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

Hi, well the history of the band starts back in the summer of 2019, myself and Sarunas (guitars), had a idea to put together a extreme grind/death metal band, we had been in a progressive metal previously, but wanted to try something new, so we formed Sacrificial Slabs.

The original line up consisted of 2 vocalist (Yozii and Ludwig) myself on drums, Sarunas on guitars and Arnas on Bass, we played a few shows with this line up plus recorded our first Ep release (Gore n Roll), within in a year and due to covid, the line up changed to the current unit you guys have now.

Edward Walls: Vocals

Sarunas: Guitars

Marco: Bass

Me~; Drums

We feel the band is the tightest it’s ever been and we’re all having a blast being involved.

We all bring our own personalities to the band, Edward being very determined and focused, he’s probably the most serious member of the band, Marco is Mr dark, the quiet one in the band,(it’s the quiet ones you have to keep an eye on) but on top of that, he  has the best sense of humour, Sarunas is the cool guy, and a bit goofy he like to play up and loves to party, but is also very focused on pushing the band, and myself, i’m a little bit of all the above, the main thing for all of us is that the band is fun and we all l;ove what we do, whilst having a few beers along the way.

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

When the band formed we were all London based, like i said above, Sarunas and I have known each other a long time, we knew about Edward through our original bass player, and Marco joined us later. 

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

Each member has their personal favourite bands/artists/genres, but we all love extreme music

I think a lot of different genres and bands have influenced us.

Death metal, grindcore are the most prominent genres, but you can definitely hear black metal, hardcore and deathcore in our sound.

In no apparent order here’s a few bands we all love listening to:

Cattle Decapitation, Ingested, Tallah, Code Orange, Tool, Meshuggah, Mispyrming, Gorgoroth, End, Koan, Korn, Deftones, Emperor, Enslaved, Napalm Death, Carcass, Faith No More, Metallica, Lifvsleda, Mimorium, Whitechapel, Intronaut, Tripswitch and Negator, plus loads more 

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

It was my dream to play music and be in a band from a very early age. Music is the biggest influence in my life, outside my family and friends. When I first heard Metallica and Led Zeppelin they just blew my mind, I knew straight away all I wanted to do was play drums, and write music.

What songs or albums are on your current playlist?

Sounds of perseverance (reissue): Death

Kin: Whitechapel

Gather and Mourn: End

Blurred (side a): Koan

Temple of the dog: Temple of the Dog

Heartwork: Carcass

Vanilla Paste, The generation of Danger; Tallah

Humanity’s Last Breath 

Do you sing in the shower? 

Of course, who doesn’t, I’ve also come up with a few Slab ideas whilst in the shower 

Do you have any plans for the band for this year and into next year?

This year has been great so far. We’ve played some crazy shows, with the best fans, they have really made this year so special, we also have some very cool local shows coming up over the coming months, as well as a couple of very insane Festivals to play, one of which is in Romania with the mighty Sepultura. Now thats a fucking dream right there. 

Next year we’ll be looking to go out on tour, plus we’ll definitely have new music coming very soon, some exciting times ahead.

Do you currently have any new songs/albums ready to be released?

We have just released our latest Ep “The Agony Cult” which has seen the band push our sound even more, as well as bringing in different elements, but also sticking to our roots, we brought some grindcore back for this release.

Like i said above, we will be writing and recording new material very soon.

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

Great question, there’s so many really fucking cool venues to play, for me personally, Brixton academy would be awesome to play, it’s such a iconic venue for all genres of music. I also feel our style of music would suit that venue, as well as our stage show. 

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

Hmmm, this one is hard to answer as my answer would probably change every week, depending on my mood. I would say Metallica’s Master of Puppets is one of the greatest albums ever written, it has everything, I love all the Tool albums, each is stunning and a full musical journey. I’ll be brutally honest and say i can’t choose, theirs way to many great fucking bands and artists in the world, enjoy them all.

Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?

For me it probably has to be BabyMetal, enough said 

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

If i had the chance to design the greatest show i’d like to bring lots of surprises and it’d have to be over a couple of days, so here goes:

Led Zeppelin,Madonna (1980’s, 90’s version), Tina Turner, Prince, Tool, Meshuggah, Soundgarden, Snot, Alice In Chains (with Layne), Koan, Tripswitch, Ben Harper, Ingested, Carcass, Napalm Death, The Faceless, Rings Of Saturn, Queen (with Freddie), David Bowie, Pink Floyd, Black Sheep, NWA, Big Daddy Kane, Faith No More, The Commodores Korn, Deftones and of course Sacrificial Slabs. 

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

I can actually, unfortunately i don’t still own it, but my first LP i bought was Genesis Invisible Touch

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

I’d like to thank them for supporting us. We as a band really appreciate all the support, it means so much to us. Knowing we have fans is what drives us to improve musically and live. We love you all you are the fucking best

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

www.facebook.com/Sacrificial_Slabs

www.instagram.com/Sacrificial_Slabs

Spotify: Sacrificial Slabs

We, at The Metal Asylum, would like to thank you for your time. Is there is anything further that you would like to add?

Keep checking us out, we have exciting things coming up, a massive thanks for all the support. See you from a stage very soon and for the many beers after. 

This interview is the property of The Metal Asylum

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

Hi, my name is Charise Sowells and I have performed and released music under a myriad of names but recently I decided to streamline things and put everything under my given name.

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

I’m from St. Paul, MN but I have lived all over the US: Austin, Texas; Portland, Oregon; Northern and Southern California; New York.

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

A few of my faves are Enya, The National, and Bjork. Enya’s layered vocals transport me every time which is something I want my music to do. The National’s sentimentality tugs on my heartstrings and inspires me to do the same. Bjork’s unique compositions and brazen vocal stylings taught me to embrace being different as a singer-songwriter.

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

When I found out Enya had the success that she did without being a touring musician I was inspired to pursue music professionally. Because while I grew up performing since the age of 4 and continued to do so for decades, my favorite part of the creative process has always been making something out of nothing. And then when it comes to music in particular, capturing that creation for others to experience even when I’m gone. Enya’s career became a sort of template for me when I saw a documentary about her in the early 90’s. Releasing albums, finding lifelong collaborators, and getting my music into movies, games, and shows became the long term goals, rather than touring.

What songs or albums are on your current playlist?

I went to see Matchbox 20 in concert the other day so I’ve gone down a gloriously nostalgic rabbit hole of music from the mid 90’s.

Do you sing in the shower?

Of course! And whistle too.

Do you have any plans for the band for this year and into next year?

