UK Rock – Page 2

EMQ’s with CREATURE CREATURE

EMQ’s with CREATURE CREATURE

Hi everyone! Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with Brighton, UK Rock band, Creature Creature. Huge thanks to vocalist, Daniel Scully, 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’s Scully, I play the vocal cords, and am also the lyricist in Creature Creature.

I was doing covers with my guitarist, Zeus, back in 2015. You know, singing Mr Brightside in a pub full of coked up locals with flailing arms and undone shirts. As a songwriter, there’s only so long you can sing other people’s songs before you get itchy feet and we both pretty much said, ‘Fuck this….’ at the same time. Zeus and I had done original songwriting in the past but had never written together before.

I’d recently returned from a trip aboard the Flogging Molly cruise in Miami – basically a few days being wasted in the Caribbean and watching punk rock bands. Folk-punk was really influencing and improving my writing style, so I wanted to root our direction in that. When we formed the band, the early material was very much of the folk-punk sound.

Our violinist had to quit in 2018, and after that we naturally progressed in a much more rock direction. Everything started falling into place in the summer of 2018 when we met Tommy Gleeson who mixed a couple of our songs. He did such a great job that we asked if he would be up for producing our debut album, and he was!

How did you come up with your band name?

We were called 40 Shillings on the Drum between 2015 and 2019, but the loss of much of the folk-punk sound, and because of the huge rock direction our debut album had moved in, at the end of 2019, we decided to rebrand.

Zeus (guitarist), had recently told me a story about how he had watched the 80’s cult-classic ‘Critters’ when he was little and how the creatures had given him nightmares. They used to roll into his room in the dead of night and shoot little spikes at his toes. He swears to this day that he had to pick the spikes out before school most days.

I put the word Creature in with other ideas and when we couldn’t find something to go with it that didn’t sound wank – literally wank as ‘Beat the Creature’ was an option – Seb (keyboard player) suggested just using Creature twice as it’s that cool. Creature Creature was born!

What Country/Region are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?

We’re all from Brighton and its surrounding areas. Brighton has always had an incredible music scene although it has been sad to see the closure of some of the smaller venues in recent years. There is a good underground rock/metal scene in the city and it’s great to see the genre continuing to shine even in a constantly changing musical landscape.

What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)

‘The Early Days’ single is up next. We’re keeping a steady flow of songs coming in the build up to the album release – this is the third single. I think it’s going to show another side to us so am excited to see what people think. It dropped on Friday 19th June.

Who have been your greatest influences?

We have many amongst the band, and I personally have a very wide taste in music so it will always be difficult to pick a couple. I’d say the descriptive style of bands like The Pogues really taught me to look closer at what I write and do my best to make it as interesting as possible. When I first started writing, I’d just scribble down what was in my head and that was it. Now I look closer at each line and think about how I can make it more interesting, adding words to paint a more detailed picture of what the song is about.

I love word play, and have always been a big fan of Eminem, especially his earlier material. I saw an interview with him once where he said that words were like a puzzle to him. How it was always about looking again and again at what he had written, and seeing if there was any more pieces he could fit into it. I think that always resonated with me and I’m finding myself taking that outlook more and more as my songwriting progresses.

What first got you into music?

Love them or hate them, it was Oasis. I wasn’t really into music growing up but then one day my older sister gave me a lift somewhere in her old banger and she had ‘Definitely Maybe’ on her stereo. I was just in awe. I didn’t even know anything about them but something in the songs just spoke to me. A short period of wanting and failing to be Liam Gallagher followed but I’ve got curly hair so that was just never gonna work.

If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?

Right now, I’m really liking what Dave is doing. I watched the Brit Awards with low expectancy and pretty much to just rip the piss out of, and then he came on with this amazing piano led version of ‘Black’. It shut me up and got my full attention. It just shows you don’t need a thousand fucking backing dancers and a Disney-sized light show to make an impact. It was simple, visually stunning and emotionally charged. The performance prompted me to look more at his work. I think a fresh rap and rock combo could be great if done right.

If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?

There are so many great ones, but it’d be Glastonbury for me. I’ve only been once but really enjoyed the vibe and diverse range of artists. It’s a legendary festival and to get up on that stage to show the world what we do is the dream.

What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?

Mine have all been pretty normal – c’mon people, try harder! – but I know our keyboard player, Seb, received something a bit racey. He got the classic underwear through the post. It was a g-string with piano keys on the front and a post-it note saying ‘Play Me’ on the front. Legend has it, he actually tapped on the keys to see if they made a sound!

If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?

If there’s anything you want from life, and you think it’d be impossible to get, be that in music, or whatever your passion is, never give up. It may be cliché but the majority of people who don’t get what they want from life are those that have quit trying. It took me a long, long time to get to this point in my musical career, and whilst I think we’ve still got a long journey ahead, to be on the verge of releasing my band’s debut album is the best feeling. We have only got to this point through hard work and never giving up.

If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?

Kurt Cobain. His ability to speak to a generation through his music was incredible and I’m certain he would have had so much more to give.

What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?

Love gigs and touring. You can’t beat the live experience and not being able to perform during the pandemic has hit myself, the band, and I’m sure, many others, hard. We wrote these songs in a little studio, and whilst it’s great to hear of people enjoying the recordings, it’s when you’re face to face with that enjoyment, standing on a stage and seeing people having the time of their lives, that’s when it’s all worthwhile.

As for hate, being an independent artist, all the background work that no one gets to see. Filling in forms and registering our music, keeping it all up to date etc. I’m boring myself talking about it already! It’s an essential part for any serious artist but I’m hoping one day we can pass the painstaking boredom of it onto some other poor sod.

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

The way some artists treat people. I’m all for confidence, even thinking you’re the best thing in music – I’ve no problem with that. It’s when artists treat people badly, especially fans. Fans are the reason anyone is where they are, and we should always appreciate and make time for them as much as we can.

Name one of your all-time favourite albums?

