Here we go again… Last year we covered every band on the Hobgoblin New Blood and Jagermeister stages in the run-up to Bloodstock 2015. This year, we’re going one better and aim to have interviews from all the bands on those two stages as well as all of those on the SOPHIE stage prior to the event kicking off on August 11th. That’s almost 100 interviews to get online for you lucky people over the course of the next couple of weeks. I bloody love this job, but you lot owe me a beer at Catton Hall, right?
Thanks to all the bands who’ve taken the time to respond!
The Charm The Fury – SOPHIE Stage, Friday
Questions answered by vocalist Caroline Westendorp…
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
From Amsterdam, The Netherlands
How did you meet?
Through an online ad haha. I was looking to join a metal band in Amsterdam. Me, Math (our previous guitarist) and Lucas met through a drummer who had posted an ad looking for musicians online. Eventually the drummer wasn’t able to make it to our second rehearsal and Lucas brought in Mathijs. That’s where the magic started ;-). Rolf joined later through mutual Facebook friends and our new guitarist Martijn is one of the best friends of Math – our old guitarist. Ahhh, we’re all connected!
How long have you been playing together as a band?
Since 2010, so almost 6 years. God, that makes me feel really old.
Where does the name of the band come from?
From sitting in our rehearsal space browsing through our iTunes in search of ‘cool words’ or cool album titles. We saw ‘Charm’ (I thought it was from an Unearth song or album) and thought it sounded pretty cool.
What are your influences – individually or as a band?
It’s funny cuz we all listen to different styles of music. Personally I listen to a lot of southern, rock ‘n roll and metalcore (favorite bands are Every Time I Die, He Is Legend, Maylene and The Sons of Disaster, Underoath), but Rolf for example has always really been the blues/80’s type of guy. Mutual influences of the band members in general are black and death metal, it’s actually a miracle that we had never thought of the idea to cover ourselves in corpse paint.
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
Good question. The eye catcher is the fact that we have a girl on vocals, although that has become quite normal in today’s scene. I think that we make metal that is listenable, it is not a pile with breakdowns, growls and riffs but we try to make great songs as a whole. With some air, some heaviness and definitely a lot of melody.
What’s your live show like – why should the baying hordes troop over to the stage you’re playing on to watch you?
It’s way more heavy than our record may sound. I’m hoping it’s a kick in the face, you know, by a girl in a guy’s face ;-).
When/how did you find out you’d been selected to play at Bloodstock?
We got an message from our manager and of course… THAT WAS AN EASY DECISION. ‘You guys wanna play Bloodstock?’ – uh, need you ask?
What sort of setlist can we expect?
As we’ve finished recording our new album this year, the setlist will be a good mix of old songs as well of new songs. Expect more heaviness and from the new tracks, we’ve kind of let our metalcore roots go. It’s now pure metal, and very heavy.
Which main stage band do you most hope you’re not clashing with so you can see them play?
I would say Gojira, but they’re playing on Saturday (and we play on Friday)! But I wouldn’t want to miss Behemoth as well.
What are you working on at the moment?
Finalizing the artwork of the album, setting up promos as well as the music videos for the next few singles. It’s so frustrating not being able to let everyone listen to the new shit you wrote!
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done on tour?
Go ask Rolf, although I’d think he wouldn’t even remember those things himself ;-).
What advice would you give to a young band just starting out today?
Polish your songs as well as your live performance before you put out songs or hit the stage. It should be a kick in the face from the get go, people will then take you seriously!
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!
Slipknot and To The Wolves (a cool upcoming band from The Netherlands!)
What stage / time are you playing at Bloodstock (if you have your slot yet!)
Friday 12th August, Sophie Lancaster Stage – 14.20! Be there or be triangular!
