Interviews: Battle Born

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Power Metal/Skyrim Metal band Battle Born 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?

Tom O’Dell (guitar): “Battle Born” is the name of our clan. Although many of our kinsmen have bowed to Imperial tyranny, we continue to fly the flag for freedom and ensure that the name of “Battle Born” remains loyal to Skyrim and her people

2.Why did you want to play this genre?

Tom: At the end of the day, there is no other genre more suited to preparing the men for Battle.

Will Kerr (guitar, synths): For us there’s nothing worse than spending your hard-earned money to see a band who behave like they don’t want to be there, and to stand in an audience full of grumpy faces and crossed arms. We want to bring Metal back to when it was all about having good times with your friends and singing memorable choruses.

Chris Beattie (bass): Power Metal is a feel good genre. You can’t help but feel energised and raring to go when you’re listening to power metal and to play power metal only intensifies those feelings. 

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

Tom: We did. Apart from the drummer. Found him on the streets somewhere. 

Charlie Lamacraft-Perrett (drums): Busking can only get you so far. I only knew Chris from when we were doing our A-Levels. We shared a bond over Guitar Hero.

Chris: Yeah Charlie and I met at college over ten years ago! I met everyone else at university before the band formed too.

4. Each band member favorite band?

Will: Hard to pick there are so many greats. Two English titans of Metal in Iron Maiden and Judas Priest have always been on my playlists since I first got into metal over 15 years ago. It would be unfair to them if they didn’t at least get a nod.

Jack Reynolds (vocals): Similar to Will actually. I know it’s the default answer for British Metal, but you just cannot beat a bit of Iron Maiden.

Chris: My favourite all time band is Dream Theater. I can listen to almost any Dream Theater album from start to finish with no skipping. Inside of the power metal arena, I will always have a place for DragonForce as they were the band that really kicked it off for me.

Tom: Got to be Wintersun for me. The self-titled album is the perfect album, and Sons of Winter and Stars is one of my all time favourite songs. I didn’t even hate The Forest Seasons, which is more than a lot of people can say. There are a lot of bands in my regular rotation who could compete with them for the top spot though! How long do you have?

Charlie: My tastes in metal change regularly, however I always have a soft spot for Megadeth. They were the band that got me into metal and my bedroom wall was plastered with Dave Mustaine’s moody faces. They’re the reason I first took up learning guitar, and later, drums.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Tom: Our inspiration is and always will be the land of Skyrim. It’s a land of gleaming snow, where men can realise all of their wildest dreams. Sadly, our homeland is currently engulfed in a bitter civil war; our lyrics reflect the struggles of our brothers in the Stormcloak army, and seek to glorify their mighty achievements on the field.

Will: In terms of musical inspiration our writing takes plenty of influence from Anton Kabanen (Battle Beast / Beast in Black) His guitar work is simultaneously melodic and technical in a way which is more listenable than many others trying to do the same thing. Everything he touches seems to turn to metal magic.

6. Where was your last gig?

Will: Actually with all the virus issues we've not yet played a gig! As a fan though, Tom and I had tickets to see Cattle Decapitation in our home town in April but for obvious reasons it got cancelled. Come to think of it I was also supposed to see Kreator in April. Now I’m sad.

Charlie: The last gig I went to was DragonForce in Southampton - I went with Chris who I knew was looking for a drummer so we talked about the Battle for a while. I was asked to audition for Battle Born and later invited to the band, so in light of those events I’d put that up as one of the best gigs I’ve been to.

7. Where would you like to act?

Tom: We are all keen to take the fight for freedom across the seas, to the far off lands of Europe. Playing at a historic festival like Wacken would be a dream come true.

Will: I’d love to play Masters of Rock in Czech Republic. I had the opportunity to go there last year and from a fans perspective it is one of the greatest atmospheres for Power Metal. Playing a show in Japan would be a close second. 

Charlie: I go to Download Festival regularly, and it would be so rewarding to attend as an artist not a fan.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

Chris: I would love to do a gig with Symphony X. They have really hit upon the balance of power, symphonic and progressive metal which ticks all of my boxes. Their bass player, Mike LePond, has always stood out to me as a bassist to aspire to as well so it’s the best of everything really.

Jack: Anyone at all? Could you imagine if we called Rob Halford and he was up for singing on one of our songs? That would be life-changing!

Charlie: I would be ecstatic if we could gig with Hammerfall or Firewind. Both are bands that really got me into Power Metal over a decade ago and I still listen to them regularly. Firewind were playing at my first ever gig before I knew who they were, and they earned a lifelong fan that day.

9. Whom not?

Chris: I think for any band starting out, it would be foolish to turn down any opportunities that may come up. Of course you hear stories of this person or that person in a bad light, but until you’ve had the pleasure or displeasure of them first hand then you can’t really be judgemental.

Charlie: Couldn’t agree more - first and foremost if I haven’t had experience working with someone, I have respect for their artistry more than anything else, not hearsay that they may be difficult to work with.

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

Tom: I often lose my appetite before a gig, but I’ve found that the best way to deal with that is have a big breakfast, and then eat something after the show is over! As with anything nerves-based, the best policy is just to be as rehearsed and prepared as you can be, and try and enjoy the moment. At the end of the day, playing a wrong note here and there isn’t the end of the world at a live show; it’s more about showing the audience a good time, so you first need to be in a frame of mind to be enjoying it yourself.

Will: It may seem obvious but I recently learned that you can never control stage fright mentally, you can only ignore it. Quite often I just ignore the nerves but it is possible to control them physiologically if they get too much. Simply breath in for a count of five and breath out for eight. You can have that one for free.

Charlie: I used to years ago, but I’ve spent over 10 years now doing amateur theater and you soon learn that if you’re prepared, you’re ready for anything so I’ve lost those initial nerves for the most part. The best way to avoid stage fright is simply to know your work inside and out, and know how you work with those on stage with you. Most importantly is just to have fun with it! If you’re not enjoying it then it feels too much like hard work.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Will: Outside of Finland they’re relatively unknown but I think Dreamtale have a lot to answer for Battle Born’s melody driven choruses. I was fortunate enough to see them at Nummirock in Finland and it was the highlight of an excellent festival.

Jack: There’s also the more traditional side of the power metal coin. Manowar, Blind Guardian, even certain eras of Judas Priest, they all makeup part of our musical DNA.

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

Chris: After a show with another band, someone came up to me wearing one of our t-shirts asking me to wipe my sweat onto it. A bit weird but I did it.

Jack: One of my first bands was once asked to sign our setlist. Not a weird request in itself, but half the band had never written a signature before, so it was an awkward mix of random scribbles and all caps names. By the time it got to the drummer (last, naturally) he just drew a triangle and handed it back to the poor guy.

Tom: Once, a fan of my solo project wanted to buy a cassette. Nerd.

13. What do you think of your fans?

Will: They’re the best! Where would we be without them?

Jack: Yeah, without our fans we’d be back where we were three weeks ago! Dark days.

Charlie: Fans are the backbone of any band. Simply seeing people enjoy our music makes all the work that goes into it rewarding.

14. What do you think of our site? 

Chris: I really like it. I think what I like about it the most is the user-friendliness of it all. Everything is divided into sub-genres to help with narrowing down searches. I imagine it took a lot of trial and error to get it to where it is now. 

Will: I agree with Chris really. I like how within seconds I can sift straight to Power Metal if I so wish. I also like the segments promoting new bands. Not a lot of websites give bands those opportunities.

15. Something add?

Jack: Guard yourselves well, protect your brothers, and keep the fire alive. We hope to see you soon, as we take the Battle to your town!