When it comes to the Channel Islands, most people think of the warm-hot summers the islands receive, but for those in the metal community it's the scenes that largely get overlooked, be it because of the geographical location or for those naïve enough to forget about the islands existence (there are people out there like this, don't shy away, you know who you are). But reminding metal fans of the scenes existence is one thing, leaving a mark is quite another, Guensey's own, Apothis, did both at Bloodstock with such ferocious rigour, we may yet see them called up to play the Sophie stage in years to come.

     Being interrogated about the band's history, challenges they have faced and are facing, the Channel Islands metal scenes and a smattering of topics here and there, was - Axel (guitars), Tom (bass / backing vocals) and Drew (vocalist).  

For those who are unfamiliar with Apothis, please provide the band's back story

Drew: -

     "It's a very long backstory. We come from Guernsey, obviously a very small island with not a whole lot of metal scene, so it's very difficult to get a band together, and we know that very well. We've been through a lot of different members, and now this is the current line-up, which I see... we came together just locally from the island, just met in pubs. Just-I don't know. It seems to work. It seems to stick.


Tom:- 

     "I am bass player number six"


Axel:-

     "I've at least re-I've replaced one of the guitarists, and this (Drew) one used to play guitar."


I read that you're the missing link between Metalcore and Deathcore, can we dub you Guernseycore then? 

Tom:- 

     "I mean, I believe we're inventing a new genre that might be Guernseycore, and I'm keen to champion it. Yeah.

Axel:-

      "We will be the pioneers of Guernseycore. But if, if that's the mantra we'll be given, we'll take it. I'm happy to run with that."


Speaking of Guernsey, this must be a huge moment to represent the Channel Islands at Bloodstock's 25th anniversary festival? 

Tom:- 

     "Yeah, absolutely. I think the last time Channel Islands got this sort of opportunity was about 12 years ago?"


Axel:-

     "Yeah. 2014, it was Byzantium Neckbeard. They won it. They were a doom metal band. They were playing at, like, 10 o'clock in the morning on what is now the New Blood stage on the Sunday. We were all very hungover after watching Emperor the night before. Yeah, I mean, it's fantastic."


You won the Metal 2 The Masses Channel Islands final, how stiff was the competition?

Drew: -

     "The competition was complicated. There was a lot of issues in the Metal to the Masses workflow, where gigs were cancelled, gigs sort of postponed. It was a very weird Metal to the Masses competition, but we made it in the end. There was great competition. There's a band called All Eyes On You, they were our closest competition. A little bit younger than us, but they were fucking fantastic. All Eyes On You played very well, incredibly well. They were wicked."


Tom:- 

     "I mean, they [All Eyes On You] worried us when they had beaten us by a single vote in the crowd vote, and we got the judge vote. We thought, "Oh, we actually stand a chance of not getting on even the finals. Ooh. We were very nervous at that point."


Axel:-

     "Definitely especially after the second one, it was just... usually, I got to the point now where I can just go up and be like, "Oh, we're playing a gig now," or whatever, but this is one of the few times in a long time since, I was actually worried about going onstage... and then coming offstage as well, waiting for them to announce the winner."


And so I can imagine, obviously, with, with such a relatively small population, that the metal scenes on both islands are extremely tight-knit?

Drew: -

     "Yeah, I believe we know everyone in the music scene, especially the metal scene in Guernsey. There's only a set amount of people that can play on a island of 66,000 people"


Axel:-

     "And even going across different islands and all that as well, we had the pleasure of playing with Demise Of Sanity, and Claymore, and a couple of other bands like that, and we get along just fine. We love those people, so... I mean, the music scenes in both islands is probably one of the single biggest things that links the two islands. There's no competition, it's just everyone there is doing it for the love of music, and everyone is equal in this, and everyone loves what they do with it. It's the one thing that is genuinely the tight-knit family aspect of it.


Any word from the fellow islanders in Herm and Sark? 

Drew: -

     "They're even smaller than Guernsey. They're country boys. They're country boys. I mean, I don't know if they've discovered heavy metal yet."


Tom:- 

     "We kind of, we may have had the opportunity to introduce ourselves to them once, but, uh, I don't think that got anywhere."

Axel:-


     "Both, well, I'm not even sure if Herm has any bands, in complete honesty. But Sark, I think, is more known for its, uh, folky stuff more than anything."


Can Apophis introduce both islands to metal music?

Axel:-

     "We never say never. I mean, we've done sillier stuff. We do play some very small sort of pubs.  There's a particularly one, The Britannia, which we've come back to a few times. And it's a very, very small place, and we have managed to absolutely ram it.

    it's one of the locals, It's as you imagined, the proper British pub. There's about eight dudes at the bar, and they all just sit at the bar and drink beer on their set stools. And we filled it out to the point where there was a queue outside, which was hilarious. Taking up the dart space.

     We also don't like to stay on stage. So the last time we played The Britannia, there was just a breakdown, no more vocals. We all sodded off outside. We were having a mosh pit on the zebra crossing outside. And the owners were filming it. They loved it."


Drew: -

      "We've started doing this thing where we just play at the local. So we just go to the local boozer in Guernsey, which probably averages about 10 people per night, and just smash it out, fill it up. Get a massive metal gig in the local. it's fantastic. Those are the best gigs because they're, they're silly. I mean, we drink beer, everyone drinks beer, it's funny. I mean especially some of the very silly covers that we end up doing there just to pad out the time. We have gained a bit of notoriety for playing our deathcore rendition of 'Pink Pony Club' [by Chappell Roan]. That gets asked for all the time.

     It's definitely in the works, that we might get a small covers EP out, and that will be on there, without question. It's one of the crowd's favourites, 'Pink Pony Club'. I don't know what Chappell Roan was doing. Why didn't she do it in gutturals?"


Tom:- 

     "I think last time we played it ('Pink Pony Club') we all basically got naked on stage anyway. That was a very spontaneous one as well. One person got their shirt off, I took my shirt off, the next person, and then the next person."


Tell us about your journey to Bloodstock, from winning Metal 2 The Masses, to arriving at the holy grounds of Bloodstock Open Air? What logistical challenges did you face? 

Drew: -

     "We had to get a ferry, which was delayed, as in true Guernsey fashion. And then we had to take the motorway, which was delayed, in true England fashion. So we arrived here at Bloodstock about 9:00 PM Thursday night, drunk a couple tequilas, drunk a lot of beer. In true Bloodstock fashion. Which is a typical weekend, I think.

     But when we won Metal 2 The Masses. The room went ballistic. It was such a fantastic feeling to think we've not made it, but we have the opportunity to play with such great bands on the same stage, and at the same festival as some heavyweights in the scene. It's fantastic."


Tom:- 

     "I mean we probably have one of the, I wouldn't say largest, but we certainly have one of the larger fan bases back home. And even some of the other bands who were competing, as soon as it was announced we had won, they burst out into cheers for us, and that's kind of how the community is back home. Everyone supports each other, regardless of if you're in that band or not."


Axel:-

     "We're all just happy to, especially in the Channel Islands, to get such, well, just a prestigious sort of event. I guess a very sort of amazing time to do that. And we've definitely took advantage of it, and we are going to definitely put on a great show. Even though I've currently injured myself, and three weeks healing, but, well, we're gonna do it anyway, 'cause we're not gonna cancel it. We are not going to basically put any less energy than we normally do. They'll sit me in a wheelchair, it's all right.

Is this your first time playing overseas or have you played elsewhere? Focusing on Guernsey specifically, what local challenges do you face?

Drew: -

​     "It's our first time in the UK. So from Guernsey, we don't really get a whole lot of opportunities to play to a decent large crowd because of the travel element. A lot of promoters in the UK and a lot of pubs, clubs... I don't want to say they don't appreciate it, but they don't recognize bands from Guernsey. Because we're so small, there is only a limited following we can get coming from Guernsey. So this is the first time overseas, probably one of the biggest debuts a band's ever had in the UK, but here we are.

    Regarding local challenges, there's been a big shakeup with, the ferry companies recently, and even just getting to Jersey with a single ferry, that is an absolute nightmare. Like there's only one or two ferries going to Jersey. There's one or two day trips going to very select places in the UK. We only have one airline realistically. There, I think there's a second, but it's kinda basically become one now.


Tom:- 

     "​Yep. I mean, for a first UK gig, I can't think of anywhere better to make a statement than Bloodstock.

