PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
Welsh prog-metallers MALUM SKY are on the rise. Citing Alice In Chains, Tool and Monuments as influences, the band have just premiered their explosive new video single ‘Eye Above’ – https://youtu.be/tFcEjrqDw3g . We had a sit down with the boys to find out more about them…..
What is the full band line-up, who plays what?
Ben Honebone – Vocals
Jon Evans – Guitar
Mike Després – Guitar
Athanasios “Saki” Patsiouras – Bass
Joe Wilkes – Drums
How and when did the band form? Tell us anything interesting about your hometown.
Mike posted an advert online looking to form a metal band and the call was answered by Saki, amongst others who helped form an early, undeveloped version of what we are today. Mike’s girlfriend worked with Jon’s girlfriend and the two met at a gig where Jon was playing. A few demos were exchanged and it became clear that their writing styles complimented each other well. With the addition of original vocalist Abraham and drummer Joe, Malum Sky was born.
After recording and releasing the self-titled ‘Malum Sky’ EP in 2015, vocalist Abraham left to pursue other interests. The rest of the band, assured that something special had started; chose not to discard Malum Sky and start over, but to continue writing whilst searching for a new vocalist. After a long search and with a new harder edged sound developing, the Malum Sky line-up was completed by the arrival of vocalist Ben.
When and how did the band really start gelling and solidifying?
We are always gelling and solidifying! It’s an ongoing, organic process. The late addition of Ben Honebone in 2016 finally glued the band together. His enthusiasm and work ethic with our drive and passion has gotten things moving, resulting in regular live shows each month and the band becoming a tightly knit unit. The passionate, thought-provoking elegance that was the essence of the first EP remains. But now, we have a new edge that demands attention and intensifies both our live performances and the new music we create.
What are your musical influences?
Our biggest influence is each other when it comes to writing and performing as Malum Sky. The chemistry between us is our inspiration. We have been compared to, and are big fans of the following bands (to name a few!)… Monuments, Karnivool, TesseracT, Tool, Pink Floyd, Periphery, Alice In Chains
Where did the name of the band come from?
The name took us a long time to figure out. It represents the fact that dark things can also be beautiful. It takes on a new meaning in the band logo that features the Venus orbit star chart ‘Cassini Apparent’. Long ago, the intriguing and complex path of Venus across the sky was a mystery. Only when Galileo and Kepler made a leap in understanding and realised that the Earth is not the centre of the universe did they see that the path of Venus obeyed more elegant natural laws. This is symbolic of our writing process where our own leaps in understanding enabled us to see music in a new way and define our own unique style. It’s also pretty smooth to read and say!
Where have you played or toured?
With consistent multiple shows each month for the last 6 months, we’ve been playing mostly support slots with more established bands, although we do have our first headline show at Fuel Rock Club in Cardiff in April. The live career of Malum Sky is only just beginning! Here are the venues we’ve played so far…
Fuel Rock Club (Cardiff), The Scene (Swansea), The Dolls House (Abertillary), Hobos (Bridgend), The Full Moon (Cardiff), The Masons Arms (Llanelli), The Dragonffli (Pontypool), Mozarts (Swansea), Tech Rocks Festival (Reading), The Duke (Neath)
If a deaf person were to ask you to describe the sound of your music, how would you describe it?
During their lifetime, each person faces the good and the bad times, adversity and triumph, harrowing loss and ingenious creativity, dark regret of mistakes and moments of clarity where anything seems possible. Only when we reflect on ourselves do we appreciate the significance of such turning points and how they have shaped us and others around us. Our music follows these journeys and can mean something unique to each of us creating it and anyone listening. Syncopated and engaging rhythmically, with full and beautiful chords. Vocals that are strong melodically, lyrics that are thought provoking and relatable. Beautiful vibrations for all to enjoy.
Where can we find your social media sites?
facebook.com/malumsky
youtube.com/channel/UCnK5BoxAUfVtWZqrVIavFsw
twitter.com/malumsky
songkick.com/artists/8580104-malum-sky
malumsky.bandcamp.com
soundcloud.com/malumsky
