Devil's Gate Music
Related Articles
Salisbury-based five-piece metalcore/post-hardcore band Next Stop Olympus have recently released their latest EP ‘Heart, Mind & Hell’, and bandmembers Conor and Matt were on hand to talk to us about the release, and everything Next Stop Olympus-related.
What are the origins of the band, how long have you been playing together?
Conor and Matt had discussed being in a band years before NSO actually came about and nothing ever really came from it. Fast forward a few years and Matt met Josh and learned that he played drums and that’s when Next Stop first really started going, Matt and Josh started working on finding new members. Matt had asked Conor to join the band as well, also finding Skips on an online site for musicians, after hitting it off well, and still looking for a second guitarist, they started working on debut single ‘Home’. During this time they tried out some people to join the band and nothing seemed to work the way they’d hoped, and then Matt realised Harry was back from university and asked him to come along for a chat, having known Harry could sing as well as play guitar it was a perfect fit, so then we had our official line up. We started back at the end of 2017 so roughly 4 years or so.
How did you feel performing your first gig? And how was it?!
Yeah, it was exciting because we’d been working on the songs for quite a while so finally being able to play them was great, and it was a local show so it was good for people to hear what we’d been talking about for so long and we had a lot of support there.
What should people expect when they check the band out? How would you describe yourself?
We are a five-piece metalcore/post-hardcore band with a twist of rock ‘n’ roll. When people check us out they should expect big chorus’ and catchy riffs.
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?
Putting their own spin on it, there are so many bands out there at the moment that are trying to sound the same or trying to write to a specific style, write what you enjoy and it’ll show through and people can pick that up from your shows.
What are you working on at the minute that people can check out?
We’ve just released our brand new EP ‘Heart, Mind & Hell’ on the 9th of April so go and check that out on all available streaming services!
What band out there at the minute do you feel that you would be best suited to open for?
Go hard or go home! We’d like to open for a band like Atreyu or Beartooth because they’ve got the rock ‘n’ roll twist on their music as well.
Who do you feel is the next band to break out?
Thecityisours and Invisions are doing great things at the moment and obviously, we’d like to be up there with them as well.
What are your first musical memories? And what was the light bulb moment that made you go “I want to do that”?
Conor: Seeing Aerosmith on Top of The Pops, I don’t remember a specific memory that made me want to do it, I’ve always just wanted to be on a stage in front of people.
Matt: I don’t really remember a first musical memory, I just always remember watching Scuzz and Kerrang. The moment that made me want to be on stage would be the first gig I ever went to watching Asking Alexandria.
What was the last gig that you attended as a fan?
Both of us went to watch The Amity Affliction and Beartooth at the O2 Academy in Bristol.
The album that you have in your album collection/Spotify playlist that would surprise most people?
Conor: In my actual album collection; Lionel Richie and Hall & Oates, and recently on Spotify I listened to a playlist called ‘Mob Hits’ which had a lot of Dean Martin and Louis Prima.
Matt: I’ve got a lot of country and some 50’s/ 60’s stuff like Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens and even some Elton John.
Although 2020 was a year to forget for many reasons, there was some incredible music released; what would be your album of 2020?
Conor: For me, it would be ‘Everyone Loves You…Once You Leave Them’ by The Amity affliction or ‘Afterburner’ by Dance Gavin Dance.
Matt: Mine would be either ‘Cannibal’ By Bury Tomorrow or ‘Everyone Loves You…Once You Leave Them’ by The Amity affliction too.
How active are you on social media and where can people connect with you?
We’re reasonably active on social media and everyone can connect with us or follow us on all social media sites (Facebook predominantly) and youtube by searching ‘Next Stop Olympus’.
Photo credit – Marianne Harris
