ForChristSake is a Christian Melodic Death Metal band residing in Belfast, Northern Ireland. They independently released their debut EP titled “Death Is But A Breath Away” in 2010. The band is currently in the studio putting the finishing touches on their next brutal full-length “Apocalyptic Visions of Divine Terror” to be released on Roxx Records coming May. Below you can read an interview with FCS‘s bass player Mark.TMR: Hello Mark this is´The Metal Resource’ from Holland, how are things going there?
Going good at the moment we are recording our new album Apocalyptic Visions of Divine Terror at present so that is keeping us busy.
TMR: Will you Introduce yourself and the line-up please [name and instrument]
Simon – Lead Guitar, Mark – Bass Guitar, Ben Lead Vocals and Guitar and Ignatios – Drums and Lead Vocals.
TMR: Tell us the brief history of ‘ForChristSake’.
Line up has only really started to take proper shape in the last couple of years we have waited for the right people to come along and they have. We self released our first EP called Death is But a Breath Away back in September 2010, we have gigged and played various festivals such as Green Belt and Meltdown and continue to try and widen our fan base. We got signed by Bill Roxx – Roxx Productions in January 2012 since then he has been exceptionally supportive of our endeavours. We are near to completion of our debut album Apocalyptic Visions of Divine Terror our first release on Rox.
TMR: Are you guys full time musicians ? If not what kind of job or school do you do beside the band ?
No – Ben our singer is a graphic designer and well worth checking out all you other bands looking for a talented graphic designer for album artwork, t shirts – please check out his website https://www.thisdesign.org
Simon – works for an IT company, myself I work as a business developer for AXA Insurance and Ignatios our drummer is a full time carer.
TMR: What is your musical background ?
We all listen to a variety of musical styles but we all have a common connection to metal and we love all the usual metal bands.
TMR: Why the name ‘ForChristSake’ ? Is there a story behind it ?
We got tired of people using the name as a swear word or in a blasphemous way so we decided to use the name for our band and as we are a Christian band we took for the reason that we do what we do for Christ’s Sake in that we dedicate our music to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ without whom we are NOTHING.
TMR: Who writes the music/lyrics in ‘ForChristSake’ ? … how do you get in the mood for writing music? And which bands/situations have influences you for writing music and lyrics ?
Its a team effort when writing recording etc we all bring ideas in rehearsal to the table and they either get used or tweaked to be the best they can. Especially when it come to riffs anything that sounds too stock or plain will not get used – we only want to come up with the best for the listener.
TMR: How do you describe the music of ‘ForChristSake’ the best ?
I think the best way to describe it is hard heavy music with a positive influence it also speaks about real world issues we like to tackle these issues from a Christian view point.
TMR: How does ‘ForChristSake’ stands in life till events in the world, religion and politics and in which proportion stands that till your music and lyrics ?
As described in the previous question we tackle real world subjects from our faith view point – this is very much a broken world which stomps on people our mission is to highlight these problems and the answer to providing the solution lies in our belief in God.
TMR: For a lot of bands the lyrics are just a accidental circumstance, but for some bands they use them to communicate ! ..can you tell us how that is for ‘ForChristSake’ ?
We feel the lyrics are very important as we know they can influence the listener we want to come across in a positive way and to influence the listener in a positive way and above all else they have free will to make their own choice, we want people to come to know the love of God and its open to all our music promotes this view point. Equally we do not want to preach to people or force something down their throats “free will” comes into play here.
TMR: Is there a highlight you will always remember, since the beginning of ‘ForChristSake’ ?
There are several one of which was getting signed to Roxx Records and other was being asked to play at Greenbelt in the UK.
TMR: And the worst thing were ? [if there is one]
None at present.
TMR: The last album you bought?
I think the last full length album I bought was Becoming the Archetype’s I Am – its a great album check it out.
TMR: What makes you laugh?
Anything that’s funny LOL.
TMR: What are your rehearsals generally like? Do you have a set time each week in which you practice or are rehearsals more spontaneous?
