Band Interview: Epping Forest

Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life are very proud to bring you an interview with Portuguese blackened death metallers Epping Forest.

Their latest album, LebaBVoid was released earlier this year to rave reviews. We gave it a massive 9.5 out of 10. You can read our review of the album here.

1. How did you get started as a band?

AZRL: It was quite long time ago, 20 years to be more accurate. MysticCosmos (Guitar) started the band along with NoctisLunaris (synths). Menthor (Drums) and I (Vocals and Bass) joined the band a couple years later and we’ve recorded our first album Everlasting Struggle with this line-up. After that, there were a few changes on the line-up where NoctisLunaris left the band and Trevash joined us. Our purpose since we started was just to create music regardless if it was or was not groundbreaking.

2. How would you describe your sound?

AZRL: I would say it definitely stands between black and death metal, but you might find other influences.

3. What bands/artists would you say have influenced your style of music?

AZRL: Each member has their own preferences and have been influenced by different bands, it’s really hard to list all of them. But I think it’s safe to say Scandinavian black metal was a common influence to all of us.

4. Has the rise of YouTube & music streaming helped or hindered you as a band?

AZRL: I suppose it helps to reach a vaster public, from the marketing point of view. It’s easier to preview an album before buying it. In the old days this was only possible by tape trading or recording radio shows and then decide which albums we would buy. But this only happens because Metal fans are natural born collectors which means they won’t stop buying records. I would risk to say that mainstream bands are probably most affected negatively by this sort of services.

5. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not making music?

AZRL: I’m a software engineer so I rather enjoy coding. But apart from that going out and about, attend some gigs and have a couple of pints would made my day.

6. What are your future plans musically? Tours?

AZRL: Playing live is a difficult task for us because we live in different countries at the moment. So we’re currently busy promoting lebaBVoid but already thinking in a next album.

We’d like to thank Epping Forest for taking the time to speak with us. Head over to Bandcamp or BigCartel to stream/buy the digital album or physical version. You can find out more about the band now via their official website, Facebook & YouTube.