Devil's Gate Music
Related Articles
South Wales hard rock trio Fallen Temples have just released their latest single ‘Broken’, guitarist/vocalist Adam Vaughan took some time out to fill in the blanks regarding everything Fallen Temples related.
What are the origins of the band, how long have you been playing together?
Joe Lewis on bass and I first met in around 2005 we were playing together in a four piece called TIDAL. By 2015, I’d also taken on vocal duties and we recruited Joe Stirland into the vacant drum stool. So we thought we’d change our name, and inspiration came from one of our song lyrics. It’s been a great 4 years though, we’ve done a lot and we’re still enjoying it as much as day one.
How did you feel performing your first gig? And how was it?!
With your first performance there’s always an element of nerves, but we’d all gained a fair bit of experience in our previous bands. Lewis is a headbanging machine, and Stirland on drums certainly oozes energy on stage as he’s off his stool more than he’s on it, so we all vibe off each other. Our first gig was at Sin City in Swansea and soon got into our groove!
You recently performed at Stadium Rocks in Cardiff which Skindred headlined, that must have been something special?!
It’s one of the biggest highlights of our career to date – along with playing Bloodstock festival. The place was packed and filled up quickly from the doors opening, and loads of fans turned up in their Fallen Temples merch which we appreciated. We had a great crowd! The line up was brilliant and also included Those Damn Crows who are taking over the world, our mates in Who Knows Didley and Tribeless. It was a true honour to play with these guys especially having seen Benji from Skindred own the main stage in Download earlier in the year, he’s a real character and great to meet him. Hopefully more of the same to come sometime in the future!
What should people expect when they check the band out? How would you describe yourself?
We’re definitely a hark rock band with a real focus about the riffs and hooks, but we definitely bring together a range of influences. Between us we like a vast array of music so think we incorporate a lot we probably have more prog type moments, elements of metal and catchy vocal driven choruses. So we’re not really sure what to categorise ourselves as! I think that’s why people enjoy us because we have a lot of variety between songs and even sometimes within songs, whilst still very much sounding like one band.
The new music scene is bursting at the seams with fresh talent, what does a young band need to do to make them standout from the others trying to build a name?
Obviously the number one thing is getting the music right and well rehearsed, but then I think building a presence online is vital these days and having enough content to keep sharing to build a fan base. Social media can help people get to the gigs, but then delivering the music professionally on stage will make people take notice and remember you. That’s the aim of the game.
What are you working on at the minute that people can check out?
We’ve literally just dropped a video for the our new single titled ‘Broken’ to a great reception and we’ve got another three great tracks forming a new EP to be released very shortly. We recorded the songs at Boneyard Studio in Neath and we did the video with weCreate, so we’ve harnessed great local talent from the Swansea area to help push up to the next level. These 4 songs are amazing, we’re chuffed to bits with them and they capture our sound and energy really well.
What band out there at the minute do you feel that you would be best suited to open for?
I think we’ve got a great riff driven sound in the same vein as Monster Truck, so I really think fans of theirs might be into us as well. But we played with Florence Black at the back end of last year and that was a great combo. Both bands are three pieces that love a good headbang and a hook.
Who do you feel is the next UK band to break out in the way that Massive Wagons recently have?
I just mentioned Florence Black and I think they are literally on the edge of domination. They’ve already got a strong following, they are young with plenty of energy… there’s no weak point for those guys. It’s happening!
What are your first musical memories? And what was the lightbulb moment that made you go “I want to do that”?
I think there were two really. When I was around 7 or 8, I used to run around my parents’ living room like a maniac listening to ‘Apache’ from my dad’s Shadows cassette. But then years later I found Enter Sandman in the same tape drawer and that changed everything. I was obsessed with that song. I tried learning it on my mother’s acoustic guitar, to which she then bought me a Yamaha Strat style electric and i never looked back. My parents must have been sick of that song!
What was the last gig that you attended as a fan?
I recently saw Ghost in Cardiff. They are a band which have carved their own groove. It’s like metal and ABBA mixed together wrapped up in a spectacular stage show. Their songs get embedded in my head for days, they are so catchy and that’s what I genuinely love about music. Ghost get you moving to the riffage and singing to the banging choruses. Whilst we don’t sound like Ghost, there’s a lot to learn from the songwriting style.
The album that you have in your album collection/Spotify playlist that would surprise most people?
I’m pretty open to be honest! But a bit of big band/swing music when cooking is brilliant. I’m sure my neighbours must know exactly when I’m cooking by the sound of me trying on my best Frank Sinatra impression. Matt Monro is also amazing, think my love of James Bond and the Italian Job triggered that love.
What are your plans for 2020?
One of the tracks we’ve recorded is used by female wrestler Zan Phoenix so we’re recording another music video with her. The ideas for that should yield another great single, and then we’ve got another two to release after that! All three of us in the band are expecting kids this year so we’ll be gigging around the births! We’re in Albert’s Shed in Shrewsbury on April 17th but we’re going to continue to build on the great momentum we’ve started.
Check out Fallen Temples online.
All live images – Rob Wilkins
