Interview: Bane

we're all used to "black metal bands from north america" meaning something more hilarious than any hollywood sitcom, but a few bands have stood out over the years in their ability to keep with a task and develop their music according to a personal musical vision. from the sprawling concrete hell of the inland empire, bane shared a few moments with us to talk about their philosophy, music and methods of postmodern survival.

1. Bane founded right after the first rush of black metal, and you've waited out the last five years of stupid shit going on in the genre. What have you learned and how are you approaching your task differently?

Well we never really planned on waiting any time. We released the album when we were ready. I'm not really aware of many stupid things or many things having to do with the genre right now, other than the fact that during the last few years very few of the new or follow up releases from bands that I knew nothing of or admired greatly, have paled in comparison to work prior. It always seems that when we have moot that thought, about what's going on, we always come to the conclusion that we all are very different people with different taste, for music, philosophy, ideology and instinct, and we are so out of the musical genre, subgenre, sub-subgenre loop. We all seem to live mentally recluse only to come together in a very interestingly creative symposium. DR

I personally didn't care for the whole blackmetal/deathmetal battles we make brutal music for brutal people with hope to enlighten a few the whole pissing contest is stupid just fucking play brutal music. We didn't wait on our release really it was all circumstantial, we released it when we were done and happy with the outcome of our album hell we would of released it in the middle of the whole black metal rush we didn't care.-Necro

2. What inspires you when looking at a conceptual place to a start the formation of a song, during the songwriting process?

We all seem to draw inspiration through different means. Lyrically we have drawn inspiration through a lot of reading, philosophy, true crime, news, retrospective thought about experiences, social and mental anxiety and relief. Musically we have had moments of pure creative flow as a symposium, and at other times we have gathered the spark of creativity through deep introspection. It's a really wide variable we all seem to have our own unique way of bringing ideas to the table. Reggie and I at times have shared ideas digitally only to realize that organically the ideas do not work and vice versa. DR

When it comes to creating music we don't really have a set formula. Everytime we start its from a different angle. On the upside it makes the creating each song exceptional from the rest of the songs. Because we don't dwell on making status queue music and repeat other formulas it leaves us with more room to play with different ideas. It's not even a process its more of an explosion [that] we try to piece back together and we find that there is a different solution to the puzzle. As far as writing lyrics, it consumes every topic we can conjure. As far as music goes, that is even more complicated. BANE keeps changing and metamorphosing the ideas all the time. Shit, just when I think its set here comes another change but it always sounds better and keeps me on my toes. I feel that because everyone in BANE is a powerful contributor of ideas from different sides of the spectrum that it leads our music to be more different everytime and it is a growth not a decline. Necro-

3. Friedrich Nietzsche may/may not have been a racist. how do you feel about this? (I ask as you cited him in an earlier interview, and I always find this question intriguing)

I am of the explorer type, I don't tend to lend my values to other peoples words, I search for interesting points of views, inspiring points of views I tend not to judge people by their color of creed so much as by their actions and thoughts. I'm not a racist nor do I really care whether Nietzche or Gobineau were. Racism is such a petty thing for people to base hatred upon. Leave the hate for religion...lol... DR

I think when it came to Nietzche's writings people took the interpretation with what they already had in mind. You get a skinhead to read Nietzche he'll tell you the superman was the Arian race, you take a dreamer to read the same thing he'll tell you the superman was comic book hero. People are gonna take what's already contaminating their heads and interpret Disney flicks metaphorical speaking of the SS Reich 2003. I agree with David that racism is a petty thing to base hate on [as] there are way more justifiable reasons to hate for instance stupidity. Necro-

4. Friedrich Nietzsche stated that liberalism, christianity and judaism were the greatest enemies of humankind. do you agree?