I’d like to get OBSOLESCENT ADOLESCENCE on the radio some more and placed in some things like a film or TV show. There’s also more music coming down the pipeline.

Do you currently have any new songs/albums ready to be released?

I do. There’s another album finished plus some singles and covers.

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

I dream more about studios I’d like to record in. Abbey Road being the first to come to mind.

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

I love SO much music, of all different kinds too. But one album that is perfect background music for me when working desk jobs or writing scripts is The Virgin Suicides by Air.

Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?

Trending TikTok music.

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

Oh man, let’s see: Enya, Loreena McKennitt, Iron and Wine, The National, Air, Zero 7, Jose Gonzalez, Aurora, and then Bjork to close things out.

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

Pretty sure it was Jackson 5, on cassette. Unfortunately, not. All my tapes were left in the back of a NY taxicab’s trunk during one of my many moves. Even tapes that had my first songs and monologues I’d ever written on them. Sad day.

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

Thanks for the support!

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

https://www.charisesowells.com/

@charisesowells on all platforms

https://www.tiktok.com/@charisesowells

https://www.facebook.com/charisesowells/

https://mobile.twitter.com/charisesowells

https://youtube.com/c/ChariseSowells

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3568632/

https://unabashedproductions.bandcamp.com/

We, at The Metal Asylum, would like to thank you for your time. Is there is anything further that you would like to add?

Nice to chat with you, thanks for the fun interview!

This interview is the property of The Metal Asylum

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

The name 10 Plagues was originally for a project that I wanted to tout together back in 2008 but it never go off the ground for many reasons so the name never got used then I came across an old logo I made for it so I decided to revamp it and present to the guys and everyone thought it was cool and that’s how we became 10 Plagues.

We started writing and recording during the pandemic lockdown around March 2021, David (guitar) and I were neighbours and we began just writing music for fun and to pass the time because there wasn’t anything to do then Jamie (guitar) joined after I posted on Facebook looking for a second guitarist. 

We called up Krzysztof Klingbein to record the drums as he was at the time touring and recording for bands like Vader, Batushka and more recently Belphegor so we knew we need a drummer of the calibre to push the style of music we were after.

Then we asked Hubert Więcek who used to be in Decapitated to record the bass for the three singles we put out and then Josh Gibbs from Malevolent Creation recorded the fourth one but then after that, we had a series of people that came in and out of the band till we settle with the line up now.

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

At the time yes but now we are in Brighton, Bournemouth, and Kingston

Everything happened pretty much by accident from meeting our current drummer at a bus stop to just literally recruiting people off of Facebook and word of mouth through friends.

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

Probably people like Kiss, Dio, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Accept influenced me as a child but Slayer, Metallica, Venom etc… actually led me to want to be in bands and make music.

So I still hold those bands dear to my heart to this day.

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

Since I was little music was all around me so it was only natural that I would become involved in music in one way shape or form.

What songs or albums are on your current playlist?

At the moment, Brian Adams, Lionel Richie, Boston and The Police.

Do you sing in the shower? 

Every time, twice a day.

Do you have any plans for the band for this year and into next year?

The plan is to after we complete the series of shows we have booked we really want to just immerse ourselves in writing and recording and put out a release of some sort.

Do you currently have any new songs/albums ready to be released?

Not at the moment but probably towards autumn we should have something.

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

One of those Metal cruises or Hellfest/Wacken would be really cool to do.

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

Probably Morbid Angel’s Stars Of Madness. I never get bored of it all the songs are gems.

Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?

I listen to so many types of music that would be impossible to say if anything it’s a guilty pleasure, even though I play Extreme Metal I’m not Metalhead by any stretch, I’m a musician and I’m a singer so if it’s good music I’m all over it.

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

10 Plagues for sure would be playing and probably would look like one of the Hellfest’s lineups from the last few years, I mean they seem to put every band in the world at once but I guess it’d probably have all the great Metal bands of the present and past.

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

It was Kiss “Creatures Of The Night” but unfortunately I no longer have it in my possession… I haven’t owned any CDs or anything for a long time.

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

Thank you so much for all your support because we are truly humbled by how much support we have had and the best is yet to come. We promise you.

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

Just type in 10 Plagues on Bandcamp, Facebook, IG and YouTube and you will find us. We are the true 10 Plagues.

We, at The Metal Asylum, would like to thank you for your time. Is there anything further that you would like to add?

Thanks for the opportunity we really appreciate it.

This interview is the property of The Metal Asylum

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

NIKI: The word “Eufobia” is of ancient Greek origin, and it literally means “fear of good”. Most people describe our music as melodic death metal. My name is Niki. I’m the frontman. I play the guitar and sing. Steff is the name of our bass player, Blago’s the name of our drummer and the last member of our band is the other guitar player – Ivan.

Our latest album, called “Madness”, was released last year by the biggest Bulgarian distributor of rock and metal music Wizard LTD. Besides this album, we’ve got two more full-length albums released by the same label and an EP released by the Romanian label Axa Valaha Productions.

We have shared the stage and have gone on tour with many great bands such as Arch Enemy, At the Gates, Dark Tranquillity, Cannibal Corpse, Rotting Christ, Vader, Immolation, Onslaught, Malevolent Creation, Pyogenesis, Christ Agony, Primordial, Gorgoroth, Sinister, Broken Hope, Jinjer, Eluveitie, E-force, Negura Bunget, Suicidal Angels and many more.

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

NIKI: Yes, we are. We all live in the city of Sofia, which is the capital of our motherland Bulgaria. I am the founder of the band. Our story is pretty typical. There’s nothing special about it. I was an enthusiastic young musician and wanted to start my own band. That’s why I invited my friend Stefan the bass player to join me. He was friends with Blago the drummer, who at that time was looking for a serious band, and he recommended him for the position. For some time after that it was just the three of us, but our music was evolving and at some point, we realized that we needed a second guitar player and the perfect man for this job was our mutual friend Ivan. That’s pretty much it.

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

NIKI: This is not a simple question. It’s very difficult to answer, actually. On one hand, I can easily name hundreds of bands that have influenced me during my musical evolution, such as Death, Morbid Angel, Motorhead, Megadeath, Gojira, Rammstein, Dark Tranquillity, Rotting Christ, Moonspell or Behemoth, for instance, but on the other hand I have never wanted Eufobia to sound like any of these bands. I have always wanted to make original music that comes straight from the heart. This makes the music of Eufobia unusual and sometimes hard to understand.

