Interviews: Enquire Within

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Metalcore/Thrash Metal band, Enquire Within 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 did it just come out like that?

While it was just three of us, we had been throwing names at each other trying to think of one that would stick. Eventually, after a few ideas got rejected. We decided on "Enquire Within" after seeing it in an advert and decided it would be the name "for now". It wasn't until we heard audiences cheering when our name was read out at Metal to the Masses in Kent that we realized that we might have been onto something.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

We offer our own take on a blend of Metal styles - mostly from the 90's and 00s. There's a bit of thrash, a bit of groove, and a bit of metalcore but we tend to mix that up with a more modern take on what made that time period great. Whilst we have a wide range of influences, every bit of music we write feels inherently us. There's a distinct sound that we have, that we’ve not heard in other bands, professional or underground. 

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

The band first took form with Henry and Dan back in 2014. They met at school and started to jam, just guitar and drums. They'd swap every now and again and it was all just fun. After a few months, Henry wrote a song and showed his brother Jacob who started writing some lyrics. Eventually, they decided to write an EP in 2015. Jacob has been there ever since. The original three members have known each other for at least a decade. With Henry and Jacob being brothers there's a real connection there. We've known Erim for most of that time too, albeit in a producer role rather than as our bassist. Amelia is the newcomer to the set. We met in the London music scene in the late 2010s, but she couldn't be a more perfect fit for the band.

4. Each band member's favorite band?

Jacob: my favorite band is Maximum the Hormone, an eclectic metal powerhouse from Japan, they play with the conventions of the genre and then throw it out the window. Love it!

Dan: Gojira and Trivium. They both did something that I couldn’t hear with other bands when I was introduced to them. Their songs were really interesting to listen to, creating distinct moods. It wasn’t music for the sake of music. Most importantly, their songs were really fun to learn.

Amelia: I won’t shut up about Opeth, they were one of the first bands I was introduced to alongside Death. The balance between death metal and Prog never bored me from their albums. Mikael Åkerfeldt’s distorted vocals were the perfect gateway drug into extreme music as a kid. Ghost Reveries and Blackwater Park will always stand the test of time for me.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Jacob: My brother and I were raised in a very religious household. A lot of that has fed into my lyric writing. Our new single Final Seal (June 30th) very much deals with the source material of the Book of Revelation. And try listening to our last album Rebirth with that in mind also.

Dan: I just love music. It’s always been a part of my life from learning the recorder in primary school to my first guitar or even just my mum singing around the house. It’s a way of expressing who I am.

Amelia: Spite.

6. Where was your last gig?

Our last gig was on tour with Acid Reign in April earlier this year. We played in some cool places like The Underworld in Camden, Rebellion in Manchester, and the Fuel Club in Cardiff.

7. Where would you like to play?

We haven’t played at Bloodstock yet, which we’d love to do. Playing metal music in London, you hear all about the hype and community surrounding Bloodstock. It’s a place we want to share our music with. We’d also love to play Hellfest and Motocultor Festival.

8. Who would you like to support?

Jacob: If we are talking about an absolute dream tour? Iron Maiden. They do have a habit of taking some amazing bands to open for them, Killswitch Engage was the support when I saw them last. From what the frontman Jesse Leach said about his time with them it sounded absolutely mind-blowing!

Amelia: Gojira would be my dream band to support. Having seen them twice live, their sets are musically tight, visually compelling and they have such a powerful energy. I would love to perform at that level one day.

Dan: Gojira or Trivium. I feel like our music would be very complimentary, but also just the fact that they’re such inspirations. With both bands, it’s not just about the sound but it’s a whole production.

9. Who not?

Jacob: is this a trick question?

Amelia: How much time do you have?

Dan: We’ve definitely had some… interesting shows going way back but that’s all I’ll say on that one!

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

Jacob: Believe it or not this is something I struggled with quite a lot, even now before a big show I still get the odd twinge of fear before the music plays. However, the moment we kick into one of our songs it is completely forgotten. My tip for beginners is to use that fear, and fuel your performance with it! You are scared because the show matters, because being the best you can be matters! Make it matter!

Amelia: I’ve always suffered from stage fright until fairly recently. But after playing shows again and again I learned that playing live is a skill that is practiced just like practicing the songs on a setlist. It’s a great opportunity to discover what kind of musician you are, the energy you give off, and what you enjoy from a live show. Whether you’re an adrenaline-fuelled act like Midnight or a statuesque and mesmerizing band such as Swallow the Sun, there is no wrong way to play live. As long as you find what makes you comfortable on stage and you enjoy your own show, there is no reason why the crowd wouldn’t feed off of that energy, because they’re here for one thing only and that’s live music! (and no, they won’t notice every little mistake you make on your instrument, stop stressing out about it!) 

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

That's a tough question, we all come from very different musical backgrounds. On the whole, we're influenced by the 90's new wave of American heavy metal. You know, Machine Head, Trivium, Lamb of God- I'm sure I'm missing a bunch. There are also the more classical thrash influences, Metallica and Megadeth come to mind. With Final Seal in particular, it's a thrashier offering than we typically produce - definitely Amelia's influence coming through.

Jacob: Vocally I try to model myself on Liam Cormier - Cancer Bats, Ryan McCoombs - Soil/Drowning Pool & Rob Flynn - Machine Head.

Amelia: Definitely Testament and Sodom! I also have a lot of admiration for Havok’s music. Those three bands are definitely my personal direction in Enquire Within.

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

Jacob: Probably what shampoo I use (it's head and shoulders).

Dan: Surprisingly the same… and I also use head and shoulders #NotSponsored 

13. What do you think of your fans?

Jacob: Our fans are people who listened to our music and thought "Yeah this is good". To me, they are the best people in the world!

Amelia: They’re always the nicest people to hang around with and talk to. I highly value people who are extremely passionate about music/ live gigs and I always bump into a few around my area, you guys are the best!!

Dan: They’ve always got a good story to tell of who they’ve seen or where they’ve gone for gigs. Catching up with the fans before/after a show is always a highlight for me. I love playing music, but it’s the people that really drive us to keep going.

14. What do you think of our site?

Jacob: I like the site. BTC did a few features for us back when we released our first album. I remember it being a great place to find out about music and bands that might not be talked about elsewhere. I'm glad to see that you are still exploring the "core" of the metal underground.

15. Something to add?

Jacob: LISTEN TO OUR NEW SINGLE FINAL SEAL COMING OUT JUNE 30TH!!! 

Amelia: THEY FINALLY GAVE ME A PROPER SOLO SO YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY LISTEN TO OUR NEW UPCOMING SINGLE! 30TH OF JUNE, CAN’T MISS IT!

Dan: Final Seal is out on the 30th, you can listen to it on Spotify but we’ll also have a music video going up on our YouTube channel at the same time. We’ve got some great vids from some of our shows on there too, I’d really recommend checking it out. https://www.enquirewithinband.com/