With the release of their crushing new single ‘Imminent Lies’ and the announcement of their upcoming EP Devotion to the Fear, BESOMORA continue to carve out their own identity within modern melodic death metal. We caught up with vocalist and guitarist Vlad Martynov to dive beneath the surface, exploring the inspirations, evolution and creative process behind the new release in this exclusive Nine Questions with BESOMORA.
Nine Questions with BESOMORA
1. Eastern European mythology is woven deeply into BESOMORA’s identity. What is it about those stories and legends that continues to inspire you, and do you see them as a metaphor for modern life?
Eastern European mythology has always felt very dark to us. There are a lot of demons, dark spirits and supernatural figures that are deeply connected to the culture. Growing up, I was surrounded by those stories through cartoons and old tales, so that imagery has always stayed with me.
A lot of those figures represent fear, possession and the weaknesses people carry inside themselves. That is why it connects so naturally with our music. We use mythology as inspiration, but underneath it there is always something human.
2. Devotion to the Fear feels like a title with a lot of meaning behind it. Without giving too much away, what does that phrase represent to you as both musicians and individuals?
We actually have a small tradition with our release titles. We like taking a line from a song on the previous release and using it as the title for the next chapter. It is a simple idea, but it helps connect everything together.
The phrase “Devotion to the Fear” comes from our song “No Remorse”, which was on our previous EP Delusional Monster. When we were thinking about the title for this new EP, that line felt right because it matched the direction of the new material.
3. Your music balances crushing heaviness with memorable melodies. When you’re writing, is there a point where you know you’ve found the right balance, or is that something you constantly wrestle with?
It usually comes quite naturally once we have the skeleton of the song. We normally start with the basic riff, structure and overall energy, then begin adding layers of lead guitar melodies and extra details on top.
Not every idea works straight away though, and sometimes a melody does not fit the mood of the song, so we take it out and try something else. The main thing is not to overdo it because otherwise it can become overwhelming for the listener. I think finding the right balance is the most challenging thing in our songwriting process.
Writing catchy and memorable melodies has always been a signature part of BESOMORA, and we always want people to walk away with something stuck in their head.
4. Every member brings a very different career and set of interests outside the band. How have those experiences shaped the way BESOMORA writes music, approaches touring, or functions behind the scenes?
It’s definitely a big challenge for us sometimes because everyone has different commitments outside the band and some of us work pretty crazy hours. We have to plan things properly and think ahead as much as possible.
Unfortunately, we do not always have the flexibility to jump on last-minute gigs or opportunities, so organisation is really important for us. But so far, it has been working pretty well.
The good thing about BESOMORA is that every member contributes in different ways. It is not just one person carrying everything. Everyone brings something to the table. That makes things much easier and helps the band function properly even when life outside the band gets very busy. I believe when you’re passionate about something you love doing, you’ll always find time for it.
5. Having guest appearances from musicians you’ve admired for years is a significant milestone. Did working alongside those artists change the way you think about your own songwriting or musicianship?
Absolutely. It is very inspiring and it makes us proud when guitarists like Chris Broderick and Per Nilsson agree to be part of our music. They are both incredible musicians and players we have admired for a very long time, so having them involved in this release is a big achievement for us.
It also pushed us as musicians. For our lead guitarist, Matt, it was a great challenge because he had to learn their solos from scratch, and Chris and Per both have very different playing styles. That process definitely helped him grow as a guitar player.
6. Looking back at where BESOMORA started in 2021, what’s one aspect of the band that has evolved naturally, and what’s something you’ve had to consciously work hard to improve?
With experience, we have definitely become more mature as a band.
One thing that has evolved naturally is the friendship within the band. We have always built a very strong connection between us, and that makes the whole process much easier.
There is always room for growth and improvement. Stage presence and crowd interaction are things we constantly work on because we want every live show to be better than the last one. Of course, musicianship and playing skills are also a major focus for us.
7. Your live reputation has grown rapidly over the past few years. When people leave a BESOMORA show, what’s the one thing you hope they’re talking about on the drive home?
We want people to remember the music and the energy of the show, but we also want them to remember us as people. That is really important to us.
We always try to give everything on stage, but the connection does not stop when the gig finishes. We love talking with people after the show, hearing what they thought, taking photos and actually getting to know the audience. For us, that personal connection is a big part of what makes the metal community special.
8. Modern metal continues to evolve at a rapid pace. Where do you see BESOMORA fitting within today’s heavy music landscape, and where do you hope to push the genre with future releases?
With the new songs, we really wanted to push our boundaries and not sound like a traditional metal band. We still have our melodic death metal roots, but we wanted the production and overall energy to feel more modern.
That is one of the reasons we worked with different producers who understand modern heavy music and sound. Mike Trubetskov, for example, is very connected to modern metal production and he helped us shape the songs in a way that sounds heavier and more current.
Where do we see ourselves in the future? I think we just want to keep pushing ourselves to sound better and more relevant. One of the best ways to stay relevant is to stay curious, listen to new music and, of course, appreciate new genres and not be afraid to bring fresh ideas into what we do.
9. If someone listens to ‘Imminent Lies’ and Devotion to the Fear without knowing anything about BESOMORA beforehand, what do you hope they understand about the band by the time the final song ends?
We hope they understand that every song has a deeper meaning behind it. These songs carry a lot of emotion that we put into them, and we hope people can resonate with that and feel something when they listen.
For us, BESOMORA is not just about a heavy sound. It is about turning emotions, past experiences and life stories into music.
‘Devotion to the Fear’ will be released on September 18th.
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/besomora
