INTERVIEW: Gary King & Ian Baird – From Sorrow To Serenity

For many years Scotland has been a hotbed for rising metal acts, one in particular is FROM SORROW TO SERENITY. Since recruiting Gary King (Ex-NEXILVA) as frontman they have went from strength to strength and the future is looking very promising. We caught up with Gaz and drummer Ian after their monstrous performance on the Winspear Stage at last month’s UK Tech-Fest to see what the future holds for the band.

First of all, are you glad to be back at UK Tech-Fest and how do you feel your set went?

Gaz: Our set was a bit rocky at first but we loved every single second of it. It was very hot though! I came out of the building red!

You are very energetic on stage so I’m not surprised!

Gaz: Yeah, I just run around everywhere looking for something to chase!

It’s been two years since the release of Remnant For Humanity, how do you feel FROM SORROW TO SERENITY have progressed in this time?

Ian: Obviously Gaz joining us around that time has made quite a big difference. The writing process has been refreshing. There is more collaboration and it’s really good! Also, our sound has slightly changed. With Gaz being able to do more melodic style vocals it’s really helped us to open up and do things we’ve never done before.

Gaz: It’s been a totally different challenge for me, I’m a death metal vocalist so this is a whole new take on doing vocals. I want to be able to progress even more.

That leads me nicely into my next question, FROM SORROW TO SERENITY isn’t quite as chaotic as what you were used to in NEXILVA. Did you feel you had to adapt your vocal style?

Gaz: Definitely. In FROM SORROW I’m using a lot more mid range screams and I’ve never positioned my throat like that before. It’s always been high or low. Plus adding more melodic stuff to that as well I kind of prepare my voice a lot more than what I used to with NEXILVA. I feel like I’ve matured as a vocalist over the past few years. I think I know what I’m doing now! [laughs]

It’s always handy to have that variation of styles in your repertoire now too.

Gaz: Yeah, I still use a similar style to what I used to have but as I didn’t record any of the previous material it’s a totally new experience.

FROM SORROW TO SERENITY released the track Supremacy earlier this year, how has the response been? Is this an indication of what we can except from later releases?

Ian: I think so yeah. There’s more melody involved and it’s more punchy

Gaz: More punchy and headbangy riffs that’s what we need more of!

Ian: If things aren’t as particularly as technical things are a bit more groove orientated. The less is more kinda idea. Just because something is difficult to play doesn’t mean it’s good.

It’s a busy time for both FROM SORROW TO SERENITY and BLEED FROM WITHIN, with Steven (guitarist) being in both bands are you finding a happy balance between the two?

Gaz: We share a practice room together so many of our plans coincide with each other. With UK Tech-Fest both bands have just came together. It’s cheaper in the long run too! They’re really cool guys too.

Ian: Yeah, they’re really supportive too. Craig Gowans their guitarist he does a lot of video work and he came on tour with us previously for the HEART OF A COWARD and JINJER tours to do some social media work for us so we’ve spent a lot of time with him. It’s a good kind of integration.

Gaz: That’s what bands should do, help each other out. We all want the same thing and that makes us family man.

Gaz, you’ve been in FROM SORROW TO SERENITY a while now but was there any nerves starting afresh?

Gaz: Yeah, it was a totally new different crowd. I didn’t know how they were going to react to me but it’s gone really well and I couldn’t be happier. I love that I’ve left my home town and moved to Glasgow to work on my band.

Long Branch Records seem to really have their finger on the pulse with up and coming bands, how have you found working with them?

Ian: It’s been really easy! They’re so chilled. Everyone that we have dealt with has been great. Florian, our rep is a great guy. We met up with him when we were in Germany and it was our first time meeting him.

Gaz: We walked into our dressing room and he was just relaxed on the couch like “Hey guys, how you doing?” He’s a very chatty guy.

Ian: He’s so chilled. There isn’t so much pressure of working to certain timelines or anything like that. They’re quite relaxed, in a good way!

Gaz: They’ve got a keen eye for bands as well. You’ve got SHIELDS who are amazing, AGENT FRESCO are like one of my favourite bands, I love those guys to bits and being on the same label as those guys is mind blowing. There’s VALIS ABLAZE as well representing the UK.

Are you hanging around for the remainder of the weekend? Any bands you are looking forward to checking out?

Gaz: I’m really looking forward to seeing my old band NEXILVA and it will be interesting as I’ve never had the chance to see them ‘through the looking glass’ so to say. So I’ll be watching them for the first time ever. I can’t wait for THE ACACIA STRAIN and THE CONTORTIONIST, BLEED FROM WITHIN obviously! UNPROCESSED are our label buddies too. I met their guitarist Manuel in Nuremberg and we were just sharing our mutual love for Long Branch!

Ian: There’s a real family vibe with Long Branch, the bands really give a shit about each other.

You’ve teased us with new material so far this year, do you have a timeline in mind for a new release?

Gaz: All we can really say is hopefully we will have everything released by early 2019. This is pretty much our last show for the year so we’re going to be putting our heads down and getting the album finished. We’ll probably do a few shows here and there given the opportunity as we love playing shows and touring man!

Ian: It’s the best part of it!

Gaz: All the banter and seeing what daft situations you can get yourselves into. Like getting stuck in places for days! We were touring with BETRAYING THE MARTYRS and we’d wake up in a new place every day. There’d be accidents and the bus would break down. We spent two days in this Dutch industrial estate and the only thing that remotely looked like civilisation was a McDonalds!

Ian: Nothing for miles!

What, not even free WiFi?

Gaz: Nope!

Ah first world problems!

[All laugh]

That just about covers it from me. Thanks for your time guys. Finally, do you have anything you would like to say to the readers of Distorted Sound?

Gaz: Check out all the bands on Long Branch Records because they’re amazing! SHIELDS, VALIS ABLAZE, AGENT FRESCO, FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY and many many more. Do it!

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