Pre-Bloodstock interview: Mastiff

Mastiff 192Due to the huge number of bands playing at Bloodstock this year, and the fact that our two roving reporters will actually want to watch some of them, we’re doing a little round of pre-festival interviews this year. We’re focussing on the bands playing the Jagermeister and Hobgoblin New Blood Stages so they get a chance to convince you to go and watch them. Remember, these guys and gals are the future of our musical world!

Simple things first – where are you guys from?

Hull

How did you meet?

Three of us have known each other for over 25 years, but Mike our guitarist has only been playing with us for a year – we’re old twats… apart from Mike who’s only 22 but he’s the ugly one.

How long have you been playing together as a band?

As this band we’ve been together 4 years, but as we said we’ve been playing in bands together for 25 years on and off.

Where does the name of the band come from?

The name is from the Latin word for slave, but it also captures our idea of music.

What are your influences – individually or as a band?

We listen to anything dark heavy and horrible, but it has to have groove and riffs.

Describe your music. What makes you unique?

We’re a mix of sludge ,doom ,thrash and a hardcore attitude to playing. We think that’s what makes us unique – the passion for gigging, playing like every gig is our last

What’s your live show like? How many shows have you played?

Chaotic! We’ve played close onto 120 shows as Mastiff.

When/how did you find out you’d been selected to play at Bloodstock?

We’ve entered M2TM 3 times, but we’ve always entered thinking we could win.

What sort of setlist can we expect?

Starting off heavy and slowly getting heavier.

Which main stage band do you most hope you’re not clashing with so you can see them play?

Speedhorn, Conan or Re-animator .

What are you working on at the moment?

Staying sober.

What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done on tour?

We got called “a bunch of girls” by Agnostic Front after we kept them up most of the night when we played with them in Norwich at the Owl Sanctuary. Sorry, Vinny .

What advice would you give to a young band just starting out today?

Do it for the passion, not what’s fashionable at the time – and definitely don’t do it for the money.

If you could be part of any 3-band line-up who else would you have on the bill? One band above you and one below – a chance to plug a smaller, unsigned act!

Acacia Strain and Battalions.

Mastiff play the Hobgoblin New Blood Stage on the Saturday.

Mastiff: facebook | bigcartel

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August 3, 2015 7:08 PM

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