Interview by Kris Peters
The struggle most bands find these days is keeping together a stable line-up to help them grow both musically and professionally.
A variety of obstacles face most bands currently doing the rounds, with member retention being the common ailment of bands on a global scale.
Brisbane metal outfit Engraved are no exception.
Since relocating from Sydney last year, Engraved have been plagued with the age-old problem of members internally combusting, halting their forwarded momentum every time the band starts to make serious inroads in the national metal scene.
But, hopefully, Engraved's run of bad luck and/or poor judgement is about to end, with today's announcement that Cairns product Panda is joining the noise maestros as vocalist.
Each incarnation of Engraved has had promise but fallen by the wayside for one reason or another, but after chatting with the band recently it seems their luck might just be taking a turn for the better.
HEAVY caught up with guitarists Dan and Cory, bass player Phil and new vocalist Panda for a chat about their upcoming appearance at Beyond The Darkness at The Back Room on September 14 and plenty more.
"It sounds like an excellent gig," Cory affirmed. "I am quite excited. The last Beyond The Darkness gig was actually my first with the band and was kind of like a trial by fire. I went out and very quickly all of our scepticisms and nerves disappeared, so I'm excited to come back out and smash it again."
"This will be your anniversary with us, too," Phil added.
In the full interview, the conversation shifted to personal updates, with Cory sharing news of his engagement. The band members introduced themselves and discussed their upcoming headlining show as part of Beyond The Darkness in greater detail, outlining the fact it is a benefit concert for the GI Cancer Institute. They also discussed their upcoming gigs, including Nowhere Festival at the Mansfield Tavern, and recent line-up changes within the band.
The Engraved band members shared their journeys of joining the band and discussed their upcoming music releases. They expressed enthusiasm for the new material and assured fans that the essence of the band's original vision will be preserved while incorporating refined elements. The band members also touched on branding updates and new merchandise, with Dan taking the lead on these initiatives.