UNSIGNED SPOTLIGHT

Hellcyon

Hellcyon is based in Southampton, England and they pile up in their van to play gigs mostly around the South Coast and in London.Very tight live performances and a rhythm section that has skills well beyond their years with two great guitarists sharing the lead role and pulling it off in style...
By: Mark Frantik

Mark: Who is Hellcyon?

Cronk: Hellcyon is five young men from Southampton/ Winchester in the south of England. We are Ben (singer), Andus (guitar), Ollie (guitar), Tim (drum) and me, Cronk (bass).

Mark: What best describes the music that you guys play and how did you guys get started?

Cronk: Well the actual band Hellcyon started a while ago as your bog standard ‘kids playing metal’ band. Since then though we’ve had several different line-up changes the newest one being this January. We are moving more along the path of heavy rock fuelled riffs with some indie hooks and progressive funky breakdowns. There’s lots of phatt solos and guitar harmony as well which people say is reminiscent of Thin Lizzy. It’s quite a mixed bag really. You could say a mix of Led Zeppelin, Arctic Monkeys, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and the LIZZ but like so many bands these days we’d like to say we have an original sound. You’ll have to have a listen yourself!

Mark: What is the message that your band is trying to convey?

Cronk: We are basically just trying to say that people can do what ever they want as long as they work for it. It’s all very happy. We’re tired of sad shoe gaze. We also like to find recognition for talented players. We find that some of the more current poppier bands can’t really pull their music off live because they can’t play. We strive to make it so that the live shows are tight and exciting. We love it when we see good musicians playing well live so try our hardest to be the best we can be on our chosen instrument.

Mark: If you guys had the chance to share the stage with anyone, who would you guys choose and why?

Cronk: I personally would have to say Velvet Revolver just because they are an absolutely brilliant live band and we’d probably go down well with their crowd. Also my new favourite band is a band called Porcupine Tree who are amazing again. Sharing a stage with Rhianna might also be quite… pleasant but for reasons that I don’t think my girlfriend would appreciate. I think as a band we would have loved to squeeze in before Led Zeppelin at their comeback gig.

Mark: Any additional comments?

Cronk: Listen to our music and let us know if you like it and if you’re local come on down for a show. http://www.myspace.com/hellcyon

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