PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
Aethara is set to attack the New Blood Stage on Sunday 12th at this year’s Bloodstock.
We catch up with the band to find out more about them, the festival and what you lucky Bloodstock go-er’s will see!
Can you give the readers a quick introduction to the band?
Ben, Ted, Shawn, James. We’re Aethara, we’ve been together for just over three years, and we’re all founding members. We play metal, with influences ranging from Gothenburg melodeath and NWOAHM, all the way to the more modern tech that’s thriving at the moment.
Aethara, really, was started just for a mutual love of metal and for fun, but there was no real ‘ideology’ or big plan to start with. However, it quickly became apparent that we’d all clicked really well and we were writing good songs, and I think importantly we all had the same mindset of practicing a lot, working really hard, and putting on tight, energetic shows. You hear about a lot of bands who rarely practice, or play good music but with a lackluster stage show: that’s just not us.
Have you ever been to Bloodstock before? If so when and what did you enjoy most about it?
Yes, way back in ’08. The best thing for me was the bands – getting to see bands like Swallow the Sun, Eluveitie and At the Gates that don’t come this way often. I vaguely recall the bars being pretty awesome too…
Why did you want to become part of the New Blood Stage line up?
For us it’s the next step. As a band we haven’t played a large festival before so this will be the biggest stage and audience we’ve played in front of which will be an amazing experience, and it’s also chance to play for some of the big boys in the industry. But mostly it’s a chance to play our music to some new people, hopefully find some new fans, make a ton of friends, and watch some of the amazing up and coming talent on the UK metal scene.
What was your initial reaction when you found out you where playing on the New Blood Stage?
Disbelief, relief, excitement – I still don’t think it’s entirely sunk in, and I’m not looking forward to the nerves hitting whilst we’re in the wings! But we’re stoked, really looking forward to it. All four of us really wanted to get through, and we put a lot into that last show – so it’s great that it paid off.
What is your opinion of the Bloodstock lineup?
While a little lighter on the melodeath side of things than in years gone by, its a very strong lineup, I’m barely going to be able to stray from the mainstage!
What are you looking forward to most at Bloodstock?
All the headliners, there’s three massive bands for you, Testament, Dimmu Borgir, Iced Earth, The Black Dahlia Murder, Nile, Chthonic – and of course the other bands playing New Blood.
What can the audience expect from you at the festival?
A whole ton of energy, BIG choruses, cheesy solos, lots of windmilling, and a bouncy little leprechaun. We aim to entertain, and you won’t be disappointed if you come and check us out.
Can you sum up Bloodstock in one sentence?
Heavier than a neutron star in a black hole, more brutal than a honey badger in a corner
Any message you wish to pass on to the PM readers?
Keep checking out new bands! It means the world to us when people take interest in what we’re doing, and with metal being such a small niche, the fact that people will go online to discover new talent is just awesome!
Thank you for taking the time out to complete this interview, we are looking forward to seeing you at Bloodstock \m/
Links
https://www.facebook.com/aethara
http://www.myspace.com/aethara
http://www.youtube.com/user/AetharaBand
http://www.last.fm/music/Aethara
http://www.twitter.com/aethara
