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Interviews

Black Pyramid - Andy Beresky, Gein, Clay Neely

19/10/09  ||  GardensTale

Black Pyramid are three dudes playing some amazing stoner doom. They also sport ample facial hair and sweat alcohol. Fortunately, they also have some truly interesting views on the world, and with a bit of mail sending and middlemen (thanks, Moritz) Global Domination has managed to contact them in order to have their wisdom be bestowed upon our readers. Not only that, but instead of just one member answering, all three of them put in ample effort! So for a triple treat (and for a change, this doesn’t have anything to do with porn, or at least, not much), here’s what these fellows had to say.

Global Domination: Hello, and thank you for replying to our bullshit! How are you all doing?

Andy: I’m doing just peachy, a bit burnt out, like I’ve got a scab on my brain, but that’s pretty much business as usual.
Gein: I’m fine. At work… but not working.
Clay: I’m vertical.

Are you guys familiar with the Global Domination international scumfucks? Or at least, were you before now?

Andy: I read the review you guys wrote for our album awhile back, that was actually my first exposure to you. I thought it was great, it’s witty, it’s vulgar, it’s refreshing to read a critic who obviously doesn’t take himself too seriously and is writing about music to have fun, but it still gets the message across.
Clay: No I never got the chance to check you guys out. You see, I’m extremely busy with important things like ‘me’.

Right, on to you then. We just stuck a big fucking feather in your collective asses by granting your self-titled debut a 9 out of 10. How much did you squeal when you read it?

Andy: Like I said, I found the review entertaining. It was an informative and stimulating experience for my whole family. We printed it out, copied it, and wallpapered our kitchen with it.
Gein: My giddy levels reached that of “schoolgirl”
Clay: I called my parents immediately. They couldn’t believe it. My dad was astonished, especially after telling me how tough you guys were on Clawfinger.

In Stonerland, where the grass is green if you know what I mean, riffs rule king. You guys fabricated some excellent material on that level. How much and which drugs do you use before you go to the toilet and come back with a riff?

Andy: The initial writing and then arranging with Clay for the first couple of songs was fueled largely by booze and anger. Mostly 30 packs of cheap beer we’d drink in my garage as we annoyed my neighbors with high volume. These days I’m not drinking so my insides don’t rot out on me, but the cold caress of sobriety and despair have added a new sense of bleakness to the riffs.
Clay: We’re all so very high on marijuana cigarettes.
Gein: I’m not getting out of bed for anything less than a case of glass bottled Mexican Pepsi.

On said toilet, how much Black Sabbath do you play? We’re getting a similar vibe here, although you stomp a little more colon in my opinion.

Andy: Let’s put it this way – I’d wanted to play this kind of music since I was about 17. At first, I didn’t have the chops, so my first band I formed that was down tuned and fuzzed was basically just playing slowed down stock punk and classic rock progressions, with something resembling a heavy riff thrown in from time to time. When I finally realized I couldn’t write a heavy riff for fuck-all, I spent a whole summer just listening to Sabbath and learning their songs. After that, I could write riffs.
Clay: That’s pretty interesting, I’m in the same boat as Andy. When you’re a drummer at that age, you either aren’t interested in playing slow or you think since you can play something really fast, then obviously playing it slower will be no problem. When I was around 25, I found out the truth. I always wanted to play Black Sabbath style music but just assumed ‘yeah sure, shouldn’t be too hard.’ Life lessons, man. Play slower.
Gein: The first stuff I learned to play as a kid was Sabbath. But… since then I probably play more Maiden than anything else.

So the big question is: how much longer before someone shoots Obama in the face?

Andy: Now that’s a good question. I’ll tell you, something’s gotta give. Before, the right, even the far right stood for fiscal conservatism and a pragmatic and thoughtful approach when it came to change and progress, and I can get down with that, but nowadays, they’re all riled and straight up hate the government. The media that appeals to them, they purposely enrage them, playing into their fears and hatreds, just for ratings and so they can sell their latest book. And on the left, it’s not much better, they also have their media outlets ranting against the right. We’re on the brink of a fully fledged cultural clash, and something’s gotta give. Whether someone actually takes a shot at the president or not, I don’t know, let’s hope it doesn’t go that far. Personally, I’d like to see a third party rise up and become a real contender, one that is above all the partisan politics.
Clay: But he’s soooo coool. Did you know he’s black?

