Interview Interrogation: Bound To Prevail (Malta)

Often when it comes to the metal scenes of Europe, the smaller countries tend to get left out of the mix, countries like Malta have spewed out a fine array of metal bands from it's small scene. Bands like Beheaded, Abysmal Torment and Twenty-Six Other-Worlds have all made a name for themselves in their own respective ways with perhaps Beheaded being the most famous Maltese Metal band.

But it's the big bands who depend on smaller bands to carry the scene forward, bands like Bound To Prevail who keep the Maltese Death Metal style afloat and going for years to come. GMA interrogated the five-piece about their scene, their debut EP 'Omen of Iniquity' which came out last year and their future plans.

"Bound To Prevail will shortly be the first Death Metal band to headline a mainstream festival in Malta"

For those who do not know of Bound To Prevail, could you please give us a brief history of the band?

     "Bound To Prevail was founded in the fall of 2014, and we quickly set our sights on staking a claim on the local underground Metal scene. We had a well-received debut live performance at the
Malta Xtreme Metal Assault Festival in the summer of 2016 which was quickly followed by a number of shows, including supporting slots for renowned international artists such as Fleshgod Apocalypse and later with Vader, Suffocation, Venom, Inc., Entombed A.D and Mayhem."


What do your families think of your music? Are they into metal music themselves?

     "Most of our families are into some style of rock but are not exactly into metal themselves. That
being said, we’re glad to say that they fully support us in our endeavours to promote our style of music and that obviously helps when creating our songs and dealing with all the stress which is part and parcel of sustaining a fast-moving band nowadays."


What is the general public opinion towards metal music, is it supported a lot?

     "As with other countries, metal music is not really a mainstream style of music in Malta. The reactions from non-metalheads when told that we play Death Metal are usually still quite hilarious. The stigma which is associated with metal however may be ebbing somewhat; Bound To Prevail will shortly be the first death metal band to headline a mainstream festival in Malta."


You released your debut EP 'Omen of Iniquity' last year, what was the reception like? Did you do a launch party?

     "Since 'Omen of Iniquity' was self-released, we had the flexibility of planning and executing the
launch ourselves. The official release was at the Death Feast 10th anniversary in Andernach,
Germany. We also organised a launch party at a local rock club for additional promotion which was met with quite a favourable reaction from local fans who really appreciate the album. Since the release we have seen our fan base grow both locally as well as abroad through our efforts in promoting the band and our music using all means available to us"

St Helen's Basilica, Birkirkara / source: Wikipedia

Could you tell us briefly what each song title means and what the inspiration behind them are?

     "'Omen of Iniquity' can be perceived by some as a concept release, but of course the lyrics are
written in a way which is subject to each listener’s imagination on how they are interpreted.

     The first song on the album is about a rotten world by the hands of greed and power which at some point all become meaningless and civilisations cast into desolation and what still exists must venture into utter brutality to endure and survive, a 'Survival of the Sickest'.

     'The Throne where Gods Bleed' is an unfolding tale about how the feeble always need to believe and worship something divine by creating a pure godlike personification, yet its roots are corrupt; in the end someone always has to open their mind and prove that such gods breathe, feel and bleed like everyone else!

     The third song, 'Aeons of Carnage', inspiration comes from the centuries and times of vast religions with all their idols and saviours of hope only bringing on conflicts among those fools surrounded by hypocrisy who prefer to exist in an illusion of order rather than live in reality and at the final peak only the downfall of those contradicting faiths struck by chaos shall bring stability.

     'Contorted Divergence' narrates the different path every individual may take yet still convene on the same sinful path, making us understand who we really are... after all we all want to dominate the pit.

     And finally 'Irreverent Progeny' is about the ultimate being whoever it may be; to rebel against existence and its laws, gods and whatnot, to bring them to their knees and unleashing the bringers of ruin and conquering devastation in all its lethal glory."


What challenges as a metal band from Malta do you face? Surely it must be hard to tour abroad?

     "One of the biggest issues we have is travelling to foreign gigs since the only option is air travel
which obviously presents challenges in the form of additional expenses and time. One of our
goals for 2019 is to organise European tours which make more sense for us in terms of travel
time and costs, however if a good opportunity presents itself to play in a festival or a single gig,
we’ll surely take it."


For metalheads visiting Birkirkara what sights, attractions and bars should they visit?

     "Well, Malta is a pretty small country (with Birkirkara being the second largest village) so you can’t really go anywhere without bumping into a great bar or club. Malta has 2 bars dedicated to metal
music (Kickstart in Sta. Venera & The Garage in Zebbug), so if you’re ever in Malta, they’re definitely worth checking out. Other than that, there’s always some event going on every weekend, not to mention that, as with all Mediterranean islands, it’s a really great place to visit in the summer months!"


What plans do you have for the rest of the year?

     "We are currently working overtime to promote Bound To Prevail beyond our shores and we’re also in talks with a number of booking and management agencies to help us organise European tours and gigs to establish Bound To Prevail as an up and coming pillar of Maltese death metal. We’re also writing new material for a new full length which we’re planning on releasing under a solid label."

http://facebook.com/BoundToPrevail