Fresh from reviewing their fine full-length debut, I was able to grab the ear of the band’s drummer, Blake Savage, who kindly gave his time to answer a few questions.
Nice guys, nice music: there's plenty to be grateful for. And, regardless of what mysteries remain, at least we know how Bend the Sky will be seeing out the human era. Here's to hoping it's not before they get into the studio with a full-size orchestra...
Origins is available now on bandcamp.
1. Who is in the band, and how did you all get together?
3 of us (Walter, Will and I - Blake) met each other in high school and started jamming together in several arrangements, a few years out of school we had a functioning arrangement including my brother (Ryan) on bass.
3 of us (Walter, Will and I - Blake) met each other in high school and started jamming together in several arrangements, a few years out of school we had a functioning arrangement including my brother (Ryan) on bass.
2. “Bend the Sky”: what does that mean?
Being fans of Cynic, we grabbed a lyric from their track the space for this, in which the line is “Must I bend the sky to realise”. To us I think it bears philosophical connotations, to redefine a preconceived way of thinking or reality.
Being fans of Cynic, we grabbed a lyric from their track the space for this, in which the line is “Must I bend the sky to realise”. To us I think it bears philosophical connotations, to redefine a preconceived way of thinking or reality.
3. You’re now being interviewed, via email, by a fan from
the UK, who came across your music on the internet. How
do you feel modern communications – and especially the internet – have shaped
your band and its approach to music?
Largely and for the better. The album being online and free encourages sharing and the ability to reach a wider audience. We’re happy that people can listen, share or be a fan in a totally honest and open way.
Largely and for the better. The album being online and free encourages sharing and the ability to reach a wider audience. We’re happy that people can listen, share or be a fan in a totally honest and open way.
4. You chose to do your album entirely
instrumentally. Why was this?
We write instrumentally (also listen to a lot of instrumental bands), none of us are very vocal-minded. We actually struggled to find a singer for a long time, but never found what we were after – maybe due to location, publicity, etc. Regardless, by the time the album was ready we still didn’t have anyone solid and we/fans had also warmed to the instrumental nature.
We write instrumentally (also listen to a lot of instrumental bands), none of us are very vocal-minded. We actually struggled to find a singer for a long time, but never found what we were after – maybe due to location, publicity, etc. Regardless, by the time the album was ready we still didn’t have anyone solid and we/fans had also warmed to the instrumental nature.
5. Do you feel isolated amongst other bands in metal for
playing instrumental music? Or do you guys
feel yourselves to be part of a wider musical movement?
We are isolated I think, as there are far more bands with vocals in metal. As for a musical movement, instrumental metal is growing with bands like AAL, Cloudkicker or Scale the Summit becoming increasingly popular, so there is certainly an audience for it. In saying that, I wouldn’t really consider us just metal. We’re largely post-rock influenced, which is mostly instrumental and perhaps where a lot of the atmospherity comes from.
We are isolated I think, as there are far more bands with vocals in metal. As for a musical movement, instrumental metal is growing with bands like AAL, Cloudkicker or Scale the Summit becoming increasingly popular, so there is certainly an audience for it. In saying that, I wouldn’t really consider us just metal. We’re largely post-rock influenced, which is mostly instrumental and perhaps where a lot of the atmospherity comes from.
6. What inspirations and influences do you draw on for
your work?
Personally, life, the universe. Musically, our taste is shaped by a lot of things we listen to – post rock, doom/death/prog/math/tech metal, film scores.
Personally, life, the universe. Musically, our taste is shaped by a lot of things we listen to – post rock, doom/death/prog/math/tech metal, film scores.
7. What are the main aims in your music?
I think the only aim is to portray or generate an emotion or feeling in the listener – which can vary from person to person.
I think the only aim is to portray or generate an emotion or feeling in the listener – which can vary from person to person.
8. People say that music is a universal language. Even
so, did you not find it difficult to communicate any meanings you were trying
to convey in the album without words?
That’s the beauty of instrumental, I think it would be harder to convey meanings with words. It allows the listener to construct their own meaning through their own individual language.
That’s the beauty of instrumental, I think it would be harder to convey meanings with words. It allows the listener to construct their own meaning through their own individual language.
9. Do you have plans for any future albums at this stage,
and will they also be wordless?
There will be more, when is hard to say as it’s been a pretty hectic year. We won’t be stopping any time soon though. As for vocals, that’s also hard to say – we will always write and release instrumentally however.
There will be more, when is hard to say as it’s been a pretty hectic year. We won’t be stopping any time soon though. As for vocals, that’s also hard to say – we will always write and release instrumentally however.
10. If you had all the musical resources, time, and
expertise in the world, what would you create with them and why?
The same stuff, produced in a studio (Origins is entirely independent), in about 1/100th of the time it took us to learn the songs, with a full orchestra J
The same stuff, produced in a studio (Origins is entirely independent), in about 1/100th of the time it took us to learn the songs, with a full orchestra J
11. When will European metalheads be seeing you on our
distant shores?
Hopefully some day. It’s some 4 months since our debut Origins was released so it’s still early days.
Hopefully some day. It’s some 4 months since our debut Origins was released so it’s still early days.
12. Based on popular mythology, the next available slot
for human extinction to occur will be this December. What
music would you guys want to be listening to when it came about and why?
Tides @ 4:41 (track 12) for me. I can’t explain how close that song is to me. A little depressing, but hey it’s the end of the world.
Tides @ 4:41 (track 12) for me. I can’t explain how close that song is to me. A little depressing, but hey it’s the end of the world.
13. Assuming life on earth won’t end in two months’ time,
give 5 things you hope to happen in the next 5 years.
To share our music with thousands more, release a few more albums and possibly tour.
To share our music with thousands more, release a few more albums and possibly tour.
Nice guys, nice music: there's plenty to be grateful for. And, regardless of what mysteries remain, at least we know how Bend the Sky will be seeing out the human era. Here's to hoping it's not before they get into the studio with a full-size orchestra...
Origins is available now on bandcamp.
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