Struck/Down are a hard rock band with an incredibly heavy sound to their music. I recently checked out their EP, From Demons, and found myself very impressed! If you’re into your hard rock/metal, you can find the EP at the end of this interview.
By Jane Howkins
Has the pandemic hindered your work much?
For us the pandemic was a confusing time, just like everyone else. A lot of calls back and
forth between members and a lot more planning meant that the pandemic actually hit us with
minimal damage. Although we couldn’t gig, we spent time up-skilling and shifted focus to
becoming content creators as well as musicians. If anything, it gave us a smack in the face to
start doing the stuff we had put off or thought we couldn’t do. Doing so forced our hand into
releasing 4 new singles with fully fledged music videos all produced by ourselves and our
close friend Stuart Day. Now that the world has opened back up, it feels like we are now in a
better position than going into the pandemic.
What is the writing and recording process like for you?
It’s a mixed bag really. Writing is done primarily in the practice room where we can get a feel
of riffs, ideas and melodies at full volume. Other times ideas are hashed out at home on a
DAW and sent across with drums and guitars to get a vision across that a single member
has.
Recording again is a mixed bag and a mixture of home recording and studio recording. The
last EP saw parts recorded at home and then produced in the studio by Stuart Day. This was
particularly helpful during lockdowns as it meant we could still push music out.
Do you plan to release any singles in the near future?
The short answer is yes! We have a few songs fully written which are perfect single
contenders. We just need to get back into the studio to record them.
Have you started writing for another EP or an album?
Part two of From Demons is well under way, continuing on from the saga we laid out in the
last one. This will be a follow up EP and we can’t wait to showcase it once it is complete.
What/who influences you most as artists? What have you been listening to recently?
All of us are into a massive variety of sub genres inside metal and spanning to other genres,
so at any given point there’s a large list. From old school classics like AC/DC and The
Darkness to the more extreme spectrum like Sylosis and Fit For An Autopsy, there is never a
small select group, giving us plenty of scope for sound.
As a band collectively we have been enjoying Lordi’s trip into recording multiple sub genres
of metal in different albums. Bleed From Within have also been dropping some great singles
along with our local boys Famyne, slowly revealing their new material.
Where are you based? What is the music scene like in your part of the world?
We are based in South-East England, specifically Kent. The scene has been slowly growing
for years and it’s amazing to see so many young bands giving it a go. Metal To The Masses
has really helped catapult our scene into something special but we are now looking to
stretch our legs further up the country.
Are you influenced by your surroundings?
For sure, it’s tough not to be with the last few years. All of our tracks hold hidden meanings
layered behind metaphors or can purely be an experience we had and felt the need to tell
that story.
Do you have any tour dates lined up?
We have a few one off shows coming up scattered into summer.
18th May – London, New Cross Inn in support of Trevors Head.
16th July – Gringos, Norwich in support of Bastard.
21st October – The Hobbit Bar, Southampton with line-up tbc.
What can people expect from one of your shows and why should people come and see you perform live?
High energy with plenty of riffs to bang your head at. Not to mention Linden being Linden
and his stand-up act in-between songs. Our unique blend of doom/groove really allows us to
bring the heavy but also bring the atmosphere with us for an emotionally stimulating show.
Any last words for the fans?
Just thank you for all of your support over the last few years. We have grown so much
thanks to you guys and we can’t wait to show you the next evolution of Struck/Down.
We have been Struck/Down and so have you.