     Following from Drew's comments, we basically have just one airline, and they aren't necessarily the easiest to work with to get instruments over. The biggest problem is getting from our home just across the water, and then all of a sudden everything is just so much easier.

     It just becomes an extra step, and even when it comes to something as basic as going on holiday or anything like that, there's not really many choices from where we live. You always have to make your way to the UK and then bunny hop to somewhere else, which just adds a lot more cost and like especially when it comes to, again, trying to carry gear and everything like that. It just makes everything a lot more expensive and complicated.


​Axel:-

     "Yeah. We've tried, we've tried to contact a few places, but we never really got anywhere with that. But then, definitely having this opportunity has really just accelerated that. Basically just jumped it up, uh, 11 notches.

     Making your way to the UK at the low price of £100 per way. Costs a small fortune to get anywhere from Guernsey. But we enjoy it. I mean, music festivals are the pinnacle of metal, I believe. Music festivals, it's what we all... It's where we all belong."


Speaking of going international, have you had listeners from overseas reach out to you?

Drew: -

     "We had this bloke from Global Metal Apocalypse called Rhys message us. But I think, like I said, Guernsey's isolated, the scene is isolated. I mean, obviously with the current situation with social media, you have the opportunity to break out from wherever you are, but social media is always difficult to gain any traction on. It's all AI based or algorithm based. You have to play the game to win the game. I mean, it's something we tried to do, but it's something we've failed to do."


Are you working on a follow up to your debut album “Eclipse”?

Drew: -

     "There is indeed a follow-up on the way. It's about half written. I say half, we've got about three songs that might be written and about five songs that are not written, but are on the way. So I believe by the end of the year we'll be in the recording studio recording and producing the album, hopefully."


What plans do you have for the 2nd half of 2026 and into 2027? 

Drew: -

     "Just continue what we're doing, try and play as many gigs, try and take advantage of this opportunity to play at Bloodstock. Try and live it, make connections too. Just try and get as much traction as we can from playing at Bloodstock. And then just carry on doing what we're doing. I mean, we still have fans at home we have to play for, so."


Have you got any greetings or thank yous, that you want to send out to your friends, family, etc?

Drew: -

     "A quick word from our sponsors. As we said, Guernsey is hard to travel from, so we've been sponsored by Guernsey Arts Commission. They support all the local arts - art, music, theatre. So we've been given a grant for travel through Guernsey Arts, which is fantastic of them. It saves us about £1000. Any money saved is very much appreciated."


Tom:- 

     "We've had a little bit of coverage from some of the news outlets back home, so I don't know about you guys, but I'd certainly like to say a thank you to BBC Radio Guernsey, BBC Introducing Guernsey, Island FM, Bailiwick Express and Amped. They, they gave us a major shout-out a couple days ago, alongside like, Lamb of God as like 'as one of the bands to see', and we were all just absolutely floored that someone had gone and put us on the same roster to check out as, on the same thing as Lamb of God. We thought, "Oh, this is incredible.""


​Axel:-

     "​Everyone who's given us a shout-out, thank you. Everyone who's supported us, thank you. You haven't seen anything yet."


https://www.facebook.com/apothisband

     
     Death Brigade won the Bloodstock Metal 2 the Masses Somerset heats this year, and so in dong so have brought with them their interesting take on the melodic death metal sound; with a sprinkling of black / death metal for good measure. Having dropped their debut EP "Rites of War" back in January, things could not have started any better for the ensemble as they aim to push forward and remind metalheads worldwide that the Somerset metal scene cannot, and will not be left behind.  

     Charlie (lead guitarist), Kieran (drummer) and Phil (rhythm guitarist) all took time out to talk about the band's history, their unique style of melodic death metal, how it feels playing Bloodstock's 25th anniversary and future plans. No trench foot was noted down after the interrogation.

For those who are unfamiliar with Death Brigade, please provide the band's back story.

Charlie:-

     "I think the backstory of Death Brigade came from our lead singer, Anthony Gill. He's very much into table top board games, war games, that kind of stuff, very Warhammer-esque. He found something called Trench Crusade, and he goes 'I want to put together a band that's you know, likens this kind of sound, this kind of thing', he found Paul, Kieran and myself and we just went yeah okay we're cool with this, and we kind of decided on a sound quite quickly."


Kieran:- 

     "Anthony really wanted to do something in the sort of style of Malfoy Gore, Corona Fever, all those like Black and Death Metal sounds. So yeah, it was like, because he came to Bloodstock a couple of years ago and he said, 'I want to do something that I can play at Bloodstock with', he went about and found it."


I read that you've only been around less than a year, so to actually win the Somerset Metal to the Masses and going on to play Bloodstock, surely it cannot start any better than this?


Charlie:-

     "I'm going to speak for the band now, it's one of those things, we I think to the date of Bloodstock, we actually formed... yeah, next week (commencing 3rd August), a year ago. We actually went to our first ever practice. This was the first time everyone met everyone and we went, okay, what are we going to do? And then we had our first ever gig this year, January 23rd, at the Cobblestones in Bridgewater.

     Bloodstock wasn't even on our minds, let alone Metal 2 the Masses. And so we just entered it for a bit of exposure, why not a few gigs here and there and everything. And then we ended up winning it, so it's just been absolutely insane. For a band that took only what, five, less than five months to win and play Bloodstock, from forming, in a way, it's insane. We're essentially supporting Judas Priest in our first year as a band."


Kieran:- 

     "January to July, that was it. From the first gig to winning Metal 2 the Masses and being here. It's just insane. It's been such a meteoric rise. I still can't really get over it myself. I'm pinching myself out of here right now, to be honest. And we're like three days away [at the time of the interview] from playing on the New Blood stage."


You won the Somerset Metal 2 The Masses finals, so how does it feel to play Bloodstock and fly the flag for the Somerset metal scene? 


Charlie:- 

     "Yes, a big shout out to the metal scene in Somerset. There's a lot of talented bands there. We had a very stiff competition. We were lined up with Nomad Lizard, Helen Bach and Rosa Mortis. All three bands that you should check out yourself as well that they're totally talented dudes, they know their craft, they know what they're doing and everything like that."


Talk us through the Metal 2 The Masses finals, from the moment you graced the stage, to the results being announced.


Charlie:-

     "We were quite lucky that we were put in a favourable spot on the bill, because it's randomly drawn on the night, so you turn up, that's when you find out what slot you're in. We were luckily the final slot out of the bands on the evening. There was a headliner after us, last year's winners, but out of the four Metal 2 bands, we were the last ones to play. From the moment we got there, like, Rosa Mortis, they opened up the night, and we were sat there thinking, we've got to... we have to really, like, put on our A-game now, because they opened up, they put on a hell of a show.

     It really kicked us up the arse, and we thought, you know, let's just go for it. It kicked us up In the arse in the right way because they just came out the gates 100% storming, and just went oh my god, we really need to actually step our game up for this"


Kieran:- 

     "When we got to the end of the night, it was just like you know we dreamt about it ,we thought maybe we could do it We also thought surely not as we've only been going for five months, but when our name was called out we thought wow, this is just insane, how can we ever talk despite being here at Bloodstock, it still doesn't feel real. 

     There's a big shout out to a lot of the South West bands performing like Carrier Sunk and Martyrs Saint, it's nice to represent this part of the UK as well. Just because it's the South West, don't discount it, there's a lot of like good music going on"


That's the thing, when people think of English metal they tend to hone in on the Midlands, London, etc and places like the South West seem to be forgotten about, so on that note please shed some light on the Somerset metal scene

 
Charlie:-

     "I think it's hard to say where it really lies, because I think for the few years that we've watched it and been participants of, like the voting system and everything, to have us as a newly formed blackened death metal band who have kind of risen through the ranks and everything like this, it's just like we get the sense that this is kind of what the scene needed in a way, someone just a bit avant-garde, a bit left field, we're doing something totally different - we've got the costumes, we're not playing it safe, we thought we should go balls to the wall.


Kieran:-

     "There's a lot of doom metal bands in Somerset or there has been for the last few years and I think like one of the reasons we did so well is that we just did something completely different to all of that, and I think that if there's one thing I'd like to get out of what we've done this year is that I'd like to inspire the next generation of 'not doom bands' to sort of come out and just enter the competition, because you know you can do it."


Charlie:-
     
     "Doom Metal definitely has its place. We're not discounting it at all, but as I said, I think because we were that band that were different, that's what made us go through. I think we're just these new kids on the block, and everyone's like, what on earth is this new sound?"