I have different favourites in many genres depending on my mood, however, one of my most played would probably be “England Keep My Bones” by Frank Turner. It’s probably the album that had me delve more into folk-punk as a genre and definitely helped set me on the path to the songwriter I am today. Although, we ended up losing the majority of the folk-punk sound when recording the album, I think it still shines through in certain aspects of my lyrics and my songwriting is all the better for the inspiration that album gave me.

What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?

They all have their place. It’s cool to have the world’s music at your fingertips with digital streaming and purchases. For me, streaming music is an amazing way to discover music by more unsigned and under the radar artists from around the world. With the best of the best though, I’ll always want a physical copy, and because I’m a sucker for great artwork, I think vinyl wins, and you just can’t beat that sound!

What’s the best gig that you have played to date?

Beautiful Days festival down in Devon. We were only on a small stage, but it was the first major festival we played. We stayed for the whole weekend, got wasted, saw some fucking awesome bands and just had an amazing time. We didn’t have AAA wristbands but still managed to sneak back of main stage to find free beer. We found that beer and whilst enjoying it, bumped into Tommy Gleeson who went on to become the producer of our debut album. Some things are meant to be and occasionally, you’ve got to break some rules to get to them.

If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?

I love film so to be an actor would be pretty cool. Having said that, I’m pretty sure my acting would be shite, so I’d probably just end up as an extra being pushed down the stairs by Phil Mitchell in Eastenders or something!

Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?

Right now, my band – Zeus, Seb, Dave and Matt. I haven’t seen them face to face for two months due to lockdown and I’m used to hanging out with them all the time. They’re my best mates and there’s no one I’d rather be having a dinner party with right now apart from them. As for the spare seat, maybe Gordon fucking Ramsey so he can totally destroy my soul by dissing all the food I’ve prepared for the band.

Having said that, we would probably skip dinner and go straight to party anyway. Eating is cheating.

What’s next for the band?

Debut album release! It’s been a long journey since we recorded it last June, and we’ve been really thankful that we’ve had the release to look forward to through lockdown. This is a huge deal for us as we have all been in different bands before, but none of them ever got to a point where we were in a position to record and release an album.

Two Finger Tantrum’ drops Friday 10th July. Be ready!

What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?

Most of the major ones, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter. We haven’t ventured into Tik Tok yet but I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before Zeus is busting some moves to some shit pop song whilst wearing a bikini. I’m pretty sure he already has an Only Fans account.

You can also visit www.creaturecreature.co.uk for all the latest news and to grab some merch.

Jaffa Cakes! Are they a cake or a biscuit?

Fucking hell, I’m only a mere singer, why don’t you throw one of the ultimate conundrums at me for a final note! Fuck you biscuiteers, it’s a cake. Clue’s in the name!

Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?

Thank you! Just that if you’ve got the time, check out Creature Creature on your favourite streaming service right now rather than later!

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 said party. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.

EMQ’s with THE BIG DIRTY

EMQ’s with THE BIG DIRTY

Hi everyone! Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with Northampton, UK based ‘Sex’ Rock band The Big Dirty. Huge thanks to guitarist C Diddy 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 C Diddy and I play guitar in the band. I joined the guys back in 2017 when they were going through something of a change up in their musical style and direction. They were playing Mariah Carey covers in local care homes, but wanted to move into a sexier direction, so they naturally recruited me. I was the sexiest member in the band too, until our Drummer Tib Tob joined, and started secretly injecting lard into my sandwiches to fatten me up.

How did you come up with your band name?

I think it was inspired by something our singer, Jonny, left in the toilet one day. But that could just be bullshit.

What Country/Region are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?

We are from Northampton in the U.K. There’s some really great music coming out of our town at the moment to be fair. You’ve got the likes of Empyre who are doing really well for themselves and I really like a local band called We Are GIANTS, who have a really big and gnarly sound! The rock fans in Northampton are also very loyal and really supportive. Plus, they love to get crazy drunk and party at gigs!

What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)

We have just released a new single and music video for the song ‘Dirty Rider’. It’s off our upcoming album, “The Sex”, which will be coming out in July. The video is bonkers and involves us riding a mechanical bull! We were heavily drunk when we filmed it and I was surprised no one threw up! I think Jonny did soil himself though…

Who have been your greatest influences?

As a band we’re heavily influenced by the great Sleaze Rock acts from the 80’s, such as Motley Crüe, Twisted Sister and Faster Pussycat, as well as more modern sleaze acts like Steel Panther and Crazy Lixx. We all have our own individual influences too, which has helped mould our sound into a unique mush of flavours. For example, our bassist, J.C, likes a lot of heavier bands, such as He Is Legend and Underoath, whereas I’m quite into modern blues artists like Eric Gales and Kingfish. We’re able to blend these different influences into our song writing and create some really interesting twists and turns in our music.

What first got you into music?

The lure of the Rockstar lifestyle. And also, none of us have the fitness to be footballers.

If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?

Billie Eilish for sure. I love her dark, edgy song writing. It would be really interesting to see what we could come up with together. Also, she’s like mega famous, which would obviously really help spread The Big Dirty name about!

If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?

Download festival would be an awesome one! It’s the biggest rock/metal festival here in the UK and it’s pretty iconic! We’d absolutely love to play there one day!

What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?

We haven’t had any weird gifts as of yet. In fact, we’ve had some pretty awesome gifts so far. We’ve had bottles of Booze, custom made necklaces and bracelets, and even a mould of someone’s penis. Ok, that last one was pretty weird, but it does make a good hat stand.

If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?

Thank you! You’re all awesome and we love you to pieces!

If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?

For me personally, Randy Rhoads.

What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?

I enjoy the buzz of playing live, standing side by side with your best mates and bringing a little joy into people’s lives, just for that brief moment. I hate my bandmates.

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

Streaming is very prevalent at the moment. And it’s a great way for artists to get their music in front of their fans, but I’d like to see higher pay-outs to artists for those streams.

Name one of your all-time favourite albums?

Jonny (Vocals): Andrew W.K. – “I Get Wet”

C Diddy: Ozzy Osbourne – “No More Tears”

Tib Tob: (Drums): Fleetwood Mac – “Rumours”

J.C (Bass): He Is Legend – “White Bat”

What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?

