Pre-Bloodstock interview: The Mighty Wraith

The Mighty Wraith logoDue 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?

We’re a bit of a mix between Birmingham and the Black Country – Kirby and Miller are from Birmingham while Matt Is from Dudley, Muzz is from Walsall and so is Az.

How did you meet?

Miller, Matt and the original bass player were part of a band together that split due to musical differences, of which Kirby had just joined on drums but had only actually had one practice together. The four of them continued and then eventually we came across Az who was our first audition for the role of Lead Guitar and within an hour we had decided that he fit perfectly. After many… issues with previous bass players we eventually saw Muzz play at a gig with a band that were on before us. We knew him vaguely because we had seen each other around at gigs and on the local scene in general and we got talking (at this gig our current bassist had gone AWOL and just didn’t turn up – leaving us to play as a 4 piece). Milla sent Muzz a few of our tracks, we rehearsed, and the rest is history really. Came up a perfect fit!

How long have you been playing together as a band?

The band itself has been going for 5 years with varying lineups.

Where does the name of the band come from?

Well… ‘The Mighty Wraith’ wasn’t actually the original name… We were first called ‘Wraith’ and then we were informed politely by a management team and legal associates that the name ‘Wraith’ was actually already in use. So, we went ahead and brainstormed around a little and decided that at most of our gigs were currently being introduced as “The Mighty” Wraith. So we though “Yeah, that’ll do!”. We changed it to “The Mighty Wraith” and it turned out to be one of the best things we ever did.

What are your influences – individually or as a band?

Wow… theres a fair few… Every member of our band has such a distinctly different set of influences that to sit and list all of them to you now would be impossible. However as a band we are heavily influenced by some of the “bigger”, acts. Iron Maiden, Metallica, Megadeth, Trivium are some of the ones that spring to mind. There are bands on a more personal scale that we all enjoy though – Pantera, Manowar, Killswitch Engage, Sylosis, System Of A Down, Dream Theatre, Otep, Blind Guardian, Avenged Sevenfold – A whole range of genres that we each take a little from and attempt to bring into our own distinct style.

Describe your music. What makes you unique?

Our music has been described by many different people in many different ways. We have been sectioned as Power Metal, Heavy Metal, New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, just “ Metal”. We can’t categorize ourselves – we’ve tried. Our music has the heavy, chuggy riffs that you would expect to see from bands that know how to make you mosh – it has the melodic breakdowns that make you sway in the rain – listening to melodies and harmonies roll over you – Melodic vocal lines; thick, heavy riffs; emotion and groove. We play the music we want to listen to.

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

Over 5 years we’ve never once taken a break from gigging. Even with members out with injuries we’ve always done our best to keep playing the gigs that we committed to. Metal 2 The Masses competition 2014 saw the band actually change lineup twice throughout the competition so to say how many gigs we’ve done is anyones guess. With our liveshow, we let Matt Gore guide you through our set. You can expect a frontman that knows how to get the best from his audience – Armour, axes and beer! However, when it is time for the music to do the talking Matt slips aside and allows the guitars to takeover – coming to the front of the stage and encapsulating you with solos and harmonies just guaranteed to stay in your mind all day.

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

We came through the Birmingham Metal 2 The Masses competition. We’re here as Winners of a slot on the Jager stage.

What sort of setlist can we expect?

We have selected a setlist designed to give the audience as much of a view of what we do as we can in the alloted time. Itll be heavy, it’ll be fast and there will be a surprise here or there.

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

As one of our marked influences it would have to be Trivium!

What are you working on at the moment?

Currently we are recording our second album and are busy organizing our pre-launch all dayer – then it’ll be gigging for the second half of the year to promote that before getting ready to spread across the UK throughout next year. Busy busy busy!

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

In the early days we were quite in love with the rock and roll lifestyle and we had a habit of seeing gigs not so much as a lifestyle… or a potential work ethic, but more as a just a party. Two members of the band had started particularly early that day and ended up having to be carried onto the stage… after the gig these same members decided that everyone there should return to the other members house for an after party… things got loud, things got louder and then the member who’s house it belonged to got attacked by a girl he had just met. That girls friend turned down a proposal by a separate member of the band. And a guy passed out on the settee… he stayed there for two days… the sette still smells like him… three years later. There is another story about a member of the band agreeing to knowingly drink a pint with 2 viagra tablets in it… but thats for another time.

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

Don’t get too hung up on being amazing. When you start out it is so easy to think that everything can be achieved so readily and it just isn’t the truth anymore. Gone are the days where a guy would walk into a building with a pre-signed contract and a bag of cash. It just doeosn’t happen anymore. The local scene and grass roots needs investment and the only way it will stay alive is if the unsigned scene support themselves. Go to gigs! Know your scene, know your venues, know your promoters and know the other bands on the circuit. Remember – don’t be those guys… just don’t! ;)

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!

We would want to keep ours local… Valous above and Aramantus below. Both Valous and Aramantus are great examples of bands in the underground scene that have supported us greatly. Equally – as a gig works, Aramantus would get the crowd perfect for us to give a great show and then sit back and watch Valous, with a beer in hand!

The Mighty Wraith play the Jagermeister Stage on the Friday.

The Mighty Wraith: facebook | reverbnation

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August 1, 2015 1:47 PM

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