Bloodstock Metal To The Masses 2024 Finalists Interview With Kill By Mouth (Interview By Matt Bladen)
First of all congratulations on getting to the final, which this year is the biggest one yet!
1. You’re going to be a part of the inaugural Day Of Reckoning at The Patti Pavilion in Swansea. How does that feel?
To make it to the final (again) is a great achievement. Who says lightning never strikes twice? Playing a new venue also makes things a bit nervy, especially with the bigger bands being there too!
2. From what we’ve seen your campaign to get to Bloodstock has been very successful (obviously). How has the experience of this year’s M2TM been for you?
Last year's competition was the first 4 shows we'd played with this lineup, as if M2TM wasn't stressful enough! This year we've got more shows under our belt, and we are just more comfortable as a band. That's something that only comes with playing together. I think that has come across this year, as we've won the crowd vote by quite a margin in the rounds that counted it. It's always good to win new fans!
3. M2TM is all about supporting your local scene. How important is the local scene to you as a band?
It's obviously very important. I mean, what would happen without a scene? Would bands even bother playing or forming in the first place? They'd just be tiktok influencers and basement musicians. Who wants that? As a musician, the live experience is just as important and the writing process. Without a scene, you'd have to question just why you do it.
4. To add to that. How strong do you feel the scene is at the moment?
Outside of Kill By Mouth, we've all been gigging since the 90s, and while the number of venues in Swansea is nowhere near what it was 30 years ago, the quality of venue is so much higher. Venues like The Coach House are deservedly legendary, but give me the modern venues any day. The Swansea scene is great, and going from strength to strength.
There is such a diverse range of music that's really great to see. And with the bigger venues now able to accommodate bigger artists, there is a real chance that we can compete with cities like Cardiff and Bristol in the near future. Even in this competition, there's a wide range of styles, and the value of making new friends with these bands at the shows cannot be underestimated. We are still in touch with bands from last year, and we've played together since then too, so even if you don't win the Bloodstock slot, there's still a great reason to enter.
5. What should people expect when you take to the stage at the Patti. It’s a pretty big stage so are there more nerves than playing say Fuel or The Bunkhouse?
There are always nerves, especially before the final. Thankfully we know all but one of the bands, so that makes things easier. Performance wise, you know we are going to go hard and loud. There's a lot on the line, so we are not giving any half arsed show on the day. The people who have supported us all the way through deserve a good show. And we aren't saying any more than that!
6. What other bands are you looking forward to seeing on the day?
We were in the final with Verletzen and Rites 2 Ruin last year and we played with Thrakian and COASK outside of the competition last year too. It's always great to play with those guys. Cardiff last year had one guest headliner, as did the earlier rounds. It looks like you were keeping your powder dry for this though! To turn it into a one day festival is great. It would be stupid not to want to see all five of the main bands. It just goes to show that Swansea have something to prove to the rest of the UK! Nowhere else can compete with our final!
7. If you were to get to play Bloodstock on the New Blood Stage, how would that feel for you as a band?
Obviously, to get to there is an incredible achievement. We've played for years in separate bands, but I don't think any of us have got to that kind of level before. A major festival would be the highlight of any bands career.
8. Would you recommend the M2TM initiative to any band looking to showcase themselves in their scene and further away?
Of course. We've been fortunate enough to have made it to the last two finals, and there have been many bands that didn't make it, but the opportunity to meet new bands and network is a reward in itself. After the competition, and after Bloodstock, you have all the bands you’ve met along the way to organise and play shows with. Why would I not recommend that to anyone? Especially new bands. Breaking into a scene can be tough, almost like a catch 22. Having a competition like M2TM as an introduction is a great idea.
9. In addition to that question. What advice would you give them in order to get where you are?
Load in on time, start on time, don't overrun, don't be a twat. And be nice to the soundman!
* This last question was invented by Mr Paul Hutchings who sent the Heat interviews so it’s an homage*
10. As we are a Welsh publication and this is M2TM South Wales. The final question is: What is your
favourite sheep?
I think it would have to be the Derbyshire Gritstone. With its pretty cool looking corpse paint, it’s got to be the most metal sheep out there.
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