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!
Vehement – Hobgoblin New Blood Stage, Friday
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
Two of us live in Brighton and the other two live in Eastbourne.
How did you meet?
A mutual friend put us together.
How long have you been playing together as a band?
The band was originally put together in 2005 but it was more of an excuse to meet up and party whilst attempting to make music, it wasn’t until the line up changed and we released 2013’s Collapse album that things took a more serious turn.
Where does the name of the band come from?
Former guitarist Vern came up with the name, it’s very fitting now as we always put on an intense performance full of energy.
What are your influences – individually or as a band?
We are all into a variety of music, I cannot speak for the others but influences come from known names like 1349, Arcturus, Emperor, MGLA, David Bowie, Gary Numan etc.
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
What makes us unique is we are categorized among many cliche black metal bands, whereas we do not portray that kind of imagery but we do take musical influence from this. I believe many are surprised when they see us live as they might be expecting spikes, corpse paint etc., but that is not our gimmick. The main influence is black metal but we add a progressive twist to it.
What’s your live show like – why should the baying hordes troop over to the stage you’re playing on to watch you?
You can expect intensity. Relentless intensity.
When/how did you find out you’d been selected to play at Bloodstock?
When we destroyed the Brighton M2TM final.
What sort of setlist can we expect?
Come to the New Blood Stage before 3pm and find out.
Which main stage band do you most hope you’re not clashing with so you can see them play?
I personally am very much looking forward to seeing Behemoth again, and I’m pretty sure we do not clash with them.
What are you working on at the moment?
We are currently still recording our second full length which is due to be completed by the end of the year.
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done on tour?
I have been advised to ignore this question.
What advice would you give to a young band just starting out today?
The world is a miserable cold dark place that will forever try to put you down, but never settle for anything less than what you believe you deserve.
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!
I would have our good friends King Goat and King Leviathan. Both bands that have graced Bloodstock in previous years.
What stage / time are you playing at Bloodstock (if you have your slot yet!)
New Blood Stage – 3pm
