EMQ’s With APOLLYON – M2TM EDITION
EMQ’s With APOLLYON – M2TM EDITION
Hello everyone! Welcome to a special Bloodstock Metal 2 The Masses North Wales edition of our EMQs. This one is with Ellesmere Port, UK Technical Death/ Thrash band, Apollyon. Huge thanks to them for taking part.
What’s your name, what instrument do you play, and can you tell us a little about the history of the band?
Glen Brazier: The 6 strings of doom power axe. (Guitar)
Gareth Owen: His purple headed Oboe aka: the bass boomstick (Bass guitar and vocals)
James Roberts: Anything that makes a sound. (Drums)
Apollyon formed in 2005 when Glen and Gareth used to frequently make sweet music, alone, in Gareth’s static caravan. They used to often talk about some of the pathetic bands in their local scene and how if they could just find a drummer, they could leave a legacy behind, making a proper mark on the scene. They churned out many pubeless, flaccid drummers over the years but never really got going until they auditioned James Roberts. James tuned up in his tight jogging pants and a finely trimmed moustache and could clearly see he meant business. From that day the band never looked back and have gone from strength to strength. They had a break from music in 20012 when James Left the band to get a job, this had a huge effect on Gareth, he hit the booze and developed a wanking addiction in 2015 spiralling into a black hole.
A few more years passed and the band decided to reform in 2017 with its original line-up, after deciding they still had some more to give. During Lockdown they compiled some of their greatest music and decided Metal to the masses would be something high on their radar!
With a new E.P arriving soon things are now looking very positive.
What genre of Metal do you play?
We play fast technical, wank worthy thrash/Death metal. Heavier than a ten ton period.
How did you come up with your band name?
Gareth came up with the name, he chinned 12 fosters one night and whilst cuddling with his cat Scraggy (rip) he stumbled across Apollyon (the destroyer)
Where are you based and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?
We are based in Ellesmere Port, the scene is pretty rubbish to be honest. Bits seem to be picking up around Chester. We have been playing around Manchester and Liverpool recently and looking forward to branching out a bit further again.
What’s your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)
We are working hard to release a new EP at the moment, this will be happening later in the year. Our most current EP is Life’s Conclusion which should be going back onto Spotify again soon.
Who have been your greatest influences?
We all have varied influences ranging from Pantera, Chimaira, Slayer, Megadeth, Death, Killswitch….. the list can go on, basically anything heavy and interesting.
What first got you into music?
Ears
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician, who would it be?
Maybe The Bangles or Bewitched, Gaz performs at his best when he’s horny. I wouldn’t allow them to take part in any writing, they would simply be there to arouse Gaz.
What does Bloodstock Festival represent to you?
We have been attending this festival for over 10 years now. It’s the go to festival. Really not into the pussy bands that play at other festivals. You get great bands and great people going to see them here!
Have you been to Bloodstock, and if so, what’s your favourite memory from the festival?
Watching Gaz trying to put his tent up, inflating his air bed up outside the tent then not being able to get it in the tent and then watching a gnat bite his forehead before finally snapping.
What are you going to bring to M2TM that you think will earn you a place on the New Blood Stage?
The biggest sound coming from just 3 guys, despite an average age of 40 were still quite handsome. Leather kecks, massive tashes and sweets for the nippers.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Be excellent to each other.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
Love telling Gaz he’s not a real musician because he only writes nasty lyrics
Hate the drain on my wallet and the incredible urge to keep buying stuff I don’t even need.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
The little things, I’d probably remove some of the bell end incompetent promotors around. Some are excellent and organise some awesome events, some are idiots and can’t be arsed even getting back to you.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
Death: “symbolic” is an album that gets us all a bit excited
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CDs, or Downloads?
CDs! nothing compared to buying a CD, admiring the artwork, enjoying the lyrics and adding it to the collection.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
We supported Soulfly a few years ago, we all grew up listening to them and enjoyed asking Max if he fancied a bite at Chicken Yum Yums after the gig. He told me to “Fuck off” and we realised that night he’s not a nice guy.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
Gareth: Gaz only pretends to be a musician, so this is void
Glen: Dosser/Dwad
James: Hairdresser
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Mr Blobby
Fred the weatherman
Wolf from Gladiators
Nelson Mandela
Mother Theresa
What’s next for the band?
Get this EP sorted and more shows! Hopefully win this competition and have a festival to look forward to.
Where can people find you online? Drop us your links below:
www.facebook.com/apollyonsteel
https://apollyon.bandcamp.com/
Jaffa Cakes? Are they a cake or a biscuit?
Cakes because they go hard when they go off
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
No, I’m tired now…. Who came up with all this???!
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