Our Hollow, Our Home Interview

I spoke to local metalcore band Our Hollow, Our Home before their set at Takedown Festival about the Hampshire metal scene, Facebook fans and the reaction to their latest EP.

How does it feel to be back at Takedown Festival?
Josh: Amazing! We love this festival, since it is our hometown… Apart from Tim, Pompey, wahey! Yeah, it is great! So many sick bands, shout out to Advanced Promotions for putting it on every year.
It is the best day out and the start of summer!

What has changed since you played Takedown last year?
Tim: We are more unfit!
Toby: We have released a CD! That is a little bit more important!
Josh: We have released a CD! We are concentrating on the summer, getting touring and we have a lot of things planned. It is probably just taking it that step up, just being a bit more serious about it.
Tim: We’ve had summer festivals and touring. We have to push the EP a bit, but we have a new video coming out. Yeah, just having fun.

What bands are you planning to see today?
Tim: I’m going to see the boys in Create To Inspire, they are good lads. We have already seen Prolong The Agony, they are good mates of ours. I want to go see Moose Blood and Blood Youth. There are so many bands at the moment, there are too many to choose from!
Josh: For me it is Mallory Knox, I don’t really listen to Charlie Simpson but it would be interesting to see him.
Tim?: We are majorly gutted because we clash with Creeper! And they are like the band of the weekend for us and we can’t see them, but hey ho! Come see us, not them! (laughs)

In the time that you have been together you have gained over 10,000 fans on Facebook, how does it feel knowing that you have reached out to so many people?
Tim: It’s amazing! We are used to growing up in bands where you get 2000 fans and you are really excited. You have to take a step back and just be like ‘wow’. We have done nothing to warrant that many people paying an interest in us, so it is pretty special.
Josh: It is awesome! When we struggle, when we are like ‘god we have put so much money into this band’ it makes it all worthwhile, it really does.

What are your views on the Hampshire metal scene?
Josh: At the minute it is going really well, we have got local bands that are killing it! Creeper, Bury Tomorrow. Obviously they are getting places! But then you have got other bands such as Prolong The Agony who are doing really well and it is just really good to see. A few years ago there wasn’t the community in my eyes that there is now.
Tim: It is like the local bands coming through, there was sort of a gap there for a while and now you have got the boys in Gone By Tomorrow and Saint[the]Sinner. We supported their last show and all of them just make the scene a community, instead of just being bands that occasionally play together.

What has been the reaction to the //Redefine EP?
Josh: From what I can tell from the reviews that we have been reading it has done really well. It has been a long time coming and it has been painful for us to get that EP out. I cannot stress how hard it has been for us, but it is out! Download it on iTunes, Band Camp, come buy it at a show, illegally download it in some way, shape or form!
Tim: It has been a labour of love to get it out, but it has been worth it just to see people say that they are going to listen to it, people checking it out… It is worth it, all of the way!

How would you describe your music to someone who has not heard it before?
Both: Cheesy metalcore!
Josh: We don’t think that we are that heavy, but when we play live we are pretty heavy! Catchy heaviness! We could play any stage of this festival! (laughs)

What inspires you to keep writing music and performing?
Toby: Well I am the only one who writes anything! I don’t know, I watch a lot of classic films. I get a lot of electronic bars from soundtracks like Gladiator and Lord of the Rings. Things of an epic scale I don’t like can be limited to a single genre. I will take elements from all sorts of things in life and focus and channel it through music.

What advice would you give to any aspiring musicians?
James: Don’t act like us! (laughs)
Toby: I would say that the best thing to do is to get into a practice room together and write a good couple of songs, maybe four or five, and when you have got those five choose one that you think is your strongest song and don’t skimp on recording. If it means that you save and work a Saturday job or whatever, try and raise £800 and go to a professional studio because in this day and age the internet is everything, so people will judge you and merit you on your online presence. So by having a good track online for people to listen to is the best way I’d say to start anything.
Josh: Just to add onto that any Tom, Dick and Harry can get a MacBook and record something, so the quality of that recording is so important!
Tim: I think that the work never stops as well, you can’t stop pushing yourself and you can’t stop pushing your band name. Just try and get people to listen to it, you can’t just take a break from that or it won’t be worth it.

