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Atmospheric Black metal group Terra recently released their latest album ‘Für Dich Existiert Das Alles Nicht’, and drummer Luke Braddick talked us through everything that you need to know about the Cambridge-based outfit.
What are the origins of Terra, how long have you been playing together?
I think it’s coming up to 8 years soon. Mutual friends and the incestuous circles of alternative musicians in our home city guided us into each other. I was asked by our current album producer if I would be interested in drumming for his mate’s project. I was ready to do something new and outgrow myself and so Terra took form.
What should people expect when they check the band out? How would you describe Terra?
The egotist/optimist in me wants to say ‘expect to be challenged but rewarded’. Or something like that but I guess I could also say expect to hear some Atmospheric Black Metal that is made with an uncommon level of sincerity and honesty. Yes, the songs are long, and the vocals unintelligible but that isn’t a part of our music that exists as a shallow focal point or some trope-statement. I would describe ourselves as a type of aestheticism. At least in my eyes, our intention is to pull the listener in, (no matter what their musical preferences are) and coax them into experiencing something that reveals a little more about themselves the longer they stay.
How did you feel performing your first gig as a band, and how was it?!
A bit apprehensive! Ryan [Ryan Saunders], the guitarist had announced the band for a gig before the band had even formed! Which in hindsight was a masterstroke attempt at forcing the band into existence, and it worked. It took a real ‘come hell or high water’ approach to work past the pitfalls and challenges of being a band like ourselves, with such different musical backgrounds, and making it into a performing entity. It’s something we are still exploring and understanding to this day.
The new music scene is bursting at the seams at the minute with fresh talent, in what ways do you feel that a band has to stand out to build a name for themselves?
I’m speaking purely personally here, but it’s a pretty simple choice between two things. Either present something to your demographic that ticks the boxes of what they expect to see and hear so they feel some degree of comfort and kinship within a mutually approved but largely borrowed musical movement. Or; endeavour to just make it your own and carve a niche by making music with authenticity and without the distraction of what may be expected of you. The latter may not be the easiest or even the most rewarding, but ultimately you will end up magnetising your own audience in accordance with those principles.
What are you working on at the minute that people can check out?
Well, we have more music in the works, That’s a given. But in terms of what people can check out now, It will be the album we just released as I write this. ‘Fur Dich Existiert Das Alles Nicht’ our third album, released on September the 23rd and can be purchased from our Bandcamp page and eventually elsewhere.
In terms of a similar audience, which band out there at the minute do you feel Terra would be best suited to open for?
I’m not sure how I can resist the temptation to answer that with the bands I WANT to open for haha. I mean I’m a huge fan of Yellow Eyes, Ulcerate, and Gigan to name an oddly select few.
Wolves in the Throne Room get thrown around a lot by people when referencing us in any way. but I’ve never really dedicatedly listened to them so I wouldn’t truly know to be honest. (I’m sure I can hear my guitarist screaming Sunn O))) right now). We tend to sit quite nicely between doom/death/black and all of its interpretations and crossover creations…. without selling ourselves short of the prospect of what bands we would want opening for us. Of course.
Excluding yourself which new band would you like to see break out and become a success?
I’m horrendously out of touch with everything and into a whole lot less…. so it’s hard to say, but if anyone comes to mind right now it’d be The Grey, Twitch of the Death Nerve and a band called Cairiss.
What are your own first musical memories? And what was the lightbulb moment that made you go “I want to do that”?
It was probably Talking Heads – Road to Nowhere. I don’t know if the lyrics just resonated with me on a level where I wanted to base the rest of my life around them or David Byrne’s eccentric genius just spoke to me, but either way that galloping number had my full attention. The drumming thing didn’t happen until I saw Dittohead by Slayer or Heartwork by Carcass. Maybe even Brujeria actually. ‘You mean I can grow my hair, wear balaclava’s and make ridiculously in-your-face music?!’ SOLD!.
What was the last gig that you attended as a fan?
I think it may have been either Will Haven in London or Cannibal Corpse in Norwich.
What current social issue are you particularly passionate about?
I mean, I’m a humanitarian by nature, so nothing current or on trend, I don’t need to promote being against oppression, discrimination and division either because quite frankly anyone who is or isn’t that way inclined have already decided their post. I’ve learned there is a fine line between apathy and self-focus though. I personally want to be a better and kind person, everyone should have sovereignty over how they go about that.
The album that you have in your album collection/Spotify playlist that would surprise most people?
Probably A Flock of Seagulls. Or the official film soundtrack for ‘The Greasy Strangler’.
Although 2021 was another year to forget, there were some amazing new albums released, what would be your album of last year?
Is it just me or has the passage of time just become utterly fucked? I feel like the albums I would say from last year are 5 years old already…yep just checked that ‘Ohms’ from The Deftones is already two years old and so is Thundercat’s ‘It Is What It Is’. I will say what my album of this year is though. ‘Gods Country’ by Chatpile. That band deserves to be huge.
What does the remainder of 2022 hold for you?
With 3 months left of it, I’m not sure. Hopefully better than the start of this year. Frantic attempts to survive England’s rampant landlordism and planning a tour for next year with Terra I reckon.
How active are you on social media and where can people connect with you?
Realistically and responsibly active. We are on Spotify so long as you don’t get confused with a plethora of Latin Jazz that may come up. We are on Facebook and Bandcamp and we have our own website: www.terra.band for merch and news about gigs.
