Betrayer

Hello my friends hope you are in the mood for reading extended and extremely detailed interviews, cause this one belongs to this description. Jeff Klingbeil (singer/guitarist) and Norm Michaud (bassist) try to explain us few thinks about the band and I believe that you 'll find them extremely interesting. I really like and appreciate a lot the artists that are willing to tell a lot of things in an interview. Check them out guys, you won't lose...

1. HELLO, YOUR ALBUM “RUSTED ICONS” IS VERY GOOD, I LIKED IT A LOT. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT IT? SINCE THE ALBUM WAS RELEASED IN 2001 YOU MUST HAVE A MORE CLEAR VIEW OF THE RESULT...
  • Jeff Klingbeil: Hello Nikos, Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed the album! At the time Rusted Icons was recorded we were still pretty inexperienced as musicians and at the whole recording process. The only thing we recorded previous to that was a three song demo with the same producer/engineer (Glenn Fricker) with three songs that we later re-recorded for the Rusted Icons LP (Descendants of Death,     Fire to the Coals & Wretched Ways). Given the bands & Glenn's inexperience at the time I'm fairly pleased with the results we were able to attain. I think there's always going to be certain things we're not happy with on every recording & it's a continual trive for improvement next time around, which is something I think most       bands/musicians have in common.
2. YOU ARE A NEW BAND AND NOT SO KNOWN AT LEAST HERE IN GREECE, SO CAN YOU GIVE US A FEW INFORMATION THAT YOU CONSIDER IMPORTANT ABOUT THE BAND?      PRESENT US ALSO THE LINE – UP.
  • Jeff Klingbeil: I'd say that the most important piece of information to give potential fans of the band is a simple example or description of our sound. Something that they can instantly identify with. Whenever I promote Betrayer I always list two bands that I think we have a similar style to (and that other people have compared our style to), Megadeth & Iron Maiden. Now we do draw influences from many other bands but I'd say that those two are the best combination of what we've done so far (including our soon to be released EP, Shadowed Force). On Rusted Icons we had more of a Megadeth vibe (especially in the vocal department), but we've been moving toward a more power metal sound (Maiden, Edguy, Helloween) again mostly due to my progression as a vocalist to be able to handle that sort of a style. But one important thing I should point out is that I don't see us conforming to one particular style. I like a lot of diversity and I think that shows in what we've written so far. All our songs aren't speed metal, thrash, power metal; ballads etc, there are elements of everything from song to song.       Betrayer's line-up for the recording of Rusted Icons;
  •      Jeff Klingbeil - Vocals/Guitars
  •      Shawn Bastien - Drums
  •      Norm Michaud - Bass
  • This is still our current line-up but with the addition of Bill Lozon on  guitar.
3. WHEN I HEARD OF YOUR BAND NAME, BETRAYER, I THOUGHT THAT YOU WERE A THRASH METAL BAND, BUT ON THE CONTRARY YOU ARE MORE INTO HEAVY METAL MUSIC. HOW DID YOU CHOOSE THIS NAME? BETRAYERS, ALSO, ARE NOT THE KIND OF PEOPLE THAT PEOPLE REALLY LIKE. IS THERE ANY MESSAGE BEHIND THE NAME OF THE BAND?