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

NIKI: Yes, I’ve always wanted to be an artist. Music is my vocation and certainly the most important activity in my life because it gives me the opportunity to express my feelings. I can’t imagine my life without it. Unfortunately, I still can’t make a living out of concerts and album sales. That’s why I have to work. I’m actually a dentist by profession, but even though I don’t make much money out of performing this beautiful music, I’ve always tried to do it in a professional manner, because the people who are interested in Eufobia and support the band, deserve the best and that is what I must offer them.

What songs or albums are on your current playlist?

NIKI: It depends on where I am. At work I don’t listen to anything rather extreme because I don’t want to scare my patients. I play either Ghost or some old school rock music like Dio, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd or something similar, when I travel in my car, I play my favourite albums. The last thing I listened to yesterday was “The Antidote” by Moonspell, and at home I listen to whatever my woman plays. Fortunately for me, she’s a metalhead, but unfortunately sometimes she listens to some crazy modern bullshit which I don’t like at all.

Do you sing in the shower?

NIKI: No, I never sing in the shower, but sometimes when I’m there I think about some new riffs or lyrics and often make plans about the future of the band.

Do you have any plans for the band for this year and into next year?

NIKI: Yes, we do, although it is very difficult to plan anything these days. I must admit that the last few years after the pandemic have been difficult for us, but the fact that we’re going through a rough patch won’t make us give up, because we’re not some pussies. The difficulties make us stronger, actually. We had to adapt to the new realities, however, and to be more modest, but I’m convinced that the situation will soon improve. Nevertheless, until the end of the year we’re going to shoot another video and give some concerts in Romania and Bulgaria, first of which is the Way Too Far festival in Bistritza, where we’ll share the stage with Evergray, Sepultura and many other great bands.

Do you currently have any new songs/albums ready to be released?

NIKI: No, we still don’t have any new songs recorded and ready to be released, but we feel more inspired than ever and we’re constantly creating new songs, some of which we already play in front of the audience. The people who attend our concerts know them already. Judging by their reaction, I can say that these songs are very well accepted. We’re not going to record them in the studio anytime soon, though, because the promotion of the current album is our main priority for now.

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

NIKI: I would choose to perform at the Wacken Open Air festival again. We had the opportunity to play there in front of five thousand people in 2018 and that was probably the best moment in the history of our band. It was an amazing experience and I’d like to do it again someday.

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

NIKI: The answer to this question is different every time somebody asks me about it and depends on my current mood. Today my favourite album is “The Antidote” by Moonspell, tomorrow – no one knows.

Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?

NIKI: Yes, I do actually. It’s the band Ghost. This is another story related to Wacken Open Air. During the festival we had the opportunity to see many of our favourite bands perform live and even to meet some of their members. I don’t usually listen to that type of music, so it was very difficult for my band mates to convince me to go with them to watch Ghost perform on stage, but then they did an amazing show and due to good memory, I started listening to their music afterwards, and now I really like them, which is strange for someone like me who usually listens to heavier bands.

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

NIKI: I don’t know. I have never thought about that, but probably all the bands which I told you that had influenced me and of course Eufobia.

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

NIKI: I don’t remember because it was a long time ago. Sorry. It was probably Nirvana or Alice in Chains because at that time I was listening to grunge.

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

NIKI: First of all, I must say that I don’t like the word “fans” and I never use it to describe the people who listen to Eufobia. The word “fans” implies a distance between the musician and the audience, but to me these people are so much more than that. I consider them good friends, some of whom I don’t know personally, because I share with them the deepest secrets of my soul. The message I’d like to transmit to them is hidden in the music and the lyrics of Eufobia’s songs.

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

NIKI: Alright! This is a good idea. By the way, on our website http://www.eufobia.com there are links to all our social media. Here is the full list:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Eufobia/

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/eufobia_official/

YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/c/Eufobia

BANDCAMP: https://eufobia-official.bandcamp.com/

WEBSITE: http://www.eufobia.com/

We, at The Metal Asylum, would like to thank you for your time. Is there is anything further that you would like to add?

NIKI: I’d like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to say a few words to your readers. Stay metal! Cheers!

This interview is the property of The Metal Asylum

The Metal Asylum Talks To metal innovators Opensight about mixing Heavy Metal with Grindhouse Film music, World Domination plans and about why Predator 2 is very very very underrated.

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 name ‘Opensight’ came in a dream. The music has a cinema vibe and atmospherics that belong to genre films and Grindhouse movies, so a name that relates to things that are visual fits well. We all play and behave as a clandestine crime outfit looking for world domination. 

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

We are from different corners of the map. Members have always been recruited by means of manipulation, brainwashing and deceit. To convince them that the marriage of heavy music with vintage film music is a good idea. 

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

Opensight does well with different audiences, especially with fans of bands that push the envelope somehow like Opeth, Devin Townsend, Faith No More, etc. We listen to different genres too, but apart from Rock and Metal we are influenced a lot by film music like Ennio Morricone, John Barry, Henry Mancini, Fabio Frizzi, Lalo Schifrin, etc. So with these influences our songs sound and feel like metal but also like a crime film like Dirty Harry, or a vintage italian horror film, or a spy film, or a western, and so on depending on the song. 

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

Yeah, the ambition was always there. The balance of creating and recording songs in a studio contrasted with going out to play original songs live was always fascinating. There was also the need to be involved with the visual aspect of the band: Graphics, Illustrations, Video, etc. 

What songs or albums are on your current playlist?

Let me see… Scorpions, Death, Helloween, Lalo Schifrin (The soundtrack for “Magnum Force”), Graveyard, The Night Flight Orchestra, Iron Maiden, Francesco De Masi (“The New York Ripper” Soundtrack), Fabio Frizzi (“Puppet Master”) and Carpenter Brut among others I see on the current list. 

Do you sing in the shower? 

Always. Normally with the electric guitar plugged in playing a cover of “It’s Electric” by Diamond Head

Do you have any plans for the band for this year and into next year?

Our last album “Mondo Fiction” got an exciting response and good reviews with kind words and was added to some top lists of the year, so we are launching a special edition. It will have all the songs, plus a few extras, mainly instrumental versions of the songs. It will be called “Mondo Fiction (The Director’s Cut)”. There are new videos coming with it and extended singles before the full release. We are also working on a bunch of new songs for next year and also playing live as usual.

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

There’s a lot of places we’d love to play. Besides the obvious legendary ones like Madison Square Garden, Royal Albert Hall, Budokan and so on, maybe Teatro Massimo in Palermo because of The Godfather 3, The Tittie Twister bar of “From Dusk Till Dawn” or that funky SpaceShip from “Predator 2”. And by the way, “Predator 2” is very, very underrated. The first 10 minutes of the film are way better than anything the franchise offered afterwards and that’s even before Bill Paxton or Gary Busey show up!

