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- Can you tell the readers a bit about
the band's history ?
Emile (drums) Auke (guitar) and me (vocals/bass)
started jamming back in 1996. We were all real young, like 14 and 15 so
we go back a long way. Spent a lot of time developing as a band and when
our old guitarist Mark joined in 1998 we started to write songs that
came on our debute mini-cd ‘Lies in Conviction’. We played a lot of
shows in the small and bigger clubs here in the Netherlands, but we
never achieved to score a record deal. Two years ago Mark decided to
quit the band and we replaced him with Tommie. We already had the most
part of our latest cd ‘The Tenderstrike Salvation’ written, but Tommie
contributed his part in riffs and songs. Tommie also gave us the
capability to record our own stuff. He is studying to become a producer
so we hired an abandoned butcher shop for a month, recorded our parts
with the help of an engineer (Sebastiaan de Rooy) and Tommie co-recorded,
mixed and produced the whole thing.
So we sent out a three song promo of
this record and it got picked up by GSR music. We are very happy with
our label and we’re highly motivated to become the next big thing, haha.
- What are your biggest musical influences
?
I’d say the main influence for us all
is Metallica. We were all big ‘tallica fans back in the day, and some
people say you can still here that in our music.
And then the mid-nineties style metal.
That’s also been a huge influence on us all growing up. Bands like
Pantera, Machine Head, Life of agony, Sepultura. We still love that
music.
- Can you speak to us about your new album called " The Tenderstrike
Salvation " ?
Well, it’s a record of contrast. I think it shows exactly what we stand
for. We all love so many different music styles, and we’d like to take
the best of all worlds and put that in our music. I think we’ve
accomplished that pretty well with this record. It’s all about contrast,
the fast and heavy parts with the melodic and catchy chorus lines,
that’s 100% us.
- Who is responsible for song writing, and how did you proceed for
the composition ?
Nowadays you see a lot of bands that only have one songwriter. Not us.
We all participate equally in the process. Sometimes someone will write
an entire song, but mostly it’s a bunch of riffs that we arrange as a
band. Everyone has the capability to write their drum- and guitar tracks
on their computer. That makes it so much easier. If someone writes a
song, they can just email it to the rest and by the time we rehearse
everyone already will know their parts.
- What are the lyrics talking about, and where do you find
inspiration ?
The contrast I mentioned earlier is musically as well as lyrically. Some
songs are very positive. Relentless for instance is all about how strong
we are as a band (‘We will destroy all that stands in our way’). Sticks
and Stones basically is about moving on while Darkened days is about the
days/weeks/months after something tragic happens in your life. It goes
both ways in my lyrics, depending on how I/we feel. The inspiration
comes out of every day life, which can suck or can be beautiful.
- What's your favourite " The Tenderstrike Salvation " track , and
why ?
I think the title song ‘Tenderstrike Salvation’. That was one of the
last songs we wrote for this album, and I think it kinda sets the
standard of what our next album is going to sound like. Not exactly like
that, but extreme, catchy, technical.
- Do any of you currently work on projects other than Blind Sight ?
Yes, Auke plays guitar in Sengaia. Great band, check those guys out (www.sengaia.com).
Only for Sengaia it’s kinda hard to go for 100% as a band, because this
band has members of succesful metal bands like Textures and 37
StabwoundZ in it. There is hardly any weekend available for those guys
to play shows because of the busy schedule of the other bands.
- What are your favourite all-time bands and albums ?
Metallica (like I mentioned), Pantera, Alice in Chains, but most of all
‘Burn my eyes’ from Machine head. This really opened my eyes and gave me
the right perspective on metal. I also absolutely love ‘Natural born
chaos’ fronm Soilwork. I can listen to that record over and over and
over…
- Do you have any funny or strange stories about the band you can
share with us ?
Too much, mostly drunk stories, haha. This one time when we were on tour
our driver Gerwin let our booker take a picture of his ass (and I mean
his a-hole, spread wide open). And then after this show we played in
Girona/Spain he was showing it to some girls at the venue. The
expression on their faces were priceless, haha!
- Which are the projects of the group to short and long-term?
Short term: Promoting this album as much as we can. Touring our asses
off, getting our name out there!
Long term: Record a new record, and
taking over the WORLD!
- Do you think beeing on tour soon ?
Yes, we will be on tour this June with ‘The Black Dahlia Murder’. We
hope to be playing shows in France, but the dates aren’t confirmed yet.
Keep an eye on our website, the dates will be revealed pretty soon.
(www.blindsight.nl)
- And finally, can you say some words for my radio show Metal Choc ?
Again thank you for having us. It’s radio shows like Metal Choc that
help us get our name out there, YOU ROCK!!!
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