Doomed Confessionary: Rutger Verbist (Gnome)
Photo by Jens Roels
Hailing from Antwerp, Belgium, Gnome packs a bigger punch than their name suggests: combining irresistible hooks and thundering guitars, drums and bass with adventurous twists, they brew their unique and ultimately satisfying potion of stoner, prog and hard rock.
On their third release, »Vestiges Of Verumex Visidrome«, the Antwerp power trio layers riff upon riff. These normal-sized Belgians rip, bang, and rumble through a landscape of stoner, prog, and heavy metal, filled with mythical creatures and unexpected turns. »Vestiges Of Verumex Visidrome« will drop on September 13th, 2024 via Polderrecords.
Following the release of 2022’s »King« and the online success of their DIY music videos, Gnome gained extensive live experience through tours in Europe, the UK, and the US, including notable appearances at international festivals.
In April 2024, they ventured to London to record their larger, ever greasier sound under the guidance of Wayne Adams. Now armed with more vocals than on their previous albums, their signature sense of humor, and heroic passion in their quest for the golden riff, these pointy-hat bastards are poised to conquer the next wave of festivals and tours.
Gnome are Rutger Verbist (vocals, lead guitar), Geoffrey Verhulst (bass guitar) and Egon Loosveldt (percussion).
Can you say a few words about your band?
We are Gnome, a rock/metal trio from Antwerp, Belgium. Our riffs are heavy but at the same time whimsical and danceable. We don’t take ourselves seriously, as we perform in pointy hats, but we do make seriously awesome music.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
Geoffrey. Having to deal with his face is a heavy burden on all of us. No, seriously, I haven’t really experienced any challenges yet. We have a great vibe going; we all love rehearsing, recording, being on the road, and performing. So far, everything is going great. If anything, the logistics of it all can sometimes be a tiny challenge. Getting all the gear transported to the armpits and underbellies of the world can be a hassle.
What can you be most proud of so far?
Geoffrey’s face – it’s glorious. So far, I’m pretty much proud of the entire endeavor. All the songs we’ve written, the albums we’ve recorded, the gigs we’ve played—everything. I might be most proud of our self-made music videos. They’re all great fun, super stupid, absolutely cheap, and entirely authentic and homemade.
What was your biggest regret?
Geoffrey’s face – it’s hideous. I should’ve looked for a prettier bass player. I regret nothing. It’s a general stance I take in life. At every crossroad in a person’s life, you make the decision you think at that moment will yield the best outcome. Of course, a little further down the line, you might say in hindsight that you made a mistake and should have chosen a different option. But at that time, this was completely unknown to you, and it was absolutely impossible to make a better judgment in that moment. Therefore, if you always strive to make the best possible decision, it is impossible to be regretful of your choices afterward. Yours truly, Rutger.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
They’ve all been amazing, really. Our last tiny tour in England was probably our most profitable. Playing just seven shows in as many days, we completely sold out of merch, and every venue sold out of tickets. But the most legendary tour so far has to be our 2023 US Blasphemy tour. Not only was it my first time ever, in my 33 years, leaving Europe and traveling across the big pond, but it was also quite surreal and amazing to finally traverse the great expanse of bizarre American soil.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
Geoffrey’s face – it looks quite like a human face. Surprisingly, after having played many shows in Europe, we’ve figured out that our own Belgian audiences are the most difficult to get moving. In the UK, everybody goes absolutely apeshit upon entering the venue. But in Belgium, people tend to look rather sleepy and bored, even though they are enjoying the show.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Right now, I am obsessed with Mastodon’s song »High Road«. »My Lady Of Mercy« by The Last Dinner Party is on heavy rotation too. Although not a very heavy song, it’s an absolute banger.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
Don’t look into Geoffrey’s face too long; you will get lost in the annals of time. My best musical advice was not given, but taken at our opening show for The Datsuns in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium. We were the opening act tasked with getting the audience fired up. But they weren’t. They did their sleepy Belgian thing. Consequently, my confidence sank into my shoes, and I silently vowed to just get the show over with and leave them wallowing in their Belgian misery. I mistakenly thought that if the audience gives no energy back, there is little reason for me to keep giving them all of my energy.
Then The Datsuns appeared and kicked off their set. Still, the audience looked quite bored and uninterested. But during and between every song, The Datsuns were bringing absolutely every ounce of energy they had to get the show on fire. It took them half of their set to finally get the crowd going. In the end, everybody had a blast, and I went home having learned a very important lesson: never assume the audience is going to like your performance. Never assume they will cheer you on, give you energy, and worship your presence. YOU are the entertainer; YOU are tasked with bringing the energy and delivering the best possible performance you’ve got. Even if you play for an empty room, if you’re getting paid, you better get your shit together and give it your all. Since that day forward, I’ve never again given a lackluster performance.
What are your guilty pleasures?
Geoffrey’s face. Watching video games, mainly Age of Empires 2 and Trackmania. I haven’t played either in ages, but I will occasionally watch them on YouTube.
Can you say something more about the music scene in Antwerp / Belgium?
Although not a huge scene, the Antwerp rock and metal scene is very much alive and kicking. We have Desertfest Antwerp each year, which is a literal heaven for all things stoner rock and doom. Our yearly Antwerp Metal Fest also proves the love for metal is very much alive. Through some of the local legends in the scene, we have come into contact with people who opened doors for us to bigger stages and more profitable tours. So, yes, it has influenced our career in a big way. Most of our global presence, however, has been made possible by the very existence of the internet, which is both a blessing and a curse upon our society.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
First up, we obviously have our new album release in Antwerp on September 19th, 2024, followed immediately by a three-week tour in Germany to promote our third studio album, »Vestiges Of Verumex Visidrome«. We still have some cool shows coming up this summer, such as at the PALP festival in the Swiss mountains. For a concise list of shows and dates for the remainder of 2024, you can check our banner on our Facebook page!
What are your plans for the future as a band?
Next year will see us return to England and play in Ireland and Greece for the first time. We hope to return to the US so we can finally hit the East Coast, but this will have to wait until at least 2026. In the meantime, I will be dedicating myself to writing wicked new music, which we plan to record sometime in 2025 or 2026.
How can people best support your band?
Come to our live shows if you can, and if you buy our merch, we will be very pleased! We always bring merch on tour, but you can buy our vinyls and CDs through the webshop on the Polderrecords website. Soon, we will also be selling shirts, patches, and other stuff through our own webshop!
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Yes, keep on rocking, you filthy gnomes!
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well