TALES OF TIME are very new to the scene and have already established a following of fans with their eclectic symphonic metal sounds. Ahead of their appearance at Power Metal Quest Fest, Rock Out Stand Out’s Lotty Whittingham spoke to members Anna Maria Rose, Dan Ackerman, Tom Standen, Ed Curley, and Liam Gloster about Power Metal Quest Fest, their sound, mental health, and who would make up their dream choir.
Hello there; thank you for joining Rock Out Stand Out for a chat. Let’s talk Power Metal Quest Fest. How excited are you to be playing there, first of all?
Tom: Absolutely excited!
Ed: I’m excited because it’s not going to be a tedious drive for me. [laughs]
Anna: Oh yeah, it’s Ed’s home town.
Ed: At long last!
Tom: Is it your first home town show, Ed? Have we played Birmingham?
Ed: No, we played Sheffield.
Tom: And what a show to start with as your first home town show!
Ed: When I learned it was at The Asylum, I was so happy as I have been there for so many gigs, and being able to play there at last is awesome.
Anna: We’re very excited; we haven’t got a huge number of gigs under our belts yet and this is quite a big one for us.
Are there any of the bands you’re looking forward to checking out?
Anna: Possibly all of them, actually. I don’t think I have seen any of them. Apart from Twilight Force, but this is them with the new line-up.
Dan: Twilight Force 2.0.
Anna: Yeah, this is now Twilight Force 2.0. I am excited for all of the bands. Especially Lycanthro who are coming all the way from Canada.
Dan: Yeah, that is really cool.
Anna: And a little secret: I am going to be jumping on stage with them to join them for a song. I am very excited about that.
That’s very exciting! I’m looking forward to Winterage; I missed them last time they were in the UK.
Ed: I’m looking forward to seeing Winterage as well.
Tom: Same here.
I saw videos of their shows on TikTok or YouTube, and mosh-pits were breaking out to Vivaldi.
Anna: I know, it’s amazing, right? Conspiringly, we’re playing with them the day after in London. So we have been chatting with them quite a bit and they are lovely guys. I find that in the power metal community there are lots of nice people.
I find it a liberating space to be your full nerdy self.
Ed: I have just come out of a three-hour D&D game, so so far so good.
Anna: Good on you Ed!
Tom: Looking forward to hearing more about that.
For those who haven’t seen Tales Of Time live before, what can they expect?
Liam: We occupy that symphonic metal niche which has power and progressive metal influences. Anna on lead vocals, then me and Tom joining in on backing with thrashy harsh vocals. It’s kind of hard to pinpoint whom I would say we sound like because we all have different influences and tastes. We kind of know what we are aiming at to a certain degree, but there isn’t a thought that we have to sound like this or we should sound like that. We write what we write and it sounds how it sounds; if you’re a fan of ’90s symphonic metal and you like heavy and harsh vocals, then you are going to like what we do.
Anna: We do have a neo twist on our sound; we have a bit of prog and djent in places. You have the high vocals and the heavy guitars, and a bit of prog in there. We also have that piano thing going on too.
Dan: Yeah, we love a bit of piano.
Anna: I always write a piano line, and then Tom will come in and write a really jazzy bluesy solo. So we kind of incorporate all of our styles together.
I was going to ask about influences; could you tell us more about those?
Anna: Well, I mean to start with, it has to be Nightwish. Always been a huge Nightwish fan – I’m talking early Nightwish with Tarja. Epica I absolutely adore as well. I like a lot of anime music as well, especially when Epica covered the Attack on Titan songs; I loved that completely so I used a lot of influences from that.
Dan: All sorts, really. I listen to a bit of everything. I have my imprinted songs, but it’s mainly Anna who just sits there and something pops out of her head. The next thing I know, I’ve come home from work and there is a demo sat there waiting for me. There may be a Mario Kart sound kicking around somewhere! [all laugh]
Anna: Video games have influenced me hugely; things like The Witcher and Skyrim are ones I adore. I grew up with classical music and was trained as a classical soprano, and I have been in multiple big choirs – I’m talking 150 people plus in these SATB choirs – and it really had a big impact on me from a very young age. I will still sing those melodies in my head, and can refer back to them when I am writing, where I think, “Hmm, yeah, that could work,” and put heavy guitars in and something pops out.
Ed: I don’t contribute to the songwriting, but I am more into atmospheric, folk, black metal: so bands like Moonsorrow, Ensiferum, that kind of thing. It’s kind of along the same page as symphonic metal, as in it has melodies and so on. I wouldn’t say symphonic metal is my number one genre; more like in my top six.
Tom: [to Ed] You definitely bring in the black metal parts. I think Anna started writing more black metal drum stuff because you can play it.