  • Jeff Klingbeil: Originally we had the name Swarm, but then we heard about another band with the same name that came out. So we decided it would be a good idea to change our name. We had countless ideas but nothing we could decide on. Then one day I was looking through the dictionary \m/ (actually searching for a band name) and came across Betrayer.At first the name just struck me as powerful sounding and instantly identifiable with a heavy metal band which is what I was mainly looking for. I also wanted something simple, memorable and with possible other meanings in relation to the band or social statements. The name Betrayer seemed to fit the bill on all levels. One possible meaning of Betrayer in relation to the band is that we started to play this kind of music when it all was pretty much dead or on its way out in the mainstream (or underground), at least in our area, and what it seemed all of North America. It was as though there was a "system" of music and everything was conforming to that system. It actually still seems to be that way. I'm speaking mostly in terms of what you hear on       radio & mainstream media. During the late 80's and into the 90's the mainstream music market was more diversified and healthy in my opinion. For example, there were radio stations that would play everything from Depeche Mode to Motley Crue to Metallica to U2 to Nirvana. Then everything started becoming more selective and heavy metal made a rapid decline. There was no place for it any more.       "BETRAYERS, ALSO, ARE NOT THE KIND OF PEOPLE THAT PEOPLE REALLY LIKE." That fits the description of what we were (and still are to a certain extent) in a musical and marketable sense (although things seem to have been changing since we started...in our favour). We want to be a mainstream band in the sense where we have millions of fans. But how do you achieve that when the trend at the time is crushing any hopes of any band with traditional heavy metal elements in their music? Our response was to stick to the music we love to play regardless of trends and discover ways to expose our music ourselves in whatever ways possible (the   internet being an excellent resource/tool for that). I guess you could   consider it almost a battle to attain a mainstream status & the dominating mainstream corporations not allowing anything that resembled the type of music we liked to have a chance. We could be considered betrayer's to these corporations since we're not what they were/are marketing (not what they like at the time), almost an enemy or something to be made fun of, which is what I’ve seen in some mainstream media. Making fun of heavy metal, almost in a conspiracy like fashion...probably in an attempt to help market whatever alternative product they want to at the time.
4. YOU‘VE DECIDED TO RELEASE “RUSTED ICONS” AS A SELF – FINANCED ALBUM. WHY DID YOU DO THAT AND YOU DIDN’T FOLLOW THE USUAL PROCEDURE, WHICH IS THE DEMO RECORDINGS? HOW RISKY WAS IT TO DO SUCH A THING? AT LEAST DID IT WORTH THE TROUBLE?
  • Jeff Klingbeil: Before Rusted Icons we made that 3 song demo I mentioned earlier under the name Swarm. We didn't really do too much with that release, just mostly local distribution. I can't really remember the details on how we decided/agreed to record a full length album. I think we felt like we had more to offer and we didn't  really know what other step to take. For us it wasn't too big of a risk to take on a full length album since we weren't heavily investing into it (it cost us $1000CDN to record, which was a flat rate of $125 / song). We were lucky to have Glenn who made the best product he could at the time at an affordable price. Looking back I'd say that it was definitely the right thing for us to do. We still don't have a record contract but Rusted Icons has helped us build an ever expanding fan base. It was the starting point and foundation upon which everything has been built. 
5. A THINK THAT SURPRISED ME THE FIRST TIME THAT I'VE LISTENED TO YOUR ALBUM IS HOW JEFF'S VOCALS ARE SO CLOSE TO THOSE OF DAVE MUSTAINE’S. DOES THIS COMPARISON IRRITATE YOU OR MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD? AREN’T YOU AFRAID THAT SOME MIGHT SAY THAT YOU DO NOTHING MORE THAN COPY MEGADETH?
  • Jeff Klingbeil: When I started singing two of the bands I mostly practiced singing to were Megadeth & Metallica. I naturally have more of Mustaine kind of voice as oppose to Hetfield so I gravitated towards Mustaines style a lot more. By the time we were recording Icons I was just starting to find my own voice but I was still heavily influenced by all my practice singing to Megadeth. It doesn't irritate me to be compared to Dave Mustaine vocally on that album since I'm a huge fan of his and he was someone that I was drawing       inspiration from. If someone accused us of doing nothing more than copying Megadeth I'd agree to a certain extent. Megadeth was my primary influence at the time, especially the Youthanasia & Cryptic Writings albums which were more mid tempo driven and vocally melodic.
6. I WANT TO STAND A LITTLE BIT ON THE “RUSTED ICONS” SONG ON YOUR ALBUM AND TELL ME WHICH THE THEME OF THIS SONG IS. DO YOU SPEAK ABOUT MUSICIANS THAT FOLLOW TRENDS AND HAVE NO RESPECT FOR THEIR FANS? IF YES, WHICH BAND THAT YOU WERE GREAT FAN OF IT, DO YOU FEEL THAT HAS BETRAYED YOU AND IN WHICH WAY?
