I first came across Beleghost last year when I reviewed the EP Where The Mountain Lies, and it immediately left an impression on me. Since then, it’s been great to return to the project and hear how the sound has evolved—The Pandemonium feels more refined, more confident, and shows clear growth over time. I’m genuinely glad I got the chance to dive into this new material, and a big thanks to the man behind Beleghost for taking the time to be part of this interview.
What does the name Beleghost mean as a whole and why did you choose it to be the name for your project?
Well, it would have been obvious to quote Sir Tolkien (even though I'm a huge admirer and fan of his), but the inspiration for the name was completely random. The band's name actually came from an unfinished Heroquest session. My dwarf's name was Beleghost, haha.
Your previous material dealt with grief and loss, does this album have a theme or context?
Unlike the EP "Where The Mountain Lies," "The Pandemonium" addresses social, environmental, and personal issues, almost all of which are connected to the concept of REBELLION.
When the Night Falls takes a different approach, with a more fantasy theme (it was an old lyric I had on my laptop).
For those who don’t know, Beleghost is a one man band. Would you ever expand this project into a full band, or is it meant to stay personal?
Initially the project was intended to remain as one-man band, but particular circumstances led me to meet some musicians who convinced me to expand the project into a full band.
We're currently working on performing songs from Where the Mountain Lies and The Pandemonium and bring’em on stage. We're working hard to maintain the feel of the recordings.
You understand that it's very complex to perform live what was intended to remain only as a recording!
Speaking of how personal this is, could you share a bit about your songwriting process from the very beginning? Does it usually start with a simple idea or a guitar part that you build on? Or do you already have a clear sense of the song in your head before you begin recording?
There were songs like "Echoes From the Unsilent Forest" or "Global Tomb" that were written very easily. I started with the main riff and everything flowed naturally from there. Other songs really drove me crazy (Emperor of the Pandemonium, When the Night Falls, A Distorted Mirror). There were weeks when I didn't want to see the guitar out of frustration!
The synthesizer parts and the epic choruses, well... those were the best part because it was pure experimentation... I didn't want to constrain myself too much!
The drums? I hate them!!!!
For the lyrics, I always asked myself what I was feeling inside and what I wanted to talk about at that moment while developing the song. I've never been interested in talking about themes strictly related to classic black metal, also because for my point of view black metal music has always been a genre synonymous with "fuck you," and that's the message I want to leave to the listeners when they listen to my music.
Was there a track that defined the direction of the whole record or did you already have something mapped out?
Yes, the single "The Global Tomb" paved the way for the concept of "The Pandemonium." I needed something edgy and politically incorrect, in pure punk style.
On the topic of specific tracks, let me know what your personal favourite is & did any song/songs evolve drastically from the initial idea you had in mind?
Absolutely "Emperor of the Pandemonium"!
Besides being a tribute to one of my favorite English writers, John Milton, and his Paradise Lost (an absolute masterpiece), was the spark that also sparked my personal Pandemonium vision. When I started writing the song, it was completely different; it was slower and less complex. It was changed many times.
The funny thing is, the album was originally going to be called "Echoes From the Unsilent Forest," but one evening I found myself in the living room, in a full-blown mystical crisis due to a lack of creativity, sitting on the couch with a goddamn beer in my hand, staring at that goddamn John Martin painting (Pandemonium), and from there it dawned on me: That painting was supposed to be the manifesto of the concept of REBELLION, the album's main theme.
From there, the lyrics, the song, and the decision to name the album "THE PANDEMONIUM" and use the painting as the artwork emerged first.
Do you feel like you’ve fully explored this sound, or is there more to dig into?
I don't know, I'm a rather unpredictable and complex person, and I'm never 100% satisfied with what I do.
You never stop learning and perfecting yourself. Last year, I wasn't even thinking about writing more music, and now I'm here talking to you about it. I just let things happen.
I want to know how the Italian Blackmetal scene is, are you connected with any likeminded individuals and is there a lot of this genre in the area to see live?
Black metal is alive and well in Italy.
There are plenty of emerging and established bands producing excellent work, but unfortunately, as a genre, it's not as relevant as it is in Norway, Germany, or France.
We're doomed by the fact that we have the Vatican in our backyard, and the musical culture of people, especially the younger generations, is very focused on mainstream music and easy listening.
I’d like to ask about the Italian black metal scene. What is it like at the moment? Are you connected with any like-minded artists, and is there a strong presence of the genre locally with plenty of opportunities to see it live?
There's movement. Lots of bands and one-man bands are emerging, and we're regularly checking in to support each other.
There are also many venues and live music clubs that support the metal scene in all its forms, and that's really cool.
What do you hope listeners take away from your music?
I don’t want people to just “enjoy” the music. That’s not the point.
What I hope is that something inside them shifts, even slightly. A sense of discomfort, of awareness…like realizing they’ve been living inside something that doesn’t belong to them.
The Pandemonium is about rebellion, but not in a superficial way. It’s about breaking the patterns you’ve been conditioned to accept. The internal ones as much as the external.
If someone walks away from the music questioning who they are, what they obey, or what they’ve been taught to suppress… well, The Pandemonium did exactly what it was meant to do.
What does black metal mean to you personally, and how does it influence your approach to making music?
Well, I admit that black metal has influenced my way of living and thinking.
As I said before, for me it's always been a genre with a nonconformist approach. I've always seen it as an extreme and violent reaction against social, religious, and musical norms.
To wrap up this interview, now that The Pandemonium is out, what’s next for Beleghost?
It's always the same answer: who knows!
I'm currently working with friends to bring songs from Where the Mountain Lies and The Pandemonium live as cleanly as possible. I'm currently focused on that.
I hope to find some labels willing to work with us.
As for new music, I'm already throwing in a few riffs here and there and we'll see if anything comes out!
Thanks for participating in this interview. It was an absolute pleasure writing the questions while listening to The Pandemonium. Last year, I had the chance to review your EP Where The Mountain Lies, which I scored 8/10. After hearing this latest release, I’d definitely say I prefer The Pandemonium—your music sounds more refined and confident.
P.S Is there going to be a physical release for this album?
Thank you for taking the time to interview me and listen to "THE PANDEMONIUM." I was honored!
As for the physical version, yes, I'd like to see it released on both CD and vinyl, but I'm currently out of budget, and it will take time. As I said above, I hope to find a label willing to collaborate on the project, or who knows... maybe I'll start one myself, haha!
If you want to say anything to the readers, please type here:
Don't look for aesthetics, look for authenticity, genuineness."
Black metal isn't just a musical genre, but an invitation to look into the darkness that society tries to hide. In a world that constantly pushes toward conformity and forced positivity, this genre reminds you that there is value in dissent, in the silence of the forest, and in the freedom to be radically yourself, even when it's unpleasant or incomprehensible to others.
Listen critically!!!! don't stop at the superficial shock, but seek the primal honesty that lies beneath that noise.