I think that ignoramus thought(that's one hell of an oxymoron), is our greatest social enemy, whether it stem from liberalism, christianity or judaism. DR

Ignorance is definitely a killer, but far worse when the truth is in front of you and you fail to see it or you see it, acknowledge it and then deny it. The one thing that's more threatening to humanity than stupidity is stupidity with out the desire to learn. I don't know I think bell bottoms are pretty threatening too, along with Mc Donalds food, it's threatening, and lets not forget the evil and vile vegans; they threaten humanity don't you think David? Necro-

5. What angers you the most about the church?

To be completely honest, religion really doesn't really bother me so much anymore, it's one of those things that we are just to small to do anything about. Religion to me has become that pesky little mold that clings to your shower tile crevices that you become accustomed to ignore. And when you do decide to muster up some will to scrub your little fanny off in attempt to wipe it all out one square at a time, you realize that it's just going to come back it better to worry about the mold in your cheese, the little we consume. DR

I can make a list and I don't want to bother doing it right now cause I may run out of material for lyrics lol. Buy the CD and read it, my answer will be there. I think those of us who seek a higher purpose and make our own paths rather than to serve a master and have the path chosen for you, already know what is disgusting about it and even the servants of the fictional icon know that it's disgusting they are just afraid. Hell we all know. Necro-

6. When all emotional responses are done with, what is your logical response to christianity/Judaism/liberalism/et al?

Like I said........whatever...... DR

These topics are always gonna be never ending battles with everyone. With BANE, we all seek a higher purpose than the labels you have mentioned which comes to my answer to that which is fuck it those who seek to be awakened will realize that the -ism is just another idea and must seek your own.Necro-

bane group photo of this black/death underground metal band

7. What do you think are the primary differences between Nietzsche and Schopenhauer, and how do you see this affecting the use of these philosophies in the modern time?

Simple...Will to live, vs. will to power, will to create. I definitely take Nietzsche's point of view in what his perception society should be. Nietzsche's is more the artists' philosophy here. In a sense there would be no art if people would not empower themselves to achieve(in full disregard that their achievement will have no real affect on the outcome of what is to become of the universe and/or modern time) rather than survive. I would rather write songs than sit around and make fire or hunt all day. Schopenhauer and Spinoza=platitude. DR

I would definitely be an artist rather than just a regular John Doe. Creators are gods in their own rite. BANE is a gathering of destroyers for a better creation. To always seek for a stronger evolution. Necro-

8. What kind of person, intellectually or in any other vector, do you see as being drawn to bane's music?

Hopefully other explorer types, someone who is looking deeper, or looking to look deeper other musical artists.....but probably just a bunch of aggressive types. DR

I've noticed that those who see BANE for the first time or just at face value will be the aggressive type. In our hopes it would be that they seek for more than just face value. The people who are more consistent with BANE are always looking for more depth; these people are few and far between we truly hope to see more of these people. But BANE is a brutal/deathmetal band so its expected to see those engulfed with chaos but it doesn't mean they can't be intellectuals. In the end it doesn't matter we all attend shows, buy CD's, buy shirts to support the scene, we take everything with it like I've said before may we hail a great victory. Necro-

9. It has been a long road for you guys to get to the first CD release party. what were some of the obstacles, and what are you going to do once the CD is cut, to celebrate?

We haven't had a release party for our CD's yet, but we are in the process of arranging one pretty soon. The obstacles we had to encounter were mainly how to finance and mass produce our CD's for the first pressing. Other personal obstacles within the band(line up changes) we're dealt with before we began pressing the CD's. We celebrated as a band the same weekend we've received our CD's. It wasn't anything big, mainly with acquaintances and close friends. The CD release party show is in the works and we're contacting bands to play for this occasion. Otherwise, we'll let ya know how the celebration went afterwards! RG

It has been a long hard road we've encountered more bullshit than we expected. The obstacles were many, but I think we learned a lot from it (in a very brutal fashion) but were very happy with the outcome of the CD, the direction of the band, the growth and creativity we have with each other. As far as celebrating I think we're not done yet lol we still go nuts over it, but think as major celebration we'll work on the next album.-Necro

the sign of satan and/or other occult beliefs marks the end of a night of dionysiac debauchery for bane, a black/death metal band from los angeles

10. Do you think that black metal bands should sing in their native language and have ethnic/cultural associations? e.g. Norwegians singing in Norwegians, Chinese in Chinese, and bands like melechesh attacking the roots of their own culture?

