EMQs With Phear
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQ interview, this time with Canadian Heavy Metallers, Phear. Huge thanks to their Lead Vocalist, Patrick Mulock, 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?
My name is Patrick Mulock, Lead Vocalist for the Canadian Heavy Metal Band; Phear. Phear was initially started in 2015. After 10 years of retirement from Eidolon, it was time to light the Metal fire once more and see how much gas I had left in the tank. Originally, I had thought it would be nice to write a few songs, record and just have some fun. I had a get together with the guys in my former band before Eidolon called Rampage. After a few drinks and a bunch of stories, I broached the idea of making some music again. It was agreed that we would get together and see what came of it. Unfortunately, some of the original members had time restraints and couldn’t make it happen. So I replaced members, as was needed to get this project off and running. Well, the innocent beginning soon turned into an obsession for me. I was back doing what I loved!!!! Making Heavy Metal Music! Over time, we had enough material to release an album. So “INSANITARIUM” was born. The reviews were in and they were exceptional and it prompted me to play some live shows. WOW…it was great to be on the stage again! Our live shows were also received well. After a run of shows, we decided that we should release a few live recordings so that the fans could get a better idea of what we were about. There was a certain heavy vibe that we had when we played live. So we recorded and released “The Curse Lives On”. A recorded live show. We only had a handful of live tracks available, so we added 1 of our unused recordings from the Insanitarium sessions and finally … .a fifteen minute cover of Iron Maiden’s “Rime of the Ancient Mariner”. Again, the reviews were great for us. We shot a video for “Rime” and. until this new release, was our most successful video. We continued to play live locally, opening for such acts as: Udo Dirkschnieder, Dead Daisies, Stryper , Hookers and Blow, The Iron Maidens and Sven Gali. Well…Time to start writing our next full album……… But COVID!!! The New “Save our Souls” Album was written throughout the Covid pandemic. 4 years later…..Here we are!
How did you come up with your band name?
As I said in the brief history, we are made up of the former local Toronto band Rampage. When we first started this, we were going to be under the name Rampage. Since it was not all the original members of Rampage and the direction had gotten much heavier, we decided to change our name. I came up with the name FEAR to coincide with the new darker direction. However, after searching, we discovered a 70’s Punk outfit famously known as fear. One of the guitarists said: “why not spell it with a PH?”…. It was as simple as that!!
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
Phear is from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I suppose it is who you ask, but the Metal scene in Toronto is average to good. There is a good representation of all Metal genres here, however places to play live are disappearing. Most clubs prefer tribute bands, so being in an original band is sometimes tough. When I go see bigger touring bands, the turnout is very good! So the fans are out there. We just need to get in front of them. Montreal, Canada has always had a bigger metal scene. Phear played there for the first time in 2024 and it was great!
What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)
Our latest release is our full-length album; “SAVE OUR SOULS”. It is currently available on all streaming platforms. Physical copies will arrive in March and be available on our website and at live shows. We have 3 videos on YouTube for this album so far: ‘Save Our Souls’, ‘Snake’ and ‘Narcosynthesis’ (Nevermore cover). There will be a lyric video for ‘New World Error’ released in late March.
Who have been your greatest influences?
It would depend who you ask in the band, but I would say: Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Megadeth, Dream Theater, Nevermore, Metallica, Ozzy…… to name a few. Lol
If you listen carefully, you could probably hear all these influences in our music. But it is the combination that makes up the sound that is Phear. We have a Progressive drummer with 2 shredding guitarists, a Thrash bassist/ Death vocalist with a Classic/ Power Metal lead singer!
How’s that for a mix??? Lol!
What first got you into music?
