Bloodstock Bound: Rascal
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 EMP stages at this years event.
Today we chat with Rascal
The Razor's Edge: Please introduce yourself and your band mates.
Rascal: The one answering the questions here: Maciek (Guitar)
And the other guys are:
- Kacper Pędziszewski (Vocals)
- Adrian Wiązowski (Guitar)
- Krystian Grobel (Bass)
- Krzysztof Kamiński (Drums)
The Razor's Edge: How would you describe your sound?
Rascal: In short, we usually say: speed metal. But many argue that this is not quite right. And in fact they are quite right. Our style sits somewhere between speed metal, thrash metal and classic heavy with occasional detours into slightly blackened territories. One could also say that it's heavy metal but a bit faster or that it's speed metal but a bit more melodic.
The Razor's Edge: How did you land your spot on the Bloodstock bill?
Rascal: We happen to have won this year's Polish Bloodstock Metal 2 The Masses contest.
The Razor's Edge: How tough was the competition this year?
Rascal: Oh there were some proper bands both in the semis and the final - guys that we really had huge fun listening to. In fact we would have nothing against seeing some of these bands winning it instead of us. Especially since there was no aura of rivalry or toxicity and all the band members we talked to were really good sports and we can't wait to share stages with them again. The styles we all over the place too so the jury had some tough calls to make. How do you even compare a speed metal performance to quality prog metal or deathcore show. Still, the fact that the other bands were so good puts a bit of a nice pressure on us to really do our best on stage at Bloodstock.
The Razor's Edge: What does playing at Bloodstock mean to you?
Rascal: A couple of things. It's our first-ever show outside of Poland. So that's already something. Playing at a huge festival that every metal fan in Europe has heard of - that's... big. Really big, I mean, at some point in our early days I used to say that if we play at a festival like that that's going to be our ultimate achievement and we can call it a day. Well, now I will have to retract this thought because we have no intention of stopping after Bloodstock. And finally, it will be a fantastic opportunity to get our music out there but also to learn a couple of new things and grow as musicians.
The Razor's Edge: For people who’ve never seen you live, what can they expect at Bloodstock?
Rascal: Expect energy, fun, an old school metal performance with guitar solos, dual guitar solos, high-pitched vocal shenanigans and speed. Not senseless, extreme speed but just enough of it to let the audience sweat a bit. On our shows we try to balance two things: energy and quality. It's easy to run around with no regards for the precision and it's easier to execute quality if you stand there frozen. Our ultimate goal is to deliver our music just the way it should be delivered for everyone to enjoy but also enjoy it ourselves and hopefully share a bit of that vibe with everyone.
The Razor's Edge: What day are you performing?
Rascal: Friday, the 8th of August
The Razor's Edge: What other bands are you looking forward to watching at Bloodstock this year?
Rascal: There's some really good stuff to pick from so it's a tough question. But let's try picking 3: Warbringer, Rivers of Nihil and Obituary.
The Razor's Edge: Playing the New Blood Stage is just the first steppingstone in a bands journey. What’s next in your plans for world domination?
Rascal: The plan is pretty simple. Put out a solid second album, hopefully better than what we've released so far, see how people react. After all it is about music. We can plan things, we can run marketing campaigns and stuff but at the end of the day what matters is whether we have good music to offer. And so far it seems we do have a couple of pretty neat new tunes brewing.
The Razor's Edge: Are you camping with the fans? Which campsite are you heading for?
Rascal: No idea yet, to be honest it's probably high time we figured that out. But yes, we will go with some camping option. Maybe not the most convenient way to rest as a band but definitely the best way to enjoy a festival as a fan.
The Razor's Edge: You’ve gotta keep hydrated at Bloodstock, what is your drink of choice for the weekend?
Rascal: Water up until our show and beer afterwards. You have to stay sharp onstage. And I'd say a cold one tastes even better when earned with a job well done.
The Razor's Edge: See you at Bloodstock in a next week!
Rascal: Can't wait!
