Metal Planet Media Talks To…THE WRING

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 Wring started around 2015. I had written a lot of songs and felt like there were at least an album’s worth that were worthy of public consumption. I gathered some local musicians and we jammed out the demos until they felt good. Then we recorded and released the first album in 2017. We did some shows, but after a year or so the guys ran out of gas and decided not to continue. I’ve done 3 more records but have used studio musicians. Nemesis features the bass/vocal talents of Reggie Hache and the amazing drumming of Kyle Brian Abbott. The band name came from a song on the first album called ‘The Wring’. We had a long list of cool names, but they were all taken!! One day, the drummer suggested that The Wring would be a great name. Suddenly, it seemed obvious, and it stuck.

Are you all from the same area? How did you get together as a band?

The original band was all from the city where I live in Northern Ontario, Canada. It’s not a large city so musicians tend to all know each other. There were really only a few guys that would be capable and/or interested in something like this, and I sought them out. It worked well for a couple of years but as an all-original proggy hard rock band, it’s very difficult to find gigs that pay well, or at all. The clubs here hire cover bands almost exclusively; that’s what sells drinks…

Who are your favourite artists/bands and how have they influenced your own sound?

There are many, but Rush was my first love. They still are, but they kind of lost me around 1983 or so. Early Megadeth was very inspiring; Dave knew no limitations in those days and created some incredible things. My world changed again when I discovered Opeth. They combine so many styles and have done so many amazing albums; truly inspiring. Another significant influence was Tool. They really impacted my sense of time and mood. Honourable mentions to Porcupine Tree and King Crimson…

Did you always have the ambition to be a musician and in a band or did you originally have other plans?

I have always been a very dedicated student of the guitar. I’ve played since I was very young. It was a bit later in life that I started writing original music. I remember I borrowed a friend’s 4-track recorder and was blown away by how cool it was to record multi-track pieces. Shortly after, I discovered software that did the same thing, only much better. I fell down that rabbit hole and have never re-emerged.

What songs or albums are on your current playlist?

I try and mix it up. Right now, I would say there are a few albums that I am repeating: Jethro Tull – Heavy Horses, Revocation – Netherheaven, Voivod – Synchro Anarchy, Genesis – Selling England by the Pound, Morbid Angel – Illud Divinum Insanus and Lamb of God – Omens. A nice cross-section for every mood…

Do you sing in the shower?

No! It’s not that I am a bad singer, it’s that I am not a singer at all! I sing the demos for each record to give the real singer an idea of melody and phrasing. Past that, I would never make anyone suffer to hear me sing!!

If you could play at any venue in the world, where would you choose?

Being from Canada, I think playing Massey Hall in Toronto would be a dream fulfilled. Rush recorded All the World’s a Stage there in the 70’s and just walking through the doors is a mystical experience. I met the members of Opeth there on the Sorceress tour, what an experience!

Do you have a favourite album? If so, what is it?

I think Rush’s Moving Pictures is the best album of all time. It has every element of interest for a prog-minded listener, packaged into beautiful compositions of style and brevity (except maybe Camera Eye, which is beautiful but long!). I have listened to Moving Pictures 1,000 times and never get tired of it. Honourable mentions: Opeth – Blackwater Park; Tool – Lateralus; Ozzy – Diary of a Madman. There are so many more, but these come immediately to mind.

Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?

For some reason, I like Of Monsters and Men. The female voice is so peculiar and hypnotic. I think they are from Iceland and the intonation is certainly somewhat alien. I find it very interesting!

If you were putting together the greatest show on earth, who would be playing?

Cool! Yes! Opeth, Tool, Lamb of God, Revocation and, of course, Voivod would open the show! I would like to say that The Wring would do a short set too… is that hubris? Probably.

Can you remember the first album you bought with your own money? What was it and do you still have it?

I remember buying 45s of Rush ‘Spirit of Radio’ and April Wine ‘I Like to Rock’ but I think the first full album I bought was Kiss ‘Dynasty’. I don’t have any of the original copies anymore, but I did replace them, even Dynasty. I know it was infamously their ‘disco’ album but there are some great songs on there; Ace was on fire. I have Rush’s complete catalogue on CD and on vinyl even though some of their later records were not very great.

As your fans will be reading this, is there any message you would like to send out to them?

First, I would say thanks! I am grateful to every single person who listens to my music. I am also grateful to publications like Metal Asylum that help get interesting things out to listeners. If you like prog music but not always the self-indulgence, The Wring is here to give you interesting riffs, thoughtful lyrics and many cool bits in 5-minute songs. You can rock out or geek out!

Finally, let us know all your social media sites so your fans, old and new, can find and follow/like you!

Yes!! Here:

www.thewring.ca

https://www.facebook.com/thewringband

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-NvVWBllUThjq0shyOxJCQ?view_as=subscriber

https://www.instagram.com/wringband/

https://linktr.ee/thewringband

Sales Links: Bandcamp | iTunes | Amazon | Spotify | Other sales links

https://apps.apple.com/ca/artist/the-wring/id1211696322