Famyne: Hungry For More
With one self-released album under their belt, Canterbury’s FAMYNE have quickly risen from the underground to become one of the darlings of the thriving UK doom scene. Their success is built on an undeniable live presence, which was showcased to the masses at their watershed performance on The Sophie Lancaster Stage at Bloodstock Festival last year.
Energy and eagerness are by no means touchstones of the doom metal style, but by ditching aloof detachment in favour of infectious enthusiasm, the band have put themselves head and shoulders above their peers. Now signed to Finnish doom cultists Svart Records, the band released their sophomore album II: The Ground Below earlier this month. We spoke to vocalist Tom Vane about this ambitious band, the album, and more.
“This was sort of our ‘COVID album’,” explains Vane. “Demos of ideas, parts, whole songs etc were sent back and forth electronically between each of us; purely out of the necessities and restrictions of a national lockdown. Much more detail was added this way,” he observes. “The first album on the other hand was written more so in the live room, with us playing and improvising stuff until it felt right. Two very different approaches; two very different albums.”
The band are based in Canterbury, and the historic city features prominently on their self-titled album’s cover. It’s hard to believe that the city itself hasn’t influenced the distinctive doom metal style of FAMYNE: not just medieval darkness, but also its more recent musical heritage. “That we are based in Canterbury is a blessing, but it is by no means a determining factor in our sound,” admits Vane, “at least not consciously! Each of us have varying tastes in music that are by no means regional, especially given the age we live in.”
Vane is the lyricist for the band, and presents his writing in a highly dramatic (albeit virtuosic) singing voice. The presence of these words is the distinguishing feature of the band, but also gives them a satisfyingly traditional vibe. “The songs in this album are rather personal,” explains Vane, “and were not written with a view to maintaining or evoking a particular story or feeling. They are words that felt right to write,” he continues, “and to express things otherwise difficult to say in person. They are both honest and chosen to fit suitably within the vocal melodies.”
II: The Ground Below reprises their characteristic monochrome style for the artwork; instantly evoking the subterranean atmosphere the band occupy musically. “The artist is known as Vergvoktre, and is based in Russia,” Vane elucidates. “We commissioned them to make our debut album’s artwork back in 2018, and as we liked that so much, we simply went back to them in 2020!”
[Did you go to them with a definite brief?] “Yes. Our brief was for them to make another four panels of art, that would each connect to form a larger piece, as well as fit below the first album too; the main album cover is itself panel three; in terms of the brief, we compiled a word document complete with crude drawings, placement ideas, characters, features, etc. and requested this new piece take place underneath the scene of the first album. After a couple back and forths, and some graphical arrangement by Ada Polcyn, we had the finished pieces you see today!”
Take a look at the band’s merch offerings, and you might be struck by an unusual splash of colour. Perhaps it reminds you of Chocomel? What is the story behind this bizarre endorsement? “Well basically, upon our first hop across mainland Europe in 2016, we discovered this particular wonder drink at a cafe and several road stops,” remembers Vane. “Seeing as it was only available in The Netherlands and Belgium at the time, we bought about six or eight cartons each to take home. It tastes great if you like chocolate milk. As a band we don’t often agree upon lots of things, apart from doom and Chocomel.” Surely, there must be a sponsorship in the works here.
While the band were formed in Canterbury, it seems that they have now made the stage their home instead. “We certainly practise a lot more for live shows than we do for making albums!” Laughs Vane. Their vivacious presence makes them an unmissable act for fans of all statistic persuasions. “That’s chiefly because playing live is both very enjoyable for us, but also it’s the life-blood of our sound in general,” he explains. “It gives you a chance to gauge peoples’ reactions to new stuff etc. not to mention allowing you to meet your friends in the audience, discuss the stuff with them, really get a feel for the atmosphere generated by a specific piece, etc.”
With that in mind, it won’t be long before you’ll be seeing FAMYNE on stage somewhere near you. “We have a string of UK dates coming up, with more on the way and being organised, not to mention areas of mainland Europe that would like to have us over to play for them as well,” Vane tells us. “Navigating the legal requirements post-Brexit however has been proving quite troublesome, to say the least. We can’t impart the specific dates and details of when and where we’re going to play just yet, but please know it’s all in the works, just keep an eye on the socials!”
II: The Ground Below is out now via Svart Records.
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