PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
UK riff-slingers KILONOVA unleash their enticing EP, Omnicide, through all digital outlets on Friday 12th July. The UK newcomers have just revealed a stream of their new track, Straight To Hell – https://youtu.be/AMX_5wC0NrE . We sat down the band for a chat and here’s what happened:
What is the full band line-up, who sings and who plays which instrument?
Ellen Hill – Vocals; Jonny Sloan – Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals; Joe Bambrick – Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals; Steve Rouse – Drums
How and when did the band form? Tell us anything interesting about your hometown.
Joe and Jonny met in the Newcastle University Rock Society in 2012 but didn’t start to play together until 2017, after drunkenly pledging to form a band in a rock club. They connected with Steve when he responded to an ad placed online seeking a drummer. Ellen joined the band not long after, contacting the group through the Newcastle University Rock Society’s Facebook group. Newcastle is the home of Black Metal pioneers Venom.
When and how did the band really start gelling and solidifying?
Kilonova’s debut show was at an all day fundraiser gig for the Sophie Lancaster Foundation. Kilonova played at about 5pm sandwiched between two acoustic singer-songwriters. Despite the weird placement the audience went wild. When the crowd was demanding an encore and we had already played all our original material and a cover of Metallica’s Creeping Death we knew we were onto something. That’s when we stopped being four people who had written some songs and really became a band who were in it together.
Who are your musical influences?
Metallica, Gojira, In This Moment, Megadeth, Avenged Sevenfold to name a few.
Where did the name of the band come from?
Around the time we were naming the band Joe read about the gravitational wave discovery where a collision of two neutron stars created ripples in spacetime. That collision is a Kilonova, it’s where a lot of the universe’s heavy elements are forged and the idea of a cosmic, metal forming, universe shaking explosion seemed perfect for that heavy, chaotic sound we were cultivating.
Where have you played or toured? Please name all countries / regions and recognised bands that you have played with.
Kilonova have become a mainstay of the Metal scene in the North East, playing across Newcastle, Darlington, Stockton etc. They have also begun to spread their influence across into Carlisle and down to the fabled Catton Park, taking to the New Blood Stage at Bloodstock 2018. We have also supported Finnish Thrash upstarts Lost Society.
In your opinion, how is your band different from all the other bands out there?
Kilonova unite the old and new breeds of heaviness with a unique darkness to our sound and a relentless stage presence.
If a deaf person were to ask you to describe the sound of your music, how would you describe it?
Find your nearest roller coaster and have a trusted friend pepper spray you right in the face as you go into a long drop. That’s us.
Do you have a tour on the horizon?
We’re playing a set of shows with some of our 2018 New Blood compatriots and striking out across England this Summer.
Where can we find your social media sites?
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/kilonovauk/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/kilonovauk/?hl=en
Twitter – https://twitter.com/Kilonova1
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcYOKAs8G39EYu4okvyeqiA
