Band Interview: Cage Fight

Originally started as little more than a bedroom project by TesseracT guitarist James Monteith and long-time friend and collaborator, bassist / MC Jon Reid, by their own admission Cage Fight were simply a project to unleash some frustration, and nostalgic tribute to the music of their youth, bands like Slayer, Terror, Hatebreed, Biohazard and Stampin’ Ground.

Quickly, though, the idea began to grow legs, as they shared the music they’d made among friends, and they realised it was too good not to do something more permanent with. Bringing in drummer Nick Plews, Cage Fight were completed in February 2021 by the addition of singer Rachel Aspe.

Which brings us to the debut self-titled album, out on May 13th, 2022 via Candlelight/Spinefarm Records. You can read our review here.

We chatted to Cage Fight’s bassist, Jon Reid and you can read the interview below.

1. Hello Cage Fight! Thank you so much for taking the time to do this. It’s greatly appreciated, especially as we know just how busy this period can be for you. Are you all well?

All good at the moment, we hope you are well also!

2. The self-titled debut album! Out on May 13th via Candlelight/Spinefarm. Always an incredibly exciting time but more so it seems because of how Cage Fight has evolved. Do you feel any pressure considering the ‘new’ aspect of this band and the weight your names bring because of your other bands and projects?

This band is its own identity and exists in it’s own right. It’s a combination of everyone in the bands differing music styles and influences and all four members coming together to create songs and a sound with a punk rock attitude and a plug in and play mindset. People will always comment on a couple of the members previous bands and existing ones but its not something we dwell too deeply on. This music is different from everyone’s previous projects and is designed to be clear, immediate and to the point.

3. At what point did Cage Fight stop being a ‘bedroom project’ and become a more permanent fixture in your life? Was there one specific moment that had you realising this deserved to be heard by the world?

I had been jamming and writing songs with James for a while on and off and the lockdown was a catalyst to get something solid together or at least a fistful of songs we were happy with. Once Rachel laced the vocals on the demo’s we knew we had something. Nick was keen to be involved and was the perfect mix of groove and aggression on the drums. Things suddenly started to move incredibly quickly and we wrote an album and recorded it in 6 months.

4. Would Cage Fight exist as it is if we had not gone through the years of pain that we have done because of lockdowns and restrictions? Or is that simply impossible to know?

Interesting question, did this solidify the anger? Quite possibly yes. Were there underlying issues and a change in global politics and a change in the temperature of the country and the world? Absolutely. The feelings were there and this most likely galvanised the band that is probably fair to say.

5. It’s strange to think of positives from this period, there’s almost a guilt complex to it because of the suffering so many have gone through, but it’s important to have these positives. Is that how you see Cage Fight? A positive result from a universally negative period and would you say it was something that helped get you through it?

Music is always the remedy in my eyes and can provide real comfort and support as a listener, a creator or indeed a performer. We all get on really well and that is a great thing, new friendships have been formed, we have brought people together with the music and just being part of this band is hugely positive thing for all of us I would say.

6. There’s no denying that Cage Fight is a band that surmises the words ‘pissed off’ and this album is the epitome of that. How cathartic was it to expel all that emotion and was it akin to an exorcism?

It was is and will continue to be necessary. I haven’t really chilled out after these years of making music and the purity of emotion is something that we all connect with.

7. Was it easy for you to balance the anger you felt with a level of discernability? To express yourself clearly and concisely so that the listener could understand what Cage Fight were actually raging against? How did you manage this?

That is in the ear of the listener to say whether they understand the content, but rest assured time is spent on the lyrics and we are trying to be as honest as we can.

8. When it came to looking for inspiration, was it simply a matter of looking out the window or turning on the TV? It’s not exactly pretty out there.

Indeed, open your eyes and walk about there is plenty of inspiration out there.

9. How did you cope with the darkness that comes from spending so much time in that headspace and did it take its toll on you?

Certainly we all spend some time in these places and some people are more sensitive to it than others and this was certainly a cathartic means to express these feelings and say something about our perceptions about the world at the minute.

10. The subject matters you bring to the table on this album, some are finally being dragged kicking and screaming into the light to be properly seen. Ignorance is not an excuse. Do you find the opening up of these conversations, such as mental health, inappropriate behaviour, harassment towards women and so on, a turning point?

If people relate and get something form these songs then that is all we are really asking for.

11. How important was it for you to show listeners the most authentic Cage Fight experience on this album? What we hear here is what we get when you play live.

Come and see us live to experience us in our natural habitat that’s where the songs really come alive.

12. Talking of which, for those who have not experienced it yet… describe a Cage Fight show in three words.

Furious. Heavy. Uncompromising.

13. Is there one particular track from the album that you’re most excited to share with listeners? Not necessarily your favourite but rather the track that you think might cause the most carnage or stop someone in their tracks?

Each of us has favourite songs on the album, that strike a personal chord and meaning. For me it’s The Mirror Shattered.

14. Why did you choose to cover Body Count’s Bitch in the Pit?

We are all fans of Body Count and it seemed a fitting song to play.

15. Finally, is this just the start of Cage Fight’s fight?

We hope so, let’s just see where this goes…..

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