Stardom beckons for local rock band

Stardom beckons for local rock band

14 May 2014

STAND With Heretics could be the latest local band on track for some international attention. The four-piece metal band has made the top ten of a competition attracting hundreds of entries from around the world — and are hoping for a slice of the fan base enjoyed by Downpatrick rockers such as Ash and The Answer.

Donal Curran, Gerard Ritchie, Shinoge McGreevy and Darren Kearney make up the group looking to top TBFM Radio’s battle of the bands style competition for unsigned talent.

With voting going on for some time in ‘TBFM Factor’ to make it to the top ten, they will already have at least one song on a forthcoming compilation album. If they win, they will get signed up with USA label Ripple Music, which includes worldwide distribution.

Originally formed back in 2008, Stand With Heretics was heavily inspired by Texan metal titans Pantera.

Vocalist Donal, from Killyleagh, acknowledges their sound is perhaps not as mainstream as other local bands, but is encouraging people to check out their music for themselves and give them a vote before the winner is announced live on air on June 1.

“It’s metal influenced by the southern states of America, particularly Pantera,” said vocalist Donal.

He explained that recording their second album had been a bit of “trial and error” as they experimented with new ideas.

“We’ve been trying a few different things, and didn’t really see what is happening with the TBFM competition coming,” said Donal. “The lads were fairly shocked.

“Just short of 400 bands applied so we did not really see past that.”

When not performing with Stand With Heretics the 26 year-old is a barman with the Central Bar in Killyleagh.

“We all have other commitments but we practice as much as we can, as many times as we can a week,” he said.

“I always wanted to be in a band, for as long as I can remember.”

The former St. Colmcille’s High School and Downpatrick Tech student said it had been great to see such a good response from listeners to their music online.

“We sent over our Pantera [tribute] one and the chat room lit up down the side,” he said.

And for those who think metal isn’t for them, Donal said: “When they see it live it is a different story, it is full of so much energy.”

Excited for their future plans, he added: “I would love to get to that stage where you got a tour. That would be great, it would be outstanding. No point beating about the bush.”

TBFM online radio, an independent UK station, is a brand name in the rock, punk and metal music industry with an ethos of promoting unsigned music.

Stand With Heretics can be heard online at http://m.soundcloud.com/standwithheretics and to vote in the competition visit http://tbfmonline.co.uk/tbfmfactor/.