You’re from Northampton in Masturbate-chu-sex, according to our good friend Wikipedia nicknamed “Paradise City”. So how much do you like that Guns ‘n Roses song? And is the grass really green and the girls truly pretty there?

Andy: I liked that song when I was a young’un. I’m a bit burnt out on hearing it, from working in kitchens where you inevitably have a dishwasher who wants to play that album every time it’s their turn to pick music. A lot of dishwashers huff too much industrial degreaser.
As far as living in the “Paradise City,” well, I think someone who made and put up stickers around town summed it up the best: “Welcome to the Paradise City, if you’re rich and white, you can stay.” Yeah, we’ve got green grass and pretty girls, but we’ve got a lot of yuppies without much personal identity other than a strong sense of entitlement.
Clay: Thanks to living in Northampton, I’ve learned oh- so- much about the world and how it works through our enlightened motorists who try to cover every square inch of their car with a fucking bumper sticker. I’m sure their co-workers can’t get enough of their shocking views on life, they need to educate the rest of the city with ‘No Human Being Is illegal’ and real fucking wisdom like that. Being from the South, I need to be re-educated correctly and swiftly. Luckily I can absorb just enough information that can be fit on a sticker. After that, I’m just back to inherently lynching black people, having sex with cousins and for the South to rise again.
Gein: I don’t live in Northampton… but there was one time when I found myself in the city gas chamber. Why I was there I can’t quite remember. It’s a vicious spiral of ignorance.

You got a song called “The worm Ouroboros”. The Ouroboros is a dragon that eats its own tail, and has been seen in Ancient Greek culture, the Egyptians, Norsemen, and even Christian symbols. It’s symbolic for the cycle of life and recycling of energy. Do you make a competition out of who can fuck the most groupies when you’re out doing gigs?

Andy: Oh you better believe it. Playing downtuned doomy metal, you know we’re getting all the girls at our shows. We’ve actually played a couple of shows where I could count the female audience members on more than one hand.
Gein: Yeah, I basically joined this band knowing how much chicks love watching old hairy men playing doom.
Clay: I was clear from day one that the reason I joined a doom band was to meet as many women as possible. I feel like Tommy Lee if he was really into really hairy dudes. I bet Dragonforce doesn’t have this problem.

How often do you rate each other’s beards?

Andy: We only rate each other’s beards after we braid each other’s beards.
Gein: I’m more of a sideburn man myself.
Clay: Are you calling me gay? That’s awesome.

So which of the cultures Ouroboros appeared in appeals the most to you?
Andy: They’re all pretty cool, but I guess the Egyptians with their whole death trip thing is really the cat’s meow.

In a different interview, we found out Mike Scalzi absolutely fucking despises the metal scene of late. How do you feel about that, and current music developments?

Andy: Well, if anyone has cause to hate the metal scene, it’s Mike Scalzi, I mean, he’s really lived it, so he can judge it. Honestly, I haven’t experienced the metal “scene” enough to form a judgment of it as a whole. In our region, things are pretty cool, but even within the metal “scene” there are various other smaller scenes going on. The big thing, the schism I see in the types of people who attend the heavier shows is like this: there are those who’ve been into metal forever, they’ve been around the block, they’ve seen all the bands, they eat, sleep, shit, live and die metal. Then you’ve got the younger crowd that’s more into whatever is kind of on the cusp at the time, whatever has a good buzz that has managed to register on their radar. And a lot of the time the diehard metalheads don’t dig these types, but really I think there’s room enough for both to exist. I don’t see why one should feel threatened by the other if they’re secure enough in their sense of self. But someone like Mike Scalzi must have experienced this schism even more firsthand touring with The Sword, who seem to be one of those bands that really polarize people.

I like where heavy music is going, personally. Maybe not the “scene” as a whole, like I said, it’s hard for me to see the bigger picture, but the music, I like that different influences are cross pollinating, and you’re getting new strands of heavier music all the time. I mean, with us even, you’ve got a band that’s into the metal and the doom bands, but I’ve got a deep seeded love for psychedelic music, and some purists may scoff at that, but I think there’s always been a connection between psych and metal. Even as I type this, I’m listening to The Amboy Dukes album Journey To The Center of the Mind, and to me that album helped to lay the framework for what gradually became metal. I don’t think you can pick a period of time, for instance 1982-1986, and say: “This is the era of what metal was all about, this is real metal.”

