EMQ’s with FORSAKING FATE
Hi everyone! Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with East London, South Africa based Melodic Death / Groove / Thrash band Forsaking Fate. Huge thanks to Grant, Rory and Alec for taking part. We are also incredibly proud to be premiering their brand-new lyric visualiser ‘Souls Of Demolition’ on Ever Metal today, 3rd December
What is your name, what do you play, and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
Grant: My Name is Grant Hensburg, I handle the guitars and the vocal duties. The band was formed by myself and our drummer (Rory Townes). We have been jamming together and have had various projects over the years that never came to light for numerous reasons. Forsaking Fate originally started as a four piece, but evolved to move forward as a three piece (I moved to handle the vocal duties). We met up with our current bassist (Alec Larsen) while on tour playing at one of his events. We needed a bassist for a future show and asked him to fill in, which he gladly did. It’s been history ever since!
Rory: Hey there! I’m Rory Townes and I play drums. I’m also one of the original founding members.
Alec: My name is Alec Larsen. In Forsaking Fate, I play bass and do some of the backing vocals live. Our future releases will have some of my vox. I joined Forsaking Fate as a session bassist when they parted ways with their previous bassist. I played a few shows for them before they asked me to become a permanent member. Rory and Grant have always played metal together and have been in a few bands, the final product of their years of experimentation is Forsaking Fate.
How did you come up with your band name?
Grant: I’ve always enjoyed the notion of being in control of one’s destiny or Fate so to speak and not letting anyone dictate to anyone what they should be doing with their life. Forsaking Fate was a fitting name that holds true to those values.
Rory: Well it sounds really cool and it’s a mantra for us – to take the chance before it’s too late – Forsaking Fate, the right to choose one’s own destiny.
Alec: Forsaking the Fate that you’ve been dealt and rising above your circumstances.
What Country/Region are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?
Grant: The band originated from the small town of East London of the Eastern Cape of South Africa. As mentioned, we met our bassist whilst on tour. The show was in the larger city of Johannesburg where Alec resides. As East London is very small, there is not much of a metal scene, so all of our shows require travel. However, the metal scene in Johannesburg is great. Prior to lockdown, there were major shows almost every weekend.
Rory: We’re from South Africa and our region is the Eastern Cape. When we play shows, the turnout is generally decent. I must say though the Eastern Cape crowds are wild, and the greater scene is in the bigger cities being Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban (aka KwaZulu-Natal). Those scenes are very awesome (albeit I can only speak for Johannesburg, as we are yet to jam Cape Town and Durban).
Alec: We are from South Africa. Grant and Rory live in East London and the metal scene there is quite small. I live in Johannesburg (opposite end of the country), which is a bigger city and has a much bigger metal scene.
What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)
Grant: We recently released a playthrough video of our song ‘Retribution’ off of our debut self-titled EP and stoked to now be releasing the Lyric Visualiser for our track ‘Souls Of Demolition’ with Ever Metal!
Rory: Well, our first video was the lyric video for the ‘End of Existence’. To date we’ve released our debut EP and several supporting playthrough videos. We are currently working on some new material.
Alec: Our self-titled EP. We’ve released playthrough videos promoting the album.
‘Souls Of Demolition’ was exclusively premiered on Ever Metal 3rd December. Check it out at the following link!
Who have been your greatest influences?
Grant: Growing up, I would have to say James Hetfield and Dimebag Darrel.
Rory: For me, I’ve got to say Slipknot was huge, as well as Slayer and Metallica. In terms of drummers, Gene Hoglan, Nicholas Barker and Lars Ulrich.
Alec: Trivium, Mors Principium Est, Carach Angren, Dimmu Borgir and Septicflesh.
What first got you into music?
Grant: I started playing the piano in school and quickly got drawn to the sounds of guitars. When I discovered distortion and overdrive, there was no turning back!
Rory: I just really enjoyed the band vibe, clanning up with your buddies and going off the charts and jamming for hours, especially here there’s not much else to do.
