Beastwars are one of the heaviest band coming from the other side of the world (in our perspective) and they’re about to release their new album Blood becomes Fire. Metal Editor Sander had a chat with guitarist Clayton Anderson about the new album, the band, New Zealand and the band’s awesome artwork.
(((o))): Who are Beastwars and how would you describe your music?
Heavy/sludgy/dirty/apocalyptic metal...
(((o))): You new album Blood Becomes Fire will be released soon. Can you tell me more about the theme behind the album?
It's a continuation from our first album that had themes of the apocalypse. This album is set 1000 years after. We wanted to explore the themes of life, death, mortality and in some sense spirituality. Matt (Hyde - vocals) had the idea of an astronaut from another planet and time becoming stranded on earth 1000 years into the future and what he finds isn't good. You could call it a concept album but it is also a collection of songs that work really well together.
(((o))): Coming from New Zealand I can imagine it’s quite difficult and financially expensive for you guys to tour and play outside New Zealand?
We are at the bottom of the world and it is hugely expensive to play anywhere past the east coast of Australia. We dream of, and have a goal, to play in Europe and America and if we had the finances we'd be over there in a flash. All of us work and to a certain extent having jobs allows us to finance, as much as possible, things we want the band to do like record and release albums and tour as much as possible. But having jobs also means we can't take three months off to tour the world. It's a hard situation, but the more people from overseas discover and buy our music the more that's helping us reach the goal of playing overseas.
(((o))): Related to the previous question, how important are social media and blogs like ours to you? As I can imagine these would help the band to deal with the geographical isolation?
It's hugely important to the band. If it wasn't for the internet we wouldn't have fans from all corners of the world. We get a huge buzz out of fans contacting us telling us they heard the band on this or that blog and they have had our album on high rotate etc. And of course that inspires us more to knuckle down and get our arses overseas.
(((o))): What is the New Zealand metal scene like?
The great thing about metal fans is that they're passionate, almost rabid about music. In fact, I'd say metal fans are the most passionate lovers of music out of any genre. So, although metal isn't huge in New Zealand, the fans get out there and really support the bands. The type of stoner/sludge music like us isn't huge but it's getting bigger. There's a fantastic band from Hamilton called Arc of Ascent that I highly recommend your readers to check out. They're absolutely brilliant.
(((o))): You are getting quite well-known among the fans of heavy music in Europe and the US, how well-known are you in New Zealand?
Are we quite well-known? That's pretty trippy to hear! We still think we're on the tip of the tip of the outer edge of the heavy music scene (that's what living at the bottom of the world does to you!). We're becoming quite well known in New Zealand music now. When our first album came out people didn't have a clue who we were. Then we got some really positive reviews for the first album in the mainstream New Zealand press and toured the country about five times that year (2011). By the last tours we were selling out our gigs and word was spreading. I think us playing live really created a buzz because thankfully we have this shaman/Jim Jones like singer - our live shows are almost like a heavy metal sermon! – so people were coming away from the shows telling people "you gotta go check out this band Beastwars” etc. So, now we're reasonably well known here – if you're a 17 year old New Zealand kid who's into metal you'll probably know Beastwars, if you're a 17 year old New Zealand kid who's into Justin Beiber probably not.
(((o))): Where do you get your inspiration from?
This may sound cliché or cheesy but I'd say the three other guys in the band. We're such a diverse group of individuals that that is what makes the Beastwars sound. We all have hugely diverse musical tastes (and some common ones) so it gets reflected in the Beastwars sound. I also get inspiration from the country I live in because geographically it is a beautiful, unique country. Its isolation also rubs off you. There is a certain, almost indescribable, element to the psyche that is unique to this country.
(((o))): Who are your musical heroes?
I have many musical heroes from a range of genres and I'll probably miss a few but off the top of my head: Keith Richards, Jimmy Page, Tony Iommi, Nick Cave, Johnny Marr, Robert Smith, James Hetfeild, Kurt Cobain, Thurston Moore, PJ Harvey, Josh Homme, Peter and Graeme Jefferies, David Kilgour. God, the list could go on and on…
(((o))): Who are your non-musical heroes?
Tony Wilson (Factory Records founder), Alan McGee (Creation Records founder), Gerald Celente, Max Keiser, the people of Europe, America and around the world that are standing up to the corrupt politicians and bankers that are leading the world to ruin.
(((o))): You have collaborated again with Nick Keller of Weta Workshop on the artwork of “Blood Becomes Fire”. How did this collaboration come together?
We always planned to do the next record with Nick again. There's something about the band's relationship with him that's almost unsaid, it's like we 'get' each other. He knows where we're coming from, the subtle things, things that might not be in the lyrics or obvious but there's some kind of overall theme. I think Nick knows, like us, that humanity is going to hell in a hand basket and there's almost nothing that can be done now except view and capture that one-way express elevator going down. I’m happy the new album will be released on vinyl as well as the artwork totally deserves that.
(((o))): As most bands and labels seem to release things on vinyl again these days, what is your take on this whole vinyl re-boost?
We think it's great. The digital-age has almost made music disposable and kind of less worthy. I think physical releases, not just vinyl but CDs, bring a lot more respect back to the art of creating music and album covers. There's nothing like going to a record store or getting a vinyl in the mail. It's a treat, it's a buzz. Opening it up, putting it on, checking out the art, photos, lyrics etc. You can't beat that.
(((o))): What other bands/artists should we check out from New Zealand?
Like I said earlier Arc of Ascent. Mountaineater from Dunedin. There's another newish Wellington band Von Thundersvolt that people should check out. If your readers want to check out non-metal NZ bands look up the old-school Flying Nun bands like This Kind of Punishment, Snapper and The Headless Chickens.
(((o))): What would your favourite festival line-up look like?
I would've loved to have seen the recent Soundwave side show gig of Red Fang, Kyuss Lives and Orange Goblin! That Soundwave festival also had Metallica and Slayer playing at it. I wish I had had the money to go...A non-metal festival line-up would be Nick Cave, PJ Harvey, Sisters of Mercy and Bauhaus.
(((o))): How do you spend your days on the road whilst touring? Any movies you like to watch or books to read?
I'm more of a reader when on the road. I'm a bit of a fan of Mick Wall's bios and have just finished reading his one on AC/DC. Now I'm reading How Soon is Now, a book on independent record labels of the 70s/80s and 90s.
(((o))): If there was a war between beasts, what would the ultimate champion beast look like?
A fucking Dragon. Nobody can fuck with a Dragon!
(((o))): Lastly, what should we expect from Beastwars this year?
Well, I hope people dig the new album as much as we have dug making it and bringing it to people. We'll be touring a lot 'down under' and are playing with Unida and Truckfighters in Australia in May. We'd love to get up to the Northern Hemisphere and are working hard to make that a reality.
