Bela Kiss Reawakens: Twenty Years Later, Still Loud, Still Alive

Bela Kiss Reawakens: Twenty Years Later, Still Loud, Still Alive

Two decades after For Those Who Don’t Believe first shook the Long Island hardcore scene, Bela Kiss are back — older, wiser, but just as relentless. What began as a group of friends making noise in VFW halls and backyards has evolved into a brotherhood that never truly faded, even when life pulled them in different directions.

Now, with a re-recorded version of their seminal album, the band is proving that their music isn’t just nostalgia — it’s timeless energy, sharpened by maturity and fueled by the same passion that lit the fire in the mid-2000s. In this candid conversation, the five members reflect on their journey: the highs of The Closure EP, the darker detour of Life As A Ghost, and the thrill of reconnecting with a new generation of fans through streaming platforms.

What emerges is more than a reunion — it’s a reminder that Bela Kiss never really left. And ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴏꜱᴇ ᴡʜᴏ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇ 𝐌𝐌𝐗𝐗𝐕 has arrived!

Introduce yourselves and tell me what you do in Bela Kiss. Let’s start with the guys on the couch, the one by the cat.
Morgan: I’m Morgan, I play bass.

Mike: I’m Mike, I play drums.

Dean: I’m Dean, I play guitar.

Kyle: I’m Kyle, and I play guitar.

Nick: I’m Nick, and I sing.

Revisiting For Those Who Don’t Believe

It’s been 20 years since For Those Who Don’t Believe. What made you decide it was time to revisit and re-record these songs?
Nick: I’ll start. The big thing was Sands of Time approached us and said, “Hey, we want to re-release this.” At first we were like, Wait, what? But it made sense. It would have been weird if we weren’t still close, but we’re best friends — we hang out, go on vacations together. Now we’re adults with some stability, and it felt like a no-brainer. Why not re-release it and make it ten times better? That’s how it happened.

Mike: Yeah, and honestly, we had the money and the technology this time. Things have grown exponentially since we first recorded. Now we can work individually and collaboratively in ways that weren’t possible back then. The tools available today make the process so much more exciting. We figured, let’s do this and make it sound incredible.

Dean: Over the years, life pulled us away — kids, careers, responsibilities. Music was such a core part of our early twenties, and stepping away left a void. Now, with families and careers established, we realized what we were missing: playing music together. Coming back to it feels right, because this is what we love to do.

Kyle: The timing was perfect. We always knew these songs were strong, even 20–25 years ago. Recreating them now with extra love and attention proves we weren’t just imagining it — they really are phenomenal. We’re pumped.

Nick: It was tough not to change things. We tweaked a few parts, but 95% of the record is the same — just more mature, fuller, and better sounding. Honestly, I’m prouder of it now than I was back then.

Kyle: It finally got the sound it deserved.

Nick: It only took 20 years. Whatever. Next album will be out in 20 more years.  (Laughter)

The Long Island Music Scene

Bela Kiss emerged from the Long Island music scene in the mid-2000s. How has that scene changed, and how has it influenced what you’re about to do?
Mike: The music out now is wild. Bands today really do their research — a lot of them sound like the bands from back then, but with way more polish. Production is on another level. With technology, Instagram, TikTok, bands can blow up quickly, and kids still show up to shows, buy merch, and support the scene. That energy excites me and pushes me to bring my best when we write new music.

Nick: Even though I don’t live on Long Island anymore, I still see it. The scene is alive and well. Kids just show up for music again, and that’s refreshing. I’m disconnected because of adult life, but when I see pictures and videos, it’s clear the energy is back.

Mike: Exactly. Long Island bands today carry bits of that old-school sound, but kids show up now more than ever. The scene is thriving.

Morgan: And it’s not just big venues. It’s VFW halls, backyards — I just watched a video of a huge backyard show with kids stage-diving off sheds.

Dean: The health of the scene is undeniable. For a while, it felt like venues were disappearing, and I stopped going to shows. But now, bands that were done are coming back. We’re not the only ones — reunion shows, re-releases, re-recordings are everywhere. Some festival lineups look like they could’ve been from 20 years ago. It’s a dream lineup, but it’s happening now. That says a lot about the environment and economy of music today: people miss it, and they want back in.