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

Difficult question. Many albums that have made an impact. When you make a list you’ll probably end up revisiting and changing it constantly. Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, Master of Puppets, Sorcerer (Tangerine Dream), Queen of the Wave, The Good The Bad and The Ugly, The Sound of Perseverance, The Beyond (Frizzi) are just a handful and way way more could be added 🙂 

Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?

No guilty pleasures. If you like something, then you shouldn’t feel guilty about it. People can’t help but to have an emotional response to certain Music. It’s a spontaneous thing. 

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

Spinal Tap, Sammi Curr and DethKlok!

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

Probably be the soundtrack to Tim Burton’s Batman (by Prince) and Use Your Illusion II – Both on vinyl and still there, yeah

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

We have nothing but gratefulness and appreciation for all the people who listen to our music and come to our shows. 

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

Join the Director’s Cult via the following links. Everything Opensight related can be found at

Official Site: https://www.opensightband.com

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4nuByHPiaXckms2WRkAYTX

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/opensightband

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/opensightband/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/opensightmusic

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@opensightband

Also, make sure you get yourself a killer outfit at https://opensight.bandcamp.com

We, at The Metal Asylum, would like to thank you for your time. Is there is anything further that you would like to add?

Thank you. You are under our control now… 

This interview is the property of The Metal Asylum

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 name Overseer was chosen by Sean, the vocalist of the band, and the idea behind it is that Overseer means someone who’s in charge, who supervises, and so it reflects how to some degree we’re all subject to an authority and lack true freedom. The band line-up is:

Sean –  Vocals.

Mason – Guitar.

Ross – Bass.

Abhishek – Guitar.

Thomas – Drums.

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

We’re all from London, although from different parts.

The band was already established some time before I joined as the drummer. The current vocalist (Sean), guitarist (Mason) and bassist (Ross) formed Overseer after collectively leaving a previous project they were in. The other guitarist (Abhishek) was brought in to play by Mason as they had a mutual connection. I found the band through a forum post and simply got in contact, told them I wanted to play, and after a first rehearsal/jam with them they were happy to bring me in.

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

Each band member has their own tastes, and influences, and this reflects in the music when we get together and write.

Some main influences that are worth mentioning however include: Meshuggah, Monuments, Northlane and Gojira.

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

Yes, but only after I discovered my love for metal some years after I’d already started playing drums. There’s just something special about the energy that a style like metal puts out, and being able to provide that energy live for people to headbang to and/or mosh to is extremely rewarding and fun.

What songs or albums are on your current playlist?

Currently I’m really enjoying Northlane’s “Obsidian” album, Monument’s “The Amanuensis”, and Gideon’s “More Power. More Pain”.

Do you sing in the shower?

Yes.

Do you have any plans for the band for this year and into next year?

Play live, write and release our ideas.

Do you currently have any new songs/albums ready to be released?

We are in the process of writing an album’s worth of music, which we are hoping to release by the end of the year.

As of now we have a new song fully mastered and ready to be released.

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

The Royal Albert Hall.

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

Iowa by Slipknot.

Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?

Not really, I like what I like.

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

Meshuggah, early 2000s Slipknot, Karnivool, Miles Davis and Chick Corea.

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

Slipknot’s Self-Titled album. I do still have it.

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

Stay hydrated.

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

Check us out on Instagram @Overseeruk, and Overseer on Spotify.

We, at The Metal Asylum, would like to thank you for your time. Is there is anything further that you would like to add?

Thank you for the opportunity and interest.

This interview is the property of The Metal Asylum

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 Annakye came from our drummer Joel who created the name he said sounded cool but also had 0 search results on google which was extremely helpful. The band has been together for around years, forming on the central coast. It consists of six members who bring their unique talents and personalities to the group.

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

All the members of Annakye are from the same area on the central coast. They got together as a band through a combination of shared interests and mutual connections. Each member brings their own musical background and influences, contributing to the diverse sound of the band.

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

Annakye draws inspiration from a wide range of artists and bands. Some of their favorite artists include Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Seven Dust, Metallic, Queens of the Stone Age blink182 and the pixies these bands have influenced Annakye’s sound, combining elements of grunge, alternative rock, and modern rock to create their own unique style.

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

The members of band are all different ages and we’re all at different stages of our musical journey’s but we all share the same passion for music and the ambition to be professional musicians. We are all dedicated to our craft and pursued our dreams of forming a band. The band has very much been run like a business from day one, this approach seems to work well for this band. 

What songs or albums are on your current playlist?

Annakye’s current playlist features a mix of old and new rock and alternative songs. We enjoy listening to a variety of artists such as Muse, Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys, Queens of the Stone Age, and The Black Keys. The playlist reflects our diverse musical tastes and provides inspiration for their our songwriting.

Do you sing in the shower?

Yes, some members of Annakye enjoy singing in the shower way to much mostly the members who don’t actually sing in the band.

Do you have any plans for the band for this year and into next year?

Annakye has exciting plans for the upcoming year and beyond. We are focused on playing our up and coming live shows over the next few months, expanding our fanbase and reaching new audiences. 

Do you currently have any new songs/albums ready to be released?

Yes, we have been working very hard behind the scenes have a collection of fresh material ready to be released. We are eager to share our latest creations with our fans and the world.

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

If given the opportunity, we would love to play at iconic venues like Madison Square Garden in New York City or Wembley Stadium in London. These venues hold a special place in the history of rock music and performing there would be a dream come true.

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

As a band, Annakye does not have a specific favorite album. We appreciate a wide range of albums from different artists and genres, making it difficult to choose just one. But if we had to pick Linkin Park – Hybrid Theory 

Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?

While Annakye primarily focuses on rock and alternative music, we also have some guilty pleasure songs and albums. We enjoy indulging in pop, hip-hop, and even some 80s and 90s hits like Mc Hammer and Wham! 

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

If Annakye were putting together the greatest show on earth, they would invite bands and artists like Foo Fighters, Blink 182, Jet, Maneskin and Fall out Boy. The show would be an explosive display of rock energy and unforgettable performances.

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

Each member of Annakye remembers the first album they bought with their own money.

Joel: Nofx – Herd they suck live 

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

Annakye wants their fans to know that they are continuously working on creating more music and are excited to share it with them. They encourage their fans to stay connected and follow them on their social media platforms for updates on upcoming shows, new releases, and behind-the-scenes content. The band believes that music is a powerful medium that brings people together, and they hope that their music resonates with their fans and inspires them in some way. The support from their fans means the world to Annakye, and they look forward to sharing their musical journey with them for years to come.