  • Norm Michaud: That's exactly the message I was trying to convey with the 'Rusted Icons' lyrics. At the time that we were working on the song, it seemed like a lot of the bands I idolized started to become less about the music and fans and more about image and sales. The main bands that inspired me to write the lyrics were Metallica and Megadeth. Obviously, Metallica was a huge disappointment, and continue to be. I just couldn't believe they would lose so much of their integrity. I wonder how Metallica would be today if not for Cliff's accident. Megadeth had just released the 'Risk' album, and while they were trying something different, I just seems like Mustaine was always blaming someone else for all his problems. I have a tremendous amount of respect for his music, but   Dave just continually blames everyone around him - the fans, his band mates, labels, magazines. Sometimes you have to take ownership of your failures as much as you do for your successes.
7. SINCE WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE LYRICS, TELL ME PLEASE IN A FEW WORDS, WHICH IS THE THEME OF EACH SONG INCLUDED IN YOUR ALBUM?
  • Jeff Klingbeil: Descendants of Death - This song is primarily about   deception with a religious connotation. People who claim they are one thing but are the opposite and deceive others in various ways.      Fire to the Coals: The verses are comprised of different hardships one may experience in life. The chorus is my belief that everyone can attain greatness if they focus their thoughts on a dream in small attainable steps or goals to set & accomplish.
  • Norm Michaud: Tribulation - It's about the challenges that you face as a musician. It's about the hardships that you encounter: struggling to find your musical identity, keeping dedicated to the goal, traveling, friends and family that don't believe in you. It's about how it can take a toll to live your dream, but if you believe in it you can follow it.       Waiting - I was inspired to write these lyrics after my sister had a messy breakup with a guy who couldn't come to understand that she didn't want him anymore. The lyrics are darker and more sinister than the situation actually was, but I like how they turned out.      Sands of Time - The lyrics can reflect upon anyone (or anything) that has had a tremendous impact on your life. It could be a family member, a lover, a friend, or anything else that could have brought something positive into your life.
8. THE ALBUM WAS RELEASED IN 2001, SO DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW SONGS READY? ARE THOSE CLOSE TO THE COMPOSITIONS THAT I'VE LISTENED TO THE “RUSTED ICONS “ ALBUM? WHAT DO YOU PLAN TO DO WITH YOUR NEW COMPOSITIONS? WILL YOU RELEASE ANOTHER SELF – FINANCED ALBUM OR WILL YOU SEARCH FOR A LABEL CONTRACT FIRST?
  • Jeff Klingbeil: We've recently completed the recording of a new 3 song EP. The song titles are 'Partaker of Evil', 'Shadowed Force' & 'Burden of the Pacifist'. We are currently in the editing/mixing stage.  We will be releasing this with some possible small label distribution. The details of that still have to be worked out. But we are hoping this EP will lead to us getting label support for our next full length release. If not then we will go ahead and release it ourselves. 
9. BY THE WAY HOW DID THE FANS AND ZINES RECEIVE YOUR ALBUM? DID YOU HAVE ANY PROPOSALS FROM LABELS?
  • Jeff Klingbeil: So far we've had overwhelmingly positive reviews and feedback from fans. I'm surprised that Rusted Icons was able to get this type of reaction. There are many people who have said to us "I can't believe a label hasn't signed you guys yet". Well it goes to show just how tough it can be to get a record contract. We have been in contact with some labels that seem promising though. I think some of them just might be waiting to hear something new and see how we've progressed on our own and if they like what they hear they may offer us something. 
10. YOU HAVE A COOPERATION WITH METAL QUEEN MANAGEMENT. ARE YOU SATISFIED AND IN WHICH WAYS HAVE THEY HELPED YOU?
  • Jeff Klingbeil: Metal Queen Management has been a great support for some of our live show bookings including shows at the Hard Rock Cafe in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. We've had a nothing but a good working relationship with them. We are also featured on their MQM Compilation Volume I CD.