What should people expect from a live show from Our Hollow, Our Home?
Toby: A bit of a party, I suppose! We play heavy music but we don’t necessarily come across as big bruiser guys who are like ‘YEAH!’
Josh: We like everyone when we play live to have a great time. We played at The Joiners a few weeks ago and it was a party! We don’t take ourselves too seriously.
Toby: You have got to understand that a lot of people forget that when you pay to go and see a show that it is a show. So like you wouldn’t pay to go and see West Side Story just standing there would you, you expect an act. We try and put on a show, that is what we do.

What else do you have planned for the rest of this year?
Josh: We can’t say… Festivals! We have got a couple of things that we can’t say but that makes it exciting. We have got touring, festivals, we want to push the new video as we said earlier. We are going to try and build up what we have done last year and cement ourselves a little bit more.
Toby: Along with continuing write the new release I suppose. We have made some headway with it, but I would like to get a lot more nailed in on the pre-production side so I can expect where to shape the record.

www.facebook.com/ourhollowourhome
Photography by Rob Campion 

Takedown Festival at Southampton University 7/3/15

Punk rockers Miss Vincent (8/10) were the first band to grace the Obsidian Stage, and it is safe to say that they managed to warm up the crowd well: “Takedown is a long day and you’re going to be here until 11pm… It’s important to stretch and warm up for the amazing bands, and that is our job!” The local four-piece managed to entertain everyone with their fusion of harmonious vocals and bass-filled riffs, and they even had more people joining the crowd as they played. 

Progressive rock legends InMe (9/10) managed to appeal to both young and old fans with the performance of their debut 2003 album ‘Overgrown Eden’. Despite being out for over fifteen years, the Essex trio were able to mesmerise the crowd with their passionate and energetic performance. Dave McPherson’s vocals were both harmonious and heavy, truly reflecting the theme of InMe’s performance style. They were also able to excite fans by announcing the release of a new triple album in May. For their final song ‘Faster The Chase’ they invited Mikey Chapman from Mallory Knox to join them on stage, resulting in mass amounts of mosh pits and beach balls flying everywhere.

Bristol-based goth punk band Ashestoangels (7.5/10) were a sure-fire hit on the Obsidian Stage, appealing to fans of bands such as Fearless Vampire Killers and Black Veil Brides. Lead singer Crilly was no stranger to getting involved with the crowd, constantly jumping into the mosh pit and engaging with excitable fans.

Local metalcore five-piece Our Hollow, Our Home (9/10) drew in a huge crowd for their set on the Uprawr Stage, proving exactly how many fans their hard work and persistence has gained them. They definitely have the stage presence of a much bigger band, as they were constantly able to encourage fans to create mosh pits and circle pits. Despite having technical difficulties at numerous points during their set, their professionalism and talent allowed them to continue performing one of their best shows to date.

Metal loudmouths The Hell (8/10) managed to insult the crowd numerous times during their set, but their fans seemed to love it. Their offensive yet humorous act proved that metal music does not always need to be serious. With lead singer Nail$ hurling insults left, right and centre, it is safe to say that if you are easily offended then you should steer well-clear of the bandana-wearing five-piece: “It is international women’s day tomorrow, so I want every woman in here to kick a man in the face!” Playing songs such as ‘Bangers And Mosh’, ‘Deal With It’ and ‘Everybody Dies’ The Hell managed to engage with a rowdy yet passionate crowd.

Forming from the ashes of electronic rock band My Passion, British rock trio Fort Hope (8/10) managed to impress Takedown-goers with their beautiful lyrics and harmony-filled vocals. Sounding much heavier than they do on record, Fort Hope rocked the crowd with songs such as ‘Control’, ‘The Rapture’ and ‘Sick’.