You dropped your debut EP “Rites Of War” in January this year, what was the reception like? Any listeners from overseas get in contact? ​


Charlie:-

     "I think we did get quite a few overseas because Spotify is quite good in that sense. It shows you the different areas of where your music's been listened to, where it's been picked up and all that kind of stuff. We had a very good reception of it because obviously we've, you've got to remember, we've toured, I say toured in the loosest sense. We've done shows and shows and shows of just like, that's our set list. So what you're hearing on the EP is what we've done live in the same order.

     It's it's been nice to show the EP live and everything, to places like Plymouth's The Junction, and to Bristol and Cardiff to a point, and go yeah this is still what we do, we're still developing our sound because obviously we're such a young band and everything, so to get that kind of response back from people actually listening to it, it's just it's it's mind-blowing because you just think I didn't even know that many people I don't think I've met that many people and they're listening to our stuff."


Kieran:-

     "Since we were announced as the winners for Somerset Metal 2 the Masses, I think we've been watching our Spotify numbers just go up and up and up and we're on like 900-odd monthly listeners now, which is just insane. We were on 250 about a month ago and it's just gone absolutely wild. So yeah, a lot of people checking us out for Bloodstock."

Now your style of melodic death metal is quite atmospheric – talk to us about the writing process and how you devise your sound? 


Charlie:-

     "The writing process, I would say it varies between who you speak to in the band. You know, it's one of those, but it's a nice point I want to stress. Like, we all come from, like, a lot of us have never been in bands before, so we're very used to writing kind of by ourselves in our own bedroom. So we go, actually, I've got a really cool idea. I'm going to run with this thing, see where it goes, and then I'm going to... You know, mix it down, do all that kind of stuff, and then send it to the rest of the band, and they go, oh, it's too melodic for me, it's too happy. And they go, oh, I need to add more Satan to it or something like that, you know, add more dissonance.

     But what is nice is that we get to the point where we're all happy with it, and then we take that to the practice rooms and go, right, everyone familiar with the song? Cool. And then we go rehearse it as a song. Until like us, so myself, Kieran, Paul, whatever bassist we've got on for that night, are happy with how the song should sound. And at that point, that's when we introduce the vocalist, Anthony, to kind of go, right, see how you feel doing these kind of vocals over it. You know, and it's, he usually comes out with some really cool stuff. It does take a bit of like prodding and, you know, kind of, you know, poke the bear.


Kieran:-

     ​"I mean, he's quite green, isn't he? So like, we need to direct him a bit. But... he always comes up with the goods, his vocal performance on the night is second to none, but it's very much a case we just have to bribe him with a McDonald's when it comes to writing some lyrics. So sit down there with a McDonald's and write some lyrics."


Charlie:-

     "The process I would say is kind of unique in a way, because there's no definitive 'this is how we write', and I don't think we ever want to go for that kind of, we need to write like this menetality. It's a very organic way of doing it. A lot of the songs from the EP either came from, originally, Paul, myself, Paul Kieran, or even Ant as well to a point, who just went, 'I've got a really fucking cool riff, I'm going to go with this, you guys deal with it, put some drums to it and everything else, go learn that'. And then we were like, actually, that's pretty cool.

     Or in some cases, when I write something because I write it too complex, it's, you know, tech death. It gets rewritten, but it's nice that it gets rewritten because, like, it's ideal for that because it's just, you know, it makes the song flow better. It just feels more natural from it."


You spoke about your stage outfits earlier. I had noticed that it's got elements of steampunk in there, but also Benedictine monks. How did this attire come about?


Kieran:- 

     "It all comes from the Trench Crusade theme, which we sort of like loosely based the band on. And so one of the factions in that is the, there's like heretics, it's like an alternate universe World War I in the game. And the basic history of that is that back in the Crusade times, a rogue faction of Templars opened a portal to hell, demons came out, and then fast forward to World War I, it's just demons versus people in World War I style.

     And so our outfits kind of come from that universe, and it's just, you know, we're the religious faction. It just looks really cool on the stage. It started as like we're all wearing monk outfits and we've slowly kind of like customized them ourselves, and now we've got something a bit more of our own to work with. So I think they'll evolve as time goes on as well. We've also got some barbed wire now."


We're halfway through the year, so what are the plans for the rest of the year going into 2027?


Charlie:-

     "Definitely an album. We've got a lot of new songs that are kind of in the foundation, you know, mechanical stages of like being formulated into a song. We've got definitely two or three down that we're kind of happy with what we are, it's like 'that's Death Brigade'. But I think the latter part of the year we're just going to really focus on not necessarily gigging and getting out there, just kind of like we need to put an album out there to really define what Death Brigade is you know, and this is a really important moment as a band as with any other band who's ever done anything, you know it's just we've got to do that next step of being confident enough to release something that we're like this is how we want to sound.


Kieran:- 

     "Obviously we like the EP so it started off as like 'here's a load of songs that all the individual members had and we've put them together and we've made them work as a band', but what we're doing now is we're sitting down together and making sure that these songs are a coherent Death Brigade sound that we can then sort of put out and showcase this is what we are, have a listen. We'll try and get that at the end of the year really, that's the plan. So after Bloodstock, we're going to sit down and put that out.


Finally, any greetings, thank yous or well wishes you would send out to friends, family, fans etc?


Charlie:-

     "Well, biggest thanks to my mum. She made a lot of the costumes for the band. She's the fashion designer as well, so it's nice to kind of share her artwork. I think everyone who's ever supported me individually and what I've done with this band as well as an entity, you know, it's amazing. Thank you. I love you all. I will try and honour that by playing Bloodstock with the best position I can as a guitarist."


Kieran:- 

     "Thanks to my girlfriend Leah who does all of our content for us and sorts out our social media stuff, she does a lot of that so slaving away in the background. She's not even managed to be able to be here this weekend so yea, sucks to be you, but yeah thank you very much for that and also all the Somerset bands who were part of the Metal 2 the Masses this year ,they put on a really good show and I mean a lot of them are here to watch us play this weekend as well. Everyone supports everyone else down there and it's just such a good scene to be part of so."


Paul [who undertook cameraman duties during the interview]:-

     "For me, I'd like to say a big thank you to a number of promoters in the local area who, before we were even really a band or before we'd even played our first gig, had booked us for shows and shown a lot of faith in us to actually deliver what we've managed to deliver. So yeah, thanks to those".


Cheers Death Brigade, stay metal.

https://www.facebook.com/deathbrigadeband/

     You may not have heard of Vanitas, but for those who have, they will vouch at how majestic this quintet are. Where Symphonic Metal collides with cinematic arranfements, and is sprinkled with dark RPG score influences, this ensemble showcased their unique twist on the EMP stage at Bloodstock Open Air, despite the searing heat the crowd did not hold back in rejoicing the magic bestowed upon them, it was as if Disney suddenly turned metal and Mickey Mouse became a metalhead - totally rewriting the score of Fantasia or for the animal kingdom, bringing a dose of 'Hakuna Metal' to the barren lands of Bloodstock's 25th anniversary.

     Vocalist Jade Maris, drummer Jackson Cann, and one of two guitarists - Mitchell 'Mitch' Barlow took time out to speak with GMA about their craft and welcomed us into their world. 

For those who are unfamiliar with Vanitas, please provide the band's back story? I heard you're referred to as when 'Disney meets Periphery', please explain how this quote came about? 


​Mitch:-

     "Essentially we formed under sort of a joke name years ago and didn't really take things too seriously when we were at university, and then we wrote a song called 'Ghostly Coast' which is Vinitas's first ever single and that song made us go ah we should probably take this more seriously. After that we released our debut EP Vanitas, we then gained the lovely Jackson, released our Chaos Theory EP and then released our Journey to the Sun EP last year."


Jade:- 

     "Yeah so we're all massive Periphery fanboys and girls and they're one of our biggest inspirations, we make progressive metal, in a kind of gentle metal way but then the Disney part comes in because we are a symphonic metal band as well, so we pride ourselves on big epic orchestral arrangements inspired by video games like Dark Souls and Elden Ring, something you could hear in a Disney movie too so hence the 'Periphery meets Disney'.


Okay so if you were to liken yourself to a Disney character, who would it be?

