Did you watch all the Alien and Independence Day movies? Well forget about those, because these are the real aliens and they’re planning to stay! The people on board their vessel: Herma Sick (vocals), L0R1 (lead guitar), Nemes (rhythm guitar), Big Daddy Ray (bass) and Evey (drums), penetrated our atmosphere in 2014 and crashlanded on Earth. They currently reside in Rome, Italy and call themselves SICK N’ BEAUTIFUL. To kill time on our planet, they tour and release albums. “Horror Vacui” is their fourth alien baby with razor sharp teeth and a killer instinct. We had the chance to interview their leader, Herma Sick, and got out alive from their Ship of Satan, thankfully.
Hello Herma and welcome back to Earth. You’re in the middle of a tour with Lordi. How’s that going so far?
“It’s been wild, in the best way possible! Touring with Lordi is like being on a monster movie set that never ends. The fans have been incredible and every show feels like an explosion of energy and mayhem. We’re having the time of our lives bringing our madness to new cities and meeting fellow freaks everywhere we go.”
For those Earthlings who have never seen or heard SICK N’ BEAUTIFUL, please introduce the band and tell them what you do.
“We’re SICK N’ BEAUTIFUL, and we crashlanded on this planet to blow up your definition of what a band is. Imagine if a sci-fi movie, a metal concert, and a punk riot had a baby: that’s us! I’m Herma, your alien queen, and we’re here to make noise, break rules, and give a voice to the weirdos and the wild ones. We don’t just perform: we invade, we infect, we ignite. If you feel like you don’t belong, you belong with us.”
The last time you visited us, three years ago, we were treated with a beautiful album, “Starstruck”. And now you’re back for a tour and with a brand new fourth album, “Horror Vacui”, which means fear of emptiness. Can you elucidate the title a little more?
““Horror Vacui” reflects that deep, primal fear of the void, both literal and emotional. It’s that uncomfortable silence, that inner scream when everything seems to fall apart and you don’t know what’s left of yourself. We wanted to explore that feeling and turn it into something loud, defiant, and beautiful. We fill that void with sound, rage, and identity.”
Is “Horror Vacui” a concept album?
“Yes, it definitely follows a loose concept. It’s like a journey through inner space, a descent into the darker corners of the psyche, where pain, transformation, and rage become tools for survival. Each track is a chapter in that process, showing different emotional states and evolutions, from feeling broken and lost to reclaiming power and connection with others like us.”
“Horror Vacui” will be out on a division of Frontiers Label Group called BLKIIBLK. Wouldn’t you rather have had it released on Frontiers Music srl, like “Starstruck”?
“We’re excited about this release. BLKIIBLK is a new, more experimental division, and we love being on the edge of things. Our sound has evolved and this label gives us the freedom to push boundaries even further, both musically and visually. It feels like the right step for where we’re headed. And it’s exciting to have the chance to connect with a total brand new audience that fits more our aesthetic.”
With the first two tracks, “(Human Is) Overrated” and “My Wounds”, you really present your business card: hard hitting industrial metal. Is “Horror Vacui” on the whole heavier or louder than its predecessors?
“Absolutely. “Horror Vacui” is raw, aggressive, and unapologetic. It still carries the melodic and theatrical elements we’re known for, but it’s also heavier and more intense. There’s a cathartic anger in this album that just needed to come out – it’s our loudest scream yet.”
“Death Police” reminds me a lot of In This Moment. Are you a fan of Maria Brink and her band?
“Hell yes. Maria Brink is a huge inspiration. I love how she commands the stage and blends sensuality with fierce energy. We definitely share a taste for theatricality and emotional intensity, so if “Death Police” gives you those vibes, I’m honored.”
Another highlight on the new album is (for me) “Hate Manifesto”, it gets stuck in your head once you’ve heard it. Please explain who wrote it and what the theme of the song is.
“I wrote it with the band, and it’s one of the rawest songs we’ve ever done. “Hate Manifesto” is a rebellion anthem for all the freaks, the misfits, the ones who’ve been pushed aside. It’s about channeling all that pain and anger into something powerful. We’re not promoting violence, we’re offering a way to survive through expression, unity, and unapologetic truth. It’s our battle cry.”
Since “Horror Vacui” will be out soon, let’s not spoil everything by telling what every song is like. But “Raise The Dragon” is quite deviant in the context of, can we say, more mainstream?
“You could say that, yes. “Raise The Dragon” flirts with a more accessible structure and catchier hooks, we call it ‘our power metal song’! But it still carries our DNA. It’s seductive and powerful, like a ritual in disguise. Sometimes you need to lure them in before you show your fangs, right?”
One more thing, you’re telling us: “This is the Ship Of Satan in Space. We have found kinship with the Different, the Strange, The Outcast: over the years, alongside our fans, we’ve laid the foundations of a hidden tribe where the power of music is wielded as a weapon against the Oppressors of all things Alien. In fact, an unseen war is now underway… So the question for you is: on which side will you stand?” What war? On Earth or in Space?
“Both. The war is everywhere: on Earth, in Space, inside our heads. It’s a war against conformity, ignorance, and the systems that try to crush individuality and difference. We fight with music, with art, with connection. Our tribe is growing, and every time someone stands up and says: “I am different, and I’m proud,” we win a little more. So yeah, choose your side!” ■
Henk van Nieuwenhoven
All live pics were taken by Gerben Duijster at Iduna, Drachten, The Netherlands on 29.03.25
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