Where are you all from? All local to the Bradford area, or are there any "imports"?
Alec - I think we're all from Bradford or at least West Yorkshire.
Ian - Yup the family are from Yorkshire, but sadly I was born down in the scummy south in Reading.
Phil - Bradford, Northern scum and proud of it. Read the lyrics.
Nibby - As above but raised in the Yorkshire hills.
Influences? OK, I'll take Sabbath as being written in stone, but what/who else? Bands, artists, styles...
Alec - Although I don't dislike them, in my opinion Black Sabbath are the most overrated rock band of all time. I wouldn't consider it "written in stone" that they are an influence on me but I think the others might disagree with me. I'm influenced by bands such as Pink Floyd, Genesis, Led Zeppelin, Fields of the Nephilim, The Doors to name but a few. I tend to take influence from most things that I hear. You'd be surprised what can inspire you sometimes !!
Ian - Yeah, you can get influences from all over the place, with the stuff we are doing at the moment with the drum programming and stuff I get influences from GGFH, Front Line Assembly, Kong, Pitchshifter and for some stuff its from Skyclad, Kyuss etc. as far as influences for bass styles goes its most modern cutting edge bands who use the de-tuned sound. I prefer to use a five string bass so I don't have to de-tune.
Phil - Musically my main influences are :- Tool, Killing Joke, Joy Division, Swans, Voivod and Warrior Soul (deceased). Lyrically my most important influences are probably Jim Morrison and Joy Division's Ian Curtis. In a literary sense the main inspiration for purity comes from Jack London's Call of the Wild and Conrad's Heart of Darkness. I also like Black Sabbath eh um !!!
Nibby - My influences vary immensely from classic metal (not all of us share Alec's views on Black Sabbath) to early gothic styles. At the moment I have been getting into a lot of trance and drum and bass. I think the use of new technology is creating and mutating other styles. I suppose that's what we're trying to do with Purity Cries !!!
Why settle for a drum machine on the original demo instead of looking for a drummer in the first place? Experimentation or difficulty finding someone who suited?
Alec - I think originally it was a combination of lack of a drummer and wanting to experiment with different sounds. Purity Cries have always been an experimental band to some degree.
Ian - I cant say too much on that because I wasn't a member at that time, but I think it's interesting that the band has gone full circle and incorporated sequencers/drum machines in to the overall soundscape again, we were planning on finding a replacement for Drax, but at this time we are all quite happy with the machines.
Phil - The Draxmachine (Drax) was and always will be Purity's drummer. We enjoy experimenting with the machines and rhythms in general - nuff said !!!
Nibby - The use of Cubase for the drums on Born Purity was because at that stage the band was still under construction.
How would you categorise yourself, or do you not like pigeonholing?
Alec - We've always tried to avoid pigeon-holing. When we first started, we called ourselves PIG metal (psychedelic industrial gothic metal). However, there always seems to be another word to add on at the end to try and make the description better. We kind of like it that way.
Ian - Our music is very hard to pigeonhole, every song tells a different story in a different style and I think we like it that way, there is something for everyone.
Phil - Darksoul, Northern blues, if it does something for you, enjoy it. That makes me happy.
Nibby - I don't really care where in the spectrum of metal we are placed as long as the people like it.
How would you describe your live act to someone who's never heard your music?
Alec - Well I like to think we always create a good ambience and stage presence. We have been known to leave the crowd mesmerised by it in the past.
Ian - Yeah, I've had that kind of feedback from past gigs, once again though I don't try to describe us as any style, firstly because you cant and secondly I like people to be surprised when they hear us, there are some of my work mates coming to the Rio's gig and I wouldn't tell them what we sounded like, wait and see is my policy.
Phil - Our live act is more important to me than anything else concerning the band. The live act is about primitive tribal feelings that the human race has not quite shaken, although we seem to think we have. It is sort of an exorcism. Our Northern industrial surroundings also contribute to the live act. I find this very important. I think the rest of the lads think I am a bit 'touched' !!! In the head of course.
Nibby - Mental !!
Do you think that metal is better staying "underground" or that it should be pushed into a more commercial market?
Phil - Yeah right !!? (refusing to answer question).
Alec - I think the media in general should be more considerate and open minded towards artists of all description. They should be given more freedom to express themselves rather than dictated to by some chicken-shit of a record company that hasn't got the balls, but has got the money to take a few risks.
Ian - Too right! Most big record companies play it safe, to some extent even the so called underground labels are copping out a bit. Metal music (and I use that term in the broadest sense) has always had an uphill struggle to be accepted, but to the fans this is good, every bit of bad publicity about a band sells more records, so why doesn't some label realise that if they sign such a band and give it good publicity they will sell even more records, its the lack of backing and promoting that keeps things underground.
Nibby - If metal was more commercial the only thing that would change is bands would make more money. So - whatever, it doesn't bother me.
What are you up to at the moment, bandwise?
Alec - We are just completing the recording of our demo, rehearsing for the up and coming gigs and drinking Stonehouse heavily as usual. Cheers mate !!
Ian - Sounds good to me, without Stonehouse I doubt we would have come this far. Thanks !!!
Phil - Demo, sex, Stonehouse, Guinness, Godzilla, sharks and tunes - cheers dude !!!
Nibby - Rock 'n' Roll, a packet of fags and a glass of Tequila the rest, you'll see at the gigs, Ta !!
The band would like to thank Iain Purdie for bothering to listen to us and everyone that's taken the time out to read this interview !!! [Thanks! *blush* Mosh]
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