Simon Olsen, frontman for Danish death metal band BAEST, joined us to talk pronunciation woes, musical origins, and the band’s latest full-length assault, Necro Sapiens. We dig into his influences, early experiences, and how the band forged their path through relentless creativity.
How Do You Pronounce “BAEST”?
If you’ve ever tripped over the name BAEST, you’re not alone. Simon hears it all the time.
“It’s kind of a spoof,” he laughs. “It’s pronounced closest to ‘based.’ It’s the Danish word for beast or brood.”
The spelling, which merges the Scandinavian ligature “Æ,” adds to the mystique—and serves as a conversation starter. Mission accomplished.
First Concert & First Shirt
Simon’s first major live show? Metallica in Copenhagen, 2004, with Slipknot in support.
“I was 13 or 14. I told my mom I was meeting friends, but I went alone. She didn’t find out.”
He bought a Master of Puppets tee at the gig—only to lose it a few days later. “That shirt would probably be worth something today!”
Musical Influences: Morbid Angel, Entombed & More
Simon names Morbid Angel’s Domination as his favorite album from the Floridian death legends.
“It’s got strong compositions and slick production. ‘Where the Slime Live’ and ‘Dawn of the Angry’ are standouts.”
For Entombed, Clandestine gets the nod. He likes the mix of raw energy and emerging groove. Though he doesn’t listen to Grave as much, other band members are fans.
The BAEST Sound: Finding Their Own Voice
Though often compared to Morbid Angel and Entombed, Simon says BAEST has moved into its own creative space:
“We’re still inspired by those bands—plus Bloodbath—but we’ve developed our own band identity.”
With the release of Necro Sapiens, the band embraced new territory—conceptually and sonically.
About Necro Sapiens
BAEST’s third album in just over three years, Necro Sapiens is a concept-driven dystopia:
“It’s inspired by Orwell’s 1984. Necro Sapiens are a slave race under totalitarian rule. The SA and the Abattoir are ruling forces.”
The band enjoyed working within a loose narrative, creating characters and a fleshed-out universe.
Fan Feedback & Community
Simon admits the band keeps an eye on YouTube and social media reactions:
“We don’t reply to everything, but we read the comments. It means a lot.”
BAEST also hosts a fan-run private Facebook group where deep discussions, interviews, and song breakdowns thrive.
Album Art & Creative Freedom
The eye-catching artwork for Necro Sapiens was created by Mitchell Nolte (Aborted, Vampire):
“He’s a talented guy from Australia. We had another idea, but it didn’t work. Mitchell’s art just clicked.”
The Metal Community
Simon says he wears metal shirts daily—it’s not just merch, it’s a uniform:
“When we see each other in the store, there’s a nod, a smile. It’s one of our own.”
What’s Next?
Despite the rapid pace of releases, Simon says there’s no rush—it’s just pure creative energy.
“We love to create. We’re already writing new stuff, but we’ll give Necro Sapiens time to breathe.”
Final Thoughts
Whether it’s channeling Morbid Angel riffs or building Orwellian metal lore, BAEST continues to blaze a path forward—loud, fast, and undeniably their own.
Catch Baest on tour and stream wherever you get your music.
Watch the full video interview below.
Categories: Baest, Interviews
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