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MM: Firstly, thanks for taking the time to talk to us. How does it feel to be Metal Mayhem's First interviewee's?
Robert: Hello, it feels very good to be the first one to be interviewed for your magazine!

MM: How would you describe Beseech to someone who has never heard you? Robert: Beseech's music is a journey through different kinds of emotions and styles of music, it's easily described as melancholic gothic rock/metal with male and female vocals, but contains much more than that. We listen to every different kind of music from old 60's to modern music and I think you can hear that in our music too, that it's a kind of time travel through the decades. Lyrically Souls Highway is very personal album that deals with real life experiences from death, love and thoughts about other worlds, and I think most people can relate to many of our lyrics on the album and find it interesting.

MM: After all the trouble with we bite/corrosion records label, what did it feel like to finally have your debut released in 1998?
Robert: It felt very good when we signed for Metal Blade Records and they released the first album "from a bleeding heart" in 1998. But at the same time, it was a big pity that this happened and we think that Beseech would be in a totally different situation today if the debut was released when it supposed to be in 95/96. Because we were among the first to use this kind male/female vocals in this vein of music.

MM: Question for Erik [vocals], both yourself and Lotta work great together to create a very unique sound. What did you do before you joined Beseech?
Erik: I used to live in a little village in northern Sweden and moved down to Boras (near Gothenburg) for some years ago because of my studies (Media production). Shortly after the move I began to sing in Thrash Metal Band that rehearsed at the same place as Beseech. I always liked Beseech music and was grateful the day when they asked if I wanted to try out and sing for the band. It turned out very well so now I’m a permanent member of the band.

MM: What bands/individuals have had the biggest influence on you? Robert: If you ask me it's very much different kinds of band from The Doors, Black Sabbath, Simon and Garfunkel to Madonna, Depeche Mode, Marilyn Manson, Rammstein, Type O Negative, Dimmu Borgir, Carcass and Morbid Angel for example. To some other examples, Jonas (drums), doesn't listen to music newer than the late 70's. Klas (other guitar player) loves Kiss and such bands so it varies a lot, so the influences come from a wide perspective.

MM: Your cover of Abba's 'Gimme, Gimme, Gimme" was pure genius. What inspired you to cover this track and who came up with the idea?
Robert: Ah, thanks! I must take the honour of this, hehehe... One day I was walking in our city Boras (Sweden) when I heard this song on the street and just got a feeling that this song could be a real cool cover song. Some days later I grabbed the original version of "Gimme Gimme Gimme" and started to learn the song by guitar and after that I recorded some ideas and it turned out very well I think. It's been a very popular song on the album and almost everyone has liked it so far.

MM: Finally, what advice would you give to young bands trying to make a name in the music business?
Well, the first thing is to never give up because you'll come to tough situations when all things feel really bad. If you get a proposal on a record deal, check with lawyer because contracts are written for their advantage. Follow things up with the labels marketing, how they do and what they do for your band and try to get on the road as support act to be seen and known. Hope this can help!

A big thanks to Beseech for the interview and don’t forget to check out http://www.beseech.net for the latest information, music downloads and tours! Check out the reviews for my opinion about their new album Souls Highway