Uprawr Stage headliners Heart Of A Coward (10/10) proved exactly why they were so high up on the bill with their energetic and exciting performance. The Milton Keynes based metal five-piece rocked the crowd with their heavy riffs and fast-paced songs. Lead singer Jamie Graham’s vocals were on top form, filling the arena with harsh screams and angry lyrics. Jamie also proved that Heart Of A Coward were all about the music and not violence as he stopped their set due to violent people in the crowd and refused to continue until they had left. They also performed a new song for the first time ever, ‘Hollow’, which sounded even heavier than their previous material. Ending their set with fan favourites ‘Deadweight’ and ‘Around A Girl In 80 Days’, Heart Of A Coward were able to entertain fans from start to finish, providing a fitting end to an incredible day of live music.  

Photography by Rob Campion. 

Our Hollow, Our Home at The Joiners, Southampton

Support: Gone By Tomorrow, Deference, Tonight We Fall
11/02/15

Andover-based youngsters Tonight We Fall (7/10) were the first band to grace the stage, and it is safe to say that they warmed the crowd up well. Despite being ill, vocalist Sam Culverwell was able to impress the crowd with his heavy vocals and energetic stage performance. Although they are teenagers, Tonight We Fall are talented musicians who seem to improve with every performance that they do. Their confidence and ambition is almost infectious and it is clear that they already have a strong fan-base in the Hampshire area.

Deference (8/10), a Southampton-based metal band were next on the stage, and it is safe to say that they opened with a bang. Rob Lea's heavy vocals were incredible and merged well with the fast-paced guitar riffs. Once of the easiest bands to compare them to would be Architects as their musical style is very similar, which was demonstrated during their more melodic songs. Despite not having any released material yet they certainly knew how to entertain a crowd and left everyone wanting more.

The final support act was Gone By Tomorrow (6/10), a five-piece metalcore band from Southampton. With similarities to bands such as Yashin, Asking Alexandria and With One Last Breath they definitely appealed more to the younger fans in the audience. Despite being energetic and entertaining their set was much more slower-paced and gentle compared to the heavier bands on the line-up, which made some of the crowd disengage with their performance. Their mixture of screaming vocals and harmonies worked well, however, there was definitely something missing from their set.

After recently releasing their EP '//Redefine', local metalcore heroes Our Hollow, Our Home (9/10) returned to Southampton for their home show. With a crowd full of family, fans and friends, it was easy to see how popular the five-piece have become since their formation in 2013. Known locally as energetic and hard-working musicians, it is exciting to see their career progress further and their talent become recognised by record labels and publications around the world. One of the most well-received songs was 'If Those Were Guns, Reggie Be Dead', which was played twice during their set: once as a band, and once as an acoustic song for the encore. Every song that was played sounded unique and fresh, and Connor Hallisey's harsh vocals were on top form, merging well with Tobias Young's clean singing. Our Hollow, Our Home engaged well with the crowd and they even brought an inflatable boat with them (called 'H.M.S Heisenberg') for fans to crowdsurf in. It is safe to say that Our Hollow, Our Home are one of the best bands to come out of Southampton, and if you haven't listened to them yet then you are definitely missing out.

www.facebook.com/ourhollowourhome

www.facebook.com/gonebytomorrowuk

www.facebook.com/WeAreDeference

www.facebook.com/tonightwefallofficial

Our Hollow, Our Home, In Hearts Wake, Landscapes and The Amity Affliction at The Cellar Southampton 8/9/13

Southampton-based band Our Hollow, Our Home opened up the first night of this metalcore-filled tour in the United Kingdom. It’s rare that the first band on at a concert get a good reception, however, the local group managed to quickly engage the crowd with their catchy riffs and energetic stage presence. Formed in 2012 by some of the former members of Deadlines, Our Hollow, Our Home’s melodic songs make them both memorable and enjoyable to watch perform. Their most recent single ‘Rest Assured’ was well-received by the audience. Connor Hallisey’s screaming vocals sounded strong live, and mixed with Tobias Young’s harmonious backing vocals, they were able to create a sound that pleases fans all across the metalcore genre. Despite missing one of their members, guitarist Josh White, they were able to perform an unforgettable set and it’s obvious that they have got a strong Hampshire fan base. They seemed very grateful to be on the stage alongside the huge bands on the line-up and reminded the crowd to support their local scene, making them both humble and a great live band to watch.

