Interview: Beyond Salvation
I think it’s our best stuff so far and shows where we are heading musically, a hint for the debut album as it were.
Manchester thrashers Beyond Salvation returned with the A Line In The Sand EP earlier in the year and it sees the band blasting back with some top level, energetic thrash metal. Gavin Brown caught up with Beyond Salvation vocalist / guitarist Jon Pedley to get the lowdown on A Line In The Sand, the band’s recent live shows, metal in Manchester and all manner of thrash related topics.
E&D: Can you tell us about Beyond Salvation and how you got together?
Jon: The band started coming up to ten years ago… completely different line up. I joined pretty soon after on guitar. Then jumped on vocals as well. The line-up has evolved over the years and the current one has been solid like this for about 2 years now.
E&D: You released the A Line In The Sand EP earlier in the year. How has that been received so far?
Jon: Great! I think it’s our best stuff so far and shows where we are heading musically, a hint for the debut album as it were. Also it was loads of fun to get our first music video out for ‘Ghost Machine’.
E&D: What topics do the songs on the EP deal with?
Jon: Corruption, self doubt and how to rise above such issues.
E&D: Are you working on any new music at the moment that you can tell us about?
Jon: Yeah, as I mentioned, we’re just in the last stages of tracking the debut album. It’s taken a while but we are NEARLY there hoping for a release in the first half of 2025.
E&D: Who are the biggest influences on the sound of Beyond Salvation?
Jon: Machine Head, Sepultura, Sylosis, Exodus.
E&D: How did your recent shows at Spoonfest go and what were the highlights of the day?
Jon: Yeah, good day. We’ve known Jo who put it on for ages and as with all our MCR shows, loads of friends and bands we’ve played with before.
E&D: What have been some of the most memorable live shows that Beyond Salvation have played to date?
Jon: Has to be Bloodstock 2021. Insane crowd and song out of covid was great to be back playing proper shows.
E&D: Where are you mr favourite places to play in your Manchester home town?
Jon: Rebellion for me. Played many times and it just has a great vibe, along with the fact I’ve seen so many great bands there such as Revocation & Orbit Culture lately.
E&D: What metal orientated places are a must visit for someone coming to the city?
Jon: Any of the gigs really, especially when Metal To The Masses is being put on. If you like things alternative, then you can’t beat Affleck’s Palace.
E&D: Who are your favourite ever bands from Manchester?
Jon: Oasis & Ingested….Still need to get tickets for both of their upcoming shows…. Have a feeling one might be tricker to get then the other though!
E&D: What are your favourite ever thrash albums?
Jon: Metallica – Master of Puppets; Sepultura – Arise; Sylosis – Edge Of The Earth.
E&D: Who are your favourite ever UK thrash bands?
Jon: Sylosis, without a doubt.
E&D: Who do you feel are the most underrated thrash bands and albums?
Jon: Ha! Probably Sylosis again but I feel they are getting a bigger and bigger following these days.
E&D: What new thrash bands are doing it for you at the moment?
Jon: Tortured Demon for sure but maybe a bit biased as our bass player Luke plays for them which is great to see.
E&D: What have been the best thrash gigs you have ever been to?
Jon: Any time I’ve seen Slayer but I think my favourite gig of all time was when Machine Head supported Metallica in Manchester. Unreal!
E&D: What have been your albums of the year so far?
Jon: Blood Red Throne – Nonagon; Job For Cowboy – Moon Healer; Aborted – Vault Of Horrors; Ingested – The Tide Of Fractured Dreams; Extinction AD – To The Detested; Ulcerate – Cutting the Throat Of God.
But I’m also really looking forward to the new albums from Fit For An Autopsy, Eartehria, Black Dahlia Murder, Allt and Krysthla.
