Interview Poseydon @ Alcatraz 2026 - "Time is a river. Sometimes it speeds up or slows down." • GRIMM Gent

It’s about a decade since we reviewed Poseydon‘s debut full-length ‘Masterpiece’ on our site, so about time to sit down with them while we’re both at Alcatraz Festival to have a chat about things! We’d like to introduce you: Tom (vocals), Alain (guitars), and Leander (guitars). Guys with a down-to-earth view of the music world, who teasingly show each other that they care about one another and have a good sense of humor.

GRIMM:

Your band name Poseydon is inspired by Greek mythology, specifically the God of the sea, horses, and earthquakes. What is your connection with the theme?

Alain:

It actually comes from the early days. Back then, we were a group of friends and we were going to start a band. And we needed a name, what are we going to do? Guys, we need a name. Not much inspiration. But our singer was a history teacher, so he was really interested in those mythologies. And he came up with it. And we were thinking, you can actually do a lot with it.We can use that style, a trident. All the ideas around Greek mythology and Poseidon. It’s endless, really. There’s some anger in it too. We were able to use that in our songs. The concept is developing more now to make the whole thing work. The title, the historical figure, the mythology. Everything around it, we’re actually starting to use it more now, I think.

GRIMM:

You started in the early ’90s and then were inactive for 7 years after the end of the ’90s. Where did you get the motivation or inspiration to start again 20 years ago in 2006?

Alain:

It started itching again. Then I said to someone, ‘I’m going to start with Poseidon again.’ And they said, ‘Yeah, I’m in.’ And then we actually started again.

Leander:

Yeah, kind of… eagerness to get back into it.

Alain:

Actually, at that moment we pretty much had to start over. Leave some of the past behind, because we didn’t stop for no reason. So it was starting fresh with a new direction.

Leander:

There were people who missed it too. I think mainly the band members who were there before.

GRIMM:

Have you noticed any difference in the fanbase, expectations, or collaboration since the restart?

Alain:

Well, no, in the end, you already have a portion of fans, and even if you’ve been inactive for 8 to 10 years, they come back pretty quickly. That’s how you build it back up. It goes quite smoothly, actually. And you bring the old guard along.

Leander:

Which guard, Alain? They’re all old already.

Alain:

Yeah, you’re a bit more experienced in these things. You know how to handle things better. Back then, it was without obligations. Now it’s a bit different. Now it’s more about working seriously.

Tom:

It’s being taken more seriously than before. Back then, it was, like Alain just said, really just that circle of friends. We’re going to make music together. Like hundreds or thousands of people have started at some point. We’re going to make some music. And at some point, you reach a point where you say, we should actually start taking this a bit more seriously. Abroad is starting to appeal more. You get feedback on the record. And you want the music to reach a wider audience. And you just have to work harder to get there compared to before. We once played in Beveren, Sint-Niklaas, and Antwerp. Around the church back then.

Leander:

that’s fun too, but there are ambitions. And it’s changing compared to back then.

GRIMM:

When I looked you up on Metal Archives, I noticed that the list of ‘similar artists’ was empty. How would you fill that in yourselves?

Leander:

That’s just because they didn’t do their job properly.

Tom:

Then it’s definitely going to Slayer. And the old Sepultura. We can’t get away from that. The older work of Testament. I think that’s the direction you have to look in.

Alain:

Those bands are named a lot Yeah, that’s true.

GRIMM:

You guys now released a full-length album recently with ‘Time is a River and Waters Are Red’. With that album, what exactly is the message you want to convey? Or what was the motivation behind working on it?

Tom:

In the end, it’s a song that had been written musically for a while. And the title was there too. But there were no lyrics. Eventually, Alain came up with it during a rehearsal, and everyone was pretty enthusiastic. Because, in the end, time is a river. Time sometimes goes by quickly. The river too. Sometimes it speeds up or slows down a bit. Sometimes it deviates. It’s a very powerful title that can go in any direction. Everyone can interpret it however they want.

Leander:

And if there’s one similarity with everything that has to do with time, it involves blood.

Alain:

It seems like a very difficult title, but actually, it’s very simple.

GRIMM:

I heard you say, Tom, that you already had the music and title prepared in advance. Is that kind of how you put your songs together?

Tom:

Not really. Because mainly Alain, sometimes Leander and Jeroen too as the bassist, come up with almost finished songs. Here and there, a bit of tweaking is needed or something might change. Then it gets passed on for people to listen to.

Alain:

That complete package is waiting. I have something, and sometimes I’ll spend three hours behind that computer and fix it there. I record it and work it out. It’s rough, but the idea or the lines are there. In the past, it was rehearsing, jamming, and we’d build on it further.

Leander:

Let’s add something to that. Let’s be honest, Alain. You’ve been in the game since 1992. You know what you’re doing. That’s always workable and releasable. A really nice, stable, solid track. That guy has been playing songs since I was born.

Tom:

Is that being deliberately sought after? No. That’s something that… it just grows as we’re making a song.

Leander:

And it’s that artistic freedom that allows you to still take steps. That’s what makes it complete. We like seeing each other. Otherwise, we wouldn’t keep doing it.

GRIMM:

I would like to be able to breathe underwater if I could choose a superpower. That fits nicely with the concept of your name and album. What would you choose?

Tom:

That’s super easy. Flying.

Leander:

Explain it, Tom (laughs).

Tom:

It’s much easier to tour that way, right? And a singer doesn’t need to carry much to fly.

Leander:

Any stress I have before any gig I play, I’d like to erase that. Because I get stressed before any show. And don’t get me wrong, it’s just to do it well. Because I want to make it good for everyone.

Alain:

Yeah, Poseydon does something with his staff and splits the sea in two. I messed around a bit in the lyrics, that’s in there.

GRIMM:

His name is Moses. If I understand correctly, it’s more about water control.

Tom:

As you get older, controlling water gets harder… (laughs)

Leander:

Confession from the diaper period.

Tom:

Sorry, I couldn’t resist.

GRIMM:

When you guys are announced to come up on stage, how do you deal with the possible stress backstage (looking at Leander)?

Leander:

My way to calm down is mainly by giving the bandmembers a hug. That’s really weird. Shake hands for a moment. Get a little angry. It’s not solved yet, but it helps. Just say to each other ‘I love you guys’. We’re going to do this together. Try to do it. That’s where my strength lies.

Tom:

I still get stressed before every performance. A bit of healthy stress. Would I want to get rid of it? Like Leander says. No. Because that keeps me sharp. That keeps me focused. I definitely wouldn’t want to get rid of it. I just let it come. From the first note, it’s gone. And then I’m in my own world.