SEEN LIVE AT HELLFEST 2023 and BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2023, UK, EUROPE, USA, MEXICO
METAL HAMMER- ‘Past The Fall to get us to shake our heads with the uncompromised weight of technical groove metal’ KERRANG- ‘Heroes’ METAL TEMPLE- ‘Here we have ultimate compositions…sublime’ BATTLEHELM- ‘This must be the best new British metal band i’ve heard in years!’
There are few things more powerful than an inspirational shared vision. For bassist/vocalist Will Wright and guitarist/vocalist Tom Cope, friendship and creativity have collided in a shower of brilliant sparks with the arrival of From Insanity’s Ruin, the debut album from UK-based metal ingenues PAST THE FALL. A formidable display of modern metal braggadocio, refined classicism and subtly progressive flair, it is an album that has been a very long time in the making and which represents the long-awaited achievement of childhood dreams.
Several years down the line, PAST THE FALL have been transformed by time, progress and maturity. Years of touring experience, including extensive jaunts around the UK, Europe, Mexico and North America have sharpened the band up immeasurably: sharing stages with everyone from cult thrashers Hirax to ex-Judas Priest singer Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens has pushed Will, Tom and drummer Sebastian Fernandez to new levels of virtuosity and verve.
* Introduce us to the band! What are your names and what do you do in the band?
We’re Past The Fall based out of Cambridge UK, its made up of Thomas Cope on Guitar and Vocals, Sebastian Fernandez on Drums, and me! Will Wright on Vocals and Bass.
*Where do you call home?
We’re based out of Cambridge, as that’s we’re Thomas Lives and both me and him grew up around the area, but currently I’m living between Derby and Sheffield, and Seb’s from North London.
* How long have you been together as a band and how did you find each other?
Past The Fall started playing live/touring in 2015, but me and Thomas have known each other since we we’re about 11\12 years old! Sebastian joined the band at the beginning of 2023.
* Do you have a special songwriting recipe you follow?
Not really, there’s probably a pattern to how the song is developed and worked between us all, but the ideas or direction don’t follow a specific pattern per se.
* How would members of your family describe your music to someone that hasn’t heard it?
Maybe extreme and shouty!
* What do you have on your(Spotify) playlists you would be embarrassed for others to see?
Nothing really! I’m pretty shameless in that regard haha.
* Do you have any pre-show rituals?
Well sometimes its so manic getting in and out of shows sometimes as we cant afford a roadie for everything, just to have the intro music and a moment to turn and breathe and collect myself usually does the trick.
* Who have you met that has left you starstruck?
Never been super starstruck really- but definitely have found it surreal at first, I’ve had dinner with Josh Homme on the like clockwork tour in Europe which was mega surreal as I’m a fan of qotsa since rated R.
* What do you consider your greatest achievement as far as a band?
Probably our debut record ‘From Insanity’s Ruin’ or playing Bloodstock Open Air this year, again super surreal to be loading into ugly kid joe playing the next stage, and waiting for sepultura to finish until we go on!
* What key elements do you believe makes up a successful song?
Leaving your ego at the door, then the song will tell you what it needs and you’ll be light enough to do what needs to be done.
* When writing, how do you know when it is finally done?
It’s a feeling really, we spend a lot of time of using our imaginations ears and heart to reach what we feel needs to be heard, then we work out how to do that with our hands and voices after!
* What song of yours are you most proud of?
Probably things like Beholden, Maurice, Poison Mirror all very personal songs that don’t follow a pattern.
* Is it possible to be on the road and not eat junk food? How do you keep it leveled out?
Wow its really difficult, and although it’s a 1st world problem it does make you feel pretty trashy and sick after a while. Theres little tricks and hacks, hoarding complimentary fruit at hotel desks for example haha. It mainly pays off to visit supermarkets but then its only cold food. Nandos is pretty good as it can be just chicken and veg and is pretty common in most UK citys.
* Are you able to write while on the road or do you need a calm familiar space like home?
Me personally I like a calm familiar space like home, or perhaps its more accurate to say any familiar environment so I can leave the rig setup so I can drop in fresh and get straight to music. I might flesh our lyrics and concepts from the road though.
* What’s the most embarrassing thing to happen on stage or on tour?
I guess in the early days I used to blow my voice out and just suuuckk at my vocal performance, I’m not a naturally good vocalist, so just staring down an audience and just knowing that they know so to speak and just having to get through all the negative criticism after was tough. Thankfully it was a character building experience and the work is paying off and I’m in a better place for it all.
* What can BleachBANGS do to help you in any way?
Put the word out about us on Spotify! If any of your readers dig what they hear, a follow on spotify really helps more than you can imagine! You can find us hear
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6C6hcrzZpmfy0Bc4LfTXj6?si=7u2h6zPPRja24Nd1aQol0w
* How can everyone keep up with everything you have going on? Where can they get albums/merch?
Best place to go is www.pastthefall.com
that’s the one stop shop in terms of wherever you want to see or do!
