With spots in the line-up at the recent Live Slaughterfest, which massacred black metal fans over a weekend in both Edmonton and Calgary last month, and the three-day Harvesting Hell Festival in Drayton Valley, Alta. later this summer, Begrime Exemious certainly know how to bring metal to the masses in true festival format, whether indoors or out.

“We place great importance on every gig we play,” says bassist Alasdair Rintoul (aka R – Judas Cradle Heresy).

“Personally, I feel playing outdoors during the witching hour suits Begrime Exemious more so than an indoor or bar setting,” he adds. “Playing outdoors to a blackened sky, surrounded by leather and denim goat warriors. Torches and fire providing the only light…” he says, stressing that what truly makes a great show for them, regardless of the location, is atmosphere.

“Perhaps the environment of a festival is more suitable to create relationships with other bands and maniacs as there is usually a greater time span and attendance. And it’s cool to hang out after the shows and participate in the ‘alchoholocaust’ that ensues with fans and other bands.”

Have you played at many festivals since the band formed?

We’ve played a few, but I suppose that depends on what justifies a gig being a festival. In my opinion, a festival is not a one-night gig with 10 bands playing. Although the referenced gigs I speak of were excellent, is a festival not an event that takes place over the course of a few days? That said, we are looking forward to Noctis III with Destroyer666 [in October], and the Harvesting Hell Festival with Atheist and Dayglo Abortions [in September].

How important do you think festivals are to Alberta’s metal community as a whole?

Although I can’t speak with absolute fact, I’m sure festivals do contribute to a greater sense of community or camaraderie within the scene.

Do you have a favorite festival you’ve played at?

Until current, my favourite has been Noctis II, largely due to the scale of festival it was. At the time, we’d never played to such a large audience, and perhaps haven’t since.

If you could be on the bill for any festival worldwide, which would it be?

I’d say the NWN fest that is taking place in Germany.

Are there any dos and don’ts that can help things go smoothly when playing a festival?

Refraining from consuming 20 beers prior to performing.

Got any crazy and or funny festival stories that aren’t too incriminating to share?

None that aren’t too incriminating. Once this is posted on the Internet, it is eternal. We’ve learned to cover our tracks in our old age.

Well, you’re not that old, but the band has been around nearly a decade. Can you tell us where did the band name come from?

The name was created prior to an actual line-up being established. The name was created in approximately 1999 when the vision of the band was conceived. Although the name needs explanation, no member has ever questioned its appropriateness as it perfectly describes our raison d’être. Put simply, Begrime Exemious speaks of “darkening the light” or “casting filth, hatred, and disgust on anything pious in nature.”

Using that as the main symbolism, how would you describe the band’s sound?

Psalmody of sacrificial blaze that lights the sky; psalmody of sacrificial blaze that haunts the sky.

Has that sound evolved since the band started?

There is now a focused attention to our songwriting. Now, don’t let this frighten you. Begrime Exemious will always play true metal of death, but we are not concerned with being the most brutal or technical band. When bands focus on such soulless aspects of their music, they become generic and boring. Take a band like Autopsy, for example. They were never the most technical or brutal band around, but they created some of the best death metal that will ever be written. We’re into writing songs, not show-off marathons that takes 19 listens to remember.

Who are some of the band’s major influences??

It’s hard to pinpoint definite musical influences, but some of the band’s favourites are Incantation, Arghoslent, Grand Belial’s Key, a majority of the Australian bands such as D666, and Sadistik Exekution, and countless other black/death/thrash bands from the 1980s and beyond. Individually, we all share the same influence in terms of extreme music and do not exclusively listen to only metal.

You released Set Ablaze the Kingdom of Abraham earlier this year. How has the response been so far?

The response has been fantastic. We moved approximately 450 copies within the first six weeks of the CD release. The CD is also distributed throughout North America, in most countries in Europe and Asia, and in Australia and New Zealand. Though the stock the band has at its own disposal is sparse, a quick Internet search will provide numerous distros and labels where it’s available for consumption for all interested maniacs and heathens.

Which song off that EP causes the biggest mosh pits in Alberta?

The first track, “Archfiend,” seems to be the most recognized when we do play live, although our entire performance does generate a steady hell thrashing by all.

Any plans for a full-length?

We have enough new material for a full-length and are in the initial stages of planning said output.

In the meantime, why should people get out to these festivals and catch you live?

We will destroy the audience with a real metal performance. Leather, spikes, bullets, hell thrashing, liquor and madness. Remember metal bands of yore, who preformed and dressed as to what they are musically and lyrically trying to portray? That is what we do. True metal of death. Our shows are controlled and focused chaos. We are a fierce beast.