Usually set time each week sometimes twice a week –
TMR: Where have you performed recently? What are your favorite and least favorite venues?
We have not performed in a little while as we have been pulling this album together – usually we prefer the sweaty little clubs were the crowd is in your face.
TMR: How do you promote your band and shows ?
Using social media such as Facebook, Twitter word of mouth emails constant hassling of promotors etc.
TMR: How do you prepare for a show?
Usually we rehearse before hand and generally we pray before the show starts and then we give it our all.
TMR: Describe your show, visual and musically ? And tell us about your next shows and why we
should be there.
We aim to get the crowd involved and be in your face – musically we will beat you over the head with our music and hope you come back for more – come along you will enjoy it.
TMR: Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you ever play any covers? Do you have a
set play list?
No covers as yet we alter our set list dependent on where we play I dont think our song O will ever be out of the set.
TMR: Name some of your favorite bands to play with live [past and future] and tell us why ?
We are looking forward to playing with Horde, Drottnar and Sacrificium in Switzerland.
TMR: What is the dumbest question you have ever been asked?
Havent been asked one yet.
TMR: Do you have a life philosophy / favorite quote ?
Not really just live life and be happy.
TMR: Are you visiting many gigs and what do you listen to these days?
Personally I love Gojira I have yet to see them live.
TMR: Tell us about the hardrock/metal scene in your area please?
Its geared toward secular bands and can be a bit of a clique in that it is hard to break in as prime support slots are given to friends of friends if you know what I mean but we will continue to press on and get gigs where and when we can.
TMR: What’s your outlook on the record industry today?
I think it is difficult for bands to earn a living generally – and it looks as though the music industry is being killed slowly by downloads.
TMR: What can you tell us about your upcoming album “Apocalyptic Visions of Divine Terror”[such as the recording process, the songs, who did the artwork ?
The album is currently being recorded in a studio in Belfast City Centre, we have 16 diverse songs which have a lot of dense riffing etc – the artwork was done by a Canadian Artist Called Shaun Patterson who we feel did a great job
Check him out at https://www.shaunpatterson.com/
TMR: The album will be released next month by ‘Roxx Productions’ how did you get signed by them ?
The album will be released on the 7th of May, we sent a video link of our song O and our EP Death is but a Breath Away to Bill Roxx – I think he liked what he heard and discussions began from there ever since then Bill has supported us 100% of the way.
TMR: ‘ForChristSake’ will play next month at ‘Elements of Rock’ in Switzerland, what are your expectations ?
We are looking forward to meeting all the great bands and sharing a stage with such well known names such as Horde, Drottnar etc. We expect it to be a very exciting number of days and a day to reflect on what God has done in all our lives.
TMR: What are your plans for this year/near future?
Our plan is to get this album released and for the world to hear it and hear the message in it. We then are in rehearsal for our upcoming appearance at Elements of Rock and we then play Meltdown Retreat in the UK in May.
TMR: What advice would you give to fellow bands?
Any bands that our competition our advice would be to stop as you are competition to us only kidding just keep doing it and love doing it because if it becomes a job you will not make it work.
TMR: Mark thanks for your time and the interview, we wish ‘ForChristSake’ all the best … Is there anything you wanna say at last? [any final statement ?]
Thanks for all the support from the Metal Resource, our Label owner Bill Roxx, Web master David Garrison, Dale Huffman of Metal Pulse Radio, Rabid Rob and MacKenzie of the Anvil Radio Station, Pope and Bishop of Beyond the Riff Radio to name but a few the rest will be on our album thank you list.
Upcoming Shows:
March 14-17 – Elements Of Rock, Uster, CH
May 17-19 – Meltdown 2013, UK
Band members:
Ignatios – Drums/Vocals
Simon- Lead Guitar
Mark – Bass
Ben – Guitars/Vocals
Discography:
Death is but a Breath Away, EP [2010]
Apocalyptic Visions of Divine Terror [2013]