As ever, we’re going to try and cover every single Jäger, New Blood and SOPHIE stage band before Bloodstock kicks off on August 10th. Your chance to check them out and start planning which bands to get there early for!
Trust us when we tell you that this is bound to result in some frustrating clashes because, as ever, there are some great bands on these three stages.
Our thanks to all the bands for taking the time out to answer our questions!
GraVil – Sophie Lancaster Stage, Sunday
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
London, UK
How long have you been playing together as a band?
This lineup has been active since 2015. Although GraVil’s earliest form can be traced back to 2007.
Where does the name of the band come from?
Originally it was the first three letters from the founding duo’s names
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
We blend all forms of metal into our sound, taking influences from black, death, thrash, metalcore, industrial and groove metal. We try to record the songs we’d like to listen to and the end result is normally a melodic metal base with a liberal sprinkling of groove and industrial. At all points we weave melody into the tracks. The lyrics are honest and it’s the soundtrack to the average Joe, beaten down by the ordeals that life throws their way and emerging stronger.
What’s your live show like? Why are people going to watch you instead of another band?
We deliver an energetic live show, with strong songs and catchy hooks. We’re aiming to pack even more songs into our set, so people get their value for money with us. It also allows us to play a large wedge of the new album. We’re on early Sunday and it’s exactly what you need to shake the Saturday night hangover off and kick start the last day of UK metal’s sexiest festival!
Have you played Bloodstock before? If so, when?
We haven’t played Bloodstock as GraVil, but we have in other bands. Grant performed there with 9 Days Down in 2008 and Charlie played with Collapse in 2010. We’ve all been many years as punters though, we love Bloodstock Festival.
How/when did you find out that you’d be playing the SOPHIE stage?
It was a bleary, bleak and dark morning on June 2nd. Then we received a glorious email from Simon (Hall) and all was well with the world.
What sort of setlist can we expect?
We’re concentrating on a set of new songs from the new album. We genuinely enjoy performing this album, so we’ll make the most of our enthusiasm and hope it comes across in our live show!
Which main stage band do you most hope you’re not clashing with so you can see them play?
I hope we don’t clash with any, we’re there as music fans as well as performers! I’m personally looking forward to Testament, Soilwork, Decapitated, Hatebreed, Kreator, King 810, Municipal Waste, Megadeth and Arch Enemy from the main stage. HOWEVER, there are also many amazing bands playing the New Blood and Sophie stages. But it’s good to have choices, right?
What are you working on at the moment?
We’re currently working on a follow up to No More Forgiveness and some supporting live dates.
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done on tour?
A woman asked us to sign her boobs in Northampton once upon a time (apparently they don’t sell paper there). Sparx (bassist) signed last… but pushed harder to get the ball point pen working, seemingly forgetting the object was attached to a person. The look of fear on his face was priceless as she screamed at him. It’s ok, he didn’t do any damage… well… only to my fragile mind. That face will haunt my dreams for eternity!!
Jager, Hobgoblin Ale, Kraken, Kingstone Press Cider, Kaltenberg Beer or Bulleit Bourbon? And, yes, we’ll be counting all the votes!
We’re bourbon kinds of guys!
