Single Focus: Tempest Rising

Monumental metalheads Tempest Rising unleash their new single, Know My Name, at Amplifier on Friday, September 11, with help from Pyromesh, This Other Eden, Let's Kill Uncle and Nevsly Prospekt. Singer Vin Trikeriotis fills us in.

How has the year been treating you so far?
So far this year we have toured Australia on our debut album, Transmutation, nine shows across the east coast and two shows back home in Western Australia. The album was received extremely well and in its wake we have been hard at work creating album number two. We have just released our newest single, Know My Name,  and have filmed a post-apocalyptic Mad Max style music video for it. We like to keep busy and productive so that we remain on top of our game. 

How did you come to write it? What made it stand out as a single?
Know My Name is a song about the constant struggle one faces when chasing a dream that is not within the normal parameters of conventional social acceptance and never giving up that dream no matter how difficult it becomes to hold onto. I came up with the lyrics specific to my own struggle with being in a metal band while all my friends become parents and having those friends and even my own family openly judging me. I wanted people to understand that life isn't just about following those who came before you but to carve out your own path into the unknown. The song is laden with chunky riffs, groovy patterns and showcases our style exactly, this and because we all love the song is why it became our first single.

How would you compare it to your previous work?

Our debut album took two years to come to fruition. The songs on 'Transmutation' are a testament to where we came from but our new material is more fine tuned and well crafted. The latest member to join Tempest Rising, Daniel [James, guitar] was the missing link and has taken our sound from Level: Garage to Level: Stadium.

Where did you record?
Know My Name was engineered and mixed by Simon Mitchell (Chaos Divine) and mastered by Forrester Savell (Shihad). The recording process was extremely fun, as anyone who has been in a studio will know. Once you've played your song 100 plus times, being able to belt it out over and over again can be a smooth process. Simon was excellent, patient and understanding. I personally found his advice when recording my vocals to help me get the most out of what I was trying to achieve. 

What's on the cards for the near future?
We will be hitting the studio again, very soon! Recording album number two is our main goal, playing some epic shows in the process will also be on the table. Touring overseas is also something we want to do, the US or Europe is our next international destination. We have toured Japan in the past and that was amazing. It's the touring life for us. 

Originally published in X-Press Magazine