Jackson:-   "I mean, he's technically a Disney character, Sora from Kingdom Hearts, but if I had to choose a strictly Disney character, probably Stitch." [Jade agreed this was a fair assessment of Mitch's character]


Jade:-   "I would pick Simba from The Lion King because I've always been obsessed with that movie when I was a child." [Mitch agreed with her character likeness]


Mitch:-   "I would go with Remy from Ratatouille because he's little and cooks a lot and that's just a vibe." [Jade and Jackson agree on the height and Jade adds that Mitch does cook a lot]


Your sound is an eclectic mix of Symphonic Prog Metal, Cinematic Metal and djent, how did you curate your sound; are you all video game score fans? 
 
Mitch:-

     "Essentially a lot of our songs start sort of with mostly a guitar part, for example 'Behind the Mask' started off as just its intro riff and I was like okay cool, maybe put some orchestra behind that sort of as an intro leading into it, and then like the verse that was all orchestral chords and I was like okay, I've got this really cool like chordal movement now, I'm going to put some chugs under it. So it's kind of, most of the time it starts with guitar, and the orchestra gets added after but there's a fair few examples where the orchestra parts come first then the guitar gets added"


Considering you're inspired by composers like Nobuo Uematsu of Final Fantasy fame, has Vanitas ever considered lending songs to RPG games; have you been approached by video game designers? 

Jade:-

     "That would be an absolute dream of ours and we've been chatting to a video game designers recently so watch this space, in the future hopefully we'll get ourselves into a video game. We've already dipped our toe in a little bit, so we have two covers that we released officially. We did a cover of 'I'm Here' from Sonic Frontiers, because if you look at Mitch's leg tattoo, he's a massive Sonic fanboy.

     And we also did a cover of '115' from COD. 'Zombies' as well which was quite popular, we did it as a Halloween cover a couple years back"


Mitch:-

     "Yeah it would be an absolute dream from my part, everyone else likes JRPG's, but I've been playing JRPG's practically since I came out of the womb. I remember playing Final Fantasy Tactics on the DS and being like, what is this? I love it. And then getting like 13 and then eventually going to like 7, 8, 9. I'm a real big fan of like the Tales of series as well. Like basically if it's a JRPG, I'm like sick, I'm playing it. Big shout out to Persona as well."


Jackson:-

     "Yeah, doing video game music would be very, very fun. Some of my favourite albums are video game albums. Cough Cough, Mick Gordon's doing Cough Cough, but it'll be very fun."


So you're all fairly big in the gaming world as well, are there any particular games that you wish you'd see your songs in?

Mitch:-

     "Any Sonic. Any Sonic. Just straight up, any Sonic would be an absolute dream. Our other guitarist, Elijah, isn't here, unfortunately, but Call of Duty would be a banger. I mean, they've had Avenged Sevenfold in enough time to give it to the little guys too, you know?"


Jackson:-

     "Yeah, probably COD. And I know it would never happen, but a Doom soundtrack would... I just can hear like 'Behind the Mask' on like an Egyptian themed zombies map. When you do the easter egg like it would just fit really well."


Jade:-

     "[COD] is a good shout. For me like it's got to be Final Fantasy game and of course we are named after Kingdom Hearts and there is a new Kingdom Hearts game coming out so you know that would be a dream.

     The next Kingdom Hearts game in 20 years we'll try and be on that one."

With that in mind is it fair to say that metal music has many possibilities to tap into other entertainment forms never explored before? 

Jade:-

     "Yeah, I think there's a big crossover between metalheads and nerds, and people that like things like table-top games, D&D, movie soundtracks, video games, so I think we definitely intersect those two worlds quite a lot as a band. We like to advertise ourselves as, we're for metalhead nerds, that's who we are, what we're about, and I think there's a big audience of people that love that shit."


Mitch:-

     "To get all philosophical for a brief moment, metal's always kind of been for like the little guy so to speak, and a lot of nerd culture like for example D&D you know that kind of started out like, I think it's natural for metal to kind of embrace that. I mean off the top of my head, Tesseract did a whole game for one of their albums and like they were teasing their singles through the game, so if you complete the game (if I remember right), you've got one of their newest singles first before it was ever released on streaming platforms. I think it's just a natural progression that metal integrates itself more in more like nerdy subcultures.


Bloodstock celebrates it's 25th anniversary, summarise the festival in only 3 words.

• Jade -   "Heavy. Epic. Metal!!!!!"
• Mitch -   "Metal. Heavy. Epic"

 

• Jackson -   "Big Boys Bands - Judas Priest is technically a boy band. All metal bands are boy bands if you listen to them enough."

Honing your craft across 3 EPS and now showcasing them at Bloodstock's 25th anniversary must be one of your career highlights? 

Jade:-

     "We've been basically dreaming of this day since we first started the band. We've taken part in the Metal to the Matters competitions a couple of times, made it to the final, but never quite made it through. And I'd like to think that our performance at Bloodstock is evidence that if you persist, if you work hard, if you keep trying, you can get where you want to be. So we are extremely excited to bring our songs to the Bloodstock crowd."


Jackson:-

     "It'll be very, very exciting to play. It's like... We're playing just before Lamb of God, who are in my top three bands of all time, so that is huge. Huge."


Mitch:-

     "For me personally, I've been doing Metal to the Masses competitions on and off for, I think, nine years. So to actually finally be here and be like, oh my God, we are playing, it just feels insane. I don't know how else to put it. It feels insane. A bit surreal. Yeah, surreal is a good way to put it. It's just, you know, there's... There's a funny story where when we all got the email about it we were all at like our day jobs at the time and all of us just like did our best to ditch whatever we were doing at our day jobs and just message each other, be like yo have you seen the email?


Was it easy to switch yourselves off from work at that moment in time?

Mitch:-

     "From my perspective, it was like I was in work brain, checked my phone to see the time, saw the email and my brain, I just went giddy for ages and went around telling myself, Jesus Christ, what is going on?

     I think all of us were like, Jesus Christ, we want to tell someone what we had to keep it entirely in the band. And that was hard. Just because of all of us, it was no, I don't think, I think it's safe to say that it was no secret that all of our like immediate friends knew that this was something we wanted to do. So keeping it secret from them, that was the hardest part."


Jackson:-

     "Yeah, I was sat at work and my Apple Watch went off with the WhatsApp notification of Elijah. Just all caps, GUYS, GUYS, check the email. I'm like, what? And then I scrolled up a bit on the WhatsApp chat and then saw what he was about and nearly wet myself at work.

     Like the people who come to basically every show. That we ever do, like keeping it from them and being like, I can't tell you. It was hard, difficult, but you know, we all, we did it. We got through."


Jade:-

     "Now for the majority of Vinitas we are all music teachers so I was in the middle of teaching a class and the email like flashed on my laptop as I was mid-lesson and I just had to like completely compose myself and try and not pull a face in front of the students and then as soon as the students left the room I just kind of had a little dance on my own in the room and rang Mitch.

     I did eventually tell the students, I was like it was meant to be kind of strictly confidential until the announcement in April so I had to like I had to try really hard to keep it to myself for a while but in the end yes I definitely told them."


This also surely is rebuffed by your exposure on BBC Introducing? Has it become ever more challenging for unsigned bands to get noticed? 

Jade:-

     "I'll be honest, like, BBC Introducing, they don't tend to play super, super heavy stuff, so I would always shoot our shot, you know, I'd send the application off every single release and go, oh yeah, no, probably not. And then got the email through that we've been playing, we've been played quite a few times now, and I've just, it's just really nice to see the love for metal. We're all from Birmingham, obviously the home of heavy metal, so it's good to see our hometown sort of repping heavy metal on the radio as well."


Do you feel in that case that the mainstream media ought to pay a bit more attention to metal considering how popular it is nowadays?

Mitch:-

     "Yes, it's bigger than people realise and I just think they don't think it's marketable on like mainstream TV and big channels and stuff, but like when the World Cup was on and it was in between halves and they played Pantera I got really hyped and a lot of people got really hyped, so I think they need to lean into that more, do more stuff with metal because it is huge, it's massive."


Jackson:-

     "I think from my perspective I'm quite happy in the idea that I think a lot of, for lack of a way of putting it, gateway bands are popping off more. I know they're not everyone's cup of tea but Sleep Token, like I'm so glad they've popped off because It's just another band that has any chance of like teasing someone from, the lack of a better way of putting it, the mainstream sort of music fear and teasing them and getting them interested in dipping their toes, I'm fully happy for that to like just keep being a thing, and I just hope that continues because i know like i know there's quite there's quite a few bands that played like Glastonbury this year that was like a bit more metal focused and stuff."