This interview is the property of The Metal Asylum

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

Mick Michaels: The band formed in 2011 following a reunion project I was involved in with a band from the 80s called Seeker. I wanted to do more of the classic style of Heavy Metal…the version I grew up on and wanted to hear more of…Corners of Sanctuary was born.

The band’s name refers to a place real or imaginary, that we can go to be ourselves…a place free of judgment and ridicule…like our happy place….some corner of sanctuary.  Music for us is a corner of sanctuary and a place we want to share with others.

The band consists of Frankie Cross on lead vocals, Mad T on drums, myself (Mick Michaels) on guitar and our newest member, David St. John on bass.

Really, there is not much to say.  We are just regular guys who all enjoy writing music and performing.

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

Mick Michaels: Most of the band is within an hour or so from one another in the Philadelphia area. Frankie is bit a further north…about three hours. But we are close enough to get things done. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

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

Mick Michaels: For me Judas Priest and Kiss have always been favourites.  But I also gravitated towards bands like Accept, Savatage, Queensryche and the like.

They have most definitely influenced my sound and style collectively. Everyone is a product or a by-product of their influences in some way or another. It’s like being part of a lineage or legacy without any attachment.

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

Mick Michaels: As far back as I can remember I always wanted to write music and be in a band. I was playing in a band only after six month of playing guitar…not the best by any means, but I was doing what I wanted to do.

I did have several back up plans as I got older…you have to and those skill sets have come in handy 100 times over while being a musician.

What songs or albums are on your current playlist?

Mick Michaels: I don’t do playlists, or ipods or anything like that.  I am not a digital downloader.  I prefer the physical…CDs, vinyl and cassettes. Music like it was meant to be.

I always have Judas Priest in some form or another ready to go.

Do you sing in the shower?

Mick Michaels: Not very well…. sure, who doesn’t. I often find myself working out riffs or melodies for songs I’m writing while in the shower. Plus the reverb is amazing!

Do you have any plans for the band for this year and into next year?

Mick Michaels: Absolutely!  We always have something going on and in the works. The band just recently completed its second UK tour in April. We have a string of dates at SonarFest this summer plus dates throughout the fall. The band is working on a new EP titled, “Metal Up,” as well as continuing work on our next full-length album, “Vengeance of the Fallen.”

Next year, we may be heading to Canada for our first run of shows. But we will see…things are always changing in this business.  You have to be ready to roll with the punches.

Do you currently have any new songs/albums ready to be released?

Mick Michaels: Our latest EP, “This is Metal,” released in February. The first single was “Rockin’ the Night Away” and was followed up with a second single in March of our cover of Judas Priest’s “Breaking the Law” before corners of sanctuary went to the UK.

Again, we are working on a new EP that we are looking to release later this fall.

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

Mick Michaels: Definitely Madison Square Garden…everyone who is anyone has played and sold it out….a boy’s got to dream!

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

Mick Michaels: I have two actually…Judas Priests’ “Stained Class” and Paul Stanley’s first solo album in ’78.

“Stained Class” is the ultimate display of a classic Heavy Metal album in my opinion…it’s the era I think of when I think of Priest. And Paul’s ’78 solo album, to me, a just an excellent piece of songwriting collectively…there’s a range of personal emotions in that album and it demonstrated a variety of his talent at that time.

Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?

Mick Michaels: Not really…nothing that I am ashamed of.  I have always been a fan of pop music…I dig the Bee Gees and Neil Diamond among others. “Hold Me Now” from the Thompson Twins is one of my all time favourite tracks. Music is music…if it touches it the soul then go with what you like.

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

Mick Michaels: Judas Priest, Kiss, Accept and Corners of Sanctuary.

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

Mick Michaels: It was a Guess Who album…and yes I still own it.

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

Mick Michaels: Just want to let everyone know how much we appreciate them and their support.  Without the fans, this band would not exist beyond my basement studio. We are very grateful!

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

Check out Corners of Sanctuary at:
Official: www.cornersofsanctuary.com 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CornersofSanctuary 
Twitter: www.twitter.com/COSnROLL 
Instagram: www.instagram.com 

We, at The Metal Asylum, would like to thank you for your time. Is there is anything further that you would like to add?

Mick Michaels: Thanks so much for talking with me – it was truly a pleasure…appreciate your support.  All my best! COSnROLL\m/\m/

This interview is the property of The Metal Asylum

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

Singer Michael Werner & me started HOTWIRE in 1993. The name comes from one of Michael’s favourite songs: “Hotwired” by FM (The songs is always played before our Live-Intro starts). After a break of 16 years we are back, with: Hans Haid (git), Daniel Gumo Reiss (git) and Alexander Schott (bass)

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

Michael & Tom met in a Rockclub in Ingolstadt, shared the same taste of music and decided to start a band. Right now the five of us do not live in the same area, but not too far away and our rehearsal room is quite in the middle 🙂

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

We have all our own influences, but we all agree on Melodic Rock. Werner is a huge Bon Jovi Fan, Tom likes Van Halen and AC/DC, Gumo & Alexander have a Thrash background (really!) but are also into Scorpions etc. Hans is more into bluesy hard rock and shows it with various T-Shirts of bands we hardly know. 

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

We all are making music since our youth, I started out with classical piano lessons. So we all played in various bands very early. And of course with 17 we all wanted to conquer the world. Hint: Didn’t work out.

What songs or albums are on your current playlist?

AC/DC: ”Powerage” – Van Halen “I” are my all time favourites and I am a Beatles Maniac.
I can listen to Slayer as well as to Kate Bush or Beethoven. As I have seen the “Elvis” movie recently, right now I listen to the king a lot,.

Do you sing in the shower?

No.

Do you have any plans for the band for this year and into next year?

Play live as much as we can.

Do you currently have any new songs/albums ready to be released?

As the new CD “The Story So Far – 1993 – 2023” is out since May: No

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

Madison Square Garden – because of the history. And Detroit because – Quote Bob Seger – “Rolling Stone said, Detroit audiences are the greatest rock and roll audiences in the world. I thought to myself, shit, I’ve known that for 10 years.”! And I hopefully could see the Red Wings play.

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

see above

Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?

“Greatest Hits Of The Carpenters” is great.

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

Of course AC/DC and Van Halen with a young Diamond Dave. At sunset the Eagles would play and Paul McCartney would close the show. And Kanye West. (Dishwasher at catering)

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

You’ll never forget your first album: KISS: Alive II”, bought it from a friend. Fun fact: I had never heard anything from the band, but I liked the cover and especially the photo inside from the band on stage. Had to have it.

