If you’re feeling cold on this chilly Saturday night, get your head banging to some Welsh thrash metal…
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
South Wales, Swansea.
How did you meet?
We met through an advert in a music shop called Rowlands Music that Matthew placed looking for a drummer.
How long have you been playing as a band?
We met each other back in 2012 and started playing as soon as we could. However, it has only been 6 years as Helldown.
Before you get sick of being asked… where does the band name come from?
The name originated from myself and Ben discussing an idea for a song called “Held down and shot”, this then merged into “Helldown” after agreeing it was the first good name we came up with and there were many bad ones…
What are your influences?
We have many influences throughout the band ranging from Thin Lizzy to Metallica, Slayer to W.A.S.P, Rush to Iron Maiden.
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
We believe we are a very unique blend of Slayer and Pantera. We have even been described as the bastard sons of Thin Lizzy and Slayer.
Do you have any particular lyrical themes?
No, we don’t. Ben usually thinks of a theme for a song and we try to change it up as much as possible with the themes. Thinking of new and exciting ideas for lyrics.
What’s your live show like? How many shows have you played?
We cannot count how many shows we have done if we are honest, there are so many. To answer the other half though, we try to put as much as we can into our live shows. Giving our 100 percent into every show we do, providing highly energetic shows with no stop aggression and neck breaking headbanging.
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?
AIRBOURNE. Playing Sonisphere 2011, the singer climbing the rafters of the Saturn Stage while playing a guitar solo drunk.
What kit do you use / guitars do you play / etc.?
Ross uses an 8-piece Tama kit with Evans “Black Chrome” Drumheads, he is currently endorsed by Soultone Cymbals, Agner Drumsticks and Kickport International.
Matthew uses ENGL Amps and has recently agreed to an artist’s endorsement with them, as well as endorsing Diamond Guitars.
Ben uses Fender, accompanied by Trace Elliot Amps and Lewis uses Ibanez guitars with Marshall Amps.
What, if anything, are you plugging/promoting at the moment?
We are currently promoting our new release due for 17/01/20 called In Deaths Hands.
What are your plans for the rest of 2019 and into 2020?
Our plans are to put on one last hometown show for 2019 as we like to play our home town every few months, rather than boring our fellow Welshmen. Apart from that all our focus is now on writing new material and getting this EP out.
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!
SLAYERRRRR! And more SLAYERRRRR!
