Devil's Gate Music
Related Articles
2 Shadows is a four-piece Metal band based out of Vancouver, Canada, consisting of members Glen Bridden (Lead Vocals), Tryst Germaine (Guitars), James Holder (Guitars), and Mitch Harsch (Drums). Glen was on hand to give us the lowdown on the band as well as talking us through his own musical memories. Check-in with Glen below…
What are the origins of the band, how long have you been playing together?
Tryst started the band back in 2015. There were people that came and went but we locked in this lineup in early 2018. When the 4 of us first jammed together the sound was massive and we knew right away this was the sound we had all been looking for.
How did you feel performing your first gig? And how was it?!
I joined the band originally for a tour years ago and the first show was really cool! It was a tour kickoff so there were a lot of people and it was really inspiring to see that much energy on day one of playing with a new band.
What should people expect when they check the band out? How would you describe yourself?
We have a very strong melodic side and dark side to the sound. I think that sonically we are quite heavy but even in the same songs, we will push away from that and dish out something super catchy and raw. Expect diversity in the music but it will always be super dark!
The new music scene is bursting at the seams with fresh talent, in what ways do you feel that a band has to stand out from the others trying to build a name?
Yeah, there is so much new talent breaking out right now. It’s so hard to say what a band should or shouldn’t do to stand out, but to be honest I think it’s all about pushing boundaries of genres and delivering something unique. That’s half of it and the other half is being willing to work harder than everyone else. This is a really tough gig and if you’re an ‘average’ worker and have an ‘average’ passion for your craft then you should probably question your investments.
What are you working on at the minute that people can check out?
We’re currently putting the final touches on our new EP, but you can check out our first two singles on Youtube or any streaming service!
What band out there at the minute do you feel that you would be best suited to open for?
There are so many sick bands that we’d love to open for but a few that come to mind are Architects, In Flames, Bad Omens, and Beartooth.
Who do you feel is the next band to break out?
I love this newer band called Captives. Their sound is so fresh and I think everyone’s going to become a lot more familiar with them in the next couple of years.
What are your first musical memories? And what was the lightbulb moment that made you go I want to do that?
My parents were always listening to music while I was growing up, and lucky for me they had great taste! Some highlight memories for me are hearing bands like Black Sabbath, Neil Young, Van Halen, King Crimson, and Oingo Boingo playing in the house all the time. It wasn’t until I was 18 and discovered Opeth that I decided to buy my first guitar and try writing my own songs. Eventually, I strung a full song together and I remember listening back and just deciding I was never going to stop making music. The fact that things have evolved to this point is absolutely the best feeling in the world!
We had the tragic passing of Eddie Van Halen last year, do you have a particular favourite Van Halen track?
It’s so sad to see him go but I’m so grateful we were able to experience so much of his music while he was around. Runnin’ with the Devil is probably my favorite track. The way it opens that first album is brilliant and it makes me smile knowing all the awesome songs about to come next.
AC/DC – Brian or Bon? Or both?!
I’m not the biggest AC/DC fan in the world but between those two it’s for sure Bon.
What was the last gig that you attended as a fan?
It was so long ago now. I saw In Flames in Vancouver just before the lockdown happened.
What current issue are you particularly passionate about?
There’s a lot of racism in the world right now. I see a lot of it here in North America, where I live, and it makes my blood boil. It’s such a difficult topic to approach for so many reasons but especially now that more people have a chance to be heard I think we’re starting to get the vaguest idea of how bad the problem really is.
There is great debate at the minute about whether or not musicians should use their platform to talk about political issues, some for and some against. Music has always been a form of protest, surely an artist has just as much right as the next person to offer an opinion? Or should they “Just stick to the music”?
Well, I feel that music is about freedom of expression, so you should do whatever feels genuine to you. In my opinion, you have to be incredibly dense to try and put music in a box and make rules like that. Politics is a really challenging topic to involve yourself in when you’re trying to appeal to as many people as possible so, kudos to the bands out there that make it work.
The album that you have in your album collection/Spotify playlist that would surprise most people?
I have a copy of “Up” by Peter Gabriel. I always find inspiration from this album and it’s kind of like my cheat for whenever I have writer’s block.
Who would you class as an underrated songwriter?
Mike Shinoda! I know he’s pretty well recognized as a god tire songwriter but I think it flies under the radar that he wrote Linkin Park songs like In the End by himself and just how much he contributed to the whole “Nu Metal” thing back in the early 2000s.
As much as 2020 was a year to forget, there was some incredible music released: what would you say was your favorite album of 2020?
Yeah, there’s been some incredible stuff that’s come out this year. It’s hard to pick just one but City Burials by Katatonia takes the cake for me. A close runner-up is the new Bring Me album but I find myself going back to City Burials so much that it just wins the title.
How active are you on social media and where can people connect with you?
I’m always trying to be more active on the socials! Instagram is my thing so get at me in the comments and I’ll talk some smack with ya! My handle is @gb_clarke and you may as well follow @2shadowsofficial while you’re at it!
Download/stream the new single ‘SCREAMWORKS’ here.