Recalling The Closure EP

Looking back on The Closure EP, which was the final release Bela Kiss put out, what do you think of it now in retrospect?
Mike: I love it. I really do. What do you think?

Kyle: Yeah, those songs were a lot of fun. That was at the height of us playing every single day. It did start to take the band in a slightly different direction from where we began, but revisiting For Those Who Don’t Believe reminded us that simplicity is key. We want to keep that same foundation in the new material we’re writing now. The Closure songs were great, and they deserve recognition — plus they were a blast to play.

Mike: Exactly. That EP was a whole different chapter for us — a different timeframe, a different sound, and a lot of new influences. It leaned more technical and experimental compared to For Those Who Don’t Believe, which had that raw Bela Kiss feel. Going back now, polishing For Those while keeping its core intact made us realize how much those songs still hold up. I love Closure, but it was definitely more experimental. Now we’re excited to get back to that core sound.

Kyle: Honestly, if you’d interviewed us a couple of months after Closure came out and asked if we’d ever play For Those Who Don’t Believe again, we would’ve said absolutely not. We thought we were moving on. At the time, we listened back and felt like it could’ve been so much better. But now, replaying it, we get the chance to actually make it better — and that’s exciting.

Nick: Yeah, listening back now, it’s wild. If Closure had sounded the way it does today — full and big — it might have changed the trajectory of the band. When we wrote The Horde, we had lineup changes that shifted the sound in a weird direction. Then we tried to bring it back with more technicality, which led to Closure. But honestly, it wasn’t even meant to be an EP — it was just demos we put together.

The songs were cool and technical, but fans didn’t really grasp what we were going for. That killed some of the momentum. People said, “This isn’t what you used to do,” and we knew that, but it was hard for them to vibe with it. Compare that to songs from 20 years ago — people still know them, still sing along. With Closure, only a handful of people remember it. That’s telling.

At the end of the day, our music works best when it’s simple, powerful, and direct. That’s what keeps people engaged and makes it fun to play. And that’s why we’re pivoting back to the album — especially now that the re-recording turned out so well.

Life As A Ghost

Looking back on Life As A Ghost, Drifter and Eulogy Recordings, what do you think of that album now in retrospect?
Nick: I still love that album. For me, it was the darker side of Bela Kiss — the side we didn’t get to fully explore within Bela Kiss itself. It was theatrical, moody, and I enjoyed that. I’ll always be “Nick from Bela Kiss,” and I’m proud of that. But Life As A Ghost gave me another outlet. I still put it on every few years and think, man, that was good. I miss playing those songs, but I wouldn’t trade what we’re doing now. Bela Kiss will always be number one for me.

After the Perception EP in 2013, we didn’t really hear from Life As A Ghost. What happened?
Nick: Honestly, I don’t know. I kept waiting for a phone call back. Life just started pulling people in different directions, the same way it did with Bela Kiss years earlier. Ray, our drummer, was the youngest in the group — eventually he had to get serious about life. By then, my kid was already seven, so I was in a different place too.

The band drifted. People still hit me up saying the Perception EP was deep, dark, and fun — ahead of its time. But we never got to close the book properly. Some guys moved upstate, one’s in Florida, another is teaching yoga in the woods. Jerry went on to play in another band. I’d love to have a final show, a real closer, but I don’t know if it’ll ever happen. That empty space is part of what kept Bela Kiss alive for me. No matter how hard I tried to move on, Bela Kiss wouldn’t leave me — and I’m not mad about that.

Streaming & Discovery

With streaming platforms dominating how people discover music, how do you feel about the way fans engage with Bela Kiss now?
Nick: It’s interesting. We don’t fully know how to use the technology to our advantage because we took so much time off. It’s been a huge DIY learning curve — figuring out algorithms, ads, videos, what works where. Honestly, it can be anxiety-inducing, but also exciting. Back in the day, we had 70,000 followers on MySpace. Where are those people now?

