[this interview with ex-Dark Forest vocalist Will Lowry-Scott was originally printed in Cimmerian Shadows Issue 2; 2012]
First things first Will, congratulations on the belting new DARK FOREST album – your first with the band! It's been on almost constant rotation here, and it really flies the flag for British metal. Now I'd like your own account of how you came to be in DARK FOREST – Anglesey seems a remote, unlikely place to spawn a metal singer, so how did you land the part? Were you a fan of DARK FOREST before joining?
Cheers Cimmerian, glad you like it. I’m very pleased with how the album turned out.
Well, my story goes that a friend of Christian’s - Pat Jenkins - who I met at university in Bangor in my final year, shared my interests in classic rock and metal. Our passion for performing said music, making a lot of noise wherever we could get away with it, lead us to form a band called Snakebyte Leather. I was on drums and vocals, Pat was axemaster and our other friend Chris was on bass.
In Summer '07 Snakebyte Leather did a tour of Midlands pubs, supporting Dark Forest. This was when I met the boys of the Foz and we jammed together. By the end of the tour on the last few dates, Christian requested that I join the band during their encore to do a cover of Deep Purple’s ‘Black Night’, which on each occasion was well received.
Shortly afterwards, Christian asked to join the band as frontman. Unfortunately due to logistics, namely that I couldn’t drive, I couldn’t accept the offer at that time.
Just under 2 years passed, and I was invited to Dark Forest’s first album release party in Stourbridge, where they played a set to promote the debut album. By then I had sorted me self out a bit, passed my test, got a car so I was mobile, at last! I did the Deep Purple cover again after Christian asked, the crowd loved it, and a few months later I was in the band, learning the songs. That encore turned out to be my audition!
I’m not the first individual in the metal arena to hail from Anglesey as I’m sure you know. A chap formerly known as Ian Kilminster grew up in Benllech before taking his guitar down to the smoky circus of dreams! Ha ha, eh hem. As for Dark Forest’s music, I had heard their demos off Pat when I was in uni and enjoyed the music greatly. I appreciated the music and how it was constructed, having written songs of a similar style in my formative past (originally being a guitarist, not a singer), and I could see that their influences matched my taste like a carbon copy.
What difficulties does your geographical location present when it comes to rehearsing and gigging?
No major problem really, as long as I have me wheels. Anglesey is a beautiful place with the magnificent backdrop of the Snowdonia mountains. The pleasure of the journey to the stage is as inspiring to me as the journey home.
What bands (if any) had you fronted as a singer before joining DARK FOREST? Did your voice have any previous heavy metal outlets?
Besides Snakebyte Leather, there was Lizard Lips (when I lived in Yorkshire) and Stovokor in university before I met Pat. These were all heavy metal bands, so I guess that answers that. The only reason I started singing in the first place was because we couldn’t find a singer in Stovokor.
Please share some gig highlights so far – you recently appeared at the Metal Assault fest in Germany alongside HEIR APPARENT, SATAN, SINISTER REALM, etc. How did it go?
That one was a bit of a wobbler for me I’m afraid to say. I was in the midst of a bad throat infection that weakened my voice beyond what I could control, so I was a bit patchy in parts as the virus buggered my mid range. Thankfully I got through it and my falsetto was still intact (phew)! Regardless of that hiccup, the rest of the boys were solid, water tight [leaky bands never appeal -Ed], and the crowd were brilliant!
Would you say you have more of a following on mainland Europe than back home? Perhaps it seems so simply because there is more going on there in terms of festivals and quality labels like Cruz Del Sur...
Oh definitely, yes, which is a shame because we live in the home of classic metal, yet it seems alive only in strongholds in the big cities and the capital of the UK. Nevertheless, the strongholds are keeping it alive, for I and Dark Forest are deeply indebted to the underground headbangers who keep the British Heavy Metal flame roaring!
Every time we are performing in European venues though, the enthusiasm and passion tends to be turned up a few notches. We want that to change and to see that in the UK!
You all must have been delighted to have sealed the deal with Cruz Del Sur Music for the release of the second album. Can you recount how this deal arose? Have you had any feedback from them yet on how it's doing?
Manuel Trummer of Atlantean Kodex (who were already on the label) put our name forward to Enrico at Cruz Del Sur. Enrico checked us out online and made Christian an offer to join the label for a three record deal... splendid! As for the rest, Christian is in charge of the PR so you’d best ask him what else he did.
Do you have a personal favourite song on Dawn of Infinity? I think you've really found your stride vocally since the Defender EP – my favourite song is probably 'The Green Knight'!
Ah cheers! I would have to say I love them all, but the song that stands alone for me is ‘Black Delta’.
If I understand correctly, Dawn of Infinity faced quite a troubled road to completion, as you returned to square one at one point and re-recorded the whole thing! Can you shed some light on what happened?
We as a band were not pleased with the finished product when the album was recorded the first time around. This was mainly due to lax production and mixing methods, due to our time and money constraints. This disappointment was crystallised when Enrico shared the same views regarding the aspects of its creakiness. So his investment along with our own got us a very flukey spot at Magic Garden [Recording Studios].
The outer space tangent that some of the latest DARK FOREST songs have taken will have surprised many people, who may have had you down as a purely 'Arthurian', folklorish band. The 'Old English' themes are still present, but there is definitely a cosmic slant to the new album. You had a hand in at least one of these space odysseys (being credited on 'Lightyears On'), so what sparked this thematic shift?
I wrote the bulk of the lyrics on that song yes. My inspiration for writing about that particular subject came to my mind when I heard the music that Christian had sent me. Hearing that put my inspiration from the tune onto the page. That’s how I came about it. I also felt that I did not want to try and match Christian’s writing style, which I can't, so I left the Arthurian chantor to the master.
On the other hand, you also helped to write 'Hourglass', which seems to have much less of a sci-fi aspect. What was the inspiration behind that one?
Again, simply what came to mind on hearing the tune. I had verses and the chorus down in less than an hour. I find that Christian’s tunes usually rattle something out of the old noggin.
Would it be accurate to say that old literature helps to shape some of DARK FOREST's themes? Under the Greenwood Tree was an 1872 novel by Thomas Hardy, and the song 'Through a Glass Darkly' harks back to various literary precedents, including In a Glass Darkly by Ireland's great ghost story writer Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu. More than coincidence, surely?
Yes. Master Horton is much more well read than me, which I am not afraid to say. And he takes influence from both the metaphysical and tangible. My style of writing comes from within myself purely and that is what works for me. If I take reference from any text lineage it is merely coincidental or on a subconscious level. I believe that the two combined styles create a positive dynamic in the band. And this is reflected in the new album.
Is a third DARK FOREST album visible on the horizon yet? Do you have any new songs already in the bag, and if so can you hint at any song titles or lyrical themes? Whenever it happens, you'd do well to record at Magic Garden again, as the production on Dawn of Infinity is perfect!
There should be the knell of a new album by the end of the year, yes, and I hope that Gavin and the boys at Magic Garden will have us again because I am of the same opinion as you, proper chuffed with Dawn of... !
Isn't it about time some DARK FOREST shirts were available?!
There finally are some shirts for sale on cruzdelsurmusic.com. We aim to have some ourselves for the summer.
That's all from shadowy Cimmeria. Please add any final comments, and knock 'em dead in 2012!
Thanks to shaded Cimmeria, Enrico, Magic Garden and all the people who have endeavoured to see us and believe in us, and for all the positive feedback from fans old and new. You are the oil that keeps the wheels of the Foz turning and keeps me screaming for more! To 2012, as I swig a pint of crisp Bathams!! Cheers!
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