EMQS with Struck/Down
EMQS with Struck/Down
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with UK Modern Groove Metal band, Struck/Down. Huge thanks to their Rhythm Guitarist, Ian Spurrett, 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 Ian Spurrett, and I play rhythm guitar for Struck/Down. The band has been around since 2014, originally as a hard rock outfit. Over the years as we have grown as people and musicians. Our sound has matured into the modern groove metal sound you can hear on our most recent releases. However, we’ve always been driven to deliver some of the best riffs we can write, and the groove has always been there from the very beginning.
How did you come up with your band name?
I wish we could regale you with a great tale, but it’s actually a combination of two different labels from a practice room we used for years. Our vocalist Linden threw them together and there you have it – ‘Struck/Down’ in name was born.
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
We are from Kent in the South East of England. We all live and work around the historical city of Canterbury, with a close knit and thriving local scene. There are a few dedicated venues and promoters who do their utmost to keep the metal and rock scene alive in Kent. One of the things we are blessed to have is an abundance of supremely talented musicians and bands in the area.
What is your latest release?
Our latest release is our second single ‘Nephilim’ from our upcoming EP ‘To Witches’, to be released on the 7th July this year!
Who have been your greatest influences?
As a band, we find common ground from the likes of Mastodon, Gojira, Mastodon and Sylosis. However, as individuals it ranges from member to member. Some of us really like Elton John, some of us enjoy our musicals and some of us enjoy super proggy-modern metal stuff. There’s plenty of crossover between us all!
What first got you into music?
Music is something that I have always been exposed to even from a very young age, influenced by either friends or people I look up to. I think this goes very much the same for the rest of the band. We all love playing our instruments, and we all want to write and share our music with the rest of the world.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
I think we would want to work with Adam Nolly Getgood. He is a music producer who is at the cutting edge of modern metal production, and we all look up to and are inspired by his work. He has also been in the band Periphery who are a band we really enjoy.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
It’s a tough choice, because in the UK and the rest of Europe we have so many amazing festivals. It would probably have to be Wacken Open Air in Germany. The reason we would want to play it is that it simply looks to be an incredible time, and they always nail the lineups for the various stages.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
In the earlier days of Struck/Down, our frontman Linden often took to stage in some colourful, skin tight leggings. Some over eager fans, potentially under the influence of alcohol may have got a bit touchy-feely with him!
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Liking, sharing, commenting and generally engaging with our post on social media really helps. Nowadays, where social media is so prevalent and a deep part of our society, one of the best ways we can reach new fans is by using the likes of Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. It’s just as important as coming to see us play.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Probably Dio. The man had such a powerful, iconic voice and it’s a shame we didn’t get more of that.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
It would have to be the creative side of writing music. Coming up with a slamming riff, making that into a full song and then recording it, sending it off for mixing and mastering and then the release, followed by peoples feedback. It’s such an awesome journey.
Personally, I don’t really hate anything about it. Sometimes the social media aspect and having to constantly create new content and hoping the algorithm picks it up and runs with it can become quite tiring.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
The industry needs to make more room for artists actually receiving pay for their art. It seems like everyone else outside of the artists gets their pay but it’s always the artist that is only just getting by. I’m not sure where or how to start but there needs to be some form of movement.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
Trivium’s ‘Shogun’ album from 2008 would be up there. A masterpiece in songwriting, with some absolutely excellent riffs to boot.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
Nowadays, I’d say downloads and/or streaming. For bands like us trying to make our way up through the underground metal scene, our monthly listens or the number of plays our tracks have on Spotify count for a lot. I personally still love CD’s, and there’s definitely still a place for them in the market.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
It would probably have to be when we played the New Blood Stage at Bloodstock 2021. We came out of the pandemic having not played a gig in about 18 months. We had occasional practices together beforehand, then we went and won our local competition. We had worked so hard during the pandemic to keep the band going and it all paid off.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
It would be different for each individual member. We all have hobbies and passions outside of the band, so I imagine it would be pursuing one of those. For me personally, it would likely be doing something with my history degree or with my other great love apart from music, video games!
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Dave Grohl, Adam Nolly Getgood, Josh Middleton, Troy Sanders and Bill Bailey.
What’s next for the band?
We release our EP on the 7th July and have a launch party the same day. After that we are taking August off from gigging to write the next batch of music to release. Then for the rest of the year we have a number of gigs booked in the UK. Safe to say it’s going to be busy the rest of the year for us!
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
Follow our linktr.ee to find all the links to our socials in one handy place! https://linktr.ee/StruckDown
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?
A roll.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Support your local grassroots venues and bands. That involves going to shows to watch bands and buying their merch. Engage with them on social media by liking/sharing/commenting. All this helps build the incredibly talented UK metal scene.
That includes us! Please check us out on all our socials and come along to a show and see us when we are playing near you. Say hi! Let’s have a drink!
Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, 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.