It's similar to artists like Billie Eilish who endorse metal music in the same way and of course a certain demographic of people within the metal community, they look at pop artists and think 'you know they're not metal enough', is that a fantasy? Do you think that pop artists are not metal enough?

Jade:-

     "There's room for everyone in the metal scene and that's something that we really strive ourselves on. I think it doesn't matter if it's heavy or not heavy or who's playing the music. If people like it, they like it. I mean as a progressive metal band we're all about mixing genres, mixing influences and I think that's where metal shines the best because it shouldn't be like this is metal, this is not metal. Let people enjoy what they enjoy."


Mitch + Jackson:-

     "I also just secretly hope that more crossovers happen, like the whole Ed Sheeran and Cradle of Filth thing.

     It's like Knocked Loose and Denzel Curry did the song 'Hive Mind' earlier this year and it absolutely popped off with people who like metal and people who like rap, like what Denzel Curry does and him supporting Deftones, I think has also brought people in but more crossover stuff, yeah I definitely definitely want that, yeah like the Ed Sheeran and Bring Me The Horizon stuff. To be honest I almost feel like Ed Sheeran's becoming like the 'hey guys check out this cool music guy in the mainstream media' kinda guy I think yeah."


Has it become even more challenging these days for unsigned bands to get noticed?

Jade:-

     "Definitely. We're in a sea of saturation of unsigned independent bands like ourselves trying to get heard. As you probably know, social media is the way to go for a lot of these bands, but it can be tiring. We're here to make music, but you feel like you have to become a full-time influencer just to get your name out there. There's a lot of the parts of content I really enjoy, and what I enjoy about it is connecting with people, getting to meet so many lovely people. But the endless... grind of it all, you know, never having time to actually sit and make the music, which is the most important part, of course.

     So, I do think it's difficult for bands, but what I also think is it's more accessible than ever before. You know, you don't need to have rich parents, I mean, rich parents help, but you don't need rich parents, you don't need a massive record label or a giant multi-million dollar studio. You can, you know, make some music on your laptop, upload it to District Head for, you know, maybe £10, and you can release some music."


For the 2nd half of 2026 and going into 2027, what are your plans?

​Jade:-

    [At the time of the interview the Bullhead Festival announcement was under wraps] "Can't say too much yet but we have a really big announcement coming in the next week or so depending on when this interview goes online and we have more music before the end of the year you can expect that, and our biggest project yet in 2027 so look out for that.


Any final comments? Any hello's, thank yous, that you want to send out to your friends, family etc?

     "Thank you Bloodstock, thank you everyone who's ever come to watch us play even if you didn't like us thanks for coming anyway, big up to big Jay and big Shell, and finally embrace Sonic and play more Sonic games, the music's really good I promise and also praise the sun."


Thank you, Vanitas. Stay metal.

https://www.facebook.com/vanitasbanduk​

     When Motionless In White brought to the world their combination of Metalcore and Gothic Industrial tinged metal, there were those in the metal industry who raised eyebrows and embraced a sceptical view of combining these music styles. Fast forward 2 decades and the combined sound is still riveting and being embraced by more walks of life than at first fathomed. The latest incarnation comes from Chilean ground-breakers We Are The Monster, whose ferocity is only matched by their pitch black darkness and brooding atmospherics. 

     Ahead of their maiden release with Spanish metal label Art Gates Records, the hotly-tipped and widely anticipated album "Born In The End" of which drops 29th January 2027, the sextet took time out of their duties to talk to Global Metal Apocalypse about their humble origins, their journey so far (including supporting Avatar, Jinjer and most recently Deviloof) and what the future ahead will bring arguably the greatest Chilean metal export since Pentagram (Chile) and Criminal. 

For those who have not heard of We Are The Monster, could you explain how you came to form the band - were you in previous bands to begin with?

     "We Are The Monster was born from the idea that a band could be much more than just music. We wanted to build a universe that truly represented us, one where crushing riffs, emotional atmospheres, electronic elements, a strong visual identity, and our personal story could all coexist.
Most of us came from different bands within the Chilean metal scene. Every project taught us valuable lessons and gave us important experiences, but over time we realised we all shared the same vision: to create a band with an international mindset from day one.

     We didn't just want to write songs; we wanted to create an experience that people could hear, see, and feel."


Individually could you tell us who you are, what you play / do in the band and how you got into playing music; are any family members musicians or inspirations?

     "Each of us found our way into music through different paths, but we all share the same passion for creating something that truly connects with people:-

• Zero - the founder, songwriter, and lead vocalist of We Are The Monster, is the person who brought the project to life. His vision was to create a band that combines modern metal, a dark visual identity, and a conceptual story inspired by our origins. Since childhood, music has been his way of expressing himself, and today he leads much of the band's creative direction.

 

• Anaxor - is our keyboardist, scream vocalist, and is also responsible for the synthesizers and makeup that has become a defining part of our image. Her contribution goes far beyond the music, she played a major role in creating the visual identity of We Are The Monster. She has always been drawn to heavy music and artistic concepts that blend powerful sound with gothic aesthetics.

 

• Leo - is our lead guitarist. His playing brings the aggression, technique, and melody that defines a huge part of our sound. He fell in love with the guitar and heavy music at a young age, developing a style that has become an essential part of the band's identity.

 

• Nick - is our bassist, provides the weight and foundation behind every song. He has always viewed the bass as much more than a supporting instrument, striving to give it its own personality and presence within our compositions.

 

• Jay - is our drummer. His energy, precision, and creativity are essential to both our live performances and our recordings. Music has always been his way of channelling his energy, and that comes across every time he sits behind the kit.

 

• Javier - is our rhythm guitarist. His role is fundamental in building the backbone of our sound, bringing power, consistency, and a strong connection with the rest of the band. His passion for guitar started at an early age, and he has become a key part of We Are The Monster's evolution.

     While some of us grew up in musical families and others discovered music on our own, we all share similar influences. Bands like Motionless in White, Bring Me The Horizon, Architects, and Spiritbox have all had a significant impact on us. We also draw inspiration from industrial metal and electronic music. That combination of influences is what has ultimately shaped the identity of We Are The Monster."


The Chilean metal scene is strong with some notable successful exports, could you consider yourselves the next wave of Chilean metal?

     "Chile has an incredible metal scene filled with talented, hardworking bands. We have nothing but respect for everyone who paved the way before us.

     Whether we're part of the next generation of Chilean metal isn't for us to decide, that's something time and the audience will determine. What we can say is that we work every single day to represent Chile in the best possible way and prove that world-class music can come from the southernmost part of the world. 


     If our journey inspires future Chilean bands to dream bigger, that alone would make us incredibly proud."


You recently released your self-titled single ahead of your 2027 album release "Born In The End", it sounds like you're taking a far heavier and darker approach to your craft, was this the plan?

     "Absolutely. "Born In The End" isn't just an album it's a story. Every riff, every synth, every lyric, and every visual element exists to build that universe.

     We wanted everything to sound darker, heavier, and more cinematic without losing the emotional side of our music. For us, the contrast between aggression and atmosphere is a fundamental part of who we are.

     Our self-titled single is simply the gateway into everything that Born In The End represents."


From hearing your music, there is a major leaning towards Motionless in White as a core influence, so how do you try to distinguish yourselves from them; I noticed there is more of a Metalcore approach?

     "Motionless in White has been a major influence on us, just like many other bands we admire. They've shown that heavy music can be massive, melodic, and visually ambitious. But influence is only the starting point.

     Our identity comes from blending modern metalcore with electronic music, cinematic production, and our own narrative inspired by darkness, emotion, and the experiences we've lived as people.

     Our goal has never been to sound like another band. We want someone to hear one of our songs and immediately say, "That's We Are The Monster.”

​Welcome to Born In The End.

​This is only the beginning, and we hope to meet all of you somewhere in the world very soon"

     What happens when you take metal music and combine it with the world of television? No you don't get another MTV, nor the satirical Metal TV abbreviated to MTV. Nope, you get MetalRocks, a dedicated channel available 24/7 to all things heavy (except hangovers).

    ​Metal.Rocks can be watched completely free, on Smart TVs. No subscription, no sign-up, just find the channel on Samsung TV Plus (Channel #4745 in the EU), WAipu, Rakuten TV (EU), Plex (international) and Pluto (ES) and press play.