They all have their own place, and their own pros and cons. Whatever the individual listener prefers. It’s up to them. As artists we just have to cater to all these distribution methods and try to adapt to what’s the most popular at the time.

What’s the best gig that you have played to date?

We played a Halloween gig last year at one of Northampton’s most iconic rock venues. It was absolutely bonkers! We do this thing at gigs where we fill up a super soaker with whiskey (we call it The Whiskey Pistol) and spray it into the mouths of anyone in the crowd that wants it. Let’s just say we had a lot of drunk fans that evening…and a very messy floor.

If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?

I think we’d all probably be working in bars and drinking a few shots of scotch while the manager goes out for an hour-long cigarette break. We’d be the managers of the bar I think.

Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?

Beethoven, Marilyn Manson, Eva Green, Tim Burton, Dwayne Johnson!

What’s next for the band?

We’ve got another couple of singles coming out followed by our debut album, which we’re really excited to get out there! We’re gonna do as much as we can during the COVID-19 crisis to keep people’s spirits up and as soon as we’re able to we’ll be getting back to gigging and meeting all our awesome fans, who are known as ‘The Dirty Berties.’

What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?

We have our music on all the usual streaming sites and we also sell physical copies of our music at gigs and online. We utilise Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for connecting and engaging with our fans. Twitter seems to be the best for us at the moment. So, if you’re on social media feel free to come say hi! We love chatting with everyone and we’ve made some awesome friendships through it! Our handle is @bigdirtyrock on all our social media accounts.

Jaffa Cakes? Are they a cake or a biscuit?

Have you ever tried a Jaffa Cake soaked in Whiskey? Then they’re a bit like a soggy biscuit. Tib Tob loves those.

Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?

Thanks to you guys for chatting with us! It’s been a blast! I’d also like to say that our number one fan Russ, is awesome! He has a massive…heart…and penis.

EMQ’s with UGLY CLINIC

EMQ’s with UGLY CLINIC

Hi everyone! Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with Aberdeen, Scotland based Rock/Punk band Ugly Clinic. Huge thanks to guitarist Pete 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?

I’m Pete the Riff, I play guitar in Ugly Clinic, and we are a rock and roll band. I already knew Bass player Davie X previously; we were both in a punk rock covers band. Richard (lead Guitar), Jed (drums) and Chloe (vocals) were recruited specially for Ugly Clinic because they are great musicians and they have the required rock n’ roll attitude!

How did you come up with your band name?

The name Ugly Clinic comes from an old Judge Dredd story in 2000AD comic. It’s the opposite of a beauty parlour, people go there to deliberately get ugly! As we generally despise all forms of bland, manufactured pretty-boy pop music, the name resonated with us.

What country are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?

We come from Aberdeenshire in the North of Scotland, which is quite a remote area, far away from London. Aberdeen is a college town with two universities, so there are a lot of young, creative people around. It’s a lovely place in the summer, but it’s cold and gloomy in the winter. I think because we are so far away from everywhere else, we aren’t so influenced by whatever the music industry decides to push as the latest trend, and people tend to pick their own style and stick with it. There’s a long Heavy Metal and Rock tradition in this part of the world, and a few decent bars and clubs to play in. In a lot of respects, it’s a bit like Seattle, but with less people!

What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)

Our new single is called ‘Hot Knife’ and is available on all major download platforms now. We will be releasing more tunes from our debut album throughout the rest of this year.

Who have been your greatest influences?

We don’t copy anybody, or any specific era or genre. As a group of individuals, our personal tastes tend towards the Punk/Metal/Classic Rock/Goth. Our biggest influences are bands like The Damned, The Clash, Motorhead, AC/DC, Blondie, Pink, Buzzcocks, Hanoi Rocks.

What first got you into music?

At around age 15, it was listening to two albums that a friend of mine’s older brother had in his collection. The Ramones ‘’It’s Alive’’ and The Damned ‘’Machine Gun Etiquette’’. One live album, one studio. Both brilliant in their own way. We played them to death, and formed our own band soon after.

If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?

Captain Sensible from The Damned. Brilliant songwriter and a criminally under-rated guitar player.

If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?

For me, it has to be Glastonbury. I’ve been before as a fan, and just loved it. The atmosphere is truly unique, and the line-ups are so eclectic there’s something for everyone.

What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?

A broken wah-wah pedal. I have no idea why.

If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?

Don’t be a cynic – join the Ugly Clinic!

If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?

I wouldn’t do that. Coronavirus is bad enough; we don’t want a zombie outbreak on top of it.

What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?

I enjoy recording in the studio, I find it very rewarding building tracks up from nothing into the finished article. The worst thing is hanging around waiting to play before gigs.

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

I would make boy bands illegal.

Name one of your all-time favourite albums?

Television – “Marquee Moon”. I love the way Tom Verlaine plays guitar.

What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?

Vinyl without a doubt. Best sound reproduction and best format for artwork too. I love the smell of fresh vinyl in the morning!

What’s the best gig that you have played to date?

The Market Bar in Inverness. It’s tiny, like playing in someone’s front room. But the crowd are usually well up for it.

If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?

Prime Minister. I could probably manage that. Boris can do it, so how hard can it be?

Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?

Churchill, Keith Moon, Harry Flashman, Socrates (the Brazilian footballer, not the philosopher) and Alexander the Great.

What’s next for the band?

We’ve already started making demos for Album number 2, and hopefully a whole lot of gigs once we are allowed to venture outside again.

What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?

We are on Facebook and Instagram, and our music is available on all major download and streaming platforms.
www.facebook.com/uglyclinic/
www.instagram.com/ugly_clinic/

Jaffa Cakes? Are they a cake or a biscuit?

Definitely a cake. The manufacturers went to a tax tribunal in 1991 to prove it. Also, the word biscuit comes from the Italian ‘’biscotti’, which in English means ‘’twice-cooked’’. Biscotti are supposed to be hard, and Jaffa cakes aren’t.

Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?

Beware of false biscuits passing themselves off as cakes!

EMQ’s with FERAL SUN

EMQ’s with FERAL SUN

Hi everyone! Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with London, UK based Rock/Metal band, Feral Sun. Huge thanks to guitarist/vocalist, Mick Burns 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?

