If there was one death metal release I had circled in these latter stages of 2024, this would be it. Living Gate, a project featuring Aaron Rieseberg (Yob), Lennart Bossu (Amenra, Oathbreaker), Wim Coppers (Oathbreaker, Wiegedood) and Levy Seynaeve (Wiegedood), released their debut full length today through Relapse Records, Suffer As One. And, I mean come on, this outfit is absolutely stacked, right? The sound is equally as impressive. It’s old-school death metal delivered with all the abrasive intensity we could ever hope for – gritty, dense, with absurd technical prowess prevalent throughout. So, world, join us in ringing in the release of Suffer As One with this latest Profile. Give Levy’s responses to our questions a read below while you let this thing invade your senses. It’s worth the trip.

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How and when did you first get into playing music, or metal more specifically, and how did your band get its start? Any pushback from family/those close to you?

AC/DC was the band that got everything started when I was 13 years old. All the kids in high school were on the techno wagon that was very popular at the time (and still is I guess) but that just didn’t do it for me. I got my first guitar as a present for my 15th birthday and never looked back. Later on I got involved in the punk/hardcore scene and it was the first time I felt at home in any community really. It taught me the values of the DIY approach in music. The simplicity and aggression in it really spoke to me. Besides the fact that it was a genre where you didn’t have to be a guitar virtuoso to start your own band, write songs and play live shows. So all my first musical projects happened within the boundaries of that scene and it gave me the opportunity to learn and evolve from there into the person and musician I am today. Of course my parents didn’t think all that much of it. They thought it was a waste of my time and I should’ve been focusing on school and getting a degree. Something that never really interested me. Now they’re proud that I was able to evolve from there into a full time musician and they’re very supportive. It’s great to see them front row at shows to watch me play, even though the music isn’t exactly what they would be listening to at home.

How would you describe your band and what you play to someone who is completely in the dark?

Loud, aggressive and very extreme. That goes for all my projects, but definitely for Living Gate. It’s funny how people who aren’t in touch with heavy music immediately think of commercial metalbands like Rammstein and consorts if I describe what we do. I always have to firmly state it’s nothing like that. I guess it just sounds like noise to outsiders, but then again, to my ears, so does whatever they play on the radio.

Is there anything about your album or about your band that no one will find in any interview or review that you care to divulge?

Haven’t done many interviews at this time about this record so not much has been said. Kind off depends on the questions I get. I don’t mind getting into whatever detail about the record but it’s hard to just think of some fun facts.

Any funny stories from playing shows / tours / festivals, etc?

It’s hard to come up with specific things from the top of my head. Maybe we’re boring, I don’t know. I feel like we’re having a great time though. After so many years being on the road together we’ve developed our own language and we communicate mainly through quotes from a Flemish sketch comedy show called “In De Gloria”.

What do you see as some of the great things happening in and around the metal scene (yours or just in general) and what are some of the worst things happening right now?

It always warms my heart to see young starting musicians that take the time to delve into the origins of whatever music they like. Looking back to see where everything started. I’m not a huge fan overall of the direction modern music is taking. Although I know it’s a natural evolution I feel like a grandpa saying this, but all the computer and digital interferences that creep into the concepts of music turn me off a little. With which I mean that every drum is gridlocked and triggered and replaced, guitars are digital copies of amplifiers (which don’t sound half bad half the time, don’t get me wrong). But all those things combined suck the energy and humanity out of a recording or a live performance for me. Everything sounds perfect in every way, but it also all sounds exactly the same. I’m not saying everything is fucked though. There will always be good and honest music with a soul and there are plenty of bands who steer clear of that perfect digital sound. Especially in genres of music where people tend to get into for the right reasons. I’m always glad to hear a band that doesn’t sound perfect. It gives them a face and an identity.

Most folks have passions for a cause or causes that are close to them. What, if any, are some of the most important issues (social/political/humorous/etc.) for you / your band and how do you insert those issues into your music?

I try to steer clear from politics in the music we make. There’s enough talk on the internet and it’s honestly exhausting, so I don’t usually partake too much in discussions that don’t really go anywhere. I don’t feel the need to take a stand. I know who we are and what we stand for and I don’t think I’m gonna change anyone’s mind by slathering that message all over our music. People tend to be drawn to things that agree with them and steer clear of things that don’t. I will talk about the things I observe around me and how they make me feel but I won’t go as far as chanting politic slogans. Slogans are bullshit anyway, they take away any form of nuance and debate. I think we could all do with a little more positive dialogue in stead of digging ourselves into our own opinions and dismissing anyone who doesn’t agree.

Do you have day jobs or hobbies you want to share?

I’m lucky enough to have been able to turn music into a full time job. It takes a couple of bands to make it work but it’s a very humbling thing to get the opportunity to commit all my time to the thing I love most in the world. Not many people get that chance or even figure out what that would look like for them. So I feel very lucky. As far as hobbies go, Wim really likes to play videogames. I mean, he reeaaallly likes it a lot.

What advice do you have for music critics and outlets out there? How can we all better serve the genre in the eyes of a hard-working musician?

Go to shows and buy some merch and music. It’s basically the only income for smaller bands like us so it’s much appreciated and gives us a way to continue making records and playing music. If you’re not Taylor Swift, Spotify doesn’t amount to much income, I can tell you that much.

Any specific long term goal(s) in mind?

We just want to go out there as much as we can to play shows and tour. I definitely feel this isn’t the last record we have in us, but one step at a time. We just hope to play these tunes to as many people as possible.

When you’re not obsessing over your own material, what are some of your favorite albums to listen to currently?

We all listen to a broad spectrum of different genres of music. We’re not the kind to exclusively listen to heavy music. That would feel very limiting. There’s so much to gain from listening to all kinds of music, it would be a shame not too. But here’s some of the albums I recently listened to. Some are old, some are new…

Burnt By The Sun – “Sountrack To The Personal Revolution”
Tchavolo Schmitt – “Miri Famlilia”
Poison Ruin – “Confrere”
Punch – “Nothing Lasts”
David Bazan – “Blanco”
Shelter – “Mantra”
Botch – “We Are The Romans”
Miles Davis – “Sketches Of Spain”
Rory Gallagher – “Deuce”
Fazed – “Go For Broke”
Captain Beefheart – “Clear Spot”

What is the near future outlook for you or your band? Any specific events on the horizon that the masses should be aware of?

We’re doing a European tour to promote the album in October/November. Check out our social media for specifics, don’t miss out if we’re passing through near where you live! And of course don’t miss the release of the actual album. “Suffer As One” coming October 25th!

Summarize your band in one word.

Oompf!

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Many thanks to Levy and Living Gate for the time!

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Suffer As One is out on October 25 through Relapse Records. For more information on Living Gate, give them a follow on Instagram and Facebook.