Can you tell us about the origin of the band name, a history of the band and a little bit about the various members?

The band name is taken from the song Blood Rust by the Haunted from their self titled debut album. Fantastic song, album and a solid band. I tried to use the name for a project I was involved in back in 2009 but we choose something else. I decided to use the name for my project as I had moved to Germany. I demoed a few songs but nothing came of it until 2020 when I decided to resurrect the project and write some music. The band is in reality just me, a few guest solos and on the last album a friend of mine put the. Ass down for me.
 
Are you all from the same area? How did you get together as a band?

I’m currently living in the Falkland Islands. It I know Phil from a podcast group we’re both part of as well as his old podcast Phil’s Breakfast Metal.
 
Who are your favourite artists/bands and how have they influenced your own sound?

Easiest one is Bolt Thrower as that was my first Death Metal band I listened to and one that I hold all Death Metal up against. There was something about the constant double kicks, tremolo riffs and those harmonies that I’ve taken and incorporated into Bloodrust to varying degrees of success. I always loved Karl’s vocals the fact you could hear the words just completed the picture and it’s great to see that he has continued in Memoriam. I tried to emulate my vocal style in terms of getting it so you could understand the lyrics.
 
Did you always have the ambition to be a musician and in a band or did you originally have other plans?

My Dad was a Saxophone player in The Army so I’ve been surrounded my music for my entire life, I played guitar for a bit when I was 17 but gave up for about 11 years and have played ever since. I’ve always loved the power of music and the emotions it can cause. Luckily I don’t rely on music for an income otherwise I would be homeless but it’s my sanity and in many ways as I reach my mid 40s it’s probably as vital for me as the day I first listened to Maiden back when I was 14.
 
What songs or albums are on your current playlist?

The latest Frozen Soul has featured heavily since its release. The most recent Obituary is solid but mostly it’s old Dismember, Bolt Thrower, Hail of bullets, Asphyx,Priest and Angel Witch which take up the most space when I’m listening to music. I’m a big fan of Sepultura, Kreator and Legion of the Damned so they are sprinkled in there. A good amount of Swedish Death metal and I’m a sucker for old Morisound Death Metal. Well old Death Metal in general, UK, Swedish, American, Death Doom I love it all.
 
Do you sing in the shower?

Badly. It when I’m in my own I do sing some Priest or Accept.
 
Do you have any plans for the band for this year and into next year?

I’m moving back to the UK this summer so I’d like to turn Bloodrust into a real band and start writing with other people and play some shows and see what’s possible. Whilst It’s a challenge to write everything I do miss the collaboration and writing with other people.
 
Do you currently have any new songs/albums ready to be released?

The latest album At Glory’s End was released end of April on Archaic Sounds, so I’m badly promoting that at the moment but considering I’m a one man living at the bottom of the world I’m happy with how it’s going it I also know it could do better.
 
If you could play at any venue in the world where would you choose?

Main stage at Wacken, would be a dream but highly unlikely. I love the euro festivals, Party Sans, Chronically Moshers and would love to play on one of those bills as they are always stacked with fantastic bands more in line with my listening habits. They tend to be less commercial but but reality I’ll take any festival slot offered.
 
Do you have a favourite album? If so, what is it?

This is a hard one as it changes fairly often but the one that keeps coming back to the top is Human by Death, a flawless album that changed Death metal. From the jazz influenced drumming, the solos, bass playing and then Chuck arguably at his peak. An album with no fat on it and seems to even after thousands of listens to seems to speed by and before you know it you’ve pressed play again. Fantastic album but for a while Cynics Focus took top spot but Human sits on that pedestal for now.
 
Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?

I was a big Enya fan growing up, lol but these days if it’s not metal then it’s mostly old dance music or film/game soundtracks. None are guilty pleasures just more non metal pleasures.
 
If you were putting together the greatest show on earth, who would be playing?

Priest, Maiden, DIO era Sabbath, Death, Bolt Thrower, Testament, Accept, Entombed, Dismember, At the Gates, Vulture, Wolf, Benediction, Xentrix, Asphyx, Memoriam, Celestial Sanctuary and as it’s my festival Bloodrust. I could add so many more it would be a week long booze up. Chances are it would be old school Trad metal and old school Death Metal with the odd thrash band and not much else really. Music and lots of quality German lager.
 
Can you remember the first album you bought with your own money? What was it and do you still have it?

I think it was Fear of the Dark and yes I still have it in my collection. I bought it in the music section of the Karstadt in Celle, Germany.
 
As your fans will be reading this, is there any message you would like to send out to them?

Thank you for taking an interest, listening to and spending your hard earned cash Bloodrust. I don’t think you’ll ever know how much it means when people take an interest in your music. The fact people want to support the band by putting their own cash to release the albums still baffles me and I am eternally grateful. Proof that Death Metal lives.
 
Finally, let us know all your social media sites so your fans, old and new, can find and follow/like you!

Facebook as bloodrust. Bandcamp it’s Bloodrust or Bloodrust- OSDM and I’m even on Spotify and the vast majority of streaming platforms.
 
We, at The Metal Asylum, would like to thank you for your time. Is there is anything further that you would like to add?

Just a big thank you for the interview, good luck going forward and keep spreading the word of metal.

This interview is the property of The Metal Asylum