     Global Metal Apocalypse was impressed by this revelation and so sought out to have an interview interrogation session with one of the co-founders Patrick Walch, here he did not wince at the pressure applied and expressed this creation in such detail. No one was hurt during the interrogation, over to you Patrick!
​

Patrick, thank you for your time to talk to Global Metal Apocalypse - 

     "Thank you for giving us this space to talk about our latest and most exciting endeavour METAL.ROCKS! 🙂"
 

It's apparent that over the decades, the way metalheads and rockers consumed music entertainment changed - the glory days of MTV gave way to magazines and the plethora of online zines and blogs, so in a world where digital consumerism is rife, how does Metal.Rocks aim to challenge this and deliver a 24/7 global channel for the global legion of metal / rock fans?

     "With our Smart TV channel we didn't create something people urgently need, I believe. It is rather something fans may WANT and from the first feedback we got so far, it is a mix of said MTV nostalgia and discovering the latest music videos of your favourite bands without having to actively research or rely on algorithms. So, leaning back and enjoying whatever cool and heavy videos, old and new, your big TV screen shows while enjoying a good drink as opposed to rushing through the insane feeds of your cell phone all day.

     It's just a different kind of bliss which compares more to watching a movie with decent sound- and visual quality on your sofa over what we're used to from quickly checking a YouTube video on your phone. It's appreciating the art of music AND video together the way it deserves it. I'd say it's experience over consumption."
 

Could you tell us how you came up with the concept of Metal.Rocks, the challenges you had to overcome in gaining broadcasting licences and established dedicated broadcasting channels in the various regions?

     "I'll spare you details from these indeed very real and boring technical obstacles we had to overcome and which can indeed be draining your energies and patience. But luckily we managed to push through and could realize our dream of connecting the TV and music world once again, just like we connect artists with fans.

     Since we're an independent company it was more feasible (I consciously avoid the word "easier" here, hahah) to pioneer new paths and see where it leads. It might have been a crazy dream to bring back something like MTV in 2026 and 100% metalize it but now we're here and I think it was worth all the effort. Both artists and fans deserve such a platform and be reconnected without any algorithms determining what they might see or not."
 

As we know it, metal music is a global phenomenon and many bands worldwide long for platforms to give them exposure no matter what the content is, so with that in mind, could we see Metal.Rocks offer slots on the programming schedule for promoting bands from far and wide e.g. Chthonic from Taiwan, alongside the established institutions e.g. Iron Maiden?

     "Absolutely! That is the goal. To have talented bands no one has ever heard of from countries you might not have even known they exist show their latest video alongside the biggest players in the genre. Of course I know the legendary band Chthonic and Taiwan 😋 this goes just to say that the sky is the limit. We all need that so much!

     And beyond music videos and concerts we also want to show more interviews, documentaries, behind the scenes content, news shows and entertainment from the heavy world soon. And with world I mean from all over the globe to give more cultural background and visibility which other media usually don't care much about."
 

Are you hoping that Metal.Rocks could appeal to the next generation of fans and show to the wider public that rock and metal music is far larger and more-community based than they think it is?; we know the stereotypes the mainstream tries to pin on the rock/metal fan-base, so this could be the antithesis to this?

     "On the one hand the channel can serve to show that indeed metalheads are different and proud of it. We might look and sound crazy to normal people and that's good. But on the other hand we breathe the same air and bleed red as well so, I hope we can also welcome some curious minds to give the channel and the Metal and Rock genres a chance, regardless of generations and attention spans that come with each ;-) Chances are you might find your next favourite song here."
 

With regards to the programming schedule, how do you decided on what to air and when - could we see themed broadcasts around major holidays like Christmas?

     "Depending on the content and support we get from labels, artists and content creators we can show whatever we like. Well, if you wanna watch 18+ videos you need to tune in a bit later in the day ;-) But yeah, we're working on different programs for metal sub-genres, themed for festivals, seasons, nostalgia vs the latest shit and whatever topics that may come to mind to keep it always fresh and entertaining.

     But in the end the viewer will decide what he likes to watch so, analytics over algorithms. We invite everyone to please give us feedback on our website or via social media what you like in our program or what you'd like to have changed. No matter if band suggestions, genres or potential program formats, we hear you. Let us know your suggestions and craziest ideas, they might come to life at Metal Rocks!"


Could Metal.Rocks challenge Spinal Tap and exclaim that the TV channel goes all the way up to 12 and surpass their 11? Speaking of Spinal Tap, although a mockumentary, which documentaries are your favourites and why?

     "The goal is definitely to smash the 13 sooner than later 😋. When it comes to documentaries, personally I prefer nature documentaries which are a great antidote and calmer balance to watching extreme metal concerts on the other hand. It's like alternating taking hot and cold showers, excellent for your circulation, hahah!

     But working on the program schedule I hope to also discover some new footage I have never seen before, even though I've been working in the metal music business for decades. It's definitely an exciting journey and I love to re-watch legendary videos I haven't seen in ages and discover the latest releases by trending artists on the same channel.
 

What plans are in the pipeline for Metal.Rocks in the months ahead and into the new year?

     "We're working on upping the game on all ends like licensing video content from more labels and distributors, opening direct video submissions for indie bands very soon, producing our own content, collaborating with content creators for entertainment like video reactions and come up with entirely new ideas, traveling to the best metal festivals out there next summer and get shit-faced so, there's a lot on the schedule. We're only getting started..."


Do you have any greetings or thanks you wish to send out to friends, family, etc? 

     "Thank you everyone for reading my thoughtless bla bla, thank you Global Metal Apocalypse for giving room to my thoughtless bla bla, thanks to everyone who had already discovered Metal Rocks on their own and is supporting by watching it regularly, thanks to everyone checking it out now and for telling your friends. Rest In Power Shaun Glass, you're already dearly missed.

And thank you everyone for sharing your opinions and suggestions for the channel. Much love and metal! \m/ "


Visit for more info - https://metal.rocks/

     Whenever a band sings in their own native language, a strong connection is felt towards that culture and a deeper sense of connection is built; for the natives it's a gentle nod towards deeper meaning, but for those who do not know the language it's not only a gateway to help learn the language but also experience something truly authentic to that country. Don't believe us? Just ask Estonia's Ampest. This sextet was "originally formed as a parallel project to the folk band Antsud, the band later adopted the name Ampest to distinguish itself from Antsud's non-metal musical direction" (https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Antsud_Metal_Project/3540584015) - and lean on Estonian folklore and mythology among other topics in their music

    Following their performance at the Estonian rock / metal festival Hard Rock Laager, Global Metal Apocalypse caught up with the band and spoke about the long history this band has seen in it's various incarnations, the lyrical topics, how each member got into playing music and their future plans.
​

    Symphonic Metal is one of those music genres that is highly saturated with copious amounts of bands, and so to avoid the trap of being classed as another factory-produced band or just another carbon copy of Nightwish, it's crucial and wise to take a unique approach to stand out from the crowd. One such band who has stamped their mark and distinguished themselves well is Spain's Crusade Of Bards. By leaning on mythical tales and stories, as well as having a penchant for including pirate music sounds, this sextet have positioned themselves as a name you are sure to hear about more in the years to come.

    Vocalist ​Eleanor Tenebre spoke to us ahead of their 3rd album release "Tales of Distant Worlds" (out 24th July via NoCut Entertainment) and discussed the new album, the band's backstory and their approach to music crafting.

     Corners Of Sanctuary have been rampaging throughout the East Coast and in their home city of Philadelphia for 15 years and the heavy metal / hard rock outfit show no signs of putting the brakes on anytime soon. Not only are the quartet gearing up for a tour spanning across 3 months on 9 set dates, but they are also a part of something monumental to the Philly metal scene, a documentary of it's rocking history. 

    Founder and guitarist / keyboardist Mick Michaels gave Global Metal Apocalypse the low down on their historic milestone, what it feels like being a part of a unique regional documentary and the challenges American metal bands face nowadays.
​

     ​Your going out on a 9-date tour late July, starting 07/23 in New York and finishing 09/26 in Pennsylvania, mostly focused on the East Coast - will this be a road trip or going by plane? At least one of those dates is a festival appearance - 'Coal Region Veterans Fest' - have you played there before?

     "We originally had discussed going back to Europe for a string of shows to celebrate our 15 year anniversary. But the climate just didn’t feel right. So then we decided to do a West Coast run of shows. We ran into a few snags along the way and that was cancelled. So, we decided to stay on the East Coast and do a few shows, making it a road trip in the process. We’ve been on a plane for tours in the past but nothing beats an old fashion road trip excursion with four guys and their equipment jammed packed into a vehicle for hours. It’s a true bonding experience like no other.


