Metal Inside(r) Home Quarantine is Metal Insider’s pandemic column during the ongoing uncertainty behind COVID-19. We ask artists five questions on what’s been keeping them busy during these unprecedented times. We caught up with Choreomanic bassist Joost (Pestilence) as he’s been spending this time working on new music for both Choreomanic and Pestilence.
What have you been doing to pass time during Quarantine?
Well for starters I wrote the material for my debut album CHOREOMANIC in 2020 during the first lockdown here in the Netherlands. As bassist for Pestilence, I also recorded for the latest album Exitivm and in early 2021 my youngest daughter Ophelia was born! So pretty busy. I was lucky to have a few cool shows with Pestilence between lockdowns in the past two years but the “Testimony of the Ancients” tour has been postponed twice… CHOREOMANIC is like a primitive creative impulse and I’m just having a great time working on it. All the material for the second album is already there and the self-released debut is out February 18.
Have you been listening to any music or have any playlists worth checking out?
I discovered an awesome online 24/7 radio station called “Gimme Metal” from San Fransisco! Also, I dug into the roster of Sargent House label, really cool stuff! New Immolation, upcoming Severe Torture, just so much great music… Apart from metal I also have a thing for world music with high energy. For instance those Samba percussion parades with crazy breaks.. very inspiring!
A lot of people have been spending this time cooking, including making their own bread. What food have you been prepping during this time?
Cooking? I like simple and fast meals so I can get back to work haha! We do eat pretty healthy though just nothing fancy. Once a week it’s take away time, mostly Asian food… some nice places here!
In terms of entertainment, what movies, TV shows, books, or games have been keeping you busy?
Been re-checking some old movies I saw a long time ago: The Thing, Evil Dead, Quentin Tarantino stuff.. I watched Spirited Away with my 10-year-old daughter the other day, really cool movie! I like reading books on religion, right now I’m reading “The Gnostic Gospels” by Elaine Pagels. Luckily I’ve never been forced into any religious way of life so I can learn about all these paths with an open mind. Religion seems to be some sort of collective psychosis that gets people to do the most crazy things! What is more fascinating than that?!
What advice do you have for your fans in isolation during this time?
Find a way to have a good time. Do something, whether it is writing, playing an instrument, building a sandcastle or visiting your grandmother. Even if everything seems to be going to shreds, there’s always music, humor, literature or people to hang out with! Chrz!