Metal is a living, growing beast, it’s continuum that started with way back with the blues musicians and then amplified rock of the 60’s that laid the framework for the sound, then continued through Sabbath and the both the arena and underground acts of the 70’s, through the 80’s NWOBHM, thrash, death, grind, etc, until it stretches today through the most extreme bands that I’ve probably never heard of, but whose lineage is still firmly rooted in the tradition. Even a retrophile like myself has to realize that things change, evolve and grow. Sure, if someone plays me this “hot” new death metal band, chances are I’m going to say, “Ah man, I don’t dig this production, this is too focused on technical shit, just give me Entombed’s “Left Hand Path” instead.” But I’m not going to deny that it’s “real” death metal, I just don’t care for it and would rather listen to something like Tribulations or Hail Of Bullets that harkens back to the old school approaches. On the other hand, I’ll hear newer bands like Mithras and Portal, and be like: “Man, I like this, it’s like an extension of what Morbid Angel were doing; they’re taking it to the next level.” You get to pick what you like to listen to, but I don’t think you get to pick and choose what metal really is. It simply is what it is, you either take it, or you leave it.

Gein: Wow! Andy talks a lot. I don’t really listen to any new metal… or new anything for that matter.
Clay: Definitely.

Here at Global Domination, we just adore making things easy for our readers. We don’t think highly of them; the general assumption is that they read our stuff slobbering over their keyboard, one eye squeezed, head crooked and giggling sort of strangely. That’s the main reason we still use ratings. So we’re gonna let you rate a couple of your fellow (ex-)musicians! Oh, and it’s okay to be horribly brutal and make complete fun out of them if you feel like it. On a scale of 1-10, please rate:

King Bong:
Andy: Never heard of them.
Clay: Great name. Almost as good as Satanic Bat, but not quite.

The Lord Weird Slough Feg:
Andy: One of my favourite bands, I’d give them a 10. All their albums are solid as fuck, yet have their own identity. And most importantly, the songwriting is top notch.
Clay: Like em.

Pentagram:
Andy: As far as influence and importance in the grand scope of metal, I’d give them a ten. As far as actual recorded output, I’d have to rate them at around 8, since some of their material is spotty given the various lineups and whatnot.
Clay: Heard they’ve been around for a while.
Gein: I dig their 70’s era quite a bit… not as much the 80’s stuff.

High on Fire:
Andy: Best band in metal right now. Definite 10.
Gein: Yep. They’re good.
Clay: Des is ridiculous. The perfect drummer for that band. I’d seriously consider writing them off if they lost him.

Cathedral:
Andy: Another 8, obviously a big influence, but another band that’s recorded output is a bit hit or miss. I’ve never seen them live.
Clay: Endtyme. Guitar tone is amazing. Good one, Billy.

Spiritual Beggars:
Andy: That’s a tricky one, as I haven’t heard everything they’ve done. I have a couple albums, which I’d rank a solid 7, because there were some killer tracks, the whole album grooved, and the vocals are really soulful. The thing is, I’ve never really been that enthralled with them that I went out and bought their whole back catalog.
Clay: I’d play a show with them.

Sleep:
Andy: I’ll give them a 9, three albums, all different, all pretty solid. Volume One doesn’t sound great, but they were young, you know? Holy Mountain and Dopesmoker are both stunning accomplishments.
Gein: They’re not too shabby as well.
Clay: My wardrobe.

Grand Magus:
Andy: I’ll give them an 8, their second album didn’t do much for me, but I liked that they went away from the blues rock of the first album, and have more of a classic metal approach to their last two albums.
Clay: I didn’t think they could outdo themselves after “Wolf’s blood” either (GT: Clay was probably drunk and meant “Wolf’s Return”) so I’m eagerly looking forward to what they can pull out of their sleeves next time. For now I just have to settle with one of the top five albums of 2008.
I’d probably give it 8.5/10.

Black Sabbath:
Andy: They’re off the charts as far as their influence is concerned, and even though I’m not a huge fan of all of their albums, they get a 10 for their first 10 albums alone.
Gein: Well, sure. Everyone likes Black Sabbath… right? Am I supposed to actually be numbering these things?
Clay: The name…so familiar…Tony Martin’s old band, right?