They can sing whatever they want. It's none of our business to tell what they can and can't sing. If they're more comfortable singing in their own language, so be it. If they're more comfortable singing certain topics/issue in their own language, then let them do it. Let them express themselves. On the other hand, it's rather stupid, inexpressive and even hypocritical to label one's music like "Swedish black metal from Oregon" or "Melodic Norwegian death from Orange County." It doesn't work that way but, whatever tickles their pickle...RG

This topic doesn't interest me what-so-ever. I'm bored. I'll go to the next question.-Necro

11. Do you think Zionism and liberalism are inseparable, as Nietzsche does?

I don't know that's a tough one, I guess they both involve a lot of expectations from the ruling powers involved. Who knows. DR

Ultimately, there is an order of rank among states of the soul, and the order of rank of problems accords with this. The highest problems repulse everyone mercilessly who dares approach them without being predestined for their solution by the heigh and power of his spirituality. What does it avail when nimble smarties or clumsy solid mechanics and empiricsts push near them, as is common today, trying with their plebeian ambition to enter the "court of courts." Upon such carpets coarse feet may never step: the primeval law of things takes care of that; the doors remain closed to such obtrusiveness, even if they crash and crush their heads against them.
For every high world one must be born; or to speak more clearly, one must be cultivated for it: a right to philosophy - taking that word in its great sense - one has only by virtue of one's origins; one's ancestors, one's "blood" (Geblüt) decide here, too. Many generations must have labored to prepare the origin of the philosopher; every one of his virtues must have been acquired, nurtured, inherited, and digested singly, and not only the bold, light, delicate gift and course of his thoughts but above all the readiness for great responsibilities, the loftiness of glances that dominate and look down, feeling separated from the crowd and its duties and virtues, the affable protection and defense of whatever is misunderstood, whether it be god or devil, the pleasure and exercise of the great justice, the art of command, the width of the will, the slow eye that rarely admires, rarely looks up, rarely loves-- F.W. Nietzsche, "Beyond Good and Evil"

12. Pornography was also something you mentioned in another interview. do you feel that iconography is dangerous, as Nietzsche did? If so, how do you feel about pornography -- which pulls the sex process outside of the lives which normally would generate it -- is affecting your own processing of events?

I see nothing wrong with pornography. I think in a sense pornography can be helpful. Pornography gives the facility of a third person perspective, one that may help you realize a spectrum of lovemaking that you had failed to see while in the act, just like how a sports team studies its opponent before a confrontation�..well maybe not exactly like that but you know what I mean �..right�.right� DR

LOL! I think that pornography is great. I would not put anyone down for watching it or being open about it. I believe that people feel threatened by it because they are trained to believe that sex is dirty (if it's not dirty it's not done right), but even in a marital point of view why do you think people cheat on each other. Maybe if people were more open about there desires there would be less infidelity, and maybe that's what's affecting people's processing of events. Take it for what its worth.-Necro

13. Please give brief commentary on the following: Buddhism, fuzzy logic and sine curves; for extra points, unite all three concepts in the analytical method of your choice.

Well...Buddhism a very interesting philosophy, in which aspirations are to be at one with nature, with the universe, based upon "virtuous"(that's a whole other topic) living, fuzzy logic expresses the need for a sense of between when speaking of the binary world, when speaking of strict two sidedness, and well sine curves are a way of graphing the relativity of the size of an angle to its sine...And with all that said, in a sort of grope like way, I think they all lead access to a more holistic perception of what is truth, a wider spectrum, a wider scope of what reality is or can be, that is, for someone that chooses to or realizes that a wider spectrum of perception is what they want. DR

14. If you had absolute knowledge, how do you think you would view sex? pornography? christianity? the right wing in America?

From a high place. DR

Number one how would I view sex? I'd be having more sex than viewing!
Number two how would I view pornography? Go back to answer number one.
Number three how would I view Christianity? In a fucked up way!
And number four how would I view the right wing in America? Go back to number three.lol!
I know these answers were not what you wanted but I was amused for 2 seconds.-Necro

15. Do you believe in reincarnation? If you are a materialist like Nietzsche, do you see there being any possible connection between nothingness or infinity, or is the only transcendence possible purely in the ideal, and of a non-"real" nature?