My first love affair with music came when I was just a little boy. My mother used to play a musical Disney story album, where every character was represented by a different instrument. It was called “Peter and the Wolf”. I would listen to it over and over, day after day. It also didn’t hurt that my mother was a Gospel singer and recorded her first and last album when she was 16. She would play it and sing along with it. I always thought it sounded magic. I also had 2 brothers who had their records that I would listen to, when they went to school. One record was Stevie Wonder’s “Songs in the Key of Life”. Are you kidding me……Amazing! Like every Canadian boy, I played ice hockey and would hang out with my teammates after games. That’s when I heard Kiss ‘Alive’…..WTF!!!! I had to have it! Kiss led to Queen, which led to Montrose to Led Zepplin to Judas Priest to Black Sabbath to RUSH……Wait a minute!!!!! Rush is Canadian… I have to do this. Now I’m the lead singer in a Canadian Heavy Metal band!!!!
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician, who would it be?
Wow… great question. Once again, I (Patrick, Lead vocalist) would answer as follows:
For Musicality: Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Judas Priest, Dream Theater
For Vocals: Freddie Mercury, Todd La Torre (Queensryche), Roy Khan (Kamelot), Sarah Brightman
For Production: Rammstein, In this Moment
For Bucketlist: Paul McCartney, Bruce Dickinson, Rob Halford
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Well, here is an unknown fact… 3 of the current 5 members of Phear have already played Wacken, Germany. Huh!!!! Not bad eh??? If it was my choice, I would choose the “Rock in Rio” festival in Brazil. Listen, It would be my dream to play any or all the festivals…… But I chose the Rio festival because the crowd sings the guitar parts. I’ve never seen that at any festival. Also, I have played in the US, Canada, Asia and Europe. I have never been to South America. I love to see how different cultures embrace heavy metal. I travel to see shows sometimes, mostly in Canada and the USA, and the metal crowd is still out there.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
You would think this would be a hard question, but surprisingly, it’s very easy for me. In 2002, after recording my first album with Eidolon, A fan contacted me and made me a microphone stand with a pentagram base….. It weighed a ton but I was humbled and overwhelmed by his generous gift. So much that I’m still using that stand today after 23 years! It was and is a great gift, but definitely something I never thought I would get from a fan.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
“THANK YOU!!!!” I cannot and will not ever stop saying that to our existing fans. They say such great things to us, about our albums, our videos, our shows etc!!!! It is such a pleasure to sing for you all and I promise to work my ass off and deliver the best show Phear can do! For those who do not know who we are, give “SAVE OUR SOULS” a listen! You just might like it!!!! Either way, support your favourite bands as much as you can. It’s a hard business these days, and they need all the help they (we) can get!!!!
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Freddie Mercury!!!!!!!!!! Never, ever has there been a singer and entertainer as talented as him. In my humble opinion, one of the greatest frontmen in the history of Rock and Roll. I would be so curious to see what he would be writing at this time. I’d imagine he would have lost a step or 2 but his creativity would have still been off the charts. Never one to shy away from saying what was on his mind, I would be uber curious as to his thoughts on the music industry today and what he thinks of the new musicians currently being played on the radio…..That would be a quote!!!lol
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
The best part of being a musician is I get to tell stories and people seem to like my stories. They don’t always have the same outlook or opinions as I, but it doesn’t seem to bother them much. One of the coolest things is when you write a particular chorus or part and when you perform it live, the audience starts singing your words….. OMG have you heard of a runner’s high?… This is a Singer’s high! There are few greater feelings in the world!
There is not an awful lot of things I hate about being a musician??? I suppose I could complain about lugging gear, or long nights, travelling, but all that seems to be part of the job I LOVE to do. I guess the worst part is parting ways with a bandmate! I hate that! You go into these projects with great intentions but sometimes it just doesn’t work out. It’s hard to be the one who has to tell the other, that it’s time to go. I have had to fire friends in my time in Phear…..and trust me…It sucks!!!!
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
I’m sure everyone would say the shitty pay we get for our art now… We all know that one. To be different, I’m going to say… hmmm… Have you noticed that most of the stars today are 1 person. Taylor Swift, Post Malone, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Billie Eilish etc etc… Bring back the bands! All due respect to these artists but the drummers and guitarists and bassists who are busting their asses every night so these artists can tour… come on. The Beatles, Kiss, Van Halen, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Motörhead, Slayer, Megadeth, Metallica … etc… The bands making all the noise, not the individual!!!
