Up-and-coming wolf pack LYCANTHRO played their first UK festival show at Power
Metal Quest Fest and made a great impression. Some time after their set, Rock Out
Stand Out’s Lotty Whittingham caught up with the pack to talk about their first UK
shows, mental health, and what would happen if four werewolves walked into a bar. Here’s what happened.
First of all, a lot of the crowds seemed to really enjoy your set.
James: It was really great. The crowd reaction was very interesting but in the best possible way. For example, when I asked people to mosh, they decided to do the train. That was a lot of fun. It was great playing in front of British crowds for the first time and it’s been fantastic.
Kyle: It’s been wonderful; the reception has been outstanding. One of my favourite things about UK and European crowds is that they kind of make you earn that excitement, to a degree. So when you see the crowd really going, you know you’re doing something right.
I was going to ask whether there were any key differences in the scene here compared to Canada.
James: Canada and America in general are a lot more of that vibe of everyone being there to have a good time, and everyone is hyped and interactive. I did notice in the UK mainly, I got the vibe of having to earn their excitement. Maybe you might not get the best reaction during the first couple of songs, but it gets better as the set moves along.
Andrew: Birmingham is the birthplace of metal, so they are going to have a different standard to America.
Kyle: With that being said, once you recognise that, you’re getting the crowd on your side. I feed off of that energy, especially from behind the drum kit. So as the set goes on you will see me get more and more energetic and into it.
We also had Anna Marie Rose from Tales Of Time join you for a song. Is that particular song going to be released as a single soon?
James: Yes; so that was a new song and we asked Anna to do it here with us. I talked with her on Facebook for a little while and we were playing the show together. That song is a new song and it is a duet; it’s with a guest vocalist. I can’t say who it is yet, but it’s someone who is one of my personal favourite vocalists and whom I am ecstatic to have on the album – someone whom I was shocked that they agreed to be on the album.
Kyle: There are two shockers: we have two guest vocal spots that are absolute shockers and I’m excited to see the reactions to that.
Andrew: We’re going to let the audience stew on it. [laughs]
Kyle: We’re not going to divulge the secrets just yet.
We like to talk about wellbeing at Rock Out Stand Out, and belonging in the power metal community helps this. What’s been the biggest lesson you have learnt when it comes to looking after your wellbeing?
James: That’s a heavy question.
Kyle: That’s a really deep question. Especially in the last couple of years, I have been on a massive self-growth journey, including counselling. That’s an extremely deep question, but one that also needs to be asked. There are many different ways to approach that subject and you want to come at it with the most level-headed approach for sure. Doing a tour, you have to focus on diets, and getting actual rest.
Everett: Trying to get actual rest.
James: The key word being “try”.
Kyle: When we’re not waking up at 5:30 in the morning to catch the replacement bus!
James: May I add that it’s good that you asked that, because that’s something I have become very passionate about over the past few years. The pandemic was when I had to come to terms with my own mental health and had to address a lot of the issues I have, but also developed a passion for psychology and learning how people tick. In my friend groups back at home, I have always been called the group therapist, but it’s one of the things that we need to talk about.
In the new Lycanthro material, I do want to explore that stuff as well, because one of the things I notice people saying when they talk about power metal is that they like it but there’s no relatability to it. Some people seek wolves eating a dragon’s carcass and that’s completely fine, but I’ve heard a lot of people say that they want that personal element to it which I want to start exploring myself.
Speaking of actual rest time, what do you like to do to chill out?
Kyle: I am massive nerd; I can be found on the Xbox and PlayStation. I am an achievement and trophy hunter. I’m one of those guys.
Everett: I am in the exact same boat. I think most of us play Magic: The Gathering to some degree.
James: I’m a big Magic player myself; that’s my main thing. I also play video games, a lot of JRPGs, anime, and I want to start doing things like Warhammer. We’re all massive nerds as a power metal band would be, you know.
Kyle: To that point, one of my favourite things about the power metal community is the Venn diagram of people who are into those subjects and the music; it’s basically a circle.
Andrew: I like to travel up and down the East Coast and do a bit of sightseeing. I haven’t been able to play video games as much as I used to, but I love the Zelda franchise, Assassin’s Creed, and The Elder Scrolls. All the fantasy stuff.
Finish this sentence: four werewolves walk into a bar…
Kyle: Ouch! [all laugh]
James: I got what it is – it’s more like, four werewolves walk into a bar – ARRRGGGHH! That could be it too.
Kyle: I think I took “bar” too literally. [laughs
James: I think if werewolves were to walk into a bar, it would be a lot more than “ouch”, as bars are made of steel. Werewolves don’t like silver, right?
Do you have a message for anyone who came to see you today, or any fans?
James: Thank you to everybody who came and saw us, bought merch, gave us good feedback, and hung out with us. We have a lot big plans for next year: we have a new album that’s done and a few big shows for next year.
Find LYCANTHRO on Facebook.