Dean: Exactly. In 2004, MySpace was how people found us. Otherwise, it was flyers at the mall, burnt CDR demos, or seeing us live. A few bands blew up overnight on MySpace, which was wild back then. Now it’s TikTok — bands can go viral in three months and sell out venues.

We’ve leaned into the technology, and weirdly enough, we’re getting new fans who weren’t even alive when our first album came out. Seventeen- and eighteen-year-olds message us saying, “I found you two years ago, I thought you were done, I’m so glad you’re back.” That’s crazy, but we’re here for it. We want to engage with those fans and grow.

Mike: Streaming has its benefits. Once kids find you on a platform, they can see your whole discography instantly. Back then, you’d hear one song on a CD or iPod and have to dig for more. Now, it’s all there. That’s powerful. The challenge is learning how to use socials to drive people to streaming, but we’re figuring it out every day.

Writing & Touring Again

Would Bela Kiss like to write brand new music? Would you like to be on the road touring again?
Morgan: We’re already writing new music.

Nick: The hope is to do it again, but maybe not month-long tours like before. We’re at a point in life where some of us have kids in high school or college, others with younger kids. If something came up that was three weeks and worth it, we’d do it. The most important thing is to have fun. Ideally, we’d love to hit a festival circuit where new songs gain traction and we get to play them live.

We just need to approach it with an adult mindset — not quitting jobs to tour for seven months, but finding efficient ways to make it work.

Dean: Three of us work from home now, which makes it easier. Back then, I had to quit my Starbucks job just to tour for two weeks. Now I can wake up, work remotely during the day, and play a show at night. That’s a fantastic feeling.

Kyle: The ability to work from a cell phone is a huge advantage too.

Nick: So yeah — the possibilities are endless.

Did you guys ever get out here to play in the Los Angeles area?
Nick: Yeah, we played Chain Reaction. What else did we play over there?

Dean: We did San Diego the day before, then Sacramento the day after. So I think we were only in L.A. once.

Nick: Yeah, we were in California just that one time.

Dean: I remember — it was one of the best summers of my life.

Kyle: I’m willing to drive this month.

Nick: Fun fact: I was the only one responsible enough to drive us everywhere — every show, van and trailer, through the middle of the night. I’d be texting on my Sidekick while driving, everyone else asleep. And somehow, I was the most responsible. Go figure.

Messages for the Fans

Do you have any messages for Bela Kiss fans who are reading this right now and thinking, “They’re back, they’re here.”
Nick: Please come to the show with earplugs, Advil, and at least one beer — just one to get yourself through it. That’s my message. I’m kidding… mostly.

Kyle: We’re definitely excited to be back. We’re looking forward to seeing all the old faces who used to come out, and all the new ones who’ve been posting and commenting. We want to grow this fan base together and have a good time doing it. These songs mean a lot to us, and to our core group of friends who’ve always carried them close to their hearts.

Dean: I’m really excited to get the music back out there. It’s going to be good. I can’t wait to make new stuff, play new places, and take this as far as it’ll go — all while meeting awesome people along the way.

Mike: Thanks for staying interested, for listening, and for remembering who we are.

Nick: Quick side note — we had a kid message us recently saying he designed a t-shirt for us. His dad used to be a fan of Bela Kiss. That was so strange to hear, but also really cool. And it’s also cool at the same time because his dad was getting some action pretty young, which is good for him. That’s why it’s cool.

🔥 Closing

Bela Kiss may have taken detours, pauses, and side projects over the past two decades, but their story proves that true passion doesn’t fade — it waits. From backyard shows and MySpace demos to re-recordings and streaming platforms, the band has carried their sound across generations, now finding themselves embraced by both longtime fans and brand-new listeners who weren’t even alive when the first album dropped.

What’s clear is that Bela Kiss aren’t chasing trends or trying to reinvent themselves — they’re reconnecting with the raw, powerful simplicity that made their music resonate in the first place. With new songs already in the works and the possibility of festivals or short tours on the horizon, the band is stepping back into the spotlight with the same energy that fueled them from the start.

For fans old and new, the message is simple: Bela Kiss is back, louder than ever, and ready to prove that twenty years later, the fire still burns.

(Interview by Ken Morton)

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