Hi… I’m Mick Burns from Feral Sun and we play a mixture of Rock / Heavy Rock / Metal. Feral Sun Originates from Pretoria, South Africa but quickly found its way to London, UK. Since the release of our Debut album “Evacuate”, which brought us on to many Headline and support shows around the UK, we have on tour with The Mighty Skindred, were Main support to Puddle Of Muddas well as main support to one of South Africa’s “biggest” Rock bands Prime Circle.

How did you come up with your band name?

My first band in South Africa, which went by the name of “Wild Child”, had started out as a “Pearl Jam meets Incubus” kind of sound. It moved towards a heavier sound and we then felt that the name did not suit the band anymore and needed to change. I managed to find a dictionary, to find other words for “wild”, and found “feral”. Feral Child did not sound right lol! So, thinking back to many fans saying that our music had a lot of energy, I thought …what has more energy than the sun? … boom… Feral Sun was born!

What Country/Region are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?

Well as mentioned, I am from South Africa and I have now been away for 16 years. The scene back then was decent, and some really good bands were making a lot of noise around the country. One band in particular “Saron Gas” made a huge success by getting signed in the US and went on to change their name to SEETHER. I have been keeping track of the scene in South Africa from here in London, and it still looks pretty much alive over there. One of my dreams is to Bring Feral Sun back to South Africa for a “Back to the Roots” tour…watch this space!

What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)

‘Blame’ is the first of three Single’s we aim to release over the next few months.

Who have been your greatest influences?

Well for me personally, it will have to be Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Stone Sour and Breaking Benjamin but, adding in a few from the rest of the guys in the band, there is Rage Against The Machine, Black Sabbath, Disturbed and more.

What first got you into music?

I have my brother to thank for that, as he got me listening to a variety of music when I was younger. Pink Floyd, Rodriguez, REM, Queen and more became bands and songs I would sing along to on a daily basis. Once I got into my Teens, Nirvana came on the scene and from that moment I got interested in playing guitar, then song writing, and then finally starting a band.

If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?

As much as I would like to say Pearl Jam, I think musically now with Feral Sun’s sound, and the fact that I love their music just as much, it would be mind-blowing to collaborate with the awesome Alter Bridge \m/.

If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?

Wow… there are few to choose from but, I guess like most Rock/Metal bands, it will have to be Download. The festival has a long history of incredible bands that have inspired so many and I guess it’s one to add to the “bucket list” as such, and add your name to the list of bands to have graced the stages at Download.

What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?

Not sure I’ve received a weird gift as yet, maybe I’m doing something wrong lol! But I did once have a fan bring a Cake to a venue for my birthday, which was an absolute surprise and awesome indeed!

If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?

Well with all the craziness in the world at the moment, life can be tough! No matter how hard it gets, be sure to know that there is always someone ready to listen. As per the lyrics on ‘Find a Way’ – the first track on our debut album, “When life brings me down, I can’t find my way out…in time… I seem to find a way”

If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?

That is another tough question as there are a few but, I would say Chris Cornell.

What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?

To be honest it’s the full package! I love writing, Recording, playing live, meeting new people and the occasional shenanigans.

I hate the nasty side of the Music industry, with some very dodgy people using bands for their personal gain, and in turn quite often destroying their soul and the love of music.

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

To completely ban all Tout sites from ever selling tickets and give fans a fair chance of getting to see their favourite band’s at reasonable prices.

Name one of your all-time favourite albums?

Pearl Jam – “TEN”

What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?

Downloads made listening easier but I’m a bit old school and prefer CD’s.

What’s the best gig that you have played to date?

Supporting Prime Circle at the O2 Academy Islington most definitely! Everything was amazing, from playing a great set in front of a full house, having my family there, including my son who got to come backstage and was in his element, meeting South African Rugby legend Schalk Burger backstage, and of course finally meeting the awesome guys in Prime Circle, who are some of the nicest people we have ever had the pleasure of sharing a stage with.

If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?

I would probably be a music photographer and/or designer of artwork for bands and hopefully travel to various parts of the world.

Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?

Shaun Morgan (Seether), Mark Tremonti (Alter Bridge), Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam), Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters), Corey Taylor (Slipknot/Stone Sour).

What’s next for the band?

Releasing new Music singles and working towards a possible album, getting back on the road and playing as many shows, tours and festivals and a Possible Festival and mini tour in the USA and more.

What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?

www.facebook.com/feralsun
www.youtube.com/feralsunrock
www.soundcloud.com/feralsun
www.feralsun.bandcamp.com/album/evacuate
www.instagram.com/feral_sun/
www.twitter.com/feralsun

Jaffa Cakes? Are they a cake or a biscuit?

Cake in biscuit form.

Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?

Really appreciate your support and would like to thank all our fans, friends and families for believing in us and supporting us all the way. We can’t wait to hear what you all think of our new tracks and we look forward to seeing you at one of our shows very soon.

Matt Jones/Twisted Illusion – Live From The Flat

Matt Jones/Twisted Illusion – Live From The Flat
Somewhere in Manchester
20/03/2020
Review By Beth Jones

So… Its been a week since ‘THE EVENT’ really took hold in the UK. We are listening to Mitchell & Webb’s advice of ‘REMAIN INDOORS’ (if you’re not up on British comedy, google it). The kids are now off school indefinitely, and the only way to stop cabin fever setting in is going to be alcohol and live streams! The first of our live streams was to be the heart, soul, and lifeblood of Twisted Illusion; main man, Matt Jones. As with any other muso at this time, shit is difficult. Gigs cancelled, festivals postponed, merch sales unlikely, the future uncertain, livelihoods in the balance, and the ability to do what musos live for – performing live to a room full of people – curtailed for god knows how long. Times are bleak, but our community is two things – caring and resourceful. And to that end, we’ll pull together and get involved, right? It was also Matt’s birthday, so all the more reason to tune in and show our support.