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

Yeah, to the ones who know us for some time: Thank you! For those who discover us right now: Thank you and hello. For those who don’t like us (ok, that won’t be fans, right?): Free the world of our crap, buy our CDs and destroy them. Repeat.

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

Our newest video: https://youtu.be/hIHCm2BrMrc

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/hotwiregang

Instagram:  hotwiregang

Website:     www.hotwiregang.de

We, at The Metal Asylum, would like to thank you for your time. Is there is anything further that you would like to add?

Thanks for having us! And keep on rocking and supporting hard rock & metal! This interview was fueled by Coke Zero and Snyders of Hanover Honey Mustard & Onion.

This interview is the property of The Metal Asylum

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

Jim: Kamil came up with it although it’s never really been a solid explanation. I think it was just a vision he had that it’d be a name that people would remember forever as we become the greatest metal band in the world haha!

Kamil: As Jim sort of said, Hedra was created in Norwich in 2014 by myself . I had regular visions to call the band Hedra. There are several meanings of the word in different languages, but the band is not affiliated with any of them. The foundations came from myself and along with the drummer at the time. Jim joined us as Vocalist through an ad on Join my band. Jim and I have been together ever since. As for former members, last year we counted 23 of them. In general, everyone was busy with less important matters, not with the band life we strive for.

Jim: 23 is a lot of members, there may be more but only one of them seems to be doing anything notable now, we move on and become stronger and that’s the main thing!

Kamil: Fails make us stronger!

Daniel: Being the newest member I don’t have the full background of all the members as it’s quite a lot to remember. It has been a quick learning curve but I feel I have integrated well into what is a great band with strong foundations in Jim and Kamil who have created a great band with a strong vision.

James: I only joined last year, on recommendation of some other musicians, but being the second most recent member, I am also hazy on member history.

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

Jim: I’m born bred in Norwich, Kamil started the band he’d moved to Norwich from Cambridge and originally Poland, Daniel is from Norwich too, we’ve had a few members over the years and Daniel (o.n.a Squeak) is the newest member, James comes from Northampton which is where our previous Bassist was from so I think he was recommend from the area, not sure, if i’m honest, if that was the case or not!

James: Nope, I’m from Northamptonshire so I have to drive 2 hours every sunday, But I love the songs so it’s worth it… (they also pay my fuel)

Daniel: I am indeed from norwich. I knew of Jim and started speaking online, met Kamil down at my local pub to discuss the band, went with them to watch a show and tried out for rehearsal after learning the songs. and in November of 2022 I joined the band.

Jim: Yeah I put one of your bands on for a ‘Beast Anglia’ show which is one of the things we do in this band, to put on other bands in the Norfolk area from time to time!

Kamil:  Me and Jim met online. and it was much the same with the rest of the people present as that’s almost the way musicians work now

Jim: Yeah, Kamil signed up to ‘join my band’ and put a post out for a vocalist in 2013, eventually I got a reply in 2014 lol, no was possibly the same year but at the time I was desperate to get in a band and wasn’t having much luck at all, there were still a lot of emo ish bands in Norwich in 2013 which strangely we have more association with now than we ever did back in 2014! 

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

Jim: I think as time goes on it’s difficult to say I have a favourite artist at all but looking back I was mostly a fan of Yngwie Malmsteen, George Lynch, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani when I was learning guitar, now as a vocalist I do prefer the more distinctive vocals and modern metal bands like Tesseract, Sikth, Vola where the voice is more of an art form than just metal is now my thing, I don’t regret my earlier proggy influences I have a fondness of the early Marillion albums and have recently got back into the Peter Gabriel years of Genesis and enjoy those nonsensical musical arrangements too that time in music was so valuable to me.

Daniel: You have managed to show me some artists that I would not usually consider as I tend to like my more modern styles.

Jim: I’m always happy to pull out this format called ‘vinyl’ you may not have heard about being so young lol!

Kamil: The greatest influence on my work came from such bands as – Mnemic, Kobong, Fear Factory, Korn, Slipknot..my list goes on…

Pantera, Metallica, Ill nino,Tesseract, Mudvayne, Sepultura, Soulfly, Machine Head, Decapitated, Riverside, O.N.A, Sikth,  Flapjack, and many more.

I always try to draw inspiration from all sides. I also love the music of the 90s and Depeche Mode. As you can see, I don’t have a favourite band, I love everyone haha.

Daniel: Muse,Architects,Bloodywood,Polyphia,Slipknot,Skindred,Lamb of God,Haaken,Machine Head,Trivium,Lorna Shore,Electric Callboy,Abigail Williams,Mudvayne,Ill Nino,Whitechapel I could go on!

I have quite an eclectic music taste, I have a passion for real heavy bass lines with a strong groove. My main inspiration for playing bass came from muse and then moving into metal was lamb of god. The underlying groove and strong bass tones have really allowed me to tap into the rhythm of bass playing.

Jim: I do enjoy a Bassist that stands out as an innovator, like Fieldy, Billy Sheehan, Cliff Burton or even Lemmy from Motorhead, where are those new ones? Tell me ‘cos i’m unaware please!

James: Angra, Between The Buried And Me, Blind Guardian, Death, Devin Townsend, Genesis, Haken, Helloween, Kreator, Rush, Testament

I think the biggest thing people can take from the above, If it’s Prog, Power Metal, or Thrash, then I’m probably into it… or if Gene Hoglan is on the record.

Jim: Gene is amazing, I’ll never forget the moment seeing him play and hanging out back in the days of Strapping Young Lad before the whole thing went massive! The fee to book SYL in the UK was as little as $600

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

Jim: Up until the age of 15 I wanted to be a Policeman but that swiftly changed upon hearing Black Sabbaths ‘Iron Man’ for the first time hearing distorted guitars, music was not the same back then as it is now, new discovery was a magical thing that you held onto as yours, I wanted to be a musician from that day onwards and honestly i’ve been trying since that day, I think i’d go as far as to say i’ve never cared much for anything else and had some hugely successful moments doing that for me but still always had to work a job as well unfortunately, or fortunately depending on your viewpoint!

Daniel: Listening to your stories always amazes me and the amount of musicians you have met astounds me at points.

Jim: I do like to name drop lol, no really the thing is it’s just about being there and at some point you get that moment, I think people forget i’ve been at this for over 30 years now so there’s highs and lows all the time.

Kamil: I’ve always felt that making music is something amazing. It excited me and gave me great satisfaction.

I can honestly say that I have never devoted so much attention and time to anything as to music and everything related to it. So far, I have no other plans. I want to do this for the rest of my life.

