Interview With Hand Of The Daedra For Plugged In 2008

On May 19th 2006, a supremacy was unleashed upon the world. It was a force so strongly driven by passion, honesty and rebellion, it's been terrorising the heart of the Welsh music scene ever since. It was on this fateful night, that Hand Of The Daedra were set to reign in splendour, using intense riffs, blasting double-bass-beats and intertwining it with deliciously powerful vocals, and since have given us nothing but this perfection. Okay, so their first show was only in Llwynypia's Workingman's Club, but this is just the kind of reaction they provide, just the kind of over-the-top entertainment they boast. Just think back to 2007's January AND February Fight Night's, which they sold out. They built up the tension as they came onstage, then exploded into their usual display of playing metal that would give scene kids these days nightmares, because, God forbid, they listen to some real music that doesnt just include some idiot with a keyboard and boom box jumping around like, well, an idiot.

 

After being brought together through a mutual love and addiction to metal, five friends were drawn closer to show us that Wales has more to show than these idiot keyboarders. Of course, they have been mainly influenced by many of the bands you would expect; Ill Nino, Slayer, Pantera, Machine Head, but it also appears that S Club 7, Steps and Spice Girls were a major inspiration. "When I was 9 I liked the Spice Girls because everybody else did. I listened to a Steps CD and decided to be in a metal band," said Mike, then (starting to sing) "Don't stop, never give up..." I then pointed out that was actually S Club 7.

 

Their first drummer, Nathan Thomas (a.k.a "Ducklin") left after being with the band roughly six months, to be replaced by Liam Hamilton who stayed with the band up until recently, when he left "towards illness." But do not fear, for their new drummer Frazer Evans has fulfilled the gap in this masterpiece, and the band have also brought along Gavin Sutton to join Jonny Foxhall on shredding the axe. Combining this much talent, along with the wonders of Mike Foxhall and Chris Chedzoy on vocals, AND Tom Taylor, TIT, on bass, it's no wonder they've got such big things ahead of them. They've come a long way in the past two years, going on tours with Distorted Dreams and Complete Control Music, being endorsed by Darkside Clothing, supporting Ill System and Destruction among others, recording a track for a CCM compilation CD with Ben Honebone from Losing Sun, even so far as recently getting signed to Life Burns Records! An absolutely amazing achievement for them, which is going to help them fly further into stardom.

 

When it comes to the Welsh music scene though? They're not that impressed. "Lee Evans is all the Welsh scene is good for, it's sh*t all around. Bands get exposed who don't deserve it, they do the smallest thing and get way too much recognition," says Jonny. They believe there are too many bands who actually work really hard for themselves, but don't get as far because, basically, they aren't "trendy" enough.

 

These guys don't need to play with their hair ironed flat and glued to their heads, or their eyeliner overpowering their eyes to put on a good show, and as we all know from their outrageous face paint, they don't need to rely on their pretty boy frontmen... or getting the attention of 13 year old girls with glowsticks to make it.. Their success is based soley on their outstanding talent which shines through in a scene where so very few bands seem to follow their hearts rather than the crowd. They let the crowd follow them and have a loyal enough fan base to know that they won't be let down by them no matter how much they could change and are grateful enough musicians not to let their fans down either. They play a fair game and it's what's keeping them favoured on the music scene that they are lucky enough to have spread as far as USA these days.

 

They've got a new EP coming out in the summer, title TBC, but it's going to have a worldwide release thanks to Life Burns Records and there'll be a tour coming along with it too. So watch this space and prepare yourselves, because Hand Of The Daedra could be invading you soon.