One man black metal projects tend to be tricky things. Usually it is a guitarist that decides to branch off and play the drums, or the other way around, or a vocalist that can't really play any instrument but got, well... greedy. The end result, a raw black metal album with bad drums. Or bad guitars. Vocals are usually decent.

Anyway, the point? Troy LeBlanc is a drummer. He is a guitarist. He is a bassist. And a vocalist. As a result, his one-man black metal project, Bloodshed Divine, is one the sickest, most well-executed one-man black metal projects ever to grace my ears. As stated on the official web site, Bloodshed Divine is "100% pure, unrelenting, hateful and blasphemous American Black Metal." Absolutely fucking right!

Interviewed by Al Kikuras.

A: How would you classify the music of Bloodshed Divine?

T: Bloodshed Divine is misanthropic, vengeful and blasphemous black metal in its most violent form. It's ugly and hideous and should not be taken lightly. Bloodshed Divine is about pure blasphemy and fighting the war against light.

A: What were your inspirations, musically and personally, in conceptualizing Bloodshed Divine?

T: Total hatred and digust for the world we live in is what fuels my aggressions, which in turn become the inspiration that I turn into music. The music itself it inspired by such black metal greats as Darkthrone, Mayhem, Immortal, Judas Iscariot, Black Funeral, Graveland, Taake, Arckanum, Burzum, and Enthroned, and even old Bolt Thrower because they were so great at creating a dark, war-like atmosphere, which I try to create with Bloodshed Divine.

A: Were you in any other bands before deciding to bring forth Bloodshed Divine?

T: Yes, I've been in several bands but none worth mentioning. I am, however, the drummer of my best friends band, which is not extreme music at all. He needed a drummer so I have been helping him out for a while.

A: How long did it take you to write the material on Summoned?

T: The material on Summoned consists of music that I had been playing around with for about a year. Actually, all of the songs on the demo have changed dramatically since their original conception. it is all about the process of elimination and how I feel about a song weels or months after I write it. Parts get added and subtracted all the time. I also have to keep in mind when I write my music that I have to play ALL of the instruments, which makes a massive impact on the structure of the songs and how it actually turns out, instead of how i think it will when I first write it.

A: What are your personal spiritual beliefs?

T: My spiritual beliefs are complex and cannot be summed up within one paragraph. All I can tell you is that I plan on explaining them on each future release.

A: What is your favorite kind of donut?

T: Chocolate glazed, without a doubt. But the actual donut has to be chocolate, not just chocolate icing on a regular clazed. Oh, and the donut needs to have been in the fridge for at least a day. And there had better be a glass of cold milk handy!

A: They don't get stale??

T: No way... that's when they are the best.

A: Please explain the orinal cover of Summoned (at right). Where is the picture from and what does it signify for you?

T: The cover of Summoned is actually a video still from the movie "The Exorcist." It is from the scene in the beginning where the old priest was searching the desert ruins and stumbles upon the ancient, decaying statue of the Sumerian daemon Pazuzu. The image of Pazuzu standing atop a mountian alone in the desert, decaying with time, has always stood out in my mind. When the task of choosing a cover for Summoned came about, I knew exactly what I wanted. I searched on the internet a bit until I found the exact still that I wanted, and then I played around with the colors a bit until you have what it is you see now.

A: What do you consider to be your primary instrument?

T: I've been playing guitar for over 10 years now, so I guess the guitar would be my primary instrument. I have been playing drums and vocals for about 6 years and luckily they have come just as easy to me as playing the guitar did.

A: Do you ever plan on performing live?

T: Bloodshed Divine will ALWAYS remain my solo-project. I may at some point recruit session musicians to play live, but I will always have complete and total control over Bloodshed Divine. I will always write, arrange, perform, record, produce, and engineer EVERYTHING that Bloodshed Divine will ever do.

A: What albums have you been listening to lately?

Mr. Bungle - California, Burzum - Det Som Engang Var, Taake - Nattestid,Judas Iscariot - Of Great Eternity, Faith No More - King for a Day, Fiona Apple - When the Pawn, Nokturnel - Nothing But Hatred, Graveland - Carpathian Wolves, Black Funeral - Moon Over Characith.

A: Are there any other one-man projects that you are a fan of?

T: Yeah. Judas Iscariot. Burzum.

A: Why do you think so many black metal bands like making one word out of two? Like "winterfrost" and "holocaustwinds?"

T: I guess because they have run out of ideas. Maybe you should ask Immortal about that (laughs).

A: My theory is that they are in a hurry because it is cold being out in the snow with nothing but chaps and a leather vest on.

T: Probably! I have seen some of the most ridiculous band photos...like Profanatica...they are NAKED in the woods!

A: How about the fat guy on the new Immortal album? Those are some pretty hilarious shots...

T: Yeah no shit... I thought Chris Farley was dead... I guess he had just joined Immortal instead.

A: What is your opinion of the new Mayhem? As you know, many scorn the group for continuing on without Euronymous. What is your opinion?

T: To be honest with you, I really don't give a shit. Mayhem was great at one time, but leave it at that. The legacy is gone. I do'nt care about Euronymous or about any of the events that happened at that time. I try to worry more about the future and what is going on around me, not across the globe from me. If the other guys want to continue with Mayhem until they are 60 years old it wouldn't bother me.

Troy doing session work for the new Gloria Estefan album.

A: It seems that in the underground when a band achieves some level of commercial success, even if they do not change their style, they are considered to be "sellouts." Do you feel popularity can be equated with selling out?