Heaven & Hell (the new one):
Andy: I’ll give it a 9. It’s heavy as fuck and sounds great.
Gein: Just saw them for the second time a month ago. Kick ass!
Clay: Good production. Heavy. Dude.

Creedence Clearwater Revival:
Andy: They get a 10 from me. A quintessentially American band who wrote classic, timeless songs, and had the musicianship to back it up.
Gein: Big CCR fan. They get an arbitrary 8!
Clay: If you don’t like CCR then you can get the fuck off my lawn. Go on and take yourself away from me. You’re a jackass.

Eyehategod:
Andy: An 8. I only play their first two albums all that much, they all have their moments after that, but they aren’t exactly reinventing the wheel with each album. Not that they need to, I still own them all, but those first two are my go to albums.
Clay: The fucking best, dude. Seriously. ‘Take As Needed… ‘ will always, always remain the cornerstone of my love of this music.

ZZ Top:
Andy: I’ll give them a five. I was never a fan, although I dig the earlier material when I hear it. The later stuff, it’s cringe worthy. Just not into the production of those later albums at all, ruins those albums for me. And then they went back and ruined some of their earlier albums, what the fuck is up with that?
Clay: They ruined their back catalog. Adding plate reverb to Tres Hombres? Real bright.
Regardless, the 70’s were fucking amazing and after Deguello, I really lost interest. But man, I’d go see em’ anytime they played. Their groove is astonishing and all original members. 40 fucking years. Tres Hombres and Fandango. If you don’t like em’, then you’re a girl.

You guys don’t seem to have had a shitload of band experience before Black Pyramid, some minor demo releases, with the biggest thing being Clay’s former band Artimus Pyledriver. So how do you keep each other from bashing your heads in? Do you have a pecking order?

Andy: Jesus, after the debacle of playing in Palace In Thunderland for seven years, it’s easy not to pummel these two. I mean, I loved the Palace guys like brothers, but we were all so fucking out there in our own worlds, working with Black Pyramid is a dream. We’re all basically good guys who also have dicks sides to our personalities, and I think we accept each other as such and just deal with it rather than fighting or coming to blows over it.
Clay: Nine times out of ten when we get mad at each other, an outsider or another band or promoter winds up doing something to piss us off so we reconcile very fast. Placing the blame on other people keeps us united.
Gein: I’m much too handsome to get in fights, so, I rely on my charm… ala Templeton Peck.

What is up with that album cover, by the way? It looks fucking weird. Did one of you feed one of your kids acid and then made him draw something? Or are you going to use this brilliant idea for the next album?

Andy: Mike Warble did the art for the cover, what can we say? He’s an out there kind of guy who’s just on that level, no LSD or children needed. He heard our tunes, and asked us if we needed any art. We checked him out, and all dug his work, so when it was time to do the album and we needed a cover, he was the man we called up, and he delivered. As for the next album cover, acid is weak sauce as far as forced artistic inspiration is concerned. We were going to feed chimps beets laced with DMT, then have them throw their pink poo at a canvas.
Gein: After my idea for a nice airbrushed painting of us fighting a dragon inside a crystal ball being held by a wizard on top of a mountain was turned down, we went with this one.
Clay: Actually, we’re pretty cheap with money so we’ve decided to use the art from the first album but with a giant fucking roman numeral ‘II’ coming out of the middle , like a fist through a wall. I don’t think I have to explain to you how amazing that is going to look. I think Gein had mentioned maybe some bullet holes to really give it some grit.

Well, that was our interview! Hope you all enjoyed it, thank you very much for participating, and here’s a cookie you can eat for your final statement. Use this space well, cause if you got an all-important message to society this is the best place to put it!

Andy: Thanks for the review and interview, and for asking the tough questions that most are afraid to ask and we’re not afraid to answer. Most of all, thanks to all your readers, our fans and supporters out there, we couldn’t do this without you.
Clay: Buy merch. Tell your friends to buy some too.
Gein: My only message is to Andy… You owe me $40 for Sept/Oct practice space rent.

Thanks again and hope to see you live sometimes. So get your asses to the Netherlands when you can. Goodbye!

Interviews