Metal Band Glamour of the Kill Talk Image, Illegal Downloads and Iron Maiden

Jasmine Phull talks to Glamour of the Kill as they prepare to embark on an extensive 29-date UK tour to promote 2011 debut The Summoning.

York’s Glamour of the Kill always kind of stood out from the crowd. Though like a piece of the puzzle that was a little too ‘different’, this metalcore band weren’t about to try and fit in.

As metal-heads the collective got together at age 14, so alongside all the ‘normal’ things adolescents have to put up with, wearing make-up - namely heavy eyeliner - sat firmly at the top. Though if you’re going to be inspired by the great Motley Crue and Judas Priest, you’ve got to ensure you’re on top of your game. Visual aesthetics included!

And it seems the four lads from North Yorkshire are well versed. As much as they get stick for the way they  look, ‘it always seems to be us that leaves with the hottest girls’, they state rather smugly.

Your debut The Summoning was recently released. You’d released two EPs previously, so what was your main focus when creating the LP?
It was mainly to show everyone what we were made of! We had toured the last two EPs for two years and it really shaped us into the band we are today. Having the chance to play on the same stages as Avenged Sevenfold, Bullet for My Valentine and Dragonforce really makes you want to step up your game and be the best band you can. We pushed ourselves and we are really proud with what we have produced.

What was the metal scene like when growing up in your home town of York?
Obviously every town has a few small local bands and bands that get together in school but it wasn’t really in fashion to play metal when I was growing up and there wasn’t that many bands that did! So when we first started playing in a band at the age of 14 we were a lot different to everyone else and I think that’s why we stood out from the crowd.

The most important part of your live show?
A massive part of our show is about the energy of the audience and all of the band regularly interact between songs - this makes our shows more personal. If everybody in the venue isn’t having as much fun as we are then we make sure to change that while performing!

Is image a vital part of being in a metal band?
We always like to make ourselves look presentable! Having grown up listening to Motley Crue and Judas Priest we always want to make sure we have an eye-catching image. We get a lot of stick for looking the way we do but it always seems to be us that leaves with the hottest girls so we must be doing something right....? (Laughs)

Are the low times what make you stronger as a band?
Yes of course! So many times we played shows to just our family and friends. You get a lot of knock backs and sometimes it can be hard to get back up and that’s why a lot of bands break up or members leave, but you just have to power your way through it! It has definitely made us into more mature artists and we’ve learnt to take what anyone says with a pinch of salt.

The first album you bought?
I can’t remember the first album I bought! I can just remember that my Dad had a big pile of vinyls and I found Iron Maiden’s Number of the Beast and I fell in love instantly! Iron Maiden are such a big influence to Glamour of the Kill and what those guys have done for British metal is phenomenal.

Compare the Metalcore to what it was 10 years ago? Is there a major difference?
Back then there was a handful of bands that were amazing and that stood out a lot more than others but now it seems that everybody is in some sort of band and seem to be doing it for the lifestyle they perceive. Don’t get me wrong there are some kick-ass bands breaking through from the UK, but there are also a lot of shit ones too. So what I feel is missing is the music and talent element of a band!

What do you think about illegal downloading?
It’s really fucking up music sales. I mean you can look back 25 years and see Motley Crue going multi-platinum because people used to buy records. Don’t get me wrong the Internet can also break a band, as it gives smaller bands the opportunity to showcase their music to an audience if they don’t have the power to release it, but the Internet can also be an enemy to bands.

Do you have any favourite bands you put aside for specific occasions?
I like all types of different music but when I cook I like to listen to The Beatles! Their track ‘Get Back’ is a really cool upbeat song and it always puts me in a good mood when I listen to it. Paul McCartney’s voice was so amazing back then.

What do you promise to deliver at one of your gigs?
One big party! We always give 100 per cent at our shows and we pride ourselves on our live performance. We always make sure that the crowd is fully involved; the connection we have with our fans is second to none. We are very lucky to have a kickass army of fans.

Can you pick one artist who’s recently deceased but will always live on?
It has to be Avenged Sevenfold’s 'The Rev'. We were lucky enough to meet him when we toured with that band and he was the coolest motherfucker ever! He was really cool to us and we hung out most nights. I can’t understand how much pain those guys have gone through losing their brother but we have the biggest respect for them. They could have stopped all together but they didn’t and that’s amazing! RIP dude!

Interview by: Jasmine Phull
Twitter.com/j_fool

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