If anybody has experienced Matt Jones and Twisted Illusion before, you’ll know that he is one talented guy, but this is unchartered waters for all of us. This is up close and personal, with nowhere to hide, just Matt, in his flat, with a guitar, a mic, and the lovely Hannah reading out the comments and requests from the gathered ‘watchers’ on Facebook. To that end, I have to commend Matt on his absolute stalwart tenacity to bring music to the people, by whatever means. This was his soul, right here on our tablets, or smart phones or TV, and it was a great and, if I’m honest, an emotional thing to witness. Yes, it was rough around the edges, yes it wasn’t the same as watching it in a bar or venue, yes it’s all a bit weird for everyone, but adopt, adapt and improve, right? (thanks for the quote John Cleese).

Matt has produced some amazing covers recently, which have been posted on Youtube, and he was taking requests for this performance! My favourite of his covers so far has been Jeff Buckley’s ‘Hallelujah’. He performed it at my birthday back in December, and obviously I requested it again for this gig. And again, he delivered the goods, and choked me up in the process. It’s been a fairly emotional couple of weeks for everyone to be fair, but this really hit me in the feels. He also covered Ace of Spades superbly and hit us with a bit of the Tenacious D classic, ‘Tribute’, too, which is always a crowd pleaser!

The covers were interspersed with some TI songs too, which really is what Matt does best. His song-writing imagination is huge, and he has come up with some masterpieces that deserve more recognition than they get. I would recommend everybody check them out. If you like proggy hard rock/classic metal sounds, or anything Devin Townsend has ever done, you’ll like Twisted Illusion.

This show was definitely an experiment and ‘dipping toes in the water’ for Matt, yes he’s done live noodling before, but not a live streamed show of any formality. There wasn’t a set list, there was a lot of half songs and banter, it wasn’t the professional production that we’d see from a ‘bigger band’, but that made it endearing and real.

Whilst it wasn’t perfect, it was a great start in this new field of bringing music to the people. He started to look more comfortable as it went along, and this was definitely the biggest crowd he has pulled and sustained in a live stream to date. Who knows how long this way of delivering live music will be for, but I sincerely hope that Matt and Twisted Illusion are a big part of that. You can catch the next live stream from him on Friday 27th March 2020 by clicking on this event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/614868202435132/ Be sure to tune in!

LINKS:
www.facebook.com/OfficialTIband/
www.twitter.com/officialtiband
www.twistedillusion.bigcartel.com/
www.twistedillusion.bandcamp.com/
www.youtube.com/channel/UCK0IxAnfXG7ibOx4HUyOHQQ
www.open.spotify.com/artist/2ieaLzCnFgOvKhImBVWp0P

Disclaimer: This review and photograph is solely the property of Beth Jones and 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.

EMQs with Blame The Sacred

EMQ’s with BLAME THE SACRED

Hi everyone! Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with UK Rock band, Blame The Sacred. Huge thanks to guitarist Kriss Rayner 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?

Kriss Rayner, guitarist of Blame the Sacred. The band, in its current form, is around 10 months old. I’ve known Scott a while and was aware he had this band going, and kind of worked my way in! At that time, I’d been scorned too many times by bands I’ve been in, so I had no intention of anything other than jamming and just having a social thing to do each week. Funny how, when you stop looking for something, it finds you. They instantly liked the idea of having two guitars when me and Andy started adding layers to their existing material. Bassists were a bit of an issue at the time, commitment wise. At that point, Wez’s band were on a bit of a hiatus, and I knew he was missing performing. I had a chat with him on a few occasions and when things were right for him, he came down. Instant chemistry. Wez liked the music, and the direction we wanted to go, so everything came together. Material ideas and concepts just came really quickly and easily.

How did you come up with your band name?

There’s no elaborate story behind it, I’m told Scott, Andy and Danny just sat down and threw some words about and that stuck!

What Region/Country are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?

We’re from Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Donny has always had a decent scene and has always had small venues to support this (The leopard, Hallcross, Vintage rockbar etc), but I always felt like the bands kinda ride the coattails of bands from Sheffield. I look at Sheffield bands and there’s a lot of pioneer bands or innovators from there, and those new genres filter to the surrounding areas like Doncaster. That’s not to say I think we’re pioneers of a new genre.

What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)

Our latest EP “The Path” is due for release on 27th March on all formats. There will be a new music video to accompany one of the tracks from it. However, you can still find our previous single, ‘Edge of Tomorrow’, on all music download platforms, as well as the music video for it either on YouTube or Facebook.

Who have been your greatest influences?

I grew up on bands like Queen, Free and Dire Straits, but didn’t really understand or find “rock music” until I was about 12. My tastes over the past 20 years have fluctuated and, although I’ve always leant towards bluesy styles, at the minute I’m more on the heavier side. What draws me to a band is if they’re serious about what they’re playing, and that the music is real and not pretentious in anyway. What influences me in what I do with Blame are artists like Alice in Chains, Stone Sour, Alter Bridge and While She Sleeps.

What first got you into music?

It’s always been there from what my parents used to listen to but, when I started skate boarding, it was the music in the videos that made me start exploring bands. My best friend back then would download all these different bands, (as I didn’t have the internet) and we’d just listen to all sorts. I remember hearing ‘All the Small Things’ by Blink 182 on the radio, and it just had that real Americana feel. Then there was Limp Bizkit, who I still love today.

If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?

Personally, I’d love to do something with Eminem or Jerry Cantrell, they’re the dream. But more realistically I’d love to have the guys in While She Sleeps produce a record. We’ve also briefly mentioned the idea of doing something with the guys in (fellow forged band) Shadow Smile. I’d love to co-write a song with another band that we’d perform together.

If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?

Tough one! I’m not really a festival person, it’d have to be something in the UK though. I guess Download.

What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?

I don’t think I’ve ever received a gift from a fan. I don’t think I’ve ever had a fan 😂!

If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?

Stick with us! The chemistry is established now and the material is coming fast and is great.

If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?

For one concert it’d be Freddie Mercury, to have his time again it’d be Chris Cornell, that one really sucked when he went. And I’d love to know what Alice in Chains would be like if Layne was still here.

What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?

I love the creative process, writing and structuring a song. And recording, I love the studio and putting something down that’s forever.