James: I always planned to play in a touring band, but I had almost sworn off of playing in a band after my last band split in early 2020. The next two years were the most bored I think I have ever been, and I almost ignored my opportunity to join Hedra, due to the band rehearsing in Norwich and my near lack of motivation due to boredom, but that was over a year ago, and I am obviously very happy that I didn’t ignore it.

Daniel:I have played music from a very young age and was lucky enough to start playing in high school with a few friends. I followed this passion up until my late 20’s where it never really amounted to much but playing a few local shows here and there so I stepped out to focus on my career for 5 years and then found Hedra and it has re-inspired my ambition to play music again and push to be better

What songs or albums are on your current playlist?

Jim: I refuse to subscribe to streaming sites at present so it’s whatever it shuffles up, i’ll usually start with Metallica and see where it takes me after the ads have blown my speakers but i’ve recently enjoyed Klones last Album ‘meanwhile’  after seeing them support Devin Townsend in Norwich, I do tend to click on the bands from our facebook group ‘The United Kingdom Metal Collective’ and listen to those going to work and back https://m.facebook.com/groups/UKMetalCollective/

Daniel: #Jim will not conform to the digital era!

Jim: I just can’t, I supported Lars and the Napster thing and in 2023 there’s a lot of bands who probably didn’t give a shite at the time now going ‘he was right, we can’t make anything work this way’ but some of us knew it, and I stand my ground, if you don’t buy and support bands with a format purchase then you’re just helping the platform curators and not the music. It’s sad that people think that paying for a subscription helps to pay the bands, sorry folks it really doesn’t, your £9.99 per month goes into platform development and largely some entitled pricks pocket! 

Kamil: I like oldies a lot. Currently on my list is the Mudvayne L.D.50. I love this album and come back to it often. Unfortunately,I don’t get to hear enough about new bands as the streaming and social media life overwhelms me, so if you have something new, worth listening to,please let me know

Daniel: I currently listen through Deezer and continuously have it on shuffle. I have had some electric callboy on bloody wood, Polyphia, I prevail, In Flames right through to some of the classic mudvayne i continuously discover new bands. I particularly like the Tekkno album by electric callboy and Rakshak by Bloodywood, Deceivers by Arch enemy is a solid album along with Darker still by Parkway Drive.

Jim: You’re probably most in touch with more modern bands ‘Electric Callboy’ whatever next for band names!

Daniel: I do love my music but yeah I can’t really comment on the names I just like the music!

James: I have not stopped listening to Blind Guardian’s “The God Machine” since it came out last year. Throw in Haken’s latest “Fauna”, and a mix of any of the bands listed above, and you have the gist of what I have on my playlist.

I’m always looking for new music though. I’ll buy CDs from other bands at shows, and such, but I’m not a streaming kind of person. If I can’t get something on CD, I don’t listen to it much. That does gate-keep some smaller bands, but It’s how I’ve always bought music.

Do you sing in the shower?

Jim: I don’t generally sing at all apart from rehearsals and gigs, I actually dislike my own voice coming from my head until it’s recorded, strange isn’t it, It sounds like someone else to me when that happens which is quite nice because I can be a fan of the whole thing listening back.

Kamil: Never. It’s forbidden in my house and especially in the shower hahahahaha. I have no voice at all. In music and singing lessons at school, the teacher gave me crayons and told me to draw something.

After a few years, when I learned to play the guitar, it turned out that my talent is shaped in a different direction than singing hahahahaha

Jim: I’ve never seen you paint either but if it’s anything like the guitar playing I think i’d buy a canvas!

Daniel: I definitely would buy a Kamil canvas too! I do not sing in the shower, for one I am there to shower and two it’s not a place I generally listen to music in a bathroom. For me it’s business only.

Jim: No pleasure lol!

Daniel: Maybe a Little.

James: My pitch-perfect impressions of Michael Kiske, and Rob Halford come out in the shower, but they go away the exact moment I step out… weird.

Jim: your manamana impression was spot on in rehearsal last week!

Daniel: It was pretty inspired and spot on!

James: I think all drummers have to find their inner Animal at some point.

Jim: Which is better than being a regular muppet I guess?

Do you have any plans for the band for this year and into next year?

Jim: My plans for next year are to reach more places we haven’t yet managed to play, the last time I went to Ireland was in 2000 and had such an amazing time there i’ve always wanted to take a band back there to play so that’s on my ambition list, also would love to get a Scotland Tour and surroundings done, because we’re from south east it’s never been logistically easy for us to do but i’ve always wanted to do it.

Daniel:I have never been to Ireland and would love to go traveling. I think the experience would be amazing!

Kamil: I will definitely want to put more work into the band. We want to climb to the top of the ladder of fame ,but without the right people and hard work it will not be possible.

The right people are here, now it’s just work. We know that we want to play bigger and bigger gigs and festivals but it mostly takes 4 wheels to make a car or it just doesn’t roll and that’s also a focus of ours to work equally to get there.

Daniel: For me we are looking to finish what has been a strong year with a strong end and our tour in August. For next year I would love to target more festivals and travel a bit further afield. I feel the next step up would be to get some festival appearances and really boost our reach by playing to larger crowds and getting to share our passion with a larger audience. It will take hard work but it’s definitely achievable with our current members.

Jim: Playing more festivals would be awesome. I agree the world needs to know us a bit more!

James: We have Metal 2 the Masses in a week or so, and a tour in August, so I’m looking forward to them. I’d like to head further out to play more shows that well-and-truly span the whole of the UK, even if going to Ireland would bankrupt us.

Jim: That’ll probably be over by the time this is out there in the media, if we won then yes the UK is back on track lol!

Do you currently have any new songs/albums ready to be released?

Jim: We’re working on the next stuff but really in essence we could do with more listens on the current release ‘The Pecking Order’ which was released in November last year, for me it’s amazing work from all sides and we spent a lot on it to make it really good, whoever hears it seems to love it which means we’re on the right path there but we like to change things up each time a new release is done too, so, we hope you like what’s planned for 2024 !

Kamil: Work on the new EP is in progress. We have a recording session booked where James is going to record the drums at Parlour Studios near his home in Kettering, I’ll be there to give support and a whip when needed!.

Guitars and Bass are also in progress. We don’t have an exact release date yet, but it will be at the end of this year.

I probably shouldn’t say anything more haha

Jim: Hope it’ll be done by March as that’ll be the due time but we make  allowances.

Daniel: We are working away on new material which is quite exciting to be straight into a recording process so early on in the band. It is a challenge with the shows we have played and continue to play but we look forward to the new year with some new music to share.

James: Let’s just say the new songs are taking shape quite nicely… A few of them are also rather hard to play.

