Black Majesty – interview met Kristian Hanny Mohamed (guitars) & Clinton James Bidie (guitars)
Clinton: “It is all power metal, but there is variety in the songs. We got different tempos, different riffs, different feels to it. Not bright and happy all the time”
Ook in Australië is er een levendige metal scène met allerlei subgenres. Zolang we schrijven, herinneren we ons al Black Majesty, want deze stevige power metal band bestaat volgend jaar al een kwart eeuw. Deze maand kwam hun zevende studioalbum ‘Oceans Of Black’ uit. Dit zetten we extra in de verf, want na zes jaar stilte is dit een comeback in een nieuwe bezetting, met een nieuw label en vooral, met heel veel energie. We praatten erover met gitaristen Hanny Mohamed en Clinton James Bidie, de ene al bij de band sinds het begin, de tweede één van de twee nieuwe leden. Het is toch wel speciaal om te videobellen met muzikanten aan de andere kant van de wereld. Bijgevolg is het ginder hartje winter. Hanny is dan ook snipverkouden, terwijl de mannen dikke truien dragen. Vreemd nu het kwik hier tot 30° stijgt.
Vera Matthijssens Ι 24 juni 2025
This time it took a bit longer than usual to make a new album. Six years. What happened after the release of your previous album ‘Children Of The Abyss’ in 2018?
Hanny: ‘We did the touring for that album, but when it was over, two members left the band. So we had to look for new members. We found Clinton on guitars and Zain on drums. We just started to write new songs and we were ready to go to the studio and then there was covid-19 and we had very severe, hard lockdowns in Australia. We just couldn’t go away for more than one year, maybe even longer. We could not meet each other, we could not tour, so we started to write the next album. We managed to enter the studio at a certain point in time, with our session drummer at that time, Dean. But during our recordings both of my parents had their last days, so I took some time off. I just had to be there for my parents and assist them. All together, with the covid-19 years and my family, years went by. If there is a good thing on this new album, it is that we did not rush it.’
Clinton: ‘We enjoyed the song-writing, the creative process. It was good, working together with new members, it was good. We sort of really enjoyed the experience of creating, rather than being under a deadline. The songs came together very naturally.’
Clinton, you are one of the new guys. What can you tell about your background? Did you play in other bands before?
Clinton: ‘Thanks for asking. I play guitar for many, many years, but I have never ever been in any serious bands, but I have always been very passionate about playing guitar. I was actually a fan of Black Majesty for many years. The first time I saw them was twenty years ago, but I have always played guitar for myself and when the opportunity arose to join the band, it came together very nicely, because it was a natural thing. We have similar influences in the way we write. I was a passionate guitar player, but did not join any band before, so this is all quite exciting and new for me. It is my first real album, although I play almost forty years now.’
Were you already involved in the writing process as well?
Clinton: ‘Yes. I was involved in writing the music, but also I learned quite a bit from Hanny about song structure and time to gather ideas, and I think it worked well. It was enjoyable. What I see is that our ideas and chord processions, we like similar things. It was a good collaboration process. It was very enjoyable, as I said. We are both big Richie Blackmore/Rainbow fans. Also Dio, god bless him. So I did enjoy the writing process and I learned a lot about song structures.’
Are you strictly a rhythm guitarist or do you share the leads?
Clinton; ‘We mostly share the leads, that is one of the things that works well in the band, the harmonizing and we both do solos. I think it works really well.’
What are your influences Hanny? Is that also Richie Blackmore?
Hanny: ‘Yes, but for me personally it is Richie Blackmore, Randy Rhoads, Mikael Romeo from Symphony X, Jack E Lee. And of course I love Ronnie James Dio, for his music and his voice and all the guitar players he has been associated with and Iron Maiden and Judas Priest.’
Next year the band celebrates its 25th anniversary…
Hanny: ‘We should do something special. If I survive this. It is winter over here, so it is cold and I have a flue. I could not go to the rehearsals yesterday. I am sick. We are jealous, here it is the time of the year. It should be over if we have some gigs.’
