Charlotte: Welcome back to Donington! This year as a whole is a pretty big year for you guys. Not only are you on the main stage later today, but this year also marks 20 years since your debut album the Poison. So will you be celebrating that at all during your set later on?
Jamie: Yeah. So basically all year since January, we’ve been on The Poison Anniversary tour. It’s been amazing to celebrate the debut album, playing it and we’ve obviously taken it across America last month in May and we done a few festivals in America and we was like, do we play the album? Or do we just do we just do like a poison heavy set and add some songs in? But we ended up playing the album and we were just like, you know what? Let’s just do it. Let’s just do it all through June as well. So it’s gonna be, yeah, the poison album tonight with a few extras at the end.
C: So a few added bonuses.
J: Few added bonuses, yeah.
C: You started this year with a co-headline arena tour with Trivium, which is a dream combination for any metalhead. So how did that combination of a tour occur?
J: It was obviously well, like I said we are celebrating the 20 years of The Poison and Trivium is celebrating 20 years of Ascendancy, so it’s a no brainer. Two I think very important albums in the last 20 years and it’s something about that 2005 era where like you said Bullet, Trivium, Avenged Sevenfold, those type of bands, they made a massive impact in the scene and they’re important albums for both bands and it just made sent makes sense to do. It was a blast, really good.
C: What would you say was your favourite part about touring the Trivium?
J: They’re great guys. For me, I’m a fan of Ascendancy and to hear that every night was was amazing. [we] got along great with them. Me and Heafy were doing jiu jitsu in the days. So he’s waking up doing jiu jitsu and then, obviously, playing the albums then in the night. So, yeah, it was just great all round.
C: Over the last two decades, we’ve had seven albums from you guys. Does your method of writing stay consistent piecing together new material, or do you purposely try to challenge yourself for each one?
J: I think it’s important, we the band have challenged ourselves on each album. It’s like [we] can’t keep creating the same album over and over again. Especially for us its fresh as well when we challenge ourselves, it just keeps it fresh. So we’ve got a few ideas for the next album, which is gonna be released next year. Still early days, but, it’s different again. It’s not different as in, totally different style, but for us, it is again, we’re challenging ourselves. So it’s exciting. And we can’t wait. It’s gonna be very interesting.
C: It sounds it!
C: What would you say is the biggest thing that you’ve used as a learning curve or a point of reflection since your debut?
J: That’s a good question. I think it just comes with, just being in in the business for over those years touring, releasing albums, and you just kinda learn from more things, mistakes that you’ve done, similar to anything really. I think that’s what it is. I guess, just maturing as a band. Each album you do, challenge yourself. Just try to better yourself and we just wanna keep stepping up, and I think we’re gonna definitely achieve that with this next album and like I said, tonight, we’re on just before Korn – the headliner and, it’d be awesome for one year they invite us back and we can we can be at that top slot and headline and show everyone what we can do. Be the dream doing that.
C: This anniversary has obviously sparked ideas for some new music. So what can what can you tell me about this upcoming album? I know that it’s not until next year, but what what little secrets can you tell me about?
J: Yes. We got a few demos knocking about. It’s different as in, we’re exploring with different tunings, a lot of stuff is in a heavier tuning, which is good because, like you said, you’re not revisiting the same old pattern and the same things, especially when you’re writing a song. Different tunings have sparked different melodies and stuff.
So that’s what’s going on at the moment, it’s gonna be heavy, melodic, and I know every band kinda says the same thing, but I think it’s gonna be really exciting times. So, yeah, can’t wait.
C: After today’s show at Download, you’ve got a few European appearances. What else can we look forward to for the rest of this year?
J: So, obviously, next week we’re doing Graspop, few European festivals, which is which is amazing, and then we go into the studio and crack on with writing, making for the next album, there’s some talks, maybe doing some stuff towards the end of the year, but, we’ll see if that comes into place. And then, next year it’s concentrate on the new album release and then get back out there and do it all again.
C: And before you set tonight, do you are you gonna have a chance to go and see anyone?
J: Just walked out now with my family and we aw Jinjer and they sounded good, we actually toured with them about two years ago. They’re a great band. Great, great people. Obviously, we’re doing some interviews now. We’re gonna chill out, play the show, and then watch Korn tonight. So very excited for that.
C: And you’ve got Jesse here as well for Father’s Day
J: Yeah. It’s [a] great Father’s Day. He’s gonna come out and rock with us and yeah. Watch Korn.
C: Well, I wish you all the best of luck for the rest of this year, and I can’t wait to hear that the new album!
J: Thank you!