Byron Bay in Australia seems like a hot-spot for impressive metal bands recently, as it is home to bands such as Parkway Drive and 50 Lions. Adding to the thriving metal scene there is In Hearts Wake, who formed in 2006. Opening their killer set with ‘The Unknown (Strength)’, their brutal metalcore sound made the crowd instantly descend into mosh pits and throwdown pits. Near the end of the set the spotlight and vocal duties descended onto bassist Kyle Erich for a beautifully slow rendition of ‘Inertia’, which prompted many fans to get their lighters up and sway their arms in the air. The blue stage lights added to the mellow atmosphere and despite it being very different from their usual heavy sound, it was very well-received by the audience and it proved that as musicians they are all very versatile and talented. Ending their seven song set with ‘Departure (Death)’, In Hearts Wake definitely gained many more fans during their impressive performance.

Modern hardcore punk band Landscapes kept the fast-paced vibe going with their rebellious and angst-filled songs. The Somerset-based band were full of energy and it reflected well onto the crowd. The drumming was particularly impressive and it worked extremely well with the bass-filled songs on their short but sweet set. The technical guitaring was another strong point for Landscapes, especially the catchy riffs which kept the crowd wanting more. The crowd was full of people hardcore dancing along to the rhythm of the songs and enjoying themselves listening to the original hardcore punk sound which filled the venue. The heavy vocals merged well with the strong breakdowns and the lyrics were both heart-felt and impressively performed.

Headlining band The Amity Affliction are one of the biggest Australian metalcore bands around at the moment, and their show tonight in Southampton definitely proved why. The crowd anticipation before the Brisbane-based quartet arrived on stage was almost overwhelming and they were definitely worth the wait. Opening their set with their latest single ‘Greens Avenue’, the crowd were instantly engrossed into The Amity Affliction’s stellar performance. Lead singer Joel Birch’s harsh vocals filled The Cellar perfectly. The contrast between his and bassist Ahren Stringer’s clean vocals created a perfect harmony that is only found in metalcore music.  ‘Anchors’ was definitely a crowd favourite and Ahren’s clean vocals were particularly strong during this song. During ‘I Hate Hartly’ a fan climbed on stage and screamed the vocals to the whole of the final verse, proving how much The Amity Affliction respect their fans (it also probably helped that he was really good at screaming). One of the strangest parts of the set was definitely the cover that The Amity Affliction chose to perform: ‘Born To Die’ by Lana Del Ray. Although it seems like an unlikely song for an Australian metal band to cover, surprisingly they were able to perform it with ease and it honestly sounded incredible. Joel screamed the verse and Ahren sang the chorus and it worked well; the crowd definitely loved it. Joel even joked that Lana Del Ray refuses to let them release it as a single. Members of the crowd got up on stage with the band, and unlike most concerts, the band loved it. They complimented how involved the audience were getting with the performance and Joel even let some very persistent fans scream and sing into the microphone during the songs. For their encore they chose to perform possibly one of their most popular songs, ‘Open Letter’. Almost every fan was singing along and when The Amity Affliction left the stage it was easy to see that everyone had an incredible evening. If I had to recommend that you only see one metalcore band this year, it should definitely be The Amity Affliction. 

Check out Our Hollow, Our Home here: https://www.facebook.com/ourhollowourhome/
Check out In Hearts Wake here: https://www.facebook.com/inheartswake/ Check out Landscapes here: https://www.facebook.com/LANDSCAPESUK 
Check out The Amity Affliction here: https://www.facebook.com/theamityafflictionofficial/