| 1. What are you currently up
to? |
We've recently played the Underworld with Dragonforce and Falconer,
on Oct 5th, with a warm up show on Oct 4th in Hastings (we needed to
blow the cobwebs away as they were our first shows since supporting
Skyclad about 2 1/2 years ago). Now we're busy writing material for
our new album, due to be recorded early next year. We're also on the
verge of announcing a new full time bass player ( a position we've
had problems filling in a full time capacity)..so life's looking
pretty good at the moment.
|
| 2. Who were your
influences? |
Undoubtedly Iced Earth. They helped me re-invent myself when things
were going bad for me and the band. Their music basically lifted me
and I could relate a lot with Jon's experiences. They re-inforced my
attitude and I haven't looked back since. Matt Barlow's vocal style
and range are a massive influence on me, also Sebastian Bach from way
back when ;-). Basically singers with attitude and versatility are
what I like and what I endeavour to be.
|
| 3. Brief history of the band plus the style of music you play.
|
I started the band a number of years ago and basically played at it
for a few years. Intense grew up pretty much in public and we played
shows all over the UK and Wales. In 1997 we recorded our Dark Season
EP and that was excellent for us, I class DS as Power/Thrash CD. We
recorded and mixed it in 6 days and I still don't know how we
survived ;-) . We toured the CD a lot in the UK and Wales and then did
a promo that showed a heavier side..it was as heavy as i wanted to go
but the guys in the band were seeking to go in that direction whilst
I felt that INTENSE were a Power Metal band and that was the field I
wanted to pursue so ..it was time to make a decision.
It took a little time but everything I've done since then has been
moving along to this point in Nov 2002, ready to record our album,
admittedly it's long overdue.
Whilst we're a Power Metal band I always make the point that we have
a harder edge than some Power Metal bands...much like our influences
of Iced Earth, Nevermore etc rather than the Rhapsody style bands,
although I listen to both styles.
|
| 4. What has been the highlight(s) and lowpoint(s) of your career to
date? |
Highlights have been the success of Dark Season (it sold out in
over 30 HMV's in the UK and was released in Japan,Greece,Colombia and
Germany as well as in Ireland) i did all the promo for that and
released it on my own label. We had reviews from all over the world
and i still get asked about it even now. Also the Skyclad support was
really cool, it was an occasion for them (their first show in the UK
for 4 years I think?) and Martin was really cool to us. The
Underworld show was really cool too. The low points have been the
extreme effort I've had to put in to get a line-up with similar goals
and musical tastes when i should be writing ;-) There hasn't been
too many low points career wise and especially as things stand at the
moment, things are on the up.
|
| 5. How easy is it to gets gigs? What is the live music scene like?
|
It's really easy to get a gig, but getting a good gig is a different
case. The Underworld was a good show for us after so long out.
Dragonforce have asked if we'd do more shows and I've agreed, I've
also spoken to Chris from Shadowkeep with a view to maybe doing some
shows (Chris is a good friend and SK bass player Steve Kightley
helped us out at the Underworld). I've already mentioned supporting
Skyclad. We headlined our own tours in the past and usually used
local supports, it'd be nice to get a decent support slot next year
in support of the album.
Bands I'd like to tour with.....Iced Earth,
Blind Guardian, Nevermore anyone really as long as their music is in
the same vein as ours, plus any of the other English Power Metal
bands of course including Power Quest who would be cool to play with,
I've known Steve Williams for a while now. The Power Metal scene over
here is gradually growing and with more and more bands coming over
here the bigger it will get.
|
|
| 6.
What do you think of the state of rock music at the moment? Do you
listen to radio much at all? Has the Internet helped music grow or
hindered it?
|
Well I can associate with the metal scene obviously ;-) and it's
getting better. It'd still be nice to have some big money thrown at
it without the predictable micky taking and tongue in cheek jokes but
it's moving along steadily. I listen to Total Rock now and again,
they have a good mix and you should be able to hear stuff you like on
at least one of the shows. The internet has definitely helped music
grow, it's a massive world and now you can get mp3's to people in the
States, Japan etc etc, it makes self promotion an easier job.
|
| 7.
If you could create a fantasy band - what would be the line-up and
why?
|
Okay....Matt Barlow on vox (there's no one better), Kai Hansen (excellent
guitarist, massive energy and very infectious and cool b/vox) and Jeff
Loomis on guitars (would throw something different into the mix, pure
quality), Mike Portnoy on drums (the best drummer around imo and very
versatile) and on bass....would have to be Steve Harris I guess...who else?
I'd feel like a betrayer if I didn't put Steve in there ..ha ha and besides
he is god.....apparently ;-)
|
| 8. What CD's do you currently have available and where can they be
purchased from?
|
Only Dark Season is available at the moment, I'm not sure of
availabilty abroad at the moment but you can buy it from our site.
The new album will be available worldwide.
|
| 9. Message for your
fans... |
To the Intense fans, whether you've been with us since Dark Season or
more recent times....the new album will be released next year, it
will be more than worth the wait I promise you and for all the fans
in Europe we will finally make it over next year so you can
experience us live at last. Stay true .....
http://www.intense-uk.com
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