What I hate is packing up after a gig and driving back late at night!

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

That a band has to be already established before any record company will entertain them. I understand it’s all a business machine, but wouldn’t it be great if you could just send them a cd and they judge you solely on your ability to write music.

Name one of your all-time favourite albums?

My top go to album is probably the first Audioslave album, for me it’s perfect. It takes me away to somewhere else when I listen to it. It’s like it was written for a film that’s yet to be made.

What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?

I like CD because you get a quality product as well as getting the sleeve and artwork, and they’re easily transportable.

What’s the best gig that you have played to date?

Our opening slot for Blackwater Conspiracy, at Sheffield Corporation last November. I think it was our fourth gig, and it’s the one where we settled the most, and played the best as a band. And the crowd were great, as were the Blackwater boys. Top lads!

If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?

It’d be something creative and artsy. Some form of design, maybe photography or videography.

Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?

Slash, Jerry Cantrell, Barack Obama, Eminem and Dick Strawbridge.

What’s next for the band?

Writing is ongoing, being with four other likeminded people makes it hard to not come up with material. There’s talk on maybe another recording before the year’s out, and then doing more of the right gigs for us and just keep growing.

What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?

Just all the usual Facebook Instagram iTunes Spotify etc. But I have to say Scott deals with most of this I’m not great with the technology side of things!

https://www.facebook.com/blamethesacred/
https://www.instagram.com/blamethesacredofficial https://twitter.com/blamethesacred https://open.spotify.com/artist/2sPzAQme1p2wiLbuPOx7SQ
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw2MLmw2a_llQsRBQQ9UWBQ

Jaffa Cakes? Are they a cake or a biscuit?

Me and Danny say, and rightly so, biscuit, because they’re in the biscuit aisle, and for some other legitimate chef reason Danny has. The other lads say cake, but they’re frequently wrong about most things!

Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?

If you like what we do, please support us by buying our music and merch. Unfortunately for most bands, revenue from merch and music sales is their biggest source of income. Without it, we can’t release more, so it really does go a long way and is massively appreciated ✌🏻

Bloodstock M2TM North Wales, Heat 1 – 29/02/20

Bloodstock M2TM 2020 – North Wales, Heat 1
Mcleans, Pentre 29/02/2020
Review & Pictures by Beth Jones

I need a serious chat with whoever controls time, because somehow M2TM 2019 was a whole year ago and here we are, at the 2020 heat stages already!

Whilst time may have disappeared, what hasn’t is the amount of new, young talent that is popping up all over the underground scene at the moment, and it’s events like this that gives the cream of those bands the opportunity to make it to the hallowed stages of the larger grassroots festivals. This year’s North Wales heats are shaping up to be an eclectic mix of styles, and I get the feeling that choosing the eventual winner is going to be tougher than ever, given the talent on offer.

With that in mind, we got our big coats out to battle yet another oncoming storm, and headed over to our now ‘local’, Mclean’s pub in Pentre, for Heat 1. Only three bands were set to play, two of which would be going through to the semi-final stage. With the crowd assembled, drinks (or in my case, cameras) in hand, and after a quick recap of the rules from our master of ceremony Ian ‘Beany’ North, we were all set for the first performance.

Cry For Mercy

These guys were one of our hot favourites in last year’s competition, narrowly missing out on a place in the final, and if you’ve read any of our recent live reviews on Ever Metal, you’ll know that we really rather like them! Sadly, the band’s drummer, Steven Taylor, was unable to play after having surgery on his wrist earlier in the week. But they had a stand in on hand, in the shape of Bassist/vocalist Kev Plant’s son, Aled. This however did not detract from their performance. They were, as ever, tight and well-rehearsed, with Aled’s drumming carrying the groove perfectly – he’s an awesome little drummer, and really should consider getting in a band himself! Whilst they’re not ‘Metal’ as such, they’re extremely talented guys who deliver a crunchy, groove based heavy rock sound, and they do it with ease, which makes them very endearing. They’re also incredibly humble, with nothing they do on stage being an ‘act’. What you see is what you get, and that is bloody good, solid hard rock, with this performance being a perfect example.

https://www.facebook.com/cryformercyofficial/

Mad Spanner

We were taken from the ‘sublime to the Cor Blimey’ next, with another firm favourite of ours, Mad Spanner. There are no words that adequately describe the sheer lunacy involved in a Mad Spanner performance. The best I can do is this; imagine the chase scenes from old silent movies, only with more hair, more pulling of silly faces, punk/thrash rhythms and zany observational comedy lyrics, complimented by insanely fast and loud guitar and bass. If a tornado was musical, it would be like this. In fact, I’d like to pigeonhole Mad Spanner in a whole new genre, just for them – Tornado Metal! Bassist and front man, Michael Randall, is mad as a box of frogs, and spent the entire performance with a maniacal look of a man possessed flashing in his eyes. He flew around the stage like a runaway balloon, and how he managed to survive unharmed is a mystery. Coupled with the crazy guitar of Dan Ashley, and the metronomic drums of Ben Codd, it made for a highly entertaining performance. How Ben doesn’t end up with repetitive strain is beyond me, but at least the drum kit does provide some protection from Michael’s craziness! Dan, however, is always in the firing line – a brave choice! They performed their debut album in its entirety here, as it has a running time that slotted nicely into the 30 minutes allowed set time. Crazy, fun, and again very, very good!

https://www.facebook.com/MadSpanner/

White Mammoth

Our final band of the evening were White Mammoth. We’d seen them a couple of years ago in Chester for the Mammothfest ‘battle of the bands’ competition, and if I’m honest, they hadn’t really grabbed me then, but I was interested to see them again, to find out if they’d made progress. The answer to that question is, in a word, YES!! Continuing the showcase of ‘completely different genres’ theme, these guys deliver a huge hit of modern progressive metal, and they now do that very well indeed. Littered with cross rhythms and complicated bass and guitar riffs, they took us through a very intense and involved set, culminating with what is, in my opinion, and absolute masterpiece of a tune, during which I went into some sort of trance, completely fixated on the skills of each member of the band. The song was called ‘Naivety of Perception’ and is going to be released soon as a single, so look out for it if you like heavy prog! They embellished their music with a selection of samples, which I felt worked really well, giving their sound extra depth. My only criticism of them is, due to all the insane musicality they have going on, the vocals have a tendency to get lost in the mix and could do with a bit of a boost. The vocalist has an unusual tone, and it is a shame that it can’t always be heard as well as it should be – his screams came through, but some of the quieter stuff didn’t.

