EMQS With Anomos
EMQS With Anomos
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with Scottish Melodic Death Metallers, Anomos. Huge thanks to them for taking part.
What is your name, what do you play, and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
We’re Anomos, a melodic death metal band from Edinburgh, Scotland. The band was originally formed too long ago to be mentioned by Rob (bass) and Cal (guitar), who eventually managed to convince Dave (drums) to join. Over time, the lineup changed a couple of times before settling in its current form—Thomas (vocals) joined around 2015, and Pete (guitar) arrived in 2020, completing the unholy union. Since then, we’ve been writing, recording, and making as much noise as possible.
How did you come up with your band name?
Well, once upon a time, we were called Kosmokrator. But then we discovered that a much more successful Kosmokrator from Belgium already existed, and people kept confusing us for them. That led to a name change—and so Anomos was born. It means “lawless” or “without order” in Greek, which fits quite well. Amusingly, it turns out there are also other bands called Anomos, so apparently, we just have a talent for picking names that other people like too.
What country/region are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?
We’re based in Scotland, mostly Edinburgh. The scene here is thriving—there’s a great mix of genres, from Death and Thrash to Prog and Black Metal, and a real sense of camaraderie. We’ve seen some incredible bands come through the scene over the years, and right now, it’s in a really exciting place, with more and more Scottish acts gaining recognition beyond the local scene.
What is your latest release?
Our latest album “Triumvirate” is out in March! It’s got all our usual Melodic Death Metal trademarks but leans into some proggier elements, with themes of nihilism, apocalyptic imagery, existential dread, classic fantasy (inspired by Tolkien), and one very naughty, very savage pet cat. Compared to our previous work, it’s more modern, a little less sludgy, and possibly even more devastating.
Who have been your greatest influences?
At The Gates, Dark Tranquillity, Insomnium, Meshuggah, Whitechapel, Sylosis, Fallujah, Møl, and Nevermore to name a few. Basically, a mix of melodic death, progressive, and crushingly heavy modern metal.
What first got you into music?
A combination of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater soundtracks, Kerrang! magazine, and going to The Mini Mission—an under-18s metal night at the legendary, but sadly long-gone, Studio 24 in Edinburgh. Those early experiences shaped our love for heavy music and made us want to be the ones making the noise.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician, who would it be?
Meshuggah—just to witness the madness firsthand. Or maybe Gojira, though we’d probably need to up our cardio before attempting that.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Download Festival in Donington. It’s the UK’s biggest metal festival, and for a long time, it was the major metal festival here. Playing that stage would be a bucket list moment.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
In all honesty, we’ve never really received a physical gift from a fan… Although our Guitarist at 16 years old was playing a concert with his high school orchestra and somebody asked for his autograph. He has since realized that that was probably when he peaked in life.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Thank you for listening, coming to shows, and supporting us. It genuinely means the world to us. Also, keep an eye on your pets—one of them may be inspiring our next album.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Dimebag Darrell. His death was a tragedy for Metal, and we’d love to see what he’d be doing today.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
The best part? The camaraderie—spending time together as a band, writing, rehearsing, and playing live. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of a great gig or locking into something special in a practice session.
The worst part? Loading out at the end of the night when you’re exhausted and everything suddenly weighs twice as much.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
Support for small music venues. These places are the lifeblood of the scene, and they’re disappearing. Without grassroots venues, up-and-coming bands don’t get a chance to develop, and the whole industry suffers as a result. More needs to be done to protect and sustain them.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums.
“Slaughter of the Soul” – At The Gates. It’s an untouchable classic.
What’s best, Vinyl, Cassettes, CDs, or Downloads?
Vinyl for the collection. CDs for the car. Downloads for convenience. Cassettes… for nostalgia, if you like suffering.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
Our recent Christmas gig at Legends in Edinburgh was a blast—playing in Santa hats and Christmas jumpers for charity was an unexpected highlight. It turns out Metal and festive cheer can co-exist.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
Exactly what we’re already doing—our day jobs. Because we have bills to pay, and unfortunately, nobody has yet offered to make us full-time riff merchants.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Lemmy (for the whisky and wisdom).
Devin Townsend (for surreal philosophical conversations).
David Attenborough (because… it’s David Attenborough).
H.R. Giger (for the nightmare fuel).
Whoever brings dessert (priorities).
What’s next for the band?
Our “Triumvirate” launch night on March 22nd, then shows in Glasgow and Inverness after that. And at some point, hopefully, writing new material before another five years pass.
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
https://www.facebook.com/anomosbandofficial
https://www.instagram.com/anomosband/
https://youtube.com/@anomosband?si=8jyqueGgbjhWomCs
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6CNxNImAUeVctUQq1Rgr6b?si=Oo5Fmer9SEqJBUmPJ aZL9w
Follow us, listen to us, and tell us whether we got the guitar tones right.
There’s a long-standing food-based debate here in the UK, and we’d like your help. So… A Jaffa cake – is it a cake or a biscuit? Discuss!
Controversial opinion here: Our Guitarist Pete is Dutch, and also a scientist. He can’t comprehend why anyone eats them – to him they are garbage fodder – neither cake or biscuit.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Thanks for having us! Now go listen to “Triumvirate”, tell your friends about it, and come see us live. We promise it’ll be worth it!
Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this interview unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