     And what better time to do it than in the summer months? We are excited about hitting the road. Most of the dates will be new venues for us. That is doubly exciting. This will be our first performance at the Coal Region Veterans Fest and we can’t wait. Anytime we have a chance to participate and support our veterans we jump on it. Our bass player, Matthew, is a veteran.

     We are also playing the Field of Screams event in September… twice actually. That’s a big event centred around Halloween with a haunted house and other related entertainment including a host of bands performing. Thousands of people attend it each year. This is our first time playing, so we are pretty excited. We look forward to seeing you there!


     Aside from the documentary which is slated for a 2027 release, touring plans, and (if happening) a new album coming out this year, what plans do you have for the year ahead going into 2027?

     "More music for one… including another new single scheduled for September and of course our annual holiday track in November. We have a few other projects currently in the works including an acoustic album, some more CD and maybe vinyl reissues of older albums, and an autobiography on the band that we have been working on over the past couple of years. We had plans to release it for the 15-year anniversary but people usually put these sorts of things together when they are coming close to the end and ready to take a bow. But I don’t think this band is there yet. So, with that in mind, we intend to take our time with it…chapters are still waiting to be written!


Do you have any greetings or thanks that you wish to send out?

     First off, thank you for talking with me and allowing me to share a little about Corners of Sanctuary with your readers.


     And we definitely want to thank everyone who has supported us over the last 15 years. It means so much to us and we are truly grateful that we have been given the opportunity to share our music with so many people. That truly is a blessing. In this business, people come and go in a blink of an eye over the long haul. Life often has other plans of us. But we have never forgotten what those individuals have done for us… both big and small. They are the ones who made it all possible.

     We really do hope to be doing this for a long time to come. So thanks again and we will see you at the show… COSnROLL\m/\m/


​www.cornersofsanctuary.com
www.facebook.com/CornersofSanctuary
www.instagram.com/cosnationmetal

COS on Spotify

• “Crimson Sky” stream: https://bfan.link/crimson-sky
• “Crimson Sky” music video: https://youtu.be/c_jciiqOPhM

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Get Rocked at www.WhenWeRockedPhilly.com

     Metal music needs no introduction and nor does its global spread need any explanation, for decades this expressive form of music has touched hearts and minds across the world and yet, more and more places are embracing it thus joining the global community.

    The latest addition to the international family is Nigeria's Lovesick who this year won the first ever Wacken Metal Battle heats in their homeland, sadly due to logistical reasons they were unable to head down to the finals in South Africa but no doubt have turned heads across the African continent and beyond as flagbearers of the Nigerian metal scene. Here is hoping they get a second chance at gracing the finals in South Africa next year in an attempt to go on and represent Nigeria at Wacken Open Air in Germany.

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    Whilst Nigerian rock music existed for a while, metal music for a while was mostly confined to a loyal legion of fans who listened to it at home and at club nights run by Nigerian rock musician / promoter Clayrocksu. Shedding light onto what direction the scene is heading in and how Lovesick aim to stamp their authority on the global stage, frontman Korny (Vocalist / Rhythm Guitarist) gave us the lowdown..  

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Please tell us how Lovesick formed as a band, did you know each other before the band formed?

     Firstly I'd like to thank you Rhys, for reaching out to us. It's a privilege. Before Lovesick, I was a solo metal artist, (Korny) jumping from band to band and playing solo acts sometimes with the help of our present drummer (Jola). My previous band and I parted ways, so I recruited the drummer of said band (Jola) alongside (Ayo) the guitarist who I had met earlier at one of the rock night events at the Hard Rock Cafe, and we started Lovesick. 


     We started small as a trio playing metal at Rock nights just for the fun of it and the love for metal. Our sound was heavy, refined and authentic but it was lacking something.... bass lines and fills. We later became a quartet with the inclusion of a bassist (Chimzy) which was actually the guitarist's (Ayo) idea and recommendation. We were finally complete and later went ahead to compete and win at the 2025 Battle of the Bands organized by Makemusiclagos.


Please talk about the Nigerian metal scene - when + how it started, the challenges musicians and bands have faced, what Metal Battle means for the people of Nigeria - how is metal music perceived by the public?


     The Nigerian metal scene has existed as far back as 2010 with Metal bands like One Last Autograph, and Alternative Rock bands & artists like Rooftop Mcs, Clayrocksu, Chapter V, Threadstone, Xtsamurai, Plus234, etc.

     One of the biggest challenges, both then and now, has been dealing with misconceptions about the genre being labelled as "The Devil's Music" and the relatively small fan base. Rock and metal are often misunderstood, which can make it difficult for bands to gain wider acceptance. But despite that, there has always been a passionate community keeping the music alive. In many ways, that dedication is what has allowed the scene to survive and continue growing over the years.


     We're simply proud to be part of that journey and to help carry the torch for the next generation. Wacken Metal Battle means a lot to us because it's a chance to show the world a different side of Nigeria. Metal is still a niche genre here, and it's often misunderstood because most people associate Nigerian music with genres like Afrobeats. But there's a passionate metal community that has been growing quietly for years.

     For us, Wacken Metal Battle is an opportunity to represent that community, challenge stereotypes, and show that Nigerian metal belongs on the global stage. We hope it inspires more people to embrace heavy music and realize that metal has a home in Nigeria too.


Back in the 1970's Afro-rock was a major music genre across West Africa, but for Nigeria, did it provide the foundation for rock and now metal to bloom?

     Definitely. I think Afro-rock played a huge role in creating the foundation for rock and metal in Nigeria. Bands like Ofege, BLO, and Monomono proved that rock music didn't have to be something foreign—it could be ours too.

     For us in Lovesick, we see what we do as part of that same lineage. We may be playing much heavier music, and our influences might come from all over the world, but the idea of taking a genre and expressing it through a Nigerian lens isn't new. Those Afro-rock pioneers were doing that decades ago. In a way, we're just carrying that spirit forward—turning up the distortion, down tuning our guitars, adding our own voice, and showing that heavy music has a place in Nigeria.


Alongside yourselves, there are other rock / metal outfits in Threadstone and Clayrocksu, so, surely the three of you are pushing Nigerian metal onto the global stage as well as the African continent; is it fair to say West Africa is embracing metal music more than say a decade ago?

    They're embracing metal. We just have to keep being in everyone's faces regarding it. At first, the normies are like what's this madness? Then 2 minutes in, they begin to notice that there's actually a method to this madness, a message inside and that this madness is low-key groovy 


For each member of Lovesick, what does metal music mean to you personally and do you feel it offers Nigerians an opportunity to scream out at life's challenges in a safe way?

• *Korny* - it's the only healthy way I can vent out my frustration at how hard life is at the moment and the present ineptitude of the current Nigerian government.

• *Ayo* - Personally, I feel metal music is a way of life, mainly because of the freedom it gives. Also, I don’t like happy music. For other Nigerians, I think this is a very good opportunity for them to scream out loud about the current challenges happening in the country.

• *Jola* - I got introduced to metal only recently and when I heard it, I felt it!!!!, it wasn't just a sound it was an experience for me. I got to let out feelings bottled up and it was beautiful. Yes it does, Metal helps in ways that I can’t explain!!! Especially during this period…..let’s scream at the government! Let’s crash out, but in a safe way though.

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• *Chimzy* - It’s the most healthy way i get to express myself and yes I believe it helps and will also help millions of Nigerians both old and young to feel free and express themselves musically.

You were featured on The Guardian website last year, surely this was a historic moment for the Nigerian rock / metal scene?

     Ah yes, that! The band and I were elated about that feature! Finally, people outside Nigeria were starting to recognize the Underground Rock and Metal scene in Nigeria. Special thank you to "Tillyofourtime" 


You were meant head to South Africa on the 6th June for the Wacken Metal Battle African finals, but due to logistical reasons this was not possible. Did you have plans for a documentary of your journey and travel there as you fly the flag for Nigeria?

     Honestly, we didn't make provisions for a documentary but now that you mentioned it I think we should have done, maybe if we get to go next year we may do. We were looking forward to the Wacken Metal Battle and meeting the other African bands like Chovu, Ectogenesis., Overthrust and Arka'n Asrafokor.

     We were honourably looking forward representing Nigeria at the Battle and wanted to literally tear down the stage with our performance and music.


For the rest of 2026, what plans do you have - any album releases? Do you have any greetings or thanks you wish to send out? 

