Interview: Catching Up with The Spectre Beneath
It has been a while since we spoke to the power and progressive metal band, The Spectre Beneath. So in this interview we find out what they’ve been up to recently.
1. Hello! Welcome back. It’s been a little while, so first things first, how are you and have there been any significant changes since we last spoke?
Significant changes? It’s been another up and down period for us. After our 2nd album, ‘The New Identity of Sidney Stone’, our singer, L.L, had to step down due to health issues. We found, Nicole Garza, to fill the huge gap, L.L, had left. Nicole was fantastic, but we failed to build any momentum, only producing six tracks, even though some of those six are, we think, the best music we’ve written. We’d love to have done more, but Nicole had other singing and touring commitments and this left us without a singer once again. A frustrating two years went by until earlier this year, L.L, messaged us saying she was fit and healthy and asking if we had anything for her to sing. ‘Hell Yes’ was our reply, so L.L picked up where she left off. It’s great to have her back.
2. So, what’s new? What’s keeping you busy this time around? A new album/EP/single release? A new video? Playing live, or planning ahead?
We have a new album out on July 17th called, ‘The Devil’s Whisper’. The first single off it, ‘Plague (The Black Caress)’ is out now.
3. Describe what fans/listeners can expect.
Early feedback has said this album feels a continuation of our first two albums. The songs, melodies, mix and narrative are more aligned to ‘Judith King’ and ‘Sidney Stone’ rather than The Ashen Child.
4. Tell me about the work that has gone into making it a reality and what it means to you to see it come to fruition?
The writing of the album was completed in 2023/2024. In fact, three of the tracks were supposed to have been on our third album, The Ashen Child, which we did with Nicole. In hindsight, this was turned out to be a blessing as The Devil’s Whisper was initially a two minute piano interlude but with the extra time, it’s now a seven minute epic and the title track of the new album. The nine minute closer, Forgiveness, was only four minutes until Pete and Katy began doing a lot of re-writing. The guitars, bass, drums, piano, backing vocals were all recorded back in 2024 and it’s taken until now to find the right person to handle the main vocals. We’re really happy how ‘The Devil’s Whisper’ has turned out and we’re hoping it can get us back on track.
5. Sum up what this latest development says about you and where you find yourself at this moment in time?
I think it says we’re stubborn buggers. We’ve always believed in the songs and it’d be a shame not to get them recorded. One reviewer said, “The Spectre Beneath contains music unlike anything we’ve ever heard before.” In today’s cluttered metal space, that’s probably the compliment we’re most proud of and we’re excited to get the chance to continue.
6. Has the time since we last spoke been a mostly positive period and has there been any one thing that stands out as being good?
It’s been mostly negative. The most positive period has been the last five months when we received that email from L.L, and, subsequentially, recording the vocals and mixing the album with renewed enthusiasm.
7. How about something that has challenged you since we last spoke? Has there been any particular thing that tested you, and if so, how did you overcome it?
As mentioned, losing Nicole and having to find another singer was very frustrating. Trying to find a singer with the right tone and power and who wants to sing on a metal album was very difficult and time consuming. The attitude of, ‘the songs are great, let’s keep going’ kept us searching, but we got lucky with L.L coming back.
8. What is a realistic goal you’d like to achieve over the next 12 months?
We have more music to record, so, another album this time next year, hopefully, if nothing else goes wrong.
