Interview Sylosis

Artiest: Sylosis

Geïnterviewden: Josh Middleton (zanger), Ali Richardson (drummer)

Interview afgenomen op: Graspop Metal Meeting 2015

Label: Nuclear Blast

Ook Sylosis speelde op Graspop Metal Meeting. Na hun optreden gingen we in gesprek met zanger Josh Middleton en drummer Ali Richardson.

Welcome here at Graspop. You played before at Hellfest, how was it?

Josh: It was the day before yesterday that we played there, it was amazing. One of my favorite shows ever.

What did you think of the concert today at Graspop?

Josh: It was also one of my favorites, a lot of fun.

Ali: Always a good place to play.

Josh: We love festivals, we normally just come over for one and go back home, but because we’ve been doing a few, you get more in the zone, you get into the swing of things. No stress or doubts or anything.

Ali: Very relaxed the entire day, European festivals are always very well organized.

Josh: Yeah, very good. I think Graspop is one of my favorites.

So Sylosis, I was wondering what the idea is behind the band name and who has chosen this name?

Josh: It wasn’t me, maybe our old drummer. But it doesn’t mean anything I’m afraid, it’s just a made-up word. Although there is this word in a dictionary, a really old dictionary, but it was spelled completely different, I think it had to do with scalping… We changed the spelling since it was such a terrible name and it stuck, this works now, it just doesn’t mean anything.

Your latest album ‘Dormant Heart’ is out for a while now, so you had already some time to reflect back on it. What do you think of it and of the reactions you were given?

Josh: Yeah, really good. I think it’s the most positive reaction we had.

About a month ago, you also played in Biebob in Vosselaar, you guys tour a lot then?

Josh: Kind of. But only recently. Unfortunately when the album came out in January, we had like a dry period. We were supposed to tour, so it’s kind of coincidence that touring and festivals are so close to each other. But it’s pretty good.

The coverart is also very nice. Who invented this?

Josh: We hired a guy, he goes by the name of Bonfire, that’s his alias I guess. He has done just this album and it’s a nice design, it’s really good.

How do you compare ‘Dormant Heart’ with your previous albums?

Josh: We tried to focus a bit more the atmosphere, a little bit more aggressive, a little more doomy. Not necessarily a new direction we’re heading in, that’s just how the album sounds. I think with ‘Edge of the Earth’, we kind of established a sound. It’s thrash but there is other stuff going on, that’s what made the foundation and we keep going on that, but we try to make each album have its own thing.

Do you have new ideas already for the next one?

Josh: Not too many just yet. Once these festivals are over, we’ll start writing again.

What are the plans for Sylosis both short and long term?

Josh: Definately a lot of touring, but not real plans. There is only one more festival which is With Full Force. Then we have the summer off and we’ll be touring again in November, but we’re not sure yet.

Do you have any other occupation besides the band?

Josh: Yeah, we all do various things.

Ali: Work in a bar, work in a carwash, teach drums, … Just anything. We’re lucky we have jobs that we can go into and go off and come back to. It’s hard as a band to make money these days. Whatever we can do to keep the band going, it’s priority number one for us.

Josh: all of us still have jobs, yeah.

What are your influences as a band or who do you look up to?

Ali: Pantera.

Josh: Yeah, Pantera is like the number one band that we all kinda like. And then Metallica although Ali not so much. All kinds of stuff really, a lot more progressive music…

Ali: Kate Bush.

Josh: Yeah, I like Kate Bush. I love more progressive stuff, it’s quite eclectic. We try to make sure that it sounds like a mess of stuff mashed together.

What do you know about the Belgian metalscene or our country in general?

Josh: Not much. Just this festivals.

Ali: You got a bunch of festivals here. The festivals are always amazing. And the beer is amazing!

Josh: Oh yeah, obviously, the beer. Not much in terms of music, I don’t know of any Belgian bands.

What are your plans further today here at the festival?

Josh: We have to leave soon.

Ali: Unfortunately we leave in half an hour or something, we head back the the UK.

Josh: After this we have a signing session.

Ali: We’d love to hang out here, there are a lot of bands that we would like to see. That’s the disadvantage of a touring schedule I guess.

Thank you very much!