dutch) for the new NIGHTRAGE album ‘Abyss Rising’ (Despotz Records) –

*Is there a chance that you will promote these songs through live concerts? If so, would you prefer small clubs or big festivals? And is there a chance we can see NIGHTRAGE in Belgium?

Yeah thats our aim and we hope that covid will let us start with the shows asap. Our great booker Nanda from heavy metal heart agency she is looking now for us, in Europe, Spain, Finland, Greece, Asia, Australia and the Americas, and we would love to come back to Belgium and meet all our great fans there as well.

Thanks a lot for the interview and cant wait to see you all very soon.

Go and buy, steal , stream our new album ‘Abyss Rising’ and support us.

Stay metal and Beware of the Abyss!!!