Brides - Interview

Recently returned from their headlining tour with Lower Than Atlantis, featured in Kerrang! & Rock Sound and picked up by Visible Noise (Lostprophets, BMTH, Your Demise) we thought it'd be a great time to catch up with Brighton punk/hardcore four-piece Brides...


EBTM:
Brides, good to see you guys today, how're things, enjoying some downtime?

Brides: (Jon Barmby - drums)
No problem! Thank you for helping us out. I feel good today, we actually just got back from buying a new van - its a beast! now that is all sorted so yeh, today is good!

EBTM:
You've recently hooked up with Visible Noise, they're responsible for launching the likes of Lostprophets & Bring me the Horizon amongst others, how does it feel to be with the label?

Brides: (JB)
It's an absolute joy, we had been long time admirers of the label not only due to the great roster of bands the label is home too but also the way in which the label was run. We met with Julie who is head of the label around August last year and she told us about the label in the way that they operate and it really is a fantastic label to be a part off, they have all their bands best intentions at heart and that is refreshing to see from a label. We frequently feel very honored to be a part of their set up and hope that we continue to work together in the future.


EBTM:
Ocular.Unveil has drawn camparisons with A Wilhelm Scream, Hot Water Music & Coheed & Cambria but how would you guys break it down & describe the sound, would you consider these bands an influence or what else is driving the music? What can people expect when they listen to the album?

Brides: (JB)
It's probably wise to tell you that the sound we have is not a sound that we intended to create - we started playing together as a band and the sound developed into what it is over a period of time. Being a band that is built on so many different influences our creative span is somewhat wider when we come to write music and I think that shows. Overall we like to take aspects of different music we enjoy and work on putting them together in a layered fashion - for example, Trist (Guitar) claims to base his guitar playing on that from Dire Straits, Max likes to work his vocals around that of A Wilhelm Scream, Polar Bear Club and Hot Water Music etc. That way, everyone kind of brings their own sound to the band and fortunately enough it seems to blend well together. I think people listening to the album for the first time should expect a new mix of Hardcore, Punk, Prog and straight up Rock for a fast 25 minutes filled with passion and energy! I think that's the best way I can describe it.


EBTM:
You've only been together for 18 months, what're the highlights from that period, any bands you've been psyched about playing with?

Brides: (JB)
Its been a really good 2 years to be honest, in that time some of my personal highlights include both times recording - to me there is nothing more exciting than hearing ideas you have been working on for months sometimes years come together, its an exciting prospect. Also last year we played with A Wilhelm Scream twice in the UK and that for us was a massive highlight, that band is about 95% the reason we are a band today so to be able to share the stage with them aswell was an honor. Obviously Visible Noise was a massive highlight too, it was a really good feeling that a label of that stature would be willing to reach out and help us in the way they did. Another highlight for me is actually the 'future' I am so excited about moving forward with this record, Download Festival for one and others i'm sure too come, I think it's good when the future excites you.


EBTM:
You're from Brighton, a town I know pretty well & it's where I first met you guys a few years before Brides formed...but for those that don't know, in a nutshell what's the place like? You all enjoy living/playing music there?

Brides: (JB)
I would say - 'Beautiful Town, Full of Arseholes' - nah, i'm only joking. It's a beautiful place and sometimes I take living there for granted, it's only when we go away on tour and see some of the other places around the UK that we come back to Brighton and think 'You know what, this place isn't half bad!' There are alot of pretentious people here who shall I say follow the trends a bit too vividly but I guess you get that everywhere. Unfortunately I think that that is the reason in the downfall of the music scene here, I mean the scene isn't bad but it's nowhere near what it was a few years back. The punk scene in Brighton used to be something that was talked about everywhere and now with the recent new wave of music that has unfortunately somewhat died. Overall I think that it could do with a few more mid-sized venues, it feels alot like bands can only go from a small venue to a large venue - there is a serious lack of middle ground and that can hinder some bands.


EBTM:
What album are each of you guys listening to at the moment?

Brides: (JB)
Recently I have been listening to alot of Cult of Luna especially Eternal Kingdom at the moment which I am loving, also mixing that up with sort of old school Blink 182 in Enema of the State which I haven't heard in absolute years but am again thoroughly enjoying that too! We recently played with Devil Sold His Soul which was alot of fun so I have been sessioning their album 'Fragile Hope' of late which is definitely something I can't recommend enough, lovely dudes too!



EBTM:
Any new bands we should be checking out, any tips on who to watch this year?

Brides: (JB)
We just got back of our headline tour with support from Lower Than Atlantis, I honestly felt bad that these guys where supporting us as they are such a tight band both on record and live and their new album that they are demoing at the moment is going to blow everyone out of the water, expect big things! We get asked the question of bands we recommend in almost every interview and I hardly ever mention the band that I think deserves the most credit which is A Wilhelm Scream. They might not need our help seeing as they are on Nitro Records but it seems they don't get anywhere near the credit they deserve, so if you haven't checked them out already - do it, you will love it!


EBTM:
You're confirmed for Download 09'!! You must be pretty psyched about that? Any plans on partying there or you gonna keep it a chilled w'end??!

Brides: (JB)
Not to be one of those 'we party 24 hours a day!' band because frankly we don't, no one does! but yes we do indeed plan to live it up at Download - it just means having maybe a not so mental night on Saturday in order to get up nice and early Sunday to play which I am not complaining about at all! If you see us come and have a beer with us, that would be nice!


EBTM:
And talking of Download, you've kindly invited EBTM along with you for the entire w'end, we're pretty stoked so a huge thanks for that! It's going to be a great w'end & we'll be following and reporting on your every move...you ready for that?!!

Brides: (JB)
Not a problem at all! Haha, I think that's awesome as we love to tell people what we get up too, I don't know how many people will actually be interested in hearing it but maybe they do as we have had a number of people asking to do a 'Brides at Download' section which should be awesome. All I can say is anyone reading this and thinking of coming to see us play while at Download - please do! It's going to be an amazing weekend, if you have seen the line-up you won't disagree. So come help us celebrate on what is the last day of Download, the Sunday on the 3rd Stage, Cheers.