Mecury Rising

Band Interview – Mercury Rising (Metal 2 the Masses Essex 2019)

Brendan Fisher 5 min read

Rock band, Mercury Rising, will play in Heat Three of Metal 2 the Masses Essex 2019. They face off against Wartime Nebraska, Dismanibus, White Raven Down and Mechromorph on the 15th of February. The event takes place at The Soundhouse which is at The Bull, Colchester, CO3 3ES.

Each band will be giving their all to try to progress in the competition where the winner receives an amazing opportunity. A much coveted slot playing on the New Blood Stage at Bloodstock Festival, 2019. GBHBL are pleased to bring you a short interview with Mercury Rising to help introduce them further to the metal masses.

Have a read, enjoy and make sure you get down to The Soundhouse on the 15th of February to give them some support.

Mecury Rising




1.      Why Mercury Rising? Where did the name come from?

The bands been through so many changes that nobody really knows. Legend has it it was a hot day and some of the guys were watching a thermometer.

2.      Tell us a little about Mercury Rising. How long have you been playing together? Who is in the band? Where are you from? How did you meet?

Me and Rob have been playing together for almost 10 years now in various forms. Mercury Rising has been around now for 5 or 6 years, I’ve been in it for 4, George for just over a year, Stevo for a few months and Rob since the start. We’re all from between Chelmsford and Braintree and we all,for the most part, met by drinking, playing music or watching each others ex-bands!

3.      What artists, metal or otherwise, have influenced you and your sound?

Over the years we’ve become steadily more diverse. For me it’s Mr. Big, Extreme, David Lee Roth etc and I think that was always the vision but our influences as a whole range from Meshuggah to Weather Report (Rob will murder me for that one). It’s all there and it comes out sounding like we do, that’s all we know!

Mercury Rising

4.      With so many genres and sub genres around these days, what genre would you put yourself in?

Whatever you like! We’re a Rock band, we play Rock, but you can call it hard rock, sleaze Rock, nwobhm, nwocr, classic rock, free jazz I don’t really mind!

5.      What will you bring to the Metal to the Masses heats? What can music lovers expect and how are you going to win their support on the night?

We are a party band. We play music that makes you bite your bottom lip and get your shoulders involved and make that silly screwed up “that’s a dirty riff” face that actually looks like you’ve eaten a lemon whole. We’ll perform our asses off, sweat buckets and wear some pretty sassy shirts in the process!

6.      Any horror fans in the band? What are some of your favourite horror movies or books?

This isn’t really one for me as I’m not much of a horror guy but the rest are. Popular talking points are The Shining and various other Stanley Kubrick titles.

7.      How about games? What’s your console or game of choice?

Once again, this isn’t a very me question! George and Steve are big gamers and they seem to talk about Red Dead Redemption quite a lot. Steve is into some pretty obscure stuff (to me… I know nothing). Yakuza?

8.      Have you been to Bloodstock Festival before?

Rob and George have been quite a few times and loved it, I’m yet to go. In hindsight I should have gone last year because Mr Big were  there. Live and learn.

9.      If yes, what is it you love most about the festival?

From what the guys have told me it’s just the friendliest atmosphere and there’s a real sense of community!

10.  Where can fans check out your music, merch and find out more about you?

We’re on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Bandcamp and whatever else I’ve forgotten. You can track our shows on songkick and merchandise is available on our official website over at www.mercuryrisinguk.com.

Mecury Rising

11.  Aside from hopefully playing Bloodstock Festival, what else do you have lined up for 2019? Any releases due or tours/gigs/festivals lined up?

Lots of shows booked in already and hopefully more to come, festivals starting to come in and by the time this interview comes out we will have finished recording our new release, City Lights, which will be out this summer!!




GBHBL would like to thank Mercury Rising for taking the time to answer these questions and we wish them all the best in their heat at Metal 2 the Masses Essex. Find out more about Mercury Rising at their Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram, on YouTube and on Bandcamp. Check out their official website too where you can grab some merch and music including their highly regarded second EP, The Rabbit Hole.

Importantly, get yourself down to the venue on the 15th of February and throw them some support.

Author

  • Owner/Editor/Writer/YouTuber - Heavy Metal and reading, two things I have always loved so they are the two areas you will find most of my reviews. Post apocalyptic is my jam and I always have a book on the go and have for decades now. From a metal perspective, age has softened my inadequacies and I now operate with an open mind, loving many bands from many sub genres but having a particular admiration for the UK underground scene. In my other time, when not focused on Dad duties and work, I try to support the craft beer movement by drinking as much of it as I can and you will also find me out on the streets, walking. I love walking, I love exploring new places and snapping nature photos as I go.