SIX ARMS OF CHAOS

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SIMON SUBROSA
WEBSITE: www.myspace.com/sixarmsofchaos
COUNTRY: South Africa STYLE: Death Metal / Metal

YOU ARE LAUNCHING YOUR EP ON THE ELEVENTH OF JULY, HOW MANY SONGS ARE ON THE EP AND HOW MANY ARE NEW AND HOW MANY ARE OLD SONGS?

There will be 5 songs in total. We might still add an intro. Two songs are old and 3 new ones.

ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THE MUSICAL DIRECTION THE BAND HAS TAKEN SO FAR AND ARE THERE ELEMENTS OF YOUR SOUND THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO MOVE AWAY FROM IN THE FUTURE?

We are very happy with the style of music we produce. We’re trying to be different from the rest and create our own unique sound and we feel we have succeeded with that.

AT ONE POINT THERE WEREN’T MANY METAL BANDS MAKING USE OF SAMPLES AND ELECTRONICS BUT IT HAS BECOME MORE “ACCEPTABLE” OVER THE YEARS FOR SOME REASON. WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF HAVING SOMEONE LIKE CHAPPY - VOX / ELECTRONICS AROUND WHEN WRITING NEW MUSIC?

Well it takes the band to a whole new level, the sound is definitely fuller with the synth and loops, also the extra vocals help a lot to create our own unique style.

THINGS ONLY SEEMED TO REALLY GET GOING FOR YOU GUYS IN 2008, WHAT WERE SOME OF THE HARDEST OBSTACLES YOU FACED AT THE START?

The band started off with a different drummer and vocalist in late 2006, things were going well the band decided to record their 1st EP in early 2007 but by the time the EP was done both of them decided to leave the band. We made a comeback in February 2008 with Russel Jay & Chappy. The old EP was never released.

YOUR VOCALIST COULD NOT PERFORM AT A SHOW ON THE 30TH OF MAY BECAUSE OF FOOD POISONING BUT YOU GUYS STILL PERFORMED WITH VOCALISTS FROM OTHER BANDS FILLING THE “GAP”, HOW DID THAT GO?

We didn’t know what to expect because it was a last minute thing. We played a six song set with 6 different vocalists switching up and down 2 at a time doing 2 songs. It went down really well and the crowd loved it.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU PLAY LIVE BECAUSE THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY VENUES IN PE WHERE BANDS CAN PERFORM, AND HOW “ACCOMMODATING” ARE VENUE OWNERS TO “HEAVY” BANDS IN THE AREA?

We try and play at least two shows a month in PE all the venues and owners are really helpful, we had a issue once where we were suppose to headline at this biker rally show, when we got there, there was this back track singer doing Kurt Darren covers and when the opening bands started playing the bikers started booing and the metalheads started moshing the organiser had to cancel us because he had found out we are much heavier and ask us not to get on stage although we were keen on it. At the end he paid us and we had an open bar tab.

PE SEEMS TO REALLY HAVE A “BROTHERHOOD” OF BANDS THAT DON’T MIND TO HELP EACH OTHER OUT, IS IT BETTER TO WORK TOGETHER AS BANDS TO HELP THE SCENE TO GROW IN YOUR OPINION?

It’s always better for bands to work together. PE is a small place and everyone knows each other although its small, the scene is growing fast.

WHERE HAS THE MOST “INTERESTING” SIX ARMS OF CHAOS GIG TAKEN PLACE?

Probably our first out of town gig at The Asylum in JHB, the crowd went insane we met so many new people the owner was really impressed and even gave us a free bottle of Jack Daniels. Slamfest II was also fun even though after the Asylum gig they stole both of Rudi’s guitars and all of Chappy’s equipment we still managed to play an awesome set without the samples & synth.

DO YOU SPEND A LOT OF TIME REHEARSING OR DO YOU KNOW YOUR SONGS SO WELL AT THIS POINT THAT YOU COULD PROBABLY PLAY THEM IN YOUR SLEEP?

We try to rehearse as much as possible we have a lot of tempo changes and technical parts but we probably can play it in our sleep by now hehehehe

WHAT KEEPS YOU GUYS MOTIVATED TO PICK UP THAT MICROPHONE, KEYBOARD, BASS, GUITAR AND DRUMSTICKS AND JUST PLAY THE MUSIC?

Each member has his own taste in music and style of playing. We do a lot of individual writing so at every practise there is always a new exciting riff or loop to work on but most of the writing we do as a band in the jam room we work really good together as a band when it comes to writing songs.

WHAT IS LEFT ON THE BAND’S “TO DO LIST” FOR 2009?

After releasing the EP we plan on touring South Africa we also still want to make a music video this year.

ANY COMMENTS/ADVISE OR PEOPLE YOU WOULD LIKE TO THANK?

We would like to thank all our fans for supporting us through the good times and the bad times. All the PE bands we always gig with and to all the people who plan on buying our EP and merchandise.