Alec: I wasn’t interested in music until I heard System Of A Down for the first time. And since then, metal has been my music of choice.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
Grant: Lamb of God!
Rory: Well, I’d love to jam with Jeff Loomis, James Hetfield and Ghostmane.
Alec: I’d love to collab with Andy Gillion from Mors Principium Est.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Grant: Wacken Open Air. It’s probably the most diverse and well attended show in the world when it comes to metal.
Rory: Probably Knotfest in Germany, as I feel our particular style of music is more prominent in Europe…or Rockfest in Barcelona!
Alec: 70 000 Tons Of Metal. Metal on a cruise ship…need I say more!
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
Rory: Hmmm…I can’t say that on an interview, haha, let’s just say its personal…
Alec: Haven’t received any gifts from a fan yet.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Grant: Never give up!
Rory: Go forth and live my friend, go take the chance, and if you see me come on over and have a drink and a chat.
Alec: Thanks so much for the support. You are awesome!
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Grant: Dimebag Darrel for sure!
Rory: It would be a duo I’d bring back, being Dime and Vinnie. Why, because you can’t have one without the other!
Alec: Chuck from Death!
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
Grant: The live performance is what I enjoy the most. Not performing is what I hate.
Rory: What I like is being able to express myself through other means than just talking. Playing live shows! What I enjoy least is people being mean in the scene.
Alec: The creative outlet is awesome. I hate the dreaded “E” word (Exposure). There’s often a misconception that because it is fun, that it should be done for free.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
Grant: Everything!
Rory: That there would be more metal radio stations around the world, and that all bands that tour, get to tour in those huge busses (with everything catered haha)!
Alec: Make metal music more popular than the awful modern pop music.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
Grant: “The Number of the Beast” by Iron Maiden
Rory: Black Dahlia’s “Miasma” – I really dig that album. And it was my first taste of that style of metal!
Alec: “Death Came Through a Phantom Ship” by Carach Angren.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
Grant: It depends what perspective you’re looking from. I think they all have their place, but I think Vinyl tops it in my books.
Rory: Oh, I’m all for downloads hey, as it’s super cool to be able to scratch that music itch wherever you are.
Alec: CD’s.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
Grant: The Wacken Metal Battle South Africa Finals (2019)
Rory: Geez, we’ve played so many. I rate the last show we played was really good. We jammed at Pool City in Port Elizabeth. The turnout was awesome!!
Alec: EP launch show in Port Elizabeth. The crowd was crazy!
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
Grant: Enjoying the finer things in life.
Rory: I’m involved in the electrical contractor trade. I’m definitely not an office guy!
Alec: Being a musician doesn’t pay the bills, so I’m a software developer.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Grant: Our top five fans, because they deserve it.
Rory: This is an interesting one…I’d invite Cory Taylor, Marilyn Manson, Shawn “Clown” Cranhan, Rob Zombie and Johnathan Davis.
Alec: I’d want all my deceased family to come back to life and to have a dinner party with them.
What’s next for the band?
Grant: New music and more shows, coming soon!
Rory: We’re currently getting over this Covid19 crisis, but we’re busy with some stuff and can’t say too much now.
Alec: A new EP in on the way…
What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
FORSAKING FATE LINKS
www.forsakingfate.com
www.facebook.com/forsakingfate
www.instagram.com/forsaking_fate_official
www.tinyurl.com/forsaking-fate-youtube
www.tinyurl.com/forsaking-fate-spotify
Jaffa Cakes! Are they a cake or a biscuit?
Grant: A little bit of the best of both worlds.
Rory: First of all, what is a “Jaffa Cake”…sounds like a trick question, so I’m going with cake!
Alec: Haven’t tried them, so I’ll guess…biscuit?
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Rory: Yes, let me swing a thank you right back at you for the opportunity to have an interview with you guys and premiere our new Lyric Visualiser with you! It’s really good work that you guys are doing – horns up to Ever Metal for sure!
Alec: Thanks so much for the interview – we appreciate the support.
Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this interview, unless you have the strict permission of said party. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.