https://www.facebook.com/WhiteMammothBand/

And that, as they say, was that! With all three performances done, it was time to vote. One band would be picked by the audience vote, and one by our judges – John Matthews from Phoenix Rising, Dani Maguire from Powerzone, and Beany. I have to say I found my audience vote a very difficult decision, as I enjoyed all three performances equally. Eventually I went with my gut, voting for the band that I not only found most improved, but also that really reached into my musical soul – White Mammoth (sorry Cry For Mercy and Mad Spanner – I still love you, but I’m a sucker for prog!).

After a short break for the judges to deliberate, it was results time! The gathered crowed, which was a good size given the location, and the horrendous weather, collected by the stage in readiness for Beany’s announcement. After the preamble we have become accustomed with Beany, he gave us the result of the audience vote – Cry For Mercy! The Look of shock and amazement on the face of Kev Plant told the story of the night, and just how tough the competition was, but what makes Cry For Mercy so endearing to us had obviously been felt by the entire crowd. They’re very worthy winners of their place in the Semi-Finals. The second successful act, as voted for by the judges, based not only on musicality and talent, but also on their stage performance and presence, was Mad Spanner. This was met with a lot of jumping about and cheering, not least from Michael Randall!

With that, the first heat was over. A massive congratulations to Cry For Mercy and Mad Spanner – both well deserved. But huge commiserations to White Mammoth, who managed the even bigger feat of leaving me speechless for a good few minutes! What I’d say to them is get that vocal mix sorted in the next month! Ian ‘Fozzy’ Forrester, the legend and head honcho at NEW Metal Productions, gets to pick two ‘wildcard’ entries from the bands that get knocked out in the heats, and I would say, with that little tweak made, White Mammoth should be up for consideration, based on their performance.

A huge thank you again to Ian ‘Beany’ North and Ian ‘Fozzy’ Forrester for their tireless efforts and hard work bringing us spectacular gigs all year round. The scene round here would be dead without them. A massive thanks to all the bands, fans, judges and to the venue too, as without you, music on the whole would be dead. Next up – Heat 2! Bring it on!

LINKS:

https://www.facebook.com/N.E.WMetalProductions/
https://www.facebook.com/bloodstock/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/m2tmofficial/
https://www.facebook.com/Powerzonemetal/
https://www.facebook.com/phoenixrisingrocks/

Disclaimer: This review and photographs are solely the property of Beth Jones and 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.

Pentre Fest 2020 – Day 1 21/02/20 – Cry For Mercy

Disclaimer: This photo album is solely the property of Beth Jones. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of these images, unless you have the strict permission of said party. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.

Collateral – ‘Collateral’

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Collateral – ‘Collateral’
Roulette Media Records / Cargo Records UK
Release Date: 21/02/2020
Running Time: 34:35
Reviewed By Paul Monkhouse
8/10

The rock scene has seemingly never looked healthier and 2019 has seen some absolutely incredible new albums emerge this year. This trend looks to continue well into 2020 with the release firstly of the Anchor Lane debut album and this, the first full length offering by Kent four-piece Collateral in February. Already making a big impression on UK and global audiences with slots at Camden Rocks, Ramblin’ Man and an appearance alongside Jon Bon Jovi, these South East rockers are amongst the most hotly tipped bands for future superstardom and this self-titled release shows exactly why they’re getting so much attention.
The songs on the album are huge and have such lofty ambitions to be played in stadiums but, unlike many who have come before, their strongest weapon in the fight is their talent and drive to succeed. Despite all the big, singalong anthems and flamboyant image, it’s not all empty glamour and glitz as beneath the noise and gleaming chrome of the surface lies a real blue-collar heart and recaptures the spirit of when Bon Jovi and their ilk were at their peak.
The album kicks off with the single ‘Mr. Big Shot’ and it’s a giant slab of commercial hard rock that mixes in some really 80’s elements ranging from classic American AOR to some almost New Romantic undertones and a pinch of ELO. Full of great guitar work from Todd Winger and epic vocals by Angelo Tristan, the track drips with tongue in cheek innuendos and a huge sense of a band having a ball in the studio. More monster riffing and vast melodies power along paeon to the modern music industry ‘Promiseland’, it sounds like the sleazy lovechild of AC/DC and, should have been huge, USA rock legends Giant as it snarls and purrs, leading to a superb solo by Winger. The band dust off their cowboy boots as the Southern Rock feel of ‘Merry Go Round’ brings images of swirling dust devils and shimmering desert heat to mind as they effortlessly turn their home county ‘Garden of England’ into the American Midwest. Close your eyes and you can feel the sun beating down and the dry mouthed feel that is desperate to be administered an ice-cold beer. Without doubt, one of the greatest strengths of the band is to conjure up that sense of time and place in a very tangible way, transporting you to a time when hair was big, and choruses were even bigger. This is no aping of the classic bands of that era but a contemporary take on the type of rock music that made Bon Jovi et al kings of stadiums, the production by Sean M Kenny bringing out the best in the material whilst giving it a thoroughly modern sheen.
‘In it for Love’ exemplifies this approach as it perfectly balances the pounding rock driven by rhythm section Ben Atkinson on drums and Jack Bentley-Smith’s bass alongside such a great, dynamic song that will have you singing along in no time. With its instantly catchy “woooh oooh oooh” gang vocals during the chorus and another fret blazing solo ‘Lullaby’ has already become a live favourite and should be blaring out of every car radio across the Atlantic, such is its perfect suitability for the American market.
Also finding its main inspiration the other side of the ‘pond’ is ‘Midnight Queen’, the band tilting their Stetsons to a more AOR meets Country Rock feel that sounds like it might have been written by Richard Marx and Vince Gill, the opening line the name of a huge hit that Marx wrote for Vixen and it shares that same sense of space, the focus on the songwriting, not the flash.
Those waiting for the heartfelt power ballad won’t be disappointed as ‘Get Back to You’ ticks all the right boxes, Tristan pouring his heart out as he longs to return home whilst the song proves it’s more about quality and quiet than drama school overemphasis.
Having stated their love for the aforementioned Mr. Jovi, the band expressed their intent to write something that captured the spirit of tracks like ‘Always’ and this certainly will see a sea of mobile phone lights (nobody is allowed lighters at gigs these days) held aloft in tribute. The pace picks up once again in the spot on, commercial pop rock of ‘Won’t Stop Me Dreaming’, a song that contains a tough streak of steely determination laced through its supremely candy coated and instantly addictive shell. The album ends with ‘About this Boy’, another country tinged track that once more heads more to the massive and lucrative Nashville scene than the heavier end of their material. Whilst a meatier number may have been more fitting, the song is still imbued with that Transatlantic feel that may well find the band gaining ground both in their home country and in the United States given the growing market here and the already titanic base there. Always doing things their way, Collateral continue to push forward, and this album shows just how far they’ve grown and where they’re heading. The stadiums of the world are beckoning.
Track Listing:
1 Mr Big Shot
2 Promised Land
3 Merry Go Round
4 In It For Love
5 Lullaby
6 Midnight Queen
7 Get Back To You
8 Won’t Stop Me Dreaming
9 About This Boy
Links:
https://www.collateralofficial.com/
https://www.facebook.com/collateralrocks/
Tweets by collateralrocks
https://www.instagram.com/collateralrocks/