My Idea of what is real and achievable is and infinite goal, a long reach towards potentiality, ascension through what may be nothing really but a quest toward self realization. A goal unattainable maybe but a goal worth aspiring towards. Musically as ideally. DR

Reincarnation is funny to me like recycling souls! What does a person whom believes in reincarnation hope for? A better life the next time around? What counts is what you do here without any speculations of what might be "the after life" I would rather keep my goals in the mind and body for it's when you can indulge in them. I agree with David that is to aspire constantly and when the goal is met set another one. To always hunger never be satisfied. Nothing wrong with enjoying vanity and the material, I wouldn't want to be consumed by it but rather keep looking further and deeper even if its antiquated and ugly. To put my ism in a stupid fashion I want to bliss without being ignorant.-Necro

16. When you hear that a lot of people think something is a good idea, you a) suspect their motives
b) trust the something
c) scream "FUCKING SHEEP!" and leave the room
d) become wary of larger forces than the individual?

E. Violently moot everything that comes out of their mouths. DR

F. First off trust nothing. Inspect and dissect the something. Watch these sheep revel in this something, as I revel in that sheep aren't individuals and come back and realize once again that the larger forces are only the status queue mutating with the new generation of the heard and walk against the heard in hopes of figuring out how to kill the something! Necro-

17. Do you like any of these bands? the crystal method, orbital, biosphere, autechre, kraftwerk, das ich?

bane looking ready to conquer the remnants of christianity before a show in los angeles

I apologize for being ignorant and out of sync with the music world outside but who, who and who?!? RG

I know of das ich im ok with this band. Necro-

18. What black metal bands most influenced your music?

I don't really see our music being heavily influenced by much black metal, subconsciously, all of our strong racist hate towards the Spanish races stem from the love of Graveland though, j/k I think. Heeheehee DR

I like some black metal but I really cant define them as being any of our influences and lately I feel more influenced by my chaotic life than any other music. Necro-

19. It seems to me that most of metal is philosophically ignorant, excepting a few leaders. any comment?

Music seems to be a reflection of what is going on in our environment as well as what's going on within the ego of the being at bay. Looking to add a few notches to the philosophical spectrum of metal. DR

I hope to influence more people into philosophy, just as I hope to see more metal bands do the same for me. I always keep my search for new wisdom and knowledge hopefully people will see the same in BANE someday. All in all I thank your for challenging us with this interview. May we hail a great victory!

Thank you S R P (the GOAT!)

BANE is: David Renteria: Guitar: DR
Reggie Galang: Guitar: RG
Arturo Cotero :Drums:
Necrolover :Vocals:

Bane Homepage

From the start, Christianity was, essentially and fundamentally, the embodiment of disgust and antipathy for life, merely disguised, concealed, got up as the belief in an 'other' or a 'better' life. Hatred of the 'world', the condemnation of the emotions, the fear of beauty and sensuality, a transcendental world invented the better to slander this one, basically a yearning for non-existence, for repose until the 'sabbath of sabbaths' - all of this, along with Christianity's unconditional resolve to acknowledge only moral values, struck me as the most dangerous and sinister of all possible manifestations of a 'will to decline,' at the very least a sign of the most profound affliction, fatigue, sullennes, exhaustion, impoverishment of life. For in the face of morality (particularly Christian, unconditional morality), life must constantly and inevitably be in the wrong, because life is something essentially amoral - in the end, crushed beneath the weight of contempt and eternal denial, life must be felt to be undesirable, valueless in itself. Morality itself - might morality not be a 'will to the denial of life', a secret instinct of annihilation, a principle of decay, trivialization, slander, the beginning of the end? And hence, the danger to end all dangers?...So then, with this questionable book, my instinct, an affirmation instinct for life, turned against morality and invented a fundamentally opposite doctrine and valuation of life, purely artistic and anti-Christian. What should I call it? As a philologist and man of letters, I baptized it, not without a degree of license - for who konws the true name of the Antichrist?- with the name of a Greek god: I called it the Dionysiac - F.W. Nietzsche, "The Birth of Tragedy"

Return to Metal Interviews

Black Metal, Death Metal, Grindcore, Thrash and Heavy Metal Reviews from the net's original Heavy Metal site

Interview: Bane