Let us take a look at the recording process. ‘Oceans Of Black’ was mixed by Ricardo Borges and mastered by Jens Bogren at the Fascination Street studios. European guys…
Hanny: ‘Originally Ricardo got in contact with us by email and he offered Fascination Street studio and he did it right away for us. He did the mixing and then Jens did the mastering. We have heard so many great productions from Fascination Street studio, so we went for it. We had to try something new, something different and be open for it. They were easy to get along with, by email and we had some tryouts before, just testing. The whole process was very professional, when we do the next album, we want to do it with them again. A guarantee! The whole production and everything… We are very surprised and impressed by the sound. We are very happy!’
So there is for you a huge difference between the previous albums you made and now this sound you managed to achieve?
Hanny: ‘I think there is. There is a big difference between other studios and Fascination Street studio. Their equipment is amazing. It might be a bit more expensive, but it pays off.’
You have toured a lot in the past. Where have you been playing with Black Majesty?
Hanny: ‘Europe has always been first. We were always signed by European labels, our influences are also European, so we love to go to Europe. We have it in our head, but since we haven’t had an album out, there is no big touring, but at the moment, we think we will tour in Australia and then back to Europe again. This Summer we have to figure it out. We are thinking about going back to America again, North America or South America, that is next on the agenda. Fingers crossed. We had some offers before, but always Europe first, because it is less stress for us. Later we do the more risky opportunities, even the States, these days. We are talking about Asia as well, a few places .That is for 2025. In 2026 we really have to get to Europe and also some other places. We have been stuck too long with covid-19, it is time to get out!’
I know you are both guitar players, but can you tell anything about the lyrics?
Clinton: ‘John, our singer, writes most of the lyrics. We all contribute, but the thing is of course to write those vocal harmonies and put it to music. That is another thing that demands talent and gift, but the album explores a few topics, you know. ‘Oceans Of Black’ is about facing your fears and overcoming your fears and not going into darker thoughts or depression. There are songs about corruption and resilience is a bit of a theme throughout some of the songs. Take your chances, living your life and enjoying life and not being a prisoner of your own fears I suppose. These are some of the things that we sing about on this album. And fantasy. I think that strength and resilience is something important, keep reaching for better places, I think that is one of the themes.’
I think there is a sort of speech in the song ‘Set Stone On Fire’?
Clinton: ‘Yes, it sounds very political, but it is about challenging a system or an establishment. It is corruption calling out. I suppose, to an extent it was something written in 2020, there were a lot of things happening and riots in Paris. That is the background of that song, but really it is a guy challenging ideas I suppose.’
That is a very catchy song and also the title track. Good that you have delivered it as a video clip…
Clinton: ‘Oh yes, it was fun doing that. It was my first video clip with the band and it was a fun process. I think people will like that song. Many songs on the album. For me, I am really proud of the album, being a fan of Black Majesty for many years. It is all power metal, but there is variety in the songs. We got different tempos, different riffs, different feels to it. Not bright and happy all the time. I like how Black Majesty sounds. It deals with a bit of darkness, but it is powerful and heavy.’
Hanny: ‘If you like us, then you can understand they are all different, but if you don’t like us, you will think ‘all sounds the same’.’
Clinton: ‘Metal is a very broad genre. There are so many different things in metal. Sometimes people read ‘power metal’ and then maybe they are not into power metal. I guess it is not for everyone, but it does not sound all the same.’
Maybe people all have a prejudice. Black Majesty was never cheesy or something like that… it depends on taste…
Clinton: ‘That is correct.’
The album will come out as a special edition on vinyl. Is that something that you love?
Hanny shows it ‘We just received them. We are very happy about that (shows blue vinyl). It is really nice, really cool. Our previous album ‘Children Of The Abyss’ was released on vinyl. We get quite a few requests for ‘Sands Of Time’, our first album, but that is up to the label. We have been on LMP for a long time, but now we have a new chapter with Scarlet Records.’
Why did your real bass player Evan Harris could not enter the band until 2015?
Hanny: ‘Evan has been recording with us since the first album and what happened is because he did not signed the contract for the first five albums on Limb Music, he wasn’t included on the albums as full member. So as soon as we finished our contract with Limb, we were signed at Pride & Joy, our second label that we signed with, we were able to include him in the contract, so it was a contractual issue, but Evan Harris has been always our bass player.
Good luck with the album launch show soon… Recover well from your flue…
Hanny: ‘Thank you!’
Clinton: ‘I was sick two weeks ago, you get it once during the season, if we have it now, we’ll be alright at the album launch with natural immunity going on.’