T: I don't think that acheiving a popular status necessarily equates "selling out." If a band doesnt do anything to change their style and they still become popular, then I think perhaps there is just more of a demand for that style of music. it does seem that if your album is available in more places than onscure mailorder companies, then you've sold out. I think alot of the true fans of extreme, underground music really identify with the music and the bands. They work hard to support the scene and they dont want to see it overun with newbies and posers who only bought a certian band's CD because they saw it at the mall and it had a cool cover.

A: In your opinion, is the ideology of black metal as important as the music?

Absolutley. Black metal music cannot exist without truly black metal philosophies to back it up. You can have a band that sounds EXACTLY like Graveland, but if they are singing about gore and fucking dead bodies, then it is still NOT black metal. Anti-christian and evil/satanic themes and lyrics are ESSENTIAL to black metal.

A: What do you think of the recent retro-thrash and retro-metal trend going on in the underground right now?

You mean bands like Desekrater, Desaster, Hammerfall, and Iced Earth? Give me a break! If I really want to listen to old school thrash and heavy metal, then why wouldn't I put some old school thrash and heavy metal on? If i want to hear Kreator or Iron Maiden, I will put on Kreator or Iron Maiden, not a second rate clone. "Your word isn't worth more than puke in the dust.........................................BETRAYER!!!!"

A: What is more evil, black metal or diarrhea?

T: Black metal.

A: So I understand Bloodshed Divine has seen some label interest?

T: Yeah sorta. Catatonic Records is going to release both the Summoned and To the Ancient Dawn demos on one cd. It will have a new title and some really killer artwork. Im excited about it.

A: How did the Cataonic deal come about?

T: Well, I was shopping around for labels when Joey of Noctuary mentioned to me that he knew of a label that was interested. So a few days later John from Catatonic contacted me and we threw around the idea of releasing the 2 demos on cd and a full length, which I thought was a great idea because even though the demos sold extremely well, they were limited and this was a way to have my music spread to a much larger audience, because as you know in this day and age its alot harder for a smaller band to distribute their stuff unless its on cd format. Since I write, arrange, and record every aspect of Bloodshed Divine, it is also as if I am a one man promotion and sales team. It's also harder for me to go into a studio and record because I don't have 3 or 4 other band members chipping in their hard earned dough for a good recording. So the deal with Catatonic came at the right time because I can now have my art spread or a more acceptable format and people are more willing to check out my music since the chances are greater that they will have a means of hearing it and distros are more willing to carry the release in their catalogs..

A: If you had to choose between one big bean or hundreds of little beans, which would you want? And don't give me any of that "I don't like beans" crap.

T: Hmmm... depends on the beans... are they chocolate covered espresso beans? If so, then hundreds of them.

A: Have you written any new songs since To the Ancient Dawn?

T: Yes, I have some new ideas I've been testing. I haven't been able to play guitar as much due to the recent mauling of my index finger. The entire nail has since come off and that makes playing music rather difficult. I am getting better however.

A: Do you think there might be any bonus tracks on the Catatonic release?

T: I would like there to be at least one, which would be the song I am writing right now. But time will tell. I also have to book some time to record this song so I'll know more in about a month or so.

A: Bloodshed Divine walks the line between death metal and black metal, especially on the first release. What differentiates black metal from death metal for you?

T: Thats a tough question, because I've never really thought that much about the differences between the two. I mean, you and I are both old enough to remember when there was no difference betweem the two. I mean, I guess death metal is now more about gore and violence then it ever was before, and black metal is more symphonic then ever. It seems that now people either want it to be considered black metal or death metal, with no middle ground. I dont care about any of that shit. I dont define all death metal as all low tuned guitars with deep growls and I definitely don't define black metal as keyboards, high end guitars and screechy vocals

A: Your response begs the question.... what do you consider Bloodshed Divine to be?

T: Well, I dont want to say that Bloodshed Divine is one or the other, but perhaps it is a mixture of alot of things. It is more death metal than most death metal bands, and at the same time it is more black metal than most black metal bands. I mean, I use both low and high vocals, and lately I sing in a very chilling mid range voice. I play alot of black metalish riffs, but I tune my guitar alot lower than E, ya know. I try to use the best elements to create the music I like. One thing that i dont want to be considered is "blackened death"... that term is very stale and misused. Most of the bands that are labeled "blackened death" are anything but that.

A: What are the three most momumental black metal releases, in your opinion?

T: Well, thats narrowing down alot of great albums... I cant really name the 3 most monumental black metal albums..but Ill name a few that i really love. first off, the mighty Arckanum from sweden released an album called Kostogher which is truly outstanding. Then there is a band called Taake that are relativley new I suppose. Their full length is an extremely dark piece of work. Words cannot properly describe the haunting feel of that album. I'll leave the 3rd one blank for now so the reader can insert his/her fav album there.

A: What a nice guy. Let's say you were buying the new Darkthrone album from a record store and suddenly strobe lights went off and balloons dropped down from the ceiling because you were their 10,000th customer, which entitles you to choose one of the following CDs for free. Which would you choose?

The Bangles Super Hits
Cyndi Lauper She's So Unusual
The Clash Combat Rock
Bruce Springsteen Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ

T: The Bangles, because they are alor easier on the eyes than the other choices!

A: Did you ever breakdance?

T: I can't say that I have. It looks very painful, but i did go to a roller rink when I was young.

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