Manchester’s Beyond Salvation may have only been together since February 2015 but they have already gained themselves a great live reputation, have taken part in the Metal 2 Masses competition for Bloodstock and have one absolutely blistering EP Ascension to their name. When I hear a new thrash metal band there is always a couple of aspects I look out for and by far the most important is that vitality, for me thrash metal must be played fast and energetically and that’s not so hard to do but it must jump out at you, have a presence and life, grab you by the throat and shake you all about. But most of all make you happy to be alive and that is what the Ascension EP does.
Beyond Salvation have the full package, great artwork and image, the five songs are all vital, melodic, heavy and damn good. I would like to pick out one of the tracks to tell you about but I honestly do not have a favorite it’s just great from start to finish. Head over to their Bandcamp page and see for yourself. The band are currently mainly playing the North West but this could soon change based on what I have heard so far. We thought we would catch up with Martin (guitars and vocal) to learn a bit more about them.
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
Beyond Salvation are a 4-piece metal band from Manchester, England consisting of:-
Jon Pedley, Vocals and Guitar.
Karl Stone, Bass.
Simeon Moore, Drums.
Martin Coker, Guitar and Vocals.
How did you meet?
Founding members Simeon and Martin briefly worked in a factory together and decided to go for a jam with a view to starting a band after realising they both played instruments and were into similar metal bands. They were joined a few months later by Karl Stone on bass, who Martin knew from a previous band and Jon Pedley came in on guitar, via an internet ad, to really beef up the sound. After unsuccessfully auditioning vocalists Jon stepped up to the mic and the rest is history.
How long have you been playing together as a band?
Simeon and Martin had that first jam in December 2014 with Karl and Jon joining by February 2015. Beyond Salvation have been playing live as a four piece since October of that year.
Before you get sick of being asked… where does the band name come from?
The band was just about ready to gig but we still didn’t have a name. We knew we had to come up with something good. Something aggressive and powerful. Simeon just threw out the suggestion ‘Beyond Salvation’ which really struck us all. Sim thought about how controversial it was but that it in his view, asks the question. Is anyone Beyond Salvation?
What are your influences – individually or as a band?
Our list of influences is massive but anything melodic, aggressive and heavy with a tinge of prog is right up our street.
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
Thrash metal with a twist. In parts quite melodic, fast and technical whilst keeping a sense of groove. We don’t down-tune at all but maintain that heavy feel to the music.
Do you have any particular lyrical themes?
The main lyrical theme to our debut EP, Ascension, was based around the idea of rising above life’s problems and trying to find a positive from something negative. Light from dark as it were. Our newer material focuses on the fear of losing those closest to you and how to make the most of the time you have together. The next EP won’t necessarily be a concept record but the songs are tying together nicely to elaborate upon this theme as a collective piece of work.
What’s your live show like? How many shows have you played?
Our gigs are loud, fast and energetic. The crowd appreciate what we’re doing with the melody and aggression in our music and we feed off their reaction. We’ve done around fifty gigs now, all in the northwest area, including S.O.S. festival in Prestwich, Sophie Lancaster festival in Burnley, The Alma in Bolton & The Snooty Fox, Wakefield.
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?
MC: We’ve had dodgy looking pits at a couple of gigs now where you would expect to see blood pouring from a few heads but the worst injury was just a busted nose. Pretty standard really. The weirdest thing was probably some smack-head banging his head hard against the stage throughout our cover of Sepultura’s Refuse/Resist. Where there’s no sense, there’s no feeling!
What kit do you use / guitars do you play etc.?
Our gear consists of Jackson Dinky DKMG, Gibson Nighthawk Custom and Schecter Hellraiser Solo 2 guitars. Fender Jazz Aerodyne & Fender Jazz USA Deluxe bass guitars. Blackstar Series One 100 half stack guitar amps. Obi 500 bass head and Orange cab. VFE Focus pedal, TC Electronics Hall Of Fame Reverb, ISP Decimator G-string and various Boss effects pedals. PAISTE 2002s
14″ sound edge high hats
16″ medium crash
18″ medium crash
18″ nova china
20″ medium ride
Tama metalworks snare drums
12″ × 5.5″
13″ × 7″
Evans G14 coated
Yamaha tour custom maple snare
14″ x 6″
Evans Hydraulic Blue
What are your plans for the next 12 months?
Plans for next twelve months include releasing a single in March/April and another 4/5 track EP towards the end of the year.
If you could be part of any 3-band line-up (as support or headlining) who else would you have on the bill?
Three bands we’d like to be on the bill with would be, Sylosis, Obituary and Firtan. We play with a lot of bands in our area, any of which we would share a stage with or tour the country with. We would highly recommend going to see After The Abduction, Impavidus, Betraeus, All Consumed, Gorehead, Bloodyard, Exxxecutioner, Prognosis, Cryptic Shift, Insurgency.
What gigs have you got coming up?
Future gigs include supporting thrash metal veterans Virus at the Retro bar in Manchester on Thursday 23rd March. The Metal 2 The Masses quarter final on 20th April at Rebellion, Manchester. A couple of festival dates lined up at Wildfire Festival, Scotland in July and Badgerfest in September at the Star n Garter in Manchester.
