From the archives: Schijnheiligaards on the succes of their debut album Welkom In Ons Reet

One might ask what the expectations were when Schijnheiligaards released their debut-album Welkom In Ons Reet, an album named after a village whose name literally translates to 'arse'.

We asked leadgitarist and bandleader Titus Timmermans.

TT We were just hoping to be able to play a couple of bigger venues. I don't know what else to say. That's it.

SO, YOU DIDN'T EXPECT TO BECOME THE BIGGEST METALBAND IN THE WORLD?

TT Oh no, don't say that. That's not true.

I'M JUST LOOKING THE NUMBERS. PEAKED AT #4 IN THE CHARTS, OVER 1,500,000 COPIES S...

TT Have you heard the new album from Lost Cities? Read my lips, you'll be asking them the same question soon enough.

SO, WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR SCHIJNHEILIGAARDS NOW?

TT We're all very grateful and proud for what Welkom In Ons Reet achieved for us and Metal in general, but we feel now is the time to take a step back and begin working on the new album. We've met a lot of people on the road, Lost Cities, Abasia, Cult Of Wales, EliZabeth,... Bands that show that Metal can be more than dumb noise like All Hail The

Dead. By the time we'll be ready with our next album, those bands will have the bar risen so high, we'll need to seriously step up our game.

Picture fltr: Jochem Broeck (drums), Titus Timmermans (leadguitar), Laura Broeck (vocals & bass), Jurgen Timmermans (rhythmguitar)