Draft:Kris Belaen
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Kris Belaen
[edit]Early Life and Background
[edit]Kris Belaen (born c. 1963) is a Belgian music producer and sound engineer originally from Meulebeke, currently residing in Zulte, Flanders. He began his musical career in the early 1980s as part of the industrial duo Sigmund und sein Freund.
Career
[edit]CCR Recording Studio & Mastering
[edit]In 1988, responding to a lack of local recording infrastructure, Belaen established his own recording studio in Zulte after acquiring equipment from the United Kingdom. At a time when home studios were rare in Flanders, his move was pioneering. Over the following three decades, he recorded and mastered more than 300 albums, working with artists from across the globe, including Israel and Colombia.
Work with Metal Bands
[edit]Belaen is particularly noted for his work with extreme and underground metal bands. His collaborations include:
- Aborted – Engineered their early releases prior to their signing with a label, helping boost the profile of his studio internationally.
- Amenra, Congress, Thurisaz, and other influential Belgian metal acts.
Engineering and Production Credits
[edit]Belaen has contributed technical production, mixing, mastering, and engineering to a wide range of bands, especially within the extreme metal scene. According to Encyclopaedia Metallum and MusicBrainz, he is often credited under variations such as "Kris B." or "Kris Be."
Recent and Related Projects
[edit]Due to the development of tinnitus from extended exposure to loud sound environments, Belaen has reduced his studio output in recent years. He has since shifted focus to composing, sound design, and artistic projects, including music for a dance production at KASK and a commissioned sound installation for the Sydney Biennale.
Personal Life
[edit]- Belaen was raised in Meulebeke and later settled in Zulte, where he established his professional studio.
- Ongoing hearing health issues have led him to explore less intensive, more creative auditory projects such as installations and contemporary composition.
Legacy and Influence
[edit]- CCR Studio, founded by Belaen, has become a significant institution for metal production in Belgium, with his name appearing on album credits internationally.
- He is recognized for having made high-quality music production more accessible to underground and emerging bands, nurturing early work from acts that have since gained wider recognition.
Selected Discography (Engineer)
[edit]- Recordings for:
- Aborted
- Amenra
- Ataraxie
- Benighted
- Firestone
External links
[edit]Sigmund und sein Freund
[edit]Sigmund und sein Freund (also known as Sigmund Und Seine Freunde or SUSF) was a Belgian industrial/electro-wave/noise duo formed in 1984 in Meulebeke, West Flanders, by Dirk Van Severen and Kris Belaen.
Musical Philosophy
[edit]From their early days, the group described their aesthetic as:
> "A contemporary sound—a creative process of pure emotion. At the same time danceable, moving, aggressive, alienating. A combination of structure and improvisation. Hard, shocking, wild, chaotic, ominous… Despair and orgasm—therapeutic?"
The duo's sound incorporated synthesizer loops, trumpet, tape manipulations, distorted vocals, and live electronics, aligning them with groups like Front 242 and The Klinik while forging a unique "electro-blues" atmosphere.
Roles: x1 and x2
[edit]Each member used a numeric pseudonym to define their artistic role:
- x1 = Dirk Van Severen – Synthesizers, tape manipulation, trumpet, and rhythm programming.
- x2 = Kris Belaen – Guitar, lead vocals, special effects, and rhythm programming.
Releases & Evolution
[edit]Early DIY Tapes and Touring (1985–1986)
[edit]- Released self-produced cassette tapes, distributed at live events and select outlets.
- Toured extensively across Europe, performing alongside Laibach, SPK, Test Dept., and Psychic TV.
Antler Records Era (1987–1989)
[edit]- 1987 – Released EPs Secret and Sacred simultaneously on Antler Records.
- 1988 – Released LP See Emily Play, noted for its bleak and emotionally intense style.
- 1989 – Issued LP Love Lust Leave and 12" single Glory to the Newborn King, exploring more ambient and drone-based soundscapes.
Manifesto Label and Later Work (1992–1993)
[edit]- 1992 – Released In Theory & Practice, showcasing a shift in tone and maturity.
- 1993 – Final release Gasp, marked by gothic-noiserock influences and heavier instrumentation. The band dissolved in 1997.
Critical Reception & Legacy
[edit]- While divisive—some critics dismissed their work as derivative of Throbbing Gristle—their bold stylistic choices earned them underground acclaim.
- Featured on MTV’s 120 Minutes in 1992, highlighting Belgian alternative music.
- After Love Lust Leave, Belaen stepped back, and the group took a more polished guitar-oriented direction.
Selected Discography of Sigmund und sein Freund
[edit]| Year | Title | Format / Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Live at the Studio | Cassette (DIY) |
| 1985 | Live-Tracks | Cassette (DIY) |
| 1986 | Amsterdam 18/4/86 | Cassette (DIY) |
| 1987 | Secret | 12" EP (Antler) |
| 1987 | Sacred | 12" EP (Antler) |
| 1988 | See Emily Play | LP (Antler) |
| 1988 | Innate | MLP (Antler) |
| 1989 | Glory to the Newborn King | 12" Single (Antler) |
| 1989 | Love Lust Leave | LP (Antler) |
| 1992 | In Theory & Practice | CD (Manifesto) |
| 1993 | Gasp | CD (Manifesto) |