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!
Bull-Riff Stampede – SOPHIE Stage, Saturday
Guitarist Jay Walsh rattled these off for us!
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
From Bristol / Weymouth / Nottingham.
How did you meet?
We’ve all known each other for a very long time and have also gigged together in various previous bands. Fourwaykill / Plague / Anger Management / Ted Maul / Awaken…
How long have you been playing together as a band?
This band started recorded the first album late 2010 but didn’t actually start rehearsing/gigging until the June 2011. The current line up completed in April 2012 when Rod ed on bass guitar.
Where does the name of the band come from?
It’s a name I had kicking about in my head for years but needed the right sort of music to carry the name of it.
What are your influences – individually or as a band?
Pretty much the last thirty years of metal – everything from Sabbath to Lamb of God and WASP to Kreator. We all have very extreme bands that we listen to a lot as well as traditional old school and much of what’s between.
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
The reviews have cited a wide range of comparisons – we’ve had Carcass / Testament / Kreator / Cradle Of Filth / Gojira all cropping up alongside Maiden and Accept very recently – so I think it’s a meeting of thrash with death metal crossing into classic heavy metal.
When/how did you find out you’d been selected to play at Bloodstock?
We had a call up last week on standby to step into a cancelled slot on the S.O.P.H.I.E stage.
What sort of setlist can we expect?
A mix up of tracks from our 2 albums – airing more of the faster/heavier of them.
Which main stage band do you most hope you’re not clashing with so you can see them play?
I’m indifferent on this. Whatever happens, happens with regards to clashes.
What are you working on at the moment?
Basically now the new album is released we’re focusing on the live dates we have this year and promotion in general. A run of UK dates in September and a couple others following that, and we’re looking at possible dates for our return to Ireland early next year.
What advice would you give to a young band just starting out today?
Go for Woodford Reserve as your spirit of choice and ditch the lager for ales!
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!
Headliner:- Overkill
Opener:- Seprevation
What stage / time are you playing at Bloodstock (if you have your slot yet!)
We’ll be kicking off at 18:40 sharp at the S.O.P.H.I.E stage Saturday 13th
