Out today is Third Island’s debut album, Omelas. With a few words about it, and some more about themselves, here are the guys from the Emerald Isle…
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
We’re originally from a town called Templemore in Tipperary, Ireland. Now we’re based in Limerick.
How did you meet?
We grew up together. We played in various teenage bands, sometimes together, sometimes not. We were friends throughout our school years.
How long have you been playing as a band?
We started Third Island about three years ago one drunken night. We got together to drink cans and listen to tunes, one thing led to another and we ended up screaming about dystopian futures while playing fuzzed out guitars all night.
Before you get sick of being asked… where does the band name come from?
When we were young idiots there was a spot in our home town’s local park called the Third Island on a lake. We used to go there for late night teenage drinking so we figured it was the perfect mix of a joke name while also sounding pretty good.
What are your influences?
It’s a long list. The obvious ones would be Godflesh, Katatonia, Type O Negative, Isis, Devin Townsend, Paradise Lost.
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
I think all music is unique in its own way. We always try to push ourselves out of our comfort zones to create something new and interesting. We’ve create what I think is a unique combination of post-metal, doom, and sludge that should appeal to many people for many different reasons. I’m sure a lot of people will hate it also.
Do you have any particular lyrical themes?
Our current album is lyrically based on the short story “The Ones Who Walk Away From The Omelas” by Ursula K. Le Guin. It’s a story about a perfect Utopia built on lies and hiding dark secrets. The lyrics follow the narrative of the story describing the city of the Omelas, the people who live there, the secrets they keep and what happens to those who can’t handle life the way it is there.
What’s your live show like? How many shows have you played?
Usually very loud and slow. We’ve played around Ireland for the last two years and are hoping to plan a short European tour in the next year or two.
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?
We’re generally too focused on playing the songs right to do anything too crazy at our shows. I did recently see a guy try to crowd surf at a show and as soon as he dove off stage everyone in the crowd parted way from him letting him slam his face on the floor. I felt a little bad for the guy but it was hilarious.
What kit do you use / guitars do you play / etc.?
John runs a seven string Maverick guitar into a Laney Ironheart amp and a ridiculous amount of effects pedals.
Liam runs a seven string Ltd Les Paul into a Traynor Darkhorse with an equally dumb amount of pedals.
Seamus uses a five string Squier p bass into a Fender Rumble amp with what John and Liam agree is not nearly enough effects pedals.
What, if anything, are you plugging/promoting at the moment?
Right now we’re promoting our debut album Omelas which will be released on the 1st of April. It’s a concept album with plenty of doom, sludge and post metal. If you like people screaming about Joyless Utopians then look no further.
What are your plans for 2018?
Our main plan is to just play as many gigs as humanly possible and to continue promoting this album.
If you were second on a three-band bill, which band would you love to be supporting and which band would you choose to open for you? A chance to plug someone you’ve toured with, or a mate’s band we’ve not heard of before!
For me, I would love to support a great doom band like Pallbearer, or maybe something totally different like Devin, Townsend as if that could ever happen. I suppose I should plug a band that I know quite well called Unkindness of Ravens. They’re a fellow doom/I don’t even know what to call it band from Ireland. I studied Music Production in college with their drummer.
From previous Band of the Day Inquire Within: If you had to pick just one album to listen to for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Too difficult a question. The answer changed daily or at least weekly. Maybe Terria by Devin Townsend. I think most of the band could sort of agree on that.
From another BotD, Sail: What’s the coolest moment you’ve had doing band stuff? What made you feel awesome and made the faff 100% worth it?
For me it was the first time a completely random stranger ordered a CD from us back when we had released our first EP Dusk. Just the idea that somebody who we had never met and probably never would thought our music was good made everything we do feel so much more awesome.
And from Drifter: What’s your greatest accomplishment outside music?
For me it was completing college, though it was a degree in Music Production so I’m not sure if that qualifies as “outside music”.
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