Always aiming to put the smaller / less well known bands front and centre, welcome to our series featuring acts on the New Forces stage at this year’s Metal Days festival in Slovenia, as well as a couple of bands who are being featured for a second time having trodden the boards of that stage in earlier years. We’ll be there with them and hopefully will catch as many of them live as possible so we can tell you how good they are! Tickets for the five-day (plus warmup!) event are still available for around £135. It takes place in Tolmin, Slovenia, from July 21st to 28th.
What is your band’s name and where are you from?
We are Anakim, based in Weymouth with other members from London and rural Hampshire.
When did you first find out about Metal Days?
I (Anthony, bass) went to the Festival for a few years in a row back when it was still called Metal Camp after seeing enticing adverts in various metal mags.
How did you end up on the bill for this year’s festival?
Last year I went to the festival and put our debut album forward to the promoter for a chance to play a slot on the New Forces stage, fortunately, they picked us!
Is this the furthest you’ll ever have played from home and/or the biggest gig you’ve ever played? If so, what was the furthest/biggest before now?
Definitely the furthest Anakim has travelled for a gig and our biggest gig to date, although a few of us have had experiences on bigger stages and in further away countries with other bands we have been part of. We hope to be playing abroad much more in future.
Which bands on the bill are you most looking forward to seeing?
Cannibal Corpse, Behemoth and Belphegor for sure. I’m tempted to see if Children of Bodom live up to my nostalgic memories of growing up listening to their early albums. Shade Empire, Carpathian Forest, Igorrr, Kataklysm, Priest. But for the most part, I imagine we’ll just decide at the time!
Other than bands, what are you most looking forward to about Metal Days?
Cheap alcohol, meeting some new people, and floating down the river!
Before you hit the stage: Monster energy drink or Laško beer?
Definitely beer, I can’t remember the last time I played without at least a bit of alcohol in me. It gets me revved up for a gig!
We’ll see you there!
Wicked, let’s have a drink!
