Provoker are currently gearing up to release their debut EP the long defeat. We caught up with vocalist Angus to find out more about the band, and also reviewed the EP! Get involved below.
Can you introduce yourself and tell me a bit about the band, how did you get started?
Hey guys I’m Angus, vocalist of Provoker. The band originally formed (Housefires) had lost a few members due to personal health issues. The remaining members – Ollie and Joe – knew Jack and Richard from their previous band Munroe Effect. Joe approached me a few weeks after my band Elephantis announced we were breaking up to pursue our own careers.
When I first heard the demos I immediately felt I could really make this my own. It’s been a long time coming, but each late night recording session and sampling every steak house and burger joint in Portsmouth over the past two years has been well worth the wait. We’re all really excited to release our debut EP the long defeat. Through personal loss, mistakes and despair, this EP speaks for all of us.
Can you describe the writing and recording process for it?
Jack and Rich used to run their own recording studio in Portsmouth called Evny Studios, which was where we recorded our demos and did the final tracking for the EP. When it came down to mixing and mastering we decided to send the EP over to Neil Kennedy at the Ranch as we’ve all worked with him previously, and not to mention he’s great at his job!
The artwork for the EP is great – who is behind it?
Our bassist Richard was behind the artwork. He’s had the original picture for a while, and as soon as he showed us we all agreed within seconds!
Would you say it’s representative for what fans can expect from a full-length release, or is it more of a standalone piece?
I think we’re looking at recording a full length or maybe an LP (8/9 tracks) in the future. We’ve dabbled in different genres within the EP in places, but in practice it’s becoming our own.
What has been your best experience in the industry so far?
Probably playing Minor Fest in Belgium with Elephantis about two and a half years ago. It was just surreal to be playing alongside bands who’ve you’ve listen to/looked up to let alone standing backstage and talking them. We had such a good response there with people shouting the lyrics back at me and others overflowing out the entrance!
And what’s the most difficult thing?
Probably when I was in limbo in-between Elephantis breaking up and joining another project. I just didn’t know what to do with myself.
What inspires you as an artist – who are your role models and idols?
Has to be Architects! After being in a band for so many years together and “making it” together, the loss of their brother and best friend Tom must of been unimaginable. I saw them play a tribute show for Tom at the O2 Islington and I have never seen or heard such passion at a gig before.
What can fans expect from a Provoker show?
Expect guitars to be thrown, drums to be annihilated, jumps and a shit-ton of headbangs!
Have you got any gigs in the works?
We’re playing at Southampton Joiners with Create to Inspire and Holding Absence on 16th March.
And finally what’s in store for Provoker for 2017?
We have a UK run of shows in the pipeline along with some European dates later this year! We will be writing in and around this, so expect more!
the long defeat Review
the long defeat is a hard-hitting and in-your-face listen that will certainly get your head banging along to it within no time. The energy and momentum to the music is something to behold and the EP as a whole is quite an impressive piece of work.
Comprising of five chunks of noise, the long defeat certainly grabs your attention and the wall of sound that Provoker projects at the listener is rather fantastic. You can really feel the passion in the delivery and execution of the music, and the way the energy is practically being emitted from the music surely implies that this will be an absolute treat to see live – it’s like Provoker have managed to contain the energy that a live show entails within this EP, which is no mean feat in itself!
All five tracks are good in their own way, but the highlight of the EP comes in the form of the closing track Empty, which sees the band going all-out with the delivery. The vocal performance is seriously powerful, and is backed up tremendously with relentless drums and riffs aplenty to bang your head along to. To say this song packs a punch is an understatement, and the way it slowly peters out at the end means that it leaves a lasting impression on you with more ambient and atmospheric tones (before you wind up replaying the EP again, as this isn’t something you can only listen to once).
This is an EP you don’t want to miss – make sure you check it out once it’s released on March 6.
