Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Seprevation Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording of the new album?
Jamie - We've played a few shows in and around Bristol including London and Birmingham. We've also taken the time to just chill out and have a rest after the madness of writing and recording haha. There's also been a lot of prep with getting the album and merch ready to go for release and there's a video in the works too.
Lluc - We've been working hard trying to push the album as much as possible. Because it's completely self funded, it's all come down to us and our management to get it off the ground. Obviously it's our first album so it's all new to us! That and preparing for the tour over a few pints down the pub!
Ian - We've been hard at work getting it all ready for release, really. It's all down to us and our management company, Chaotic Tapestry to organise everything since we have no label or anything.

2.You have a new album coming out in May, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical direction of the new recording and also how does it differ from your previous single and ep?
Joss - It sounds like a band progressing, in my opinion the current sound is far from what I personally want to achieve but this album is a huge step in the right direction.
Ian - The musical direction this time around is slightly different than our last release (Ritual Abuse, our debut EP from 2012), but definitely better. In some ways we've stuck with what we know but a lot of the songs are a lot more experimental, not quite so much straight up death/thrash. Not to say there isn't anything straight up on the record, because there is, but if you're expecting a carbon copy of 'Ritual Abuse', only longer, think again because there's places we visit on this album that we wouldn't have even thought about when we wrote that.
Lluc - The album is definitely more advanced than 'Ritual Abuse' in every way. We've stuck true to what we enjoy and love but tried to push our musicianship and song writing a lot further. Throughout the writing process I think the songs evolved a lot more and certainly opened us up in terms of bringing in new influences.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer music?
Lluc - I think again, along with the music the lyrics have certainly evolved. The album deals with a lot of the darker aspects of life. The question of purpose and being a long with dealing with the concept of death and the aftermath. There is still a fantasy aspect to some of the songs and others which pull you into a world of horror. I think the dark subject matter compliments the heavy music well and hope there's topics on there than anyone can relate to.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Seprevation'?
Joss - The name is entirely meaningless haha, the reason we decided on Seprevation was because it sounded cool and there was nothing on the internet like it, therefore we would be easier to find... And somewhat unique, we also wanted a one word name and it seems increasingly harder to do that now a days.
Ian - Sounds cool, right? Doesn't mean anything!

5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?
Ian - Bloodstock, and the Exhumed tour were both fucking amazing!! Personal highlights for me are pretty much every time we play the Gryphon in our hometown Bristol. It's a tiny little venue, about 50 capacity but being our home crowd (and favourite pub) it's just always beyond words. The beer, the staff and most importantly the crowd all make it incredible every time. Another highlight was playing on the Headbangers Balls tour last year, it's such a great cause and after the amount of brutally hard work the organisers did to get it off the ground, I'm really proud to have been part of the first year. It was a killer couple of shows,
so much so that we're doing a few with them again this year. Get your balls out for the cause!
Lluc - Certainly Bloodstock was a highlight and the whole tour with Exhumed. We love playing live and try to have as much fun as possible and hope the fans do too. Haha I guess a fast, relentless, beer fuelled death thrash machine would sum us up pretty well!

6.Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album once it is released?
Joss - First of all we are touring the UK with Bonded by Blood and Flayed Disciple, the tour starts on May 18th in London, then we are off with Bloodshot Dawn in October/November around the UK and Ireland, we will have more shows in between but nothing is confirmed for now.

7.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?
Joss - We would definitely be interested if the right offer came along, it depends!
Ian - We've not received any interest as yet, nor have we been actively looking. If something came along that seemed right we may go for it, as obviously having a label with you is a massive plus, but it's not something on our radar right now.

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of death and thrash metal?
Lluc - I guess it's only really begun to spread across the globe. We had some amazing support from fans in the US and surprisingly Indonesia but it's been pretty small scale so far.

9.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Joss - I'm really not sure, all I think about is the direction of this band, sometimes I think it needs to be more extreme, sometimes more experimental, to combine all of my personal influences is hard enough, let alone considering everyone else's haha, I'm really looking forward to it though, the thought of caring what people
think about Seprevation has long gone and I'm entirely focused on what sounds good to me at the moment.

10.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
Joss - At the moment I'm listening to a bit of a everything haha, Soundgarden, Wormed, Defeated Sanity, Vektor, Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, Trash Talk, CCR, Coroner, Judas Priest, Flayed Disciple, AC/DC, Cynic… But I think the main influences on Consumed are still bands like Possessed, Sadus, Death and Morbid Angel, anything around the late 80's and early 90's, the classic era for death and thrash.
Ian - Obviously the main influences for our band are bands like Morbid Angel, Sadus, Death, Slayer, Megadeth etc, real old school death and thrash. Personally I've been loving the latest Exhumed record, it's about 6 months old now but I must still listen to it weekly, but other than that, non metal music I love Laura Marling, First Aid Kit, 'nice' chilled out stuff like that (most metal heads probably think it's complete shit) and I've been listening to an absolute fuckload of Creedence Clearwater Revival lately, fucking love it.

11.What are some of your non musical interests?
Joss – Football, Which in metal seems to come with a shit ton of abuse.
Jamie - Cooking, Eating, Smoking and Drinking and the occasional trip to the gym haha
Ian - Drinking.

12. Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Lluc - If you're a fan of death or thrash metal, check out the video and if you like what you hear Consumed is out May 10th!! Check it out!! As always, any and all support is appreciated. Cheers and see you on the road!!!
Ian - Buy Consumed right fucking now!! Or download it from our Bigcartel. Whatever, just listen to it and if you like it come to a show! Thanks.

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