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

Jim: We’ve played some amazing venues this year, the grassroots venues some are really investing in to bring live music back to life and they should be proud, i’m happy playing that circuit as long as the P.A. works! If we’re talking pipe dreams it’s the Nippon Budokan in Japan where the most prestigious have played, that’s my ultimate goal! 

Kamil:  I am a modest dude. The main stage at Download Festival Donington Park would be enough for me.

Don’t get me wrong. There are many places where I would like us to play with Hedra but everything comes with time and believe me, it tastes better if you earn it with hard work

Daniel: For me having seen bands play there and love the sound I would say Wembley Stadium. But as Jim mentioned we have played some fantastic grass routes venues this year.

James: I think all of mine have been covered by everyone else.

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

Jim: I don’t have a favourite album but if you were to ask me the best Album I think ever recorded i’d say Def Leppards ‘Hysteria’ you cannot beat that for production in my opinion, i’ve tried believe me but I can’t get anything close to the brilliance of Mutt Lang on that…ok ‘The Pecking Order’! lol

Kamil: I thought about it and never had one album, but if I had to choose between the albums that I love, taking into account inspiration, passion and sound, I would choose Pantera – far beyond driven.

This album bent me and changed my way of thinking about guitar music!!!

Jim: I wouldn’t talk about Pantera now though, embarrassing cash in on the legacy and then pretending it’s for the brothers, shameful in my opinion, I do agree that’s a belter of an Album though!

Daniel: This one is easy for me because it’s Origins of Symmetry by Muse. It has some of my all time favourites such as New Born, Plug In Baby, Bliss & Citizens Erased. All of these songs have fantastic bass lines and influenced my playing a huge amount.

James: “Moving Pictures” by Rush

Jim: James’ might possibly be drum related?

James: “Might” being the key word, there’s a small chance it is. Just a small chance.

Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?

Jim: For me it’s the 80’s Metal world I guess, it had it’s time but it was so OTT it was like a different dimension back then, I detest anyone trying to relive it now though apart from ‘Steel Panther’ who basically agree with everything I just said, but seriously if you’re one of those bands now you’ll never match it or give me the enjoyment I had growing up with it so stop it! Also recently Tina Turners ‘We don’t need another hero’, I wanted that to be our intro and was hounding to get that under way then Ghost released their cover and then she died so I’m confused as to why all that happened at once!

Daniel: I do have some guilty pleasures. I like Panic at the Disco as I am a bit of an emo also Taking Back Sunday. I have a real guilty pleasure for Emo/Screamo as it takes me back to my younger days.

Jim: Almost certainly a Norwich lad haha!

Daniel: I am one of the original forum kids!

Jim: For the readers that’s where a bunch of emos sat outside a Library on steps holding skateboards and looking sick fringe!

James: I’ve openly admitted to liking Power Metal, so I don’t really believe in guilty pleasures.

Daniel: That sounds like a guilty pleasure to me!

Jim: Power metal was ‘Manowar’ back in my day!

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

Kamil: I’ve never had the chance to see Korn live. Watching videos of their concerts, I have the feeling that the impression is huge.

Even just talking about it, I have goosebumps. Certainly Mudvayne. They are mental. And the icing on the cake – Slipknot.

These three bands for sure, although I don’t know in what order.lol

Jim: God yeah! I think Korn might just be the best band and crowd reaction I’ve ever seen at Donington Ozzfest. When they started out I stayed well out of the moshpit though as a weakling! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdELOKSHEyE

Daniel: I wouldn’t mind throwing into that mix Lamb of God as I would love the chance to see them live.

James: My choices would only throw a spanner in the works… Unless I was to add ‘Testament’, perhaps?

Jim: We do need some spanners in the works though, metal festivals are becoming a little bit ‘samey’ at larger scale capacity!

Daniel: To be fair, a bit of variation does cater to a wider audience and can be more engaging and help you discover new music.

James: Screw it then, Blind Guardian! Give them another reason to come back and play some more shows here.

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

Jim: The first album I bought with my own money was ‘no parole from rock and roll’ I still have it, I bought it for Yngwie but actually really enjoyed the vocals of Graham Bonnet as I’d never heard a Ritzy voice in metal music before! My album looks battered now though!

Daniel: This is before I was even born!

Jim: Yeah well I was only 9 when it came out originally so I think I got a repress of it!

Kamil: My first album bought with my own money was Korn  ‘life is peachy’ on CD. I love this album for its originality. After all these years, I still love to come back to it. I remember it was a bomb that blew my mind about playing. Heavy, low-tuned guitars, psychedelic licks, and amazing vocals. I love originality and creativity. I had to have this album. It is still in my possession

Jim: The first album was the one though!

Daniel: The first album I bought with my own money was Audioslave by Audioslave. When I listened to Cochise I was blown away and loved the rhythm and then when I listened to the album with songs like Show Me How To Live and Like a stone the album was a journey. Sadly I do not have much of a physical collection these days and do not have this album physically.

James: I remember buying my 1st 3 CD’s together, they were: AC/DC “Back In Black”, Iron Maiden “The Final Frontier”, and Queens Of The Stone Age “Songs For The Deaf”, and here I am all those years and 2000+ CDs later.

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

Jim: I don’t have fans, I have friends, I like to spend time with anyone showing interest in our music. The word fan isolates them for me so thank you my friends and I hope that we will meet someday if we haven’t already, this is why I do music!

Kamil: Yes. I would like to thank all our fans. I am very honoured that you took your time to get to know us, listen to our music, like and follow us on all social networks. That you come to our concerts and support us. It means a lot to us. There would be no Hedra without you!! Thank you!!

Daniel: I would like to say thank you for taking the time to read through our thoughts and insights. We just love sharing our passion with you all and again just thank you for your support. If we play near you come to our shows and say hi we love to meet new people on our adventures.

James: I don’t bite. If you see me at a show, come and say hi! I look forward to seeing you all there.

Jim: I can imagine noone would miss you in a crowd either so no excuses!

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

https://www.facebook.com/HEDRA.uk

https://hedra.uk

anything @hedra on socials TiKTOK Instagram, Youtube you got it!

We, at The Metal Asylum, would like to thank you for your time. Is there is anything further that you would like to add?

Jim: Thank you for including us on The Metal Asylum, keep up the great work of supporting bands like us. It’s very much appreciated!

Kamil: Thank you very much for the conversation. I hope we can talk again sometime soon. Kind regards

Daniel: Massive thank you for giving us an excellent platform to express ourselves, it is Much appreciated!

James: Cheers! It’s been great to talk.

This interview is the property of The Metal Asylum