PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
PlanetMosh continues its support for the Northern Ireland leg of the annual Metal 2 The Masses competition – which gives the winners a slot on the New Blood stage at Bloodstock – by interviewing the participants in the fifth and final heat, which takes place at Belfast’s Limelight 2 on Saturday (April 18). Once again, in the interests of equity and fairness, the bands are interviewed in alphabetical order, with each one also being asked exactly the same set of questions…
A Little Bitter (questions answered by bassist Seamy Donnelly)
Can you briefly tell us who you are, where you’re from and how long you’ve been going?
The band is based in the mid-Ulster area, and is made up of Jonny Armstrong on guitar and vocal, myself on bass and Darren Pilkington on drums. ALB formed in 2004, so we are in our 11th year.
How would you describe your style of metal?
Our style is progish grungish melodic at times with a little thought.
What are your collective musical influences? (Please list band names only)
AC/DC, Metallica, Rush, Iron Maiden, RHCP up till BSSM, Pearl Jam, AIC, Motley Crue, Megadeth, The Cure… a lot of hair and thrash metal bands also.
In no more than a dozen words, why should you win Metal 2 The Masses?
To see a big field of people wrecking out to ‘Genghis’.
If you do not win your heat, which other band in the competition would you like to see win?
I love Sorrowfall, lethal band!
And, assuming you do win through, what band at this year’s Bloodstock are you most looking forward to seeing (providing they don’t clash with your set, of course)?
I’d love to catch Overkill or Nuclear Assault!!
Cursed Sun (questions answered by vocalist Jones)
Can you briefly tell us who you are, where you’re from and how long you’ve been going?
We are a metal band based in Belfast and we have been plugging away for near eight years now. Jonny is the only member who grew up in Belfast, whereas the rest of us are from Portadown, Derry and Banbridge. Four of us live in “the big smoke” now and Ciaran travels up from near Portadown to practice.
How would you describe your style of metal?
I just consider us as a straight up Metal band but we have been called a mix of Thrash, Death and Melodic Metal. I believe we have a different sound to anyone we have had the pleasure of sharing a stage with.
What are your collective musical influences?
Influences vary for each member but here are a few names: Lamb of God, Machine Head, Slipknot, Mudvayne, Metallica, Cannibal Corpse and Rammstein.
In no more than a dozen words, why should you win Metal 2 The Masses?
Because we are thee best, Mark. Lol. Kiddin’… but I think we are ready for the next step… prepared for the bigger stage and one of them stages is at Bloodstock.
If you do not win your heat, which other band in the competition would you like to see win?
Not to be biased but I would say Sinocence. Bad ass band that make great music and i have been with them from day one. Travelled and performed with them.
And, assuming you do win through, what band at this year’s Bloodstock are you most looking forward to seeing (providing they don’t clash with your set, of course)?
Onslaught of course – we have had the pleasure of playing with them twice already. Why not try for the hat-trick? Also Sepultura and Rob Zombie
Dead Addiction (questions answered by guitarist Chris Van Engelen)
Can you briefly tell us who you are, where you’re from and how long you’ve been going?
We are Dead Addiction, a five piece hard rock outfit from Belfast made up of several ex-musicians from well-established Northern Irish bands such as Sweet Taste, Maverick and Black Freeway. We are approaching our first year together as a band. The band consists of Ciaran Lyttle and myself on guitars, my younger brother Stephen Engelen on the skins, Danny Haughey on the bass and Mr. Niall Graham on lead vocals. We are currently working on our debut release.
How would you describe your style of metal?
Groovy, sleazy and pounding
What are your collective musical influences?
Black Label Society, Rush, Thin Lizzy, Iron Maiden, Danzig, Van Halen, Dokken, Queen, Skid Row.
In no more than a dozen words, why should you win Metal 2 The Masses?
Unique blend of groove and metal delivered with sleazy charm and swagger!
If you do not win your heat, which other band in the competition would you like to see win?
In all honesty it is hard for us to choose as we all have our opinions, personally I’d like to see Baleful Creed win, I may sound biased as they are good friends of mine but they deliver a real doomy sludgy style of stoner rock that you just can’t help but bang your head to. On the heavier side of things I would like to see Overoth, Altus or Sorrowfall win. Guitar player Ciaran would very much like to see A Little Bitter take it!
And, assuming you do win through, what band at this year’s Bloodstock are you most looking forward to seeing (providing they don’t clash with your set, of course)?
Definitely Black Label Society, massive influence on the band.
Shrouded (questions answered by lead guitarist/vocalist Dani Kansanaho)
Can you briefly tell us who you are, where you’re from and how long you’ve been going?
We are a three piece band from around the Lisburn area and Antrim. We formed in September 2013 with a shared interest in death metal and focused on trying to combine some of our favourite bands’ styles to ultimately make something new. We have played with bands such as Gama Bomb, Zombified and Scimitar in local venues and recently we’ve worked hard to record and produce our EP, ‘Inception of Inhumanity’, which is due for release soon.
How would you describe your style of metal?
Simply put? Brutal melodic death metal. Due to our many influences, we aren’t defined by a single genre, combining catchy hooks with thrashy riffing or raw black metal with crushing slams.
What are your collective musical influences?
Kalmah, Ensiferum, Cannibal Corpse, Bloodshot Dawn, Dying Fetus.
In no more than a dozen words, why should you win Metal 2 The Masses?
There’s not enough brutal melodic death metal in the world…yet!
If you do not win your heat, which other band in the competition would you like to see win?
A lot of our favourite local bands are taking part in the competition this year. Shame about Zombified not getting through – but, of the bands still in it, we would like to see Overoth, Scimitar and Rule Of Six do well.
And, assuming you do win through, what band at this year’s Bloodstock are you most looking forward to seeing (providing they don’t clash with your set, of course)?
Cannibal Corpse! A long standing band favourite who have managed to evade taking all of our money thus far.
The fifth heat of Bloodstock Metal 2 The Masses takes place at Limelight, Belfast on Saturday (April 18). Doors are 5pm, and admission costs £5. Two bands will qualify for the semi-finals, and the judging will be 50 per cent audience vote and 50 per cent judges’ vote. Punters will be asked to award points to the bands in descending order: four points for their favourite performance, three points for their second favourite and so forth. And don’t forget you’ll be able to get the results, together with a full review and photographs, right here on PlanetMosh.
