Band Interview – Osmium Guillotine (Metal 2 the Masses Essex 2019)
Heavy metal band, Osmium Guillotine, will play in Heat Five of Metal 2 the Masses Essex 2019. They face off against Elysium Sky, Audrey Ripper and Spidervayne on the 15th of March. 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 Osmium Guillotine 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 March to give them some support.
1. Why Osmium Guillotine? Where did the name come from?
Osmium is one of the heaviest metals… A Guillotine will take your head off!
2. Tell us a little about Osmium Guillotine. How long have you been playing together? Who is in the band? Where are you from? How did you meet?
James Balcombe (Drums) co-founded the band in Great Leighs, Essex back in June 2009, this year marks 10 years since the band’s original inception. Lance Steele (Guitar) & Peter Keliris (Guitar & Vocals) both joined the following year. Josh Birch (Bass & Vocals) has been with us since just after the release of the first album in 2014. We have just been joined by a brand new lead vocalist by the name of Will Greer who will be making his live debut at Metal 2 The Masses on 15th March 2019.
3. What artists, metal or otherwise, have influenced you and your sound?
Will: Influence wise, as a singer I want to be as cool as Bon Scott from AC/DC!
Peter: Personal influences are primarily Alice in chains and Pantera, with a bit of Metallica as well.
James: Iron Maiden, Motörhead and Black Sabbath are the bands whose music has influenced me the most.
4. With so many genres and sub genres around these days, what genre would you put yourself in?
James: I find it’s really hard to categorise your own band and avoid being tied down to just one genre, so when asked I’ve always just called us “Heavy Metal”. Obviously we have implement the traditional NWOBHM, Thrash and Classic Rock elements, but we are always open to implement other styles. It’s fun to surprise people when you come out with something completely different to the previous song!
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?
James: Well we’ve got a new-look line-up now with Will joining on lead vocals, and it feels like ages now since our last gig (New Year’s Eve at the Cart & Horses in London), so we’re raring to get back out on stage, so will definitely be bringing our A-game for this one!
6. Any horror fans in the band? What are some of your favourite horror movies or books?
Peter: I love horror films. My favourite horror films are the hellraiser trilogy.
Will: .I’m a big Horror fan, I’ll get back to you on that one.
James: I first saw Stanley Kubrick’s ‘The Shining’ when I was about 13 and it’s been my favourite horror movie ever since.
7. How about games? What’s your console or game of choice?
Will: Current console is a PS4. My favourite game ever is Gran Turismo 2 on PS1.
James: Favourite game EVER is a real tough one as there’s been so much variety over the years, I grew up with Sega Megadrive and N64 so those are those are the consoles closest to my heart… Particularly the original Sonic trilogy, Perfect Dark, Conker’s Bad Fur Day, most of the Mario and Zelda games. As far as the modern era of games, it’d have to be GTA V, Josh and I have spent many hours playing that online.
Peter: PS4, and currently working my way through the resident evil 2 remake.
8. Have you been to Bloodstock Festival before?
Peter: Never been to bloodstock. Or any major festival due to mud and portaloos.
James: I’ve been a few times. Last attended in 2017, I couldn’t go last year as we already had gigs in London and Birmingham that weekend.
9. If yes, what is it you love most about the festival?
James: There’s a great vibe at Bloodstock, I think because it’s not TOO big and hasn’t become overly commercialised, by comparison to many of the other ‘major’ rock/metal festivals I’ve attended in recent years. Everyone’s there for the same thing, drink beer, rock out to some metal and have a laugh with mates.
10. Where can fans check out your music, merch and find out more about you?
James: All our music & merchandise can be found at our website: www.osmiumguillotine.com
More info about the band’s history and activity is available on Facebook (other social medias are available!) www.facebook.com/osmiumguillotine
Peter: Fans can check us out on all major steaming services, as well as Facebook, instaface, twittwit etc
11. Aside from hopefully playing Bloodstock Festival, what else do you have lined up for 2019? Any releases due or tours/gigs/festivals line up?
Peter: We hope to start working on new material for the next album in the coming months.
James: No releases planned as of yet, although we only released our second album ‘A Million To One’ in September which is still selling well. We’ve not booked too many gigs whilst searching for a new vocalist, but as Pete mentions we’ve been focusing on writing and have a few new songs ready to go. Now we’re back with a new line-up we’ll be booking more gigs for the rest of 2019!
GBHBL would like to thank Osmium Guillotine 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 Osmium Guillotine at their Facebook page and on Twitter. Head over to YouTube, and subscribe, to check out a load of music from the band too. Lastly, check out their website where you pick up some music and merch, including their most recent release, A Million To One.
Importantly, get yourself down to the venue on the 15th of March and throw them some support.