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Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Paul Monkhouse and 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.

EMQ’s with HER DESPAIR

EMQ’s with HER DESPAIR

Hi Everyone. Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with London based Gothic Rock band Her Despair! Huge thanks to Vocalist ‘J’ 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 are HER DESPAIR – a six piece gothic rock band based near London UK, formed 2015. We comprise of myself, J, singing, Dan and Jord playing guitars, Vikki on bass, Lee behind the drums and Toby on keyboards. In 2015 we released our debut album “Hymns For the Hopeless,” followed by 2018’s “Mournography” EP. November 22nd of this year saw our most exciting release yet – “Exorcisms of Eroticism.”
How did you come up with your band name?
Originally it was going to be Tears of Heaven, then As She Drowns in Her Despair, but that felt quite lengthy. It was shortened to HER DESPAIR, and that felt right as an overall title for what I was attempting to achieve.
What country are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?
We’re from the UK and there’s a great scene here, with plenty of bands on both an underground and “mainstream” level. We’ve found that people in the North respond to us particularly well, where there’s a very strong Goth scene.
What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single or Video)
“Exorcisms of Eroticism” was released on 22nd November, and we’re really looking forward to sharing it with the assembled congregation. The release is the dark and dramatic collection of six new gothic rock anthems from HER DESPAIR. Designed to unravel the mysteries of the theologic and the erotic, each song is set to a storm of symphonic instrumentation; providing the perfect soundtrack for your sorrows.
There are two songs available online now entitled ‘Pandaemonium’ and ‘The Exorcism’ (which includes a superb accompanying music video directed and filmed by Scott Chalmers), both of which came as instant downloads upon pre-ordering the release from our Bandcamp.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Clqrj6rftJA
Who have been your greatest influences?
Our greatest influence are the Sisters of Mercy, with other particularly inspirational artists being Rammstein, HIM, My Dying Bride, Staind and so on.
What first got you into music?
I grew up listening to my parents vinyl collection so I’ve always been surrounded by music. Many of those artists I still listen to frequently today – Elvis, Meat Loaf, Led Zeppelin, Abba and many more. I began to discover my own taste in music from the age of about 12, first getting into 2000’s metal and then branching off into far darker territories after I discovered Goth music.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
It would have to be Andrew Eldritch from the Sisters of Mercy. Always the inspiration!
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
There are some amazing goth festivals within Europe that we would love the opportunity to play, such as M’era Luna or Wave-Gotik-Treffen. We’re very much looking to branch out in 2020, so performances such as those would be very high on our wish list.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
We love you eternally – the best is soon to come…
If you could bring one Metal/Rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Pete Steele from Type O Negative or David Gold from Woods of Ypres!
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
I love the songwriting process, and hearing the idea gradually become the reality in the form of a full song. It’s cathartic, and also very exciting to compose new material and see where the creativity takes you. I can’t necessarily think of much that I hate, but sometimes the long journeys can test my sense of humour.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
The fairly limited experience I’ve had of it so far hasn’t been so bad. Having said that, the individuals who seem to care nothing of the art but only the money could take themselves elsewhere, and that might be a good change.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
“Floodland” by the Sisters of Mercy
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
Vinyl for the art and crackle, CD’s for a simpler collection, streaming for convenience.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
Personally, I think our best show was Darker Days Festival earlier this year. A fantastic event all round, and we got an incredible response from the audience.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
I like to think something creative still, maybe writing a book.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Andrew Eldritch, Jim Morrison, Pierce Brosnan, Bram Stoker, Jesus Christ
What’s next for the band?
Our main focus right now is the release of “Exorcisms of Eroticism.” The plan for 2020 has yet to be revealed, but all will become clear soon. I’ve started putting a few ideas together for some more new songs, so who knows what may come.
What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
Our main website is Bandcamp, where we sell our music in both physical and digital formats, plus our merchandise. Socially we use Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube, plus a few others such as Soundcloud. We love interacting with fans online, their messages of support are always appreciated.
https://herdespair.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/herdespair/
https://twitter.com/herdespairband
https://www.instagram.com/herdespairband/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVZhKFjVsq1Wpbruy-dryuw
Jaffa Cakes? Are they a cake or a biscuit?
Biscuit!
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Thanks for the questions and the coverage!! “Exorcisms of Eroticism” is out NOW and is our best release yet. We thoroughly hope you enjoy how dramatic it is.

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 said party. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.