Ed: [to Tom] I mean, my part in ‘In the Dark’ was a bit extreme. [both laugh]
Anna: I don’t think we realised what we recruited! He is an absolute powerhouse on the drums so it means we can explore more when it comes to writing music.
Dan: There are no limits now.
Ed: Blast beats and double basses – I can’t get enough of them. Give me more.
Liam: In terms of my influences, I do love symphonic music including symphonic metal, but I’m really into my film scores as well. I would say John Williams is one of my favourite composers of all time. Howard Shore as well, and Hans Zimmer; I love that sort of music. I am really into my ’70s and ’80s progressive rock. I am drawn more towards bands like Pink Floyd and King Crimson as opposed to the more psychedelic side of it, but I do love those soundscapes, choirs, and long guitar solos.
On the other side, I am also really into thrash, death, and melodic death metal. With symphonic metal, it blends a lot of that together, because symphonic metal is an umbrella term really. You can listen to a lot of these bands and none sound exactly the same as each other. I really like that; it means when I am out there looking for new symphonic bands, I don’t know what itch I am trying to scratch, but it also means that there is so much diversity and range within the genre. It’s like, you need subgenres within the genre; I am aware that there are. Epica are one of my favourite bands; I have seen them more times than I can count. I love Nightwish; I’ve met Tarja and she is a beautiful human being. I love Within Temptation.
As a bass player, I was really into John Entwhistle, John Paul Jones, Lemmy, Cliff Burton: those old school bass players who inspired me to play bass. I think it was just before my 15th birthday, I went to see Motorhead and whilst watching Lemmy play the bass I thought, “Why would anyone want to do anything else other than this?” So I started playing the bass. While I have played in punk and rock bands, metal is where I feel most at home.
Anna: It’s going to be really exciting moving on from that, because we’ve only just established ourselves as a band. We recruited Ed last year/early this year and we recruited Tom a bit earlier on in the year. At that point, we’d only had Tom a few months. Between Dan and I, we released the singles to get the word out and get the band together. We now have this bunch of talented musicians on board. With all these influences, we’re going to create some great stuff. It’s very exciting.
When it comes to creating music, you use two different vocal styles. Do you already have in mind which vocal techniques you’re going to use for each track?
Anna: My style of writing has changed significantly over the last year, so on the latter two songs, we discovered Tom had the most wonderful growl. It wasn’t something I had planned on using originally because I sit with a high-range voice and have a melody in mind. I write that melody and think how to put a few harmonies around that. Since discovering Tom could growl, I sit here and do a growl to myself and switch between the two. I then get Tom involved.
Dan: I don’t how willing Tom was in the whole thing.
Tom: It was a bit last-minute if I’m honest. It felt very road-tested because we did our first couple of gigs where it was me doing clean vocals for backing harmonies. It might not look like this on camera right now, but I am a very tall person. Anna has a really high, light voice and I have a deep voice, so I can never match what she has written vocally. These two [Anna and Dan] shoved me in front of a microphone to record ‘Tales of Time’, the self-titled single.
Ed: [to Tom] Didn’t you originally apply to be rhythm guitarist for the band? And now you have ended up as a lead singer.
Tom: It was bit of a Canadian stand-off where I was saying I was happy to be rhythm guitarist and Dan told me I was fine to do the growls.
Dan: Honestly, I am happy being rhythm guitarist. I have the easiest job in the band! [laughs] I don’t have to do the solos.
Tom: I applied for rhythm guitarist before due to the bluesy influences I have and playing those riffs. Before I did the growls for that, I hadn’t attempted recording harsh vocals before. I had been able to do really deep growls, but that would screw up my voice so quickly. So I tried something that didn’t hurt and it sounds good.
Anna: It is quite interesting how much it has changed over the last few years.
Tom: It’s changed the sound a bit.
Anna: Absolutely; the sound is changing and that’s what I think is really exciting and interesting. We’re exploring new ideas and learning a lot. Now I fully understand what we are all capable of, it means we can create some interesting things. I have written a few new songs for the upcoming EP for next year. It’s definitely taken a change in direction. It has a bit of power, a bit of prog, and it’s more fun and upbeat in places.
Dan: It’s a real mixed bag and there are songs to write for it.
We were talking about the power metal community being welcoming; that helps with mental health and not feeling alone.
Liam: I’m lucky to have been doing semi-regular therapy sessions for the past year, and I do it privately. I started doing it when I wasn’t in a great mental health space and I continued with it. When I was in a better mental health space, I thought I didn’t need it any more, but then I realised that this is why I should maintain it. I do also recognise as well when you can’t afford to go private. When it comes to therapy, I think it’s one of the most amazing things if you can find the right space, time, and person.
If I wasn’t in a position where I could do it privately, I’d have had to have done it on the NHS, and I think it’s somewhere around a two-year waiting list. It’s really tough. It’s very easy for people to say, “Oh, just get therapy!” but if you struggle financially it’s difficult to do so. I don’t think it’s anyone’s fault, but depending on the nature of why you are looking for something like therapy, it’s very difficult to open up about what’s going on. While I think reaching out is so important, I understand why people get scared to do so.
