Bloodstock Bound: Extort
As Bloodstock gets closer, we delve deep into the line up to find out more about some of the bands playing the New Blood and Jägermeister stages at this years event.
Today we chat with Extort!
The Razor's Edge: Please introduce yourself and your band mates.
Extort: Extort is a 5-piece metal band from Edinburgh, Scotland. I am Alina, I am from Ukraine and I play guitar for the band. I started the band back in University days, where I met our bass player Fuzz and other guitarist Alasdair. Then we met singer Seb and drummer Caelan at gigs in the local metal scene. Together we blended our music taste and abilities to create a unique sound for Extort.
The Razor's Edge: How would you describe your style of metal?
Extort: We strive to create an innovative sound drawing from each member’s sonic taste, creating something fresh and not bound by any specific genre. The overall sound takes inspiration from Death and Black metal with an emphasis on groovy riffs. The apocalyptic and dystopian meaning behind the lyrics expresses the band’s feelings for the current problems facing society whilst looking for escape and wisdom in Folklore.
The Razor's Edge: How did you land your spot on the Bloodstock bill?
Extort: We managed to win M2TM Scotland, going through each of the heat and finally getting that Judges vote in the finals. We are truly grateful for that!
The Razor's Edge: How tough was the competition this year?
Extort: The competition this year was very hard, all the bands we competed with were very talented and it was a though choice for the judges. On the other hand, everyone was very friendly and it was a great chance to network and get to know each other. This was our first time competing in M2TM, and we were pleasantly surprised that there was no maliciousness or bad competitive spirit from any bands at all. We made a lot of friends along the way!
The Razor's Edge: What does playing at Bloodstock mean to you?
Extort: Playing Bloodstock means a lot to us as It's the culmination of years of work on the band. The opportunity of playing for such a wide and varied audience and to meet a lot of people in the industry is truly amazing. We are working hard for this to deliver the best we can and make the most of it to secure future opportunities for the band!
The Razor's Edge: For people who’ve never seen you live, what can they expect at Bloodstock?
Extort: After seeing us live for the first time, usually people say that they are very impressed with our energy and total ownership of the stage. Especially for big events, we tend to organise something special and involve the audience. For Bloodstock, we have a lot of plans for unconventional initiatives, merch competitions and the biggest crowd pogo jump that the New Blood stage has ever seen! Follow our socials for updates on the latest – an event with more info will be created!
The Razor's Edge: What day are you performing?
Extort: We are performing on Saturday, we have not been told the exact time yet. We will let you know asap and create a fb event with some more details of our plans for the weekend!
The Razor's Edge: What other bands are you looking forward to watching at Bloodstock this year?
Extort: We are looking forwards to Employed to Serve, Meshuggah, Decapitated, Sepultura and many more!
The Razor's Edge: Playing the New Blood Stage is just the first stepping stone in a bands journey. What’s next in your plans for world domination?
Extort: We have many plans for this band and as you said this is just the beginning. Next we are appearing in numerous festivals over the summer and playing an English tour in September. We also have quite big support slots to announce for November.
And for next year, we are in contact with promoters to play Europe and US.
The Razor's Edge: Are you camping with the fans? Which campsite are you heading for?
Extort: Last year we camped at Midgard as part of the audience, so we are planning to keep the tradition going.
The Razor's Edge: You’ve gotta keep hydrated at Bloodstock, what is your drink of choice for the weekend?
Extort: Well, last year we absolutely loved the one Litre Jug Lager option! It was absolutely roasting and that Jug was a life saver! We will also try and remember to drink some water time to time to keep actually hydrated!
The Razor's Edge: See you at Bloodstock in a few weeks!
Extort: See you there, we can’t wait to meet like-minded people in that pit!
