Interviews: Nephilim

In this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Metal band Nephilim from the UK. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

We originally wanted to be called ‘The Fallen’ but it was already taken and so after Momma Nephilim did some research, ‘Nephilim’ became the name. (Nephilim is a term used for the offspring of a demon and a human woman. The Nephilim were supposedly giants who ruled over humanity and destroyed anything in their path. The term can meet slightly different things in different languages / religions.)

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Callum: It’s just so powerful and energetic and I love it, so I just wanted to be a part of it and bring my own take on it with my best friends.

James: I think metal is the most fun to play as it is highly energetic. It’s really fun to play on stage too.

Frankie: Metal was the first genre that really blew my mind. As long as I have been a guitarist I have played metal. Although I listen to/play a lot more of other genres nowadays there is still no doubt metal is one of the most fun genres to play.

Ace: Because Metal is fucking sick, the energy behind it the crazy shows with pyro and fireworks just being completely over the top. Along with crazy drums, insane solos and punch to the face vocals.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Callum: I only knew James from school and from our former band, but then met the rest of the lads through Nephilim.

James: I literally only knew Cal, the singer, before the band was formed as we went to the same school. We were also in a band together before Nephilim. 

Frank: I only knew our bassist Ace properly before I joined the band. I first started talking to James after he tried to buy one of Syn Gates’ guitar picks off me after an Avenged Sevenfold show, after that we started talking and jamming. Ace has only been in the band a couple of months now though so I came into the band not knowing anyone properly. Now I couldn't imagine life without the boys.

Ace: Frankie and I go way back we’ve been in some really fucked up situations together. I was introduced to Cal when he was laid on his school field snogging a girl he had just met, my first thought was “I need to be mates with this guy”. 

4. Each band member’s favourite band?

Callum: My all-time favourite band has to be Avenged Sevenfold, but at the moment I’m just in love with Thy Art Is Murder and Killswitch Engage. My old favourite band from when I was younger was The Eagles who are a country-rock band and they still hold a great place in music for me.

James: My ‘current’ favourite band changes quite a lot. Right now it is probably Killswitch Engage. However, my all-time favourite has to be Avenged Sevenfold.

Frankie: My favourite bands change a lot too. My all-time favourite band is HIM. I love a bit of emotional goth rock. My current favourite bands I'm listening to at the moment are Tiny Moving Parts and Mom Jeans. Not metal bands but they're still high energy and kick ass.

Ace: My favourite band at the moment is Pearl Jam, but Asking Alexandria will always hold a special place in my heart those dudes were insane when they were younger. 

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Callum: The inspiration I get is from life experiences and seeing what is happening around me.

James: For lyrics, it’s probably talking about the bad stuff that’s wrong with the world. For music it’s just whatever my fingers decide to play. Sometimes I just get this urge to write for no reason whatsoever.

Frankie: I write a lot of sad stuff. I'm very critical of my lyrics so its not often I bring anything to the band but I suffer a lot with anxiety, depression, etc so what I find easiest to write is about what's going on in my head. And when it comes to writing guitar I usually just jam to myself and pick out the best bits.

Ace: Mainly life experiences, all the fucked up things that have happened to me or I've seen happen, I've written some really dark songs. Relationships going wrong, deaths, addictions, depression, suicide, all the shit things in life can help write some really good music. Where was your last gig? Our last gig was Rock the Point Festival in Berwick on Saturday 10th August.

7. Where would you like to play?

Callum: Newcastle Metro arena as it is local for us so we have our hometown crowd there and I’ve seen gigs there and just thought wow!

James: I’d like to play on top of a skyscraper. Also Download Festival.

Frankie: There's the obvious ones like Download, our local arena in Newcastle, etc.. but the venue I would most love to play is Red Rocks in Colorado. A lot of my favourite reggae bands play there all the time and I just think it is so beautiful and atmospheric.

Ace: I’d really like to play a lot of the clubs on the sunset strip like the Whisky a Go-Go. Download main stage would a great, Wembley Stadium would be another big one.

8. Who would you like to support?

James: I’d love to support Avenged Sevenfold, Killswitch Engage, Metallica and Guns n’ Roses.

Frankie: A lot of my favourites come from different genres so I'd love to go on the road with anyone from Asking Alexandria and Avenged Sevenfold to GBC and Tiny Moving Parts.

Ace: I’d love to tour with Asking Alexandria and Avenged Sevenfold that would be an insane tour.

9. Who not?

James: Ed Sheeran.

Frankie: I'd tour with anyone as long as they're decent people, don't mind us going a bit wild and will have a laugh with us.

Ace: I would tour with any decent musician or band as long as they can deal with the debauchery that comes along with us, although I’d see it as a compliment if we got kicked off a tour because of our behaviour.

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

Frankie: I get stage fright all the time. The only advice I can give is just to get up there and do it. A couple of songs in you'll find your groove and you'll realise how much fun it is! Or just drink a couple of pints... Either way..

James: When we first started out, yeah of course! Now I just look forward to every single gig because there’s nothing better than being on stage with my best mates. For those who are new to it all, try not to be a perfectionist! You are performing live and sometimes things go wrong or people mess up, it’s all part and parcel of becoming a musician. I used to get really stressed over the smallest things. Also, remember that these people most likely haven’t heard your music before so they aren’t going to know if you’ve made a mistake. Enjoy yourself!

Ace: I feel like I'm going to be sick before every show, but the second I’m on stage it disappears because I’m surrounded by my mates doing what I love. The best thing I can say for someone struggling is just get up and do it you will enjoy yourself no matter what.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Frankie: My biggest musical inspiration is Brad Nowell from Sublime. Sublime is one of my all-time favourite bands and the fact that he just wrote music he loved, not caring for the genre is what we need more of. There are too many elitists around nowadays in every genre. If you listen to a Sublime album it skips through from punk to hip-hop, to reggae and it's all amazing.

James: For me personally, my main inspiration has to be Avenged Sevenfold. I’ve been a huge fan probably since I was 10. They’ve got the best guitar duals in my opinion and Synyster Gates is my favourite guitarist ever. On the other hand, I grew up listening to Guns N’ Roses and Slash is the reason I picked up a guitar in the first place.

Ace: Motley Crue and Asking Alexandria for me those bands are the full packages they have everything you need in a rock band, the music, the attitude, the full monty. 

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

James: If they could sign one of our CDs… It made no sense!

Ace: Not weird but we were once asked if we could keep playing because they liked us more than the headlining band. If that’s not a compliment I don't know what is!

13. What do you think of your fans?

James: I think they’re great. There is a wide variety of people that turn up to our shows which is definitely a cool thing to see. I also love it when someone asks for a signature as it makes me feel famous!

Frankie: Absolute boyos! Having people actively listen to and tell you that you're doing well on something you're working so hard on is amazing. Seeing people sing along to our originals is a surreal experience too. An absolute dream to be on the stage and I cannot wait to keep growing our little family!

Ace: As I haven't been in the band that long I still find it strange when people compliment us post-gig, the best thing is when people buy us beer so to any fans that might read this buy us beer at our shows!

14. What do you think of our site?

James: I think it’s awesome! I like the fact you cover so many genres and that you cover new bands. I hadn’t heard of ‘Aliencore’ until I saw it on your site.

Frankie: Yeah, I'm with James. Could get lost in the amount of coverage on there!

15. Something to add?

James: We’ve worked our arses off this year so when our debut album releases on Friday 20th September… Please give it a listen!

Frankie: Album out 20th of Sept, pls listen or we'll cry.

Ace: Come to our album launch and buy our debut Demonic Society, we promise it will blow your tits off.