Introduction
Shrapnel, a four-piece thrash metal powerhouse, is making waves! With a touring history alongside heavyweights like Gama Bomb and Exodus, they not only share the stage but truly shine. Hailing from Norwich, UK, this band has hit the road extensively. Their latest album, “In Gravity,” featuring a special appearance by Scott Kennedy from Bleed From Within, is a must-listen, and we’re sure you’ll love it just as much as we do!
For Fans Of – Atrophy, Harlott, Gama Bomb
Interview
You haven’t toured this year, but have every year since 2019, why is this?
We are eager to get out and tour, but sadly, due to the cancellation of Metal Days and logistical challenges this summer, we have had to push everything back to the end of the year and into 2025. We’re using the time to rehearse and get the best set together we can and can’t wait to hit the road ASAP.
Is there much of an alternative scene in Norwich, do you think you would have found it easier if you were based elsewhere in the UK?
The scene in Norwich was quiet for a long time, but in the last few years, it has grown into something really quite special. The quality of bands is so high at the moment, and the scene is pretty diverse. Having said that, we always do well and have a strong fan base in Manchester. Being more central within the UK would definitely have its advantages over being as remote as we are in Norfolk.
What other bands from Norwich or the surrounding areas do you want to give a shoutout to?
There are so many, so I hate to miss some out here, but to keep it brief we have to shout out Collapse the Sky. Lee Margaillan (frontman) was a huge part of the new record, writing the midsection lyrics to “In Gravity” and providing backing vocals across the record. He’s a beast and the band is killing it at the moment. Other bands finding their feet around the country now and killing it are Vast Slug, Uridium, and Bind, but there are plenty of great bands to check out from this scene.
You played Bloodstock Festival in 2021. What was that like? Would you like to play again?
2021 was our third appearance at Bloodstock. We won the Metal 2 The Masses competition in London in 2010 and played the New Blood Stage for the first time the same year. We’ve been invited back to play the Sophie Lancaster Stage twice since, and these rank among our favourite shows. We would play again in a heartbeat and have our eyes set on the main stage at some point in the future.
If you could play any festival in the world, which one would it be and why?
Hellfest and Wacken are not only the biggest and best festivals in the world, but also hold many great memories of our own visits. Chris W, our drummer, played at Hellfest with Gama Bomb last year and was lucky enough to step in for Crisix on the main stage. He has beaten us to it there, but hopefully we will get to play as Shrapnel in the near future.
Have you met any bands that inspired you to get into music, if so, what were they like?
We’ve been fortunate enough to meet many of our musical heroes while opening and supporting shows. Sepultura, Exodus, Death Angel, Voivod, to name a few that really got us going in the early days. Meeting Dave Mustaine was a huge trip as he’s one of the main reasons the band formed in the first place. At Wacken last year, we were also lucky enough to meet Mikkey Dee from Motörhead/King Diamond/Scorpions, which was a huge highlight.
You just played the Rescue Rooms in Nottingham as part of Mangata Festival. What was it like? Were the crowd any good?
It was great! We stepped onto the fest last minute to help Kris out and also give ourselves a chance to play some new material for the first time. It went really well, and the crowd was amazing. We would love to come back in the future. The guys do an amazing job running and organizing the festival, and the whole crew was faultless.
Your song In Gravity includes Scott Kennedy from Bleed From Within, how did that collaboration happen?
The part was written and recorded by Lee, whom I previously mentioned. We all thought it fit so well and really brought something new to the song and the record, which was important to us with the change in direction. When our old label manager heard the song, he thought Scott would be a great fit for the style and a solid addition to have on the record. He wasn’t wrong, and we love how it came out!
Your latest album came out earlier this year, what’s the reception been like?
Surprisingly positive! We all expected a bit more backlash, if we’re honest, but people have been blown away by the response to both the material on record and the new songs live. We just want that to continue as we try to get it to as many people as possible.
How would you say this most recent album is different to previous ones?
It’s a pretty huge shift for us for many reasons. It’s the first record we’ve done that isn’t a straight-up thrash album. It’s far more modern and diverse, with the main changes being brought in by Dan on vocals. We’ve also downtuned and really pushed ourselves to bring bigger, more anthemic, and memorable material together, rather than focusing on speed and violence.
Which song do you enjoy playing live the most?
I would say we all have different favorites rather than a collective favorite. “Amber Screams” and “Breaker” would be high on our lists from the new material. It’s refreshing to be able to settle in and enjoy playing the material live rather than pushing through the more complex and fast-paced material from previous records.
Whats coming up in the next year for the band?
We’re booking shows and getting as rehearsed as possible, ready to head over to mainland Europe and hopefully further afield in 2025! We’re looking at some festival appearances next summer as well as a tour early in the year.
If you could pick one song previously released by another band to cover, which one would it be and why?
We’ve already released a few pandemic covers of Damage Inc by Metallica with Kragen Lum of Heathen and The Saw is the Law by Sodom.
What did you think to Shrapnel? Let us know in the comments!
All the songs, used in this interview belong to their respective owners and this website does not claim any right over them. All images were provided by Shrapnel and were taken by Andy Ford .
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