11. SO HERE COMES THE POINT OF THE HARDEST QUESTION EVER! HE HE, JUST KIDDING. COME ON AND TELL ME YOUR INFLUENCES AND FIVE OF YOUR MOST FAVORITE ALBUMS EVER.
  • Jeff Klingbeil: One of my biggest influences is Eddie Van Halen. Although his influence doesn't seem apparent in my playing style he was the one that had the most impact on me wanting to play the guitar. Another huge influence is Yngwie Malmsteen. There are some Yngwie inspired ideas on Rusted Icons, that classical heavy metal sound is the absolute darkest heaviest sound at times in my opinion. Other main influences include, Megadeth, Scorpions, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Edguy and Nightwish to name a few.
  • Here's a list of my top five favorite albums; 
  •   1. Youthanasia (Megadeth)
  •   2. Metallica (Metallica)
  •   3. No More Tears (Ozzy Osbourne)
  •   4. Theater Of Salvation (Edguy)
  •   5. Alchemy (Yngwie Malmsteen)
12. IF A FAMOUS AUTHOR TOLD YOU THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO WRITE A SCRIPT FOR ONE OF YOUR SONGS FOR A VIDEO - CLIP. WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE AND FOR WHICH SONG?
  • Jeff Klingbeil: I would say George Lucas for one of our new songs Shadowed Force. I love the Star Wars movies and I'm pretty sure he could come up with an awesome script for a video....especially this one....& hey it has the word 'force' in it to, so maybe it's meant to be lol. I can see so much potential in the theme of this song to require the type of large production George Lucas could deliver.
13. A NEW CINEMATOGRAPHIC SEASON HAS STARTED ALSO. WHICH FILM HAVE YOU SEEN LATELY AND YOU'VE LIKED A LOT AND WHICH ONE DO YOU EXPECT ANXIOUSLY TO SEE AND WHY?
  • Jeff Klingbeil: I'm not much of a movie goer, so I think the last movie I went to the theater to see was Lord of the Rings - Return of the King. Really the only movie that I know I'll be going to see for sure is the next Star Wars. It's just such an amazing story and visually stunning every time.
14. HAVE YOU PLAYED ANY LIVE SHOWS WITH BETRAYER? WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIVE SHOWS TO YOU? JUST ANOTHER PROCEDURE TO PROMOTE YOUR ALBUM AND BAND OR SOMETHING MORE? DID YOU DO ANY LIVE SHOWS OUT OF CANADA?
  • Jeff Klingbeil: To date we've played about 114 live shows. Promoting the band through playing live shows is one of the main benefits, but there are many more aspects to gigging. One of the funniest things about being in a band is to see people’s reactions to your music instantly (hopefully positive lol). It's an amazing feeling and energy rush when you know you are entertaining people and connect in person with them doing something you love to do. The more shows we play the better we can craft our stage performance and try out new things each time therefore adding to our entertainment value. I want to put on the best show we possibly can. So far we haven't had much to help us in terms of lighting, sound, stage sets etc but we make the best with whatever situation we're in trying to give an energy driven exciting performance each time no matter how many people we play in front of at any given show.       We've played some shows in Detroit Michigan but the last time got turned back at the border because we didn't have the proper documentation to play, so we haven't played in the U.S since. Hopefully we'll get the border issue straightened out soon so we can start to play more shows in the U.S.
15. OK, I HOPE THAT YOU ENJOYED THE QUESTIONS. THESE LINES BELONG TO YOU AND YOU CAN SAY EVERYTHING YOU WANT OR THINK...
  • Jeff Klingbeil: Thanks for the interview Nikos! I should just mention that if anyone is interested in hearing our new EP in its entirety, we will be holding an online listening party in our chatroom. The date/time will be announced as soon as we get the final mixes. Be sure to test the chatroom prior to the listening party to ensure that you experience no problems, & if you do have problems you can contact our webmaster at [email protected]
Nikos "William_Kidd" Parastatidis
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