Do you know: God Alone Posted: 14/06/2019 by Philip Morrissey
For those of you who know, Saturday marks the debut of Metal United Worldwide in Cork. For anyone unaware, this is an event which takes place around the globe on the very same day. Gigs are being hosted in various countries including Australia, Thailand, Brazil, USA, Indonesia, Poland, Albania, Mexico, China, Germany and many more.
The Irish of this event is due to take place in Cyprus Avenue on Saturday 15th from 1PM on-wards. It is scheduled to be a huge show with many different bands performing at it. Some may be familiar to you. Some may not. Here is an introduction to the many bands due to lineup.
God Alone may have been an unfamiliar name to many when they begun playing. “Sure what would kids know about metal, like?” Any doubters were soon put in their place upon witnessing them for the first time. Incredible that they are playing such a sophisticated blend of genres so effortlessly, rather than aping the styles of more established bands. And still manage to remain so grounded. A break was required in order for some of the lads to sit their leaving cert. I can’t even remember what I was doing around the time of mine. Nothing on their scale. First cited as a post-black metal band, they have since managed to throw in aspects of hardcore, traditional scales and much more. A recent live studio performance demonstrates this.
The band came together pretty organically. “God Alone formed when Jake and our drummer Jack met and were playing in a classic rock band with some of our other friends. After that band dissolved, they were looking to make something heavier and more experimental and asked Cian to play bass and it all went from there in 2016. We then got our guitarist Seán and synth man Dylan on board because they’re unreal and we wanted to expand our sound.”
The initial post-black metal label may have been due to the name that they took on. “God Alone’, is the name of an Altar of Plagues song that we think is an absolute banger, and just took it.” Not wrong in that opinion.
Influences on the band upon starting off, and since then, has changed a lot. Like many great bands, they soak up o lot of different styles. “In the beginning of the band, we were very much influenced by bands like Altar of Plagues, Swans, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and a lot of post-metal/black metal bands. Since the writing of our first EP, there’s been a mad increase in the amount of non-metal influences on our music. We’ve been listening to a rake of hip-hop recently, nothing but Biggie for the last few weeks. We all listen mostly to jazz, indies and a rake of electronic music. Also, lately we’re after getting mad into dance-punk, so there’s going to be a fierce amount of jiving at our next shows.”
It has been a breathless list of shows which they played in the few years since their initial dip in the water. Some stand out though. “Some of our favourites would be our album launch last year in Cork which our mams came to, Mammothfest in Brighton, supporting Coilguns, playing Christmas bangers in Dali with Bailer and Worn Out, and playing a small packed warehouse in Galway. Great Craic.”
Their passion for their music is equally reflected by their appreciation of their home city of Cork. “The entire scene including anyone making underground or experimental music is in great health. It’s lethal to see so many class promoters putting on shows who have faith in our daycent city.”
This shows in their pride at repping Cork on the World stage at this event. “It’s lethal to see the absolute amount of bands and cities making part in Metal United. We’re going to have mad craic making the Cork show the best in the world. X”
The excitement shows with all of the bands they want to catch this weekend. “We’ve wanted to see Cruachan live since we started listening to them when we were all young fellas. It’s going to be mental to be playing right before them and we are beyond hyped. Also, can’t wait to see Elder Druid, ZhOra, Bisect, Slung From a Tree and a rake of bands we’ve never seen before. Fine day for it ”
Regarding future plans, they are keeping their cards close to their chests but promise some new threads on show. “Can’t be saying too much now but we’ll have a new line of fashion products in time for the Metal United show. We’ve some fierce saucy plans for the end of the year too x”
God Alone are set to slam the stage from about 21:30 on-wards. Be prepared.
https://www.facebook.com/godalonecork/
https://godalone.bandcamp.com/
