If you’re after something a little bit different at Bloodstock next week then be sure to catch Sheffield’s Metal 2 the Masses winners ThunarWülf. Emily Castles finds out what we can expect from the Steel City favourites on the Timothy Taylor New Blood Stage.
Many congratulations on winning Metal 2 the Masses in Sheffield – has it sunk in yet?
No, not yet, it’s such an awesome surprise after competing against such an incredible line-up, not just in the finals but all the way through the Metal 2 the Masses competition. It still feels unreal to be playing a festival we’ve been attending for years!
Are you from Sheffield – how does it feel to be representing the city at Bloodstock?
Mostly from Sheffield. We like to say we hail from Hen Ogled, or The Old North. These days people just say we’re from South Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Manchester. As most of us are Sheffield based, it’s an honour to represent the Steel City! Sheffield’s got a great folk and metal heritage, so it’s nice to bring our folk metal sound to the Bloodstock stage.
How did you feel going into M2TM final on the night? Were you confident?
We’re all established musicians, so we’re usually pretty confident about putting on any show, although we weren’t confident we were going to win with the calibre of the other bands on the headline show.
You released your music video for ‘We Ride’ in May – what was the process of that and have you been pleased with how it’s been received?
We’ve been collecting loads of footage of the gigs we’ve played up and down the country. Plus, we’re all fans of classic fantasy / adventure movies, so the idea of merging the two was born. The video had loads of views in a short space of time, so we’re happy with how it’s been received. Obviously we would prefer thousands of views!
Have you been working on anything else in the studio, which you can tell us about?
We’re currently mixing our second EP and planning a scripted music video to go alongside the release. Expect a dark, creepy take on British folk traditions and some thick riffs!
Tell us the origin story of the band name…
ThunarWülf is olde English for Thunder Wolf. When we formed, we wanted a name that howled ancient mythology and lore, but also sounds pretty fucking metal. Thunder and Wolves are both pretty cool, hence ThunarWulf was born. A beast of noise and legend.
Are you playing any other gigs/festivals this summer?
Yes, we’re off to Edinburgh this weekend (26 July), then headlining Corporation in Sheffield 5 September, Powerlines Festival in Sheffield 20 September, then Newcastle with LN (also appearing at Bloodstock) on 4 October and Liverpool (with LN and our friends and fellow M2tM Wales winner Adefeilion on) 18 October.
Are you fans of Bloodstock? Who are you looking forward to seeing?
Most of our members are regulars at Bloodstock. We’ve seen it grow over the years, yet it still never strays away from what it is. Bloodstock is one of the few rare gems that can grow over time, get bigger and more well known bands, yet still keep booking some utterly awesome hidden gems and niche acts.
Finally – what day/time are you playing, and what can Bloodstocker’s expect from your set?
We’re playing on Friday, the exact time is still TBA. Expect plenty of stage props, such as antlers, ivy, banners, candles and incense. When we play, both on and off stage there’s an energy from the immersion, the visuals, the music. A live gig should be a performance, and we aim to make it that.
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