Azreal @ Wallapalooza Brisbane 6th June & Gold Coast 7th June

Photo Credit: Nyx by Night Photography 

"A tip for upcoming bands … get your social media on, and utilize this gift you have at your fingertips" - Azreal.

Azreal are the head bangers paradise if you’re a fan of thrash groove metal.  The boys are masters of the alternation between sluggish heavy bass lines and riffs to furious double kicks and frenzied guitar solos. “Servants of Decay” and “Surveying the Fearful” are standout songs and the guys smashed them out live when we caught them at Metal Heart this year.  Make sure you get to Wallapalooza to check them out if you haven’t already, it will be worth your while.  

Tell us about how the band formed, where you’re from and how long have you been together? Are you all original members?
Luke & Scott formed Azreal in Scott’s basement in late 2007 along with the then original guitarist Mick Creighton. Jimmy joined the band in around 2009 to replace Mick. Chris joined the band in 2013 to replace the then drummer Robbie Crosson. The band has been in its current format since 2013.

How would you describe the band’s style and who are your influences?
It’s just hard out heavy metal with a touch of thrash and dash of groove. There are no fancy genres or cores needed to explain our sound.

What inspirations do you draw on? 
People, Religion, Government, Earth

Tell us about some highlights or low points of the bands career? 
The highlights would just be the amount of touring we have done in the last year or so in support of the “Premonition” release. We managed to score a heap of festival spots, with more to come, and the next step is working on heading overseas.

Are the songs a collaborative effort or does the band have a main songwriter.  How does the music affect the lyrics and vice versa?
It’s a collaborative effort. Some one brings in an idea and we work it from there. Sometimes the idea is just a riff or drum beat, sometimes it’s a vocal line. We throw it all in the mix and work with what works best, and then we throw that heavy, fast Azreal groove on it.

How would you describe the evolution of the band’s sound? 
The sounded has become more rounded and mature from our first release “Better Dead”. When Chris joined the band he bought with him a whole new drum groove and those loud thunderous toms that he pounds at every available opportunity. We went into the writing process of “Premonition” wanting to not go any heavier or groovier but as it turns out “Premonition” was a heavier and groovier record.

What’s different in the music industry today compared to when you first started and what would you do differently if you where just entering the industry today?
The ability to network and get your music heard now is so much easier thanks to social media. “Back in the Day” the only way to get your music heard was to play live and sell physical copies. Now you just record a track and put in online and you can instantly get hundreds if not thousands of listens. Social media also allows you to network with other bands & promoters across the country and the world. 

Which of your song/s are the most fun to play live, or which songs are you most proud of?
We each have our own favourite’s. Premonition has been a crowd favourite of late and one we all enjoy playing. Asking us which one of our songs we don’t look forward to playing live would have been an easier question, but I am not going to tell you which one.

What should we expect from the band in 2015, or what’s the plan for the band moving forward?
A lot more touring including a few more festival spots which have just been announced. We are currently working on a new album and should be due to hit the studio in September for Pre-Production. We are also currently negotiating with some international management and touring companies and hope to be touring overseas in the not so distant future.

Name some of the bands you grew up listening to? 
Jimmy (Guitar): My introduction to rock/metal was GNR and then I moved onto Metallica, Pantera, Sepultura, White Zombie, Fear Factory & Machine Head. In the late 90’s early 2000’s I was really into Korn, Soulfly, Hed PE, Coal Chamber, Slipknot, Mudvayne & Spineshank 
Luke (Vocals): White Zombie, Sepultura, Pantera
Chris (Drums): I grew up with a lot of rock like pink floyd. Led zepplin and alice cooper only when I got to high school I found metal like SOULFLY, tool and cannibal corpse

If you could play in any other band, who would it be? 
Jimmy (Guitar): Soulfly – I’d clean the band toilet if it meant an opportunity to tour with Max Cavalera but a spot on guitar would be nice.

Who did you see at your first ever concert? 
Jimmy (Guitar): Pantera ’96 Great Southern Tour Kill
Luke (Vocals): Korn – Mid 90’s
Chris (Drums): Alice Cooper

What album do you have on repeat in your stereo/ipod? 
Jimmy (Guitar): Coal Chamber – Rivals
Luke (Vocals): Kyuss – Blues for the Red Sun
Chris (Drums): Tool – Lateralus

In your opinion, which local or Aussie band/s should we be watching out for, or who do you think are genuine standout’s at the moment? 
Jimmy (Guitar): The Black Swamp, Daemon Pyre & In Death… 
Luke (Vocals): In Death… , The Black Swamp, Nescient & Evil Eye
Chris (Drums): That's a hard one because there is so many good bands smashing it at the moment but I would have to say Evil Eye and The Black Swamp