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!
Triverse Massacre – Hobgoblin New Blood stage, Friday
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
Hey, three of us (Liam, James and Mikey) are from the border city Carlisle in Cumbria. The other two (Chris and Jason) are from north of the wall, Lockerbie and Dumfries, so it’s a mix of northerners and wildlings.
How did you meet?
We (Liam and James) were in a band that had ran its course but wanted to continue working together. That’s when we got in touch with Mikey who we knew from the local rock club, he was a DJ there. After some line up changes a few years ago we found Chris and Jason who were playing in and around the local scene and they heard we were looking for another guitarist and bassist so we reached out and it kicked off from there.
How long have you been playing together as a band?
Triverse Massacre has been going since 2010, so around six years.
Where does the name of the band come from?
It’s a long story. Basically there is universe then multiverse which is where there is a universe considered as lacking order or a single ruling and guiding power, then we times that by three and massacred all of it… Triverse Massacre, mostly we thought it sounded cool.
What are your influences – individually or as a band?
Collectively we have quite an eclectic range of influences, but our sound is mainly evolved from the metal/rock umbrella unsurprisingly. Metallica, Lamb of God, Black Dahlia Murder, Cannibal Corpse, Slayer and the likes.
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
We put a groove lathered cover over death metal, something you can bang your head to and smash around in the pit to.
What’s your live show like – why should the baying hordes troop over to the stage you’re playing on to watch you?
We strive to put on a high-octane, heavy, energetic show. We love to be on stage and I think that shows when we play live. We think people have a better time in the crowd when it looks like the band are enjoying themselves and vice versa. We cannot wait to get on the Hobgoblin New Blood Stage and play to the biggest crowd we will have played to to-date and just go nuts.
When/how did you find out you’d been selected to play at Bloodstock?
Sunday the 29th May. It was the Carlisle Metal 2 the Masses final (shout out to Steve and all the Club Rock guys!) and amidst a packed club Simon Hall announced we’d won.
What sort of setlist can we expect?
A mixture of groovy, heavy head banging (hopefully pit filled) northern metal. Songs from our previous EP’s as well as a couple of yet to be released songs that we’d like to think would get any metalhead at Bloodstock moving about the place.
Which main stage band do you most hope you’re not clashing with so you can see them play?
Given the day we’re on we’d hate to clash with, Evil Scarecrow (we will definitely be getting our crab scuttling on!), Corrosion of Conformity or Behemoth. Any of the bands to be honest. We know we will clash with someone, but the line-up is so strong this year it’s going to be difficult to not clash with an awesome band.
What are you working on at the moment?
We are currently finishing off the demoing tracks to our new E.P. which is going to titled Hades. It’s a concept E.P. based on the rivers of Hades, we are really excited to get it out into circulation and show everyone how we’ve evolved since the last E.P. With Bared Teeth and Truths (which is available on Spotify).
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done on tour?
Surprisingly nothing too wild. When we were recording the last E.P. in South Shields we had a pretty good evening. Started off in a pub where we were just going to have a few as vocals were being recorded the next day… until someone got the Jägers in. Next thing we’re in a club that we were told was rock bar. It wasn’t, at all. Someone (mentioning no names) managed to attract the attention of an “off duty” lady of the night who ed for some of the evening. So we drank and ended up moving to a club called Glitter Ball, ending by a few of us dancing around our old bass player with pants around ankles, someone gyrating on a table to 80’s cheese.
What advice would you give to a young band just starting out today?
Well firstly, enjoy it! Do what you enjoy, don’t try to be a band you aren’t to fit into a genre or an idea of what you think you should be, it comes across as false and people can tell. Secondly, work hard, put the time and practice into what you do, because if you don’t care about it, why should anyone else? Thirdly, don’t be a dick! Be professional; be polite, no one likes someone who acts like a dick. So, enjoy it, work hard, don’t be a dick.
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!
Just three bands is a really tough question and if you asked us again tomorrow it would probably be different bands.
Slayer as headliner and Burning the Dream as the first act who also happen to be on the New Blood stage on the Friday with us.
What stage / time are you playing at Bloodstock (if you have your slot yet!)
We are playing the Hobgoblin New Blood Stage on Friday 12th August. Time is yet to be announced but when we know, we will be informing everyone via Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, word of mouth, carrier pigeon and smoke signals! We will see you all at Bloodstock!