     We're working on an album currently. We're 70% done. Shout out? Shout out to God for keeping me alive till this moment. A special shout out to Clayrocksu, thank you for the constant support. Shout out to Sashquita Northey, thank you for the opportunity to contest at the Wacken Metal Battle.

     Shout out to my family "Fadaka family", thank you for your continued support. Shout out to the Aluko family, the Ukwandu family and the Olaniyi family.


     Shout out to Butterflora, The Country Man, The Recurrence, Jackson Supernova, Made Kutí, Johnpaul, Jordan (Drunkgiantbird) Make Music, Alliance Francaise Lagos and everyone that has ever supported us from the beginning till now.


https://www.instagram.com/lovesickband_ng/

 
     Sub-Sahara Africa has seen many metal scenes being born over the past few decades and despite the vast amount of talent that resides over there, it's taken so long for the metal music industries across North America and Europe to open their doors to these bands. We have seen Overthrust (Botswana) play in Germany, Arcana XXII (Namibia) release their compilation "A Return to the Darkland / The Untold" through the German label Einheit Produktionen and of course Wacken Metal Battle seeing bands like Zombies Ate My Girlfriend (South Africa) win and play Wacken. Not that Germany is the only European county to support Sub-Saharan metal, Kishi from Angola released their EP "Khaos" via Portuguese label Nightfear Records. 

     Hoping to fly the Angolan flag higher is Silk N'Roots who released 3 singles last year and are already causing a buzz in the metal scene, the quartet introduced themselves to us and spoke about the band history, the documentary "Death Metal Angola", plans for the year ahead and the future for African Metal. Answers are from the band and bandmembers (where mentioned).

     First of all let me (Animal) introduce the members of the band and provide some background on each one:

Busa - 
  
     Our mentor and guitar hero was born in Angola in the early 80s and was member of the band The Crystals by the late 90s; already playing hard and heavy rock at the time in Luanda. He spent 18 years in Europe (Portugal and France), away from his love for guitar playing and music. After his return home to Angola he was a founding member of another heavy band largely active in Angola (Dikamba) and about a year later started the idea of Silk N'Roots in 2018.


Vamp - 

     The smooth bassist that lays the groove was born in Portugal in the late 80s, and through his teens was already into hard and heavy music, he was part of a couple of bands during those years but with nothing much to show for. He moved to Angola to join his parents in 2012, and has been an active member of the rock movement in Luanda ever since, having been a founding member of Silk N'Roots as well. Although he left the band in 2020, he returned to the fold at the start of 2024.


Mag Oga - 

     The vocalist and frontman with a large fanbase, born in Angola the early 90s, he became interested in rock and heavy music with the advent of MTV back in the 90s, and was for several years the vocalist of the band Ovelha Negra. His vocal and charismatic stage presence earned him several invitations to participate in other projects, most noticeably at the festival Orley back in 2019 in which he was on stage with almost every band on the flyer singing at least one song with each one. He joined Silk N'Roots in the end of 2023.


Animal - 

     The guy that bangs the drums, born in Portugal in the late 70s, only discovered his love for rock in 1990 with the enormous amount of huge records bands released that year. He spent the whole decade participating in several garage projects with friends, while curating his own project (Faceless Story Tellers) and was the bassist of a covers band that played every other weekend in small venues. He came to Angola in 2009 to work, and was invited to join Silk N'Roots in 2020 after more than 20 years without playing the drums. Currently he is physically away from the band due to professional reasons.


Sy -

     The stand in drummer that bangs the drums harder than Animal, he was born in the same year as Mag, and as soon as he learnt to play some grooves he started being invited to be a part of several projects. He played with Surviving in Hell and Crazy Feeling amongst others, before eventually joining Ovelha Negra as well. After the latter's break up he spent 2 years away from the drum kits having been invited to step in for Animal in the first half of 2025.



Talk to us about how Silk N' Roots came about, is it true that you initially wanted to play melodic metal?

     Silk N'Roots was formed in 2018. And yes the initial idea was melodic metal, the original vocalist was a young lady called Kira, if you search our YouTube channel there's a first recording of our song "Zungueira" with her. 

     What happened in 2020 was a series of events - the former drummer decided to leave which led to Animal being invited and the subsequent time needed for him to fit in the group and re-learn how to play drums. A few months later both the bassist (Vamp) and the vocalist (Vamp's sister Kira) decided to leave as well, leaving Busa as the only original member, forcing him to rethink the goals for the band and so he invited 2 mates from his "sister band" Dikamba (which halted at the time due to COVID), Carlos (bass) and Tiago (vocals) to join and work as long as they wanted to.


     The original idea of melodic metal made sense with the original line-up and with a female vocalist (Kira was also the major lyricist at the time) but with the new line-up the idea kind of became a little off, especially with the new male vocalist (which can be heard on all 3 singles released since) being deeper and raspier, which prompted new compositions to pivot away from the melodic style and more into the more traditional heavy metal style. The old material was kept with just slight alterations and we still play those songs, whilst we started working on creating new music with this new vision. 

     Again, if you have the time you can dig deeper in our YouTube channel and you will notice the difference between old compositions with the initial idea (ex: Battle, Zungueira, Wolf, Sick Reality, Inesperado, Parasitas da Sociedade) and the newer compositions (ex: No Escape, Ego, Utopia Social). Although we only have 3 studio recorded songs, we have several videos of live shows that we published on our YouTube channel.


You released 3 singles in 2025 - 'Battle', 'Caso Mixa' and 'Zungueira' - can you talk through each single, what they mean, how you came up with them? Will this lead onto a debut EP or album in 2026?

     We need to clarify something, those 3 singles were not released in 2025, that was the year that we managed to gather the conditions to release them on to the streaming platforms. We are a self made band with zero support from sponsors, producers and / or labels, all we have done so far has been paid out of our own pockets which makes any progress harder and slower. We spend several hours weekly practicing, rehearsing and creating in our own rehearsal studio, but translating that into studio recordings is a whole different ball game. We have more than 17 original songs that we already played live, between older and newer material, plus 5 or 6 lyrics with composition ideas to work in the future, but it's very expensive to get into the studio to record and mix more songs.

• "Zungueira" was first recorded in 2019 and recorded again in 2020, this time with Animal behind the drums, and the song was nominated at the Angola Music Awards 2020 in the best rock song category. This song talks about the difficult lives that most Angolan women have. The term Zungueira means something like street vendor, and these women try to make a living by selling goods on the streets and / or informal markets, several times persecuted by police officers or robbed by street thugs. This song was later recorded once again in 2022 with the male singer, and that's the version you find on the streaming platforms.

 

• "Battle" is a song that talks about inner self struggles that most humans have these days, the amount of hurdles one has to overcome to achieve anything in life. This song was the first recorded after the initial members left, and it was released and played on national radio in December 2020.

 

• "Caso Mixa" is a pretty accurate description of all the corruption and related problems that occur in several areas of this country: Government, services, banking, even in street commerce. "Se continuarmos com a Mixa o Caso não vai acabar" is one of the strongest sentences in the song's pre-chorus, and it roughly translates as "if we keep paying our way to everything, the problem will never end". This song was recorded late 2020, released in January 2021 and was also nominated at the Angola Music Awards 2021 in the best rock music category.

Talk to us about the Angolan metal scene - it seems there has been some progress since the dark days of the civil war, that rock and metal was born as a result?


Busa -

     In my opinion rock and metal in Angola, specifically Luanda was not the result of the civil war. But yes there were some progress since those dark days, but also with some ups and downs.


Animal - 

     From what I have heard, there is history of rock n roll in Angola way back in the 60s, during the colonial times. Civil war is always tragic to mostly all civilian activities, and culture usually becomes a luxury in dark times, but as Busa said, back in the 90s whilst civil war was still raging, there were rock and heavy bands in Luanda paving the way for future generations. In the years I have been in the country, I noticed that COVID and it's limitations brought the rock movement to a halt... at least two big yearly festivals (Orley and Rock in Rio Catumbela) that were taking place regularly, after COVID never happened again... 


In a broader sense, African metal has come a long way over the past 2 decades, do you feel that African metal is getting the recognition it has been long for?

Busa:

     I agree that African metal has come a long way, but I still think that we don't receive the proper recognition worldwide. There are a lot of talented musicians on the whole continent, most struggle and leave their families to go abroad and seek recognition.


Vamp:

     Most African metal bands aren't even getting recognition in their own countries. I think they get heard more outside of Africa than inside.