Bloodstock Bound: Monochrome
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 Monochrome
The Razor's Edge: Please introduce yourself and your band mates.
Monochrome: My name is Eliza and I’m the singer in Monochrome! I met the guitarists Al and Josh when I first moved in at Bath Spa University. They were in a pop punk band called Violet in college, so they already had great musical chemistry. We started Monochrome within a few weeks with a different drummer and bassist. Jay, our drummer, was in the year above us and joined soon after and our bassist Joe joined just a few months ago after the previous bassist left to pursue their own project and has finalised the lineup.
The Razor's Edge: How would you describe your sound?
Monochrome: We say metalcore as a blanket term, but our influences are really broad! Djent, hardcore, prog, and nu metal all have huge impacts on our sound. We are also big fans of shoegaze and try to emulate the dreamy layers when building the sound.
The Razor's Edge: How did you land your spot on the Bloodstock bill?
Monochrome: We are very lucky to be the winners of Metal 2 The Masses Bristol this year! We competed the year before in M2TM Somerset but didn’t make it to the final. To make it through as winners this year is insane to us!
The Razor's Edge: How tough was the competition this year?
Monochrome: There’s a consensus that this particular year in Bristol was one of the strongest lineups yet. Just seeing the poster for the initial heats made us very afraid as there were a lot of big names on there. The final sold out three weeks in advance which is a testament to the strength of the competitors and the local metal scene. Every finalist (Vulture God, Calvaria, Cruelty Circuit, Mandragora, Smile More) would have been deserving winners and will absolutely be on the lineups on Bloodstocks to come. A&R – get to Bristol!!
The Razor's Edge: What does playing at Bloodstock mean to you?
Monochrome: It’s a dream come true that we never could’ve imagined we’d achieve just under 3 years into our journey. Monochrome is the culmination of our shared love for heavy music – there is nobody behind the scenes for media, production, or marketing. The fact that we are getting to show Bloodstock our sad songs we wrote and recorded in our uni bedrooms is just mind-blowing. We have gone through so much together and poured so much into Monochrome and it’s very affirming to be afforded this rare chance.
The Razor's Edge: For people who’ve never seen you live, what can they expect at Bloodstock?
Monochrome: Expect to mosh one minute and cry the next! We are all about taking it to the extreme in all aspects. Crushing breakdowns and brutal gutturals followed by ethereal reverb and soaring choruses is our whole thing. We promise to bring the energy of a deafening, sweaty basement to the new blood stage!
The Razor's Edge: What day are you performing?
Monochrome: We are playing on the sold-out Sunday, so we will need to limit the partying to stay in good shape for the last day of the fest! And then we’ll see you in the pit for Obituary and Gojira.
The Razor's Edge: What other bands are you looking forward to watching at Bloodstock this year?
Monochrome: Mostly our friends in Apathy UK, a mind-bendingly psychedelic modern metal band who are opening the Sophie Lancaster Stage on Sunday. They are previous M2TM Devon & Cornwall winners and all-around lovely people who will be headlining one day. Nu-Hardcore act Fight The Champ are this year’s Devon & Cornwall winners, and we are so excited to see them on Saturday. Heriot, Machine Head, Gojira, and Nailbomb are going to be weekend highlights for sure.
The Razor's Edge: Playing the New Blood Stage is just the first stepping stone in a band's journey. What’s next in your plans for world domination?
Monochrome: We have loads of really exciting shows coming up alongside Bloodstock! We are heading out on our first UK tour supporting Apathy UK with Held Under to get us warmed up for the festival and loads more across the country, some announced and some yet to come..! We are also really excited to release some new music hopefully later this year, getting heavier and darker.
The Razor's Edge: Are you camping with the fans? Which campsite are you heading for?
Monochrome: For the sake of V.I.P. showers, we will be in the artist camp but will be visiting our friends all over the site!
The Razor's Edge: You’ve gotta keep hydrated at Bloodstock, what is your drink of choice for the weekend?
Monochrome: We share a Monster Energy addiction. We will each have a crate to keep us lively on those questionable festival mornings.