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
Man.. That is so hard because I listen to other genres… but if we are speaking in terms of Metal… The CURRENT album that I can put on and listen to every song over and over again is: “INVINCIBLE SHIELD” (JUDAS PRIEST) ….ask me next week and this may change lol!
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CDs, or Downloads?
Well “best” is a subjective term: Vinyl is best for the collector. Also, it is said that the music has a much warmer sound to it. Cassettes are great for making your own mix of music, but definitely not my choice. CDs work for me. I like to get a physical copy with artwork and lyrics. To me, it’s like a book. I’m used to it and like the feeling in my hands. Downloads (Streaming) is great for convenience. You can get anything you want at any time. I used to think that was amazing BUT… I can remember the feeling I got when I purchased the last CD that I had to stand in line, waiting for the record store to open… Metallica’s “Black Album”. The genuine excitement of running home with it in my hands… the sheer anticipation to hear all the songs … Young music lovers will never know that feeling and that’s a shame!
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
In my opinion, Phear has not played the best gig yet! But, if I had to choose, we had an opportunity to open for Udo Dirkschneider and we were at 7:00 pm. Oh yeah, Welcome to Canada… did I mention that there was an ice storm that night? So, we figured we would be going on to a handful of Metal diehards that night. We walked out on the stage and … OMG the club was packed and this was not a small club… We ripped into our set and clearly that crowd was up for a show. It was electric. It was the first time we played our cover of “Rime of the Ancient Mariner”… The club erupted! Man… what a great show!!!!
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
If I wasn’t a musician, I would be a lighting director or something in the production side of concert performance. As it stands now, I’m in charge of all the live production for Phear. That involves the light selection, lasers, strobes, LED walls, stage layout, smoke, in ear monitors, Co2 cannons etc… All the fun stuff. Not fun to load in or load out though! lol
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Paul McCartney – I would just let him talk and be in awe.
Phil Collins – Also a drummer, who sings a little…..oh yeah, I used to be a drummer
Bruce Dickinson – Probably my most favourite vocalist
Rob Halford – Right up there with Bruce as favourite vocalist
Allyson Wachsberg – My favourite Human!!!
What’s next for the band?
Phear is currently rehearsing to do Live shows starting in the fall. We hope to do as many as possible. Unfortunately, we had to push playing live to the fall because Alex (Metal Threat) Zubair is recovering from surgery and needs this time to heal. He is all good and getting ready to rock the world! During this phase, we will be streaming our rehearsals on appropriate platforms, so you guys can get a backstage glimpse into what’s involved in putting a Phear show together. We will be releasing a Lyric video in March for the song ‘NEW WORLD ERROR’ and a full band video for the song ‘Aftershock’, in May. We will be in discussions for other videos over this time as well. Wait!!!! That’s not all folks… Phear has recorded 4 secret cover tunes to release over the remainder of 2025 as well. We are keeping these tunes a secret until we release them, so keep visiting our socials and website for announcements. And Finally … believe it or not, we have already started writing the next album… Can’t wait!!!!… Can you say HEAVYYYYYYYYY!!!!!
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
All our social media links can be sources on our website: www.phearofficial.com
Time for a very British question now. As an alternative to the humble sandwich, is the correct name for a round piece of bread common in the UK either a Bap, a Barm (or Barm Cake), a Batch, a Bun, a Cob, a Muffin, a Roll, or a Tea Cake?
I’m originally from Nova Scotia, Canada, which is very British, so I’m going to guess the 2 I have heard before down east: Bun and/or Cob.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Thank you for having us today… As much as we thank the fans, we are also very grateful for the journalists, websites, bloggers, influencers… basically yourself and every other press outlet that helps: “Spread the Phear”
It is truly appreciated and again, thank you for helping us share our music around the world!
To the fans… Thank you for reading this, thank you for listening to us, thank you for your support and thank you for your valuable time!!!!
Love and Respect!!!!!!
Patrick Mulock
Phear Lead Vocalist
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