While I understand the topic of talking about mental health is really important, I also understand why people are really scared to do it.
Anna: I think it’s important to have a little bit of selfishness as well, and expect that you’ll do what you need to do to get yourself better. If you take on too many tasks and do things for so many other people, you’re not going to be in a good place to help anyone. I’ve always tried to make sure in the band that we talk to each other, be open, and be transparent. If something has come up and they can’t make rehearsal, we are going to try to make it work.
It was difficult for me a few years ago to talk about my wellbeing and problems. I hated it, so I kept taking things on and not talking about it; it gets to a point where you just break, and it’s important to talk. That’s why I say it’s okay to have a bit of selfishness, as I can’t help if I am not in the right headspace.
Tom: It’s a very British problem. We have a problem with putting ourselves out there and opening up, as it can feel like we are bothering other people. The language around mental health and awareness is increasing in general. If you say, “I can’t do this today,” people are more aware of what that means.
One of my favourite things about joining this band was the openness and transparency we have with each other. I was in a couple of other bands at the time, and the openness was one of the first things I noticed. At the time, it was only Dan and Anna, but I noticed the openness and honesty really quickly. With my previous band, if you couldn’t make a rehearsal, that was a problem. You would also get moaned at if you weren’t ready to accept a gig straight away. I once had to perform a gig with COVID because of the social pressure of feeling like I would be letting them down if I didn’t perform.
With Tales Of Time, it was the complete opposite. I first told Anna and Dan that I would leave my other band to join Tales Of Time; the first thing Anna said was “No, you don’t need to leave your other projects just for us!” I wanted to, but the fact that that was a consideration was great. I’m so happy to be in this band.
Liam: While there is greater awareness of mental health now, there are still denialists out there, especially when it comes to depression. On one hand, I think it must be so lovely not to have mental health issues ever. On the other hand, I think of how much of that has been taught: someone taught that person, and they taught it to someone else, leading to generations of that stiff upper lip.
I think we’ve talked about this already, but what do you like to do to relax and unwind?
Liam: Walks in the woods, anything around nature, running water, and trees. I have a nice little woodland near me.
Anna: Woodland walks are lovely.
Ed: I just sleep all the time.
Tom: A good nap does wonders.
Liam: I’m not saying I can’t nap but when I do, it’s an eight-hour sleep.
Tom: I can make napping a job. I can fall asleep anywhere and anytime.
Liam: Teach me your ways!
Anna: I love gaming, listening to podcasts, and watching silly YouTube videos about Pokémon cards. Those relax me. I like watching people ripping open packets of cards.
Tom: Guitar-related content has done wonders for me. I got a new guitar for Tales Of Time, involving sound and everything; now I don’t know what to do with myself anymore. Guitar reviews come up on YouTube, and I’m thinking, “I don’t need these anymore.” So I will need to find something else. D&D and board games help me relax as well.
Ed: At least in my free time it’s mainly music, as I focus on my own music as well that I make. I play World of Warcraft as well; it’s the love of my life.
Anna, you were talking about teaching in choirs and being in a choir. This question is for everyone: who would make up your dream choir?
Anna: If we’re talking soprano, Alessandro Conti. He is reaching that B6; he’s got a beautiful voice. Christian Eriksson, beautiful singer. I must mention one of my heroes, Cecilia Bartoli, the most beautiful opera singer. She is a huge hero of mine, and I try to mimic her sometimes because I am blown away by how she sings.
Dan: Just any of the Helloween singers will do.
Liam: I could go through a list of my favourite vocalists, but I’m not sure whether I want to hear them singing together. I would say Daniel from Pain Of Salvation; I love his voice. Roy Khan, ex-Kamelot; he has that dynamic of being powerful then soft. Also Einar Solberg from Leprous; he has such a unique voice. The emotion behind his performances is mind-blowing.
Anna: We have to mention Tarja; my introduction to metal was OG Nightwish. I didn’t think you could have those sort of vocals in metal music. She is definitely in there for sure.
Ed: I don’t listen to enough power metal. So I would say Jari from Wintersun and Fabienne Erni from Eluveitie. I like her voice a lot.
Do you have messages for those who have supported your music, those going to Quest Fest, and our readers?
Anna: We would love to see you! Come to our show.
Dan: We play at 2pm. Do not be late as that’s when we’re playing.
Anna: We love chatting, so we will be around for the whole day.
Dan: Look out during the first quarter of next year for the new EP.
Anna: Got a few exciting things planned for next year.
Catch TALES OF TIME tomorrow at Power Metal Quest Fest, tickets are available here. You can also find them on Facebook.
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