For two exclusive Australian dates only, classic UK Death Metal institution Bloodbath will annihilate Sydney and Melbourne audiences as they headline the very first Southern Slaughter Festival. Brought to you by Overdrive Touring, Southern Slaughter features one of 2019’s most brutal line-ups. Bloodbath ride the wave of gore flowing from their latest album ‘The Arrow of Satan is Drawn,’ and will bring all their renewed passion and vigour Down Under.
We grabbed some time with “Old Nick” Holmes, also known for his work with Paradise Lost, to jump into our Off The Record segment.
What is your favourite place to perform on tour?
Greece, Poland and Germany are always great. I love visiting the US and Australia for any reason, so it’s always a big bonus to visit those places as well.
If you could trade places with any other band or artist, past or present, who would it be?
Being David Bowie must have been pretty cool.
Name a band you would love to tour with?
It’s always good to tour with bands we know on a personal level. Musically, I’m not too fussed, although I’d love to watch Rush every night for a few weeks.
Name an artist you would love to collaborate with on a recording?
Collaborations don’t really interest me unless I like the person. To me, just liking someone’s music isn’t enough.
What has been your craziest fan encounter?
Although it has many fanatical fans, Death Metal is still a cult music style. Most people we meet are intelligent, well spoken and polite. If it became a huge arena filling phenomenon, that’s when you would perhaps start meeting the strange folk.
What is the most valuable advice ever given to you?
Follow your dreams, but get a back-up plan (I didn’t!).
What has been the proudest achievement with your band?
It was great that not long after joining the band, we went on to play the biggest festivals in Europe over one summer.
If you could be credited with any song ever written, what song would you want your name attached to?
The Chain by Fleetwood Mac.
Tell us one thing we might not know about you?
I’m rarely serious.
What is a guilty musical pleasure you have?
I’m a big fan of Morrissey (sorry!)
Outside of music, what is your favourite thing to do?
I like to collect luggage.
What was the last great death metal album that caught your attention?
Scream Bloody Gore by Death.
If you could be remembered for one song from your back catalogue what would it be and why?
Not particularly bothered about being remembered.
What direction do you see modern heavy music heading? Can it get any heavier or more extreme?
Nu metal has had a significant effect on metal music – it has changed things drastically, and the knock-on effect is still apparent. Modern so called “extreme bands” just sound like mainstream pop music to me; it’s a world I have no connection with. True extreme bands will always be the original Death/Black Metal and hardcore bands that started it all in the 80’s and new bands that try to maintain that vibe today.
If you could be a fly on the wall for the recording of any album in history, what album would it be?
I guess the catering would have been good around the time Queen recorded ‘The Works’. Let’s go for that one!
What is the meaning of life?
No idea. Let me know if you find out please!
Southern Slaughter Festival
MANNING BAR, SYDNEY
Saturday 14 September
MAX WATT’S, MELBOURNE
Sunday 15 September
TICKETS AND VIP PACKAGES ON SALE VIA WWW.OVERDRIVETOURING.COM
Tickets From:
Melbourne: https://bit.ly/2OYs59T
Sydney: https://bit.ly/2X33VOC
