DEVIL SOLD HIS SOUL

THE UK FIREBRANDS HIT UP ARCTANGENT FESTIVAL

How were the 10th anniversary shows?

Rick Chapple (guitar): “They were amazing. We usually do around 150 to 200 pre-sales in London, so to sell out a venue like The Dome before the doors even opened was incredible. And to see so many people go off for the songs was really breathtaking, it’s definitely a career highlight, probably the best gigs we’ve ever played.”

That bodes well for the future!

“It really does. I think the tour re-energised us and made us hungry to do something as soon as possible. There was always going to be new material but it’s made us way more confident as to what that material is going to be. I guess it made us re-evaluate what we are and realise that we aren’t done yet.”

And is this line-up, with both original frontman Ed Gibbs and his replacement Paul Green, going to stay together?

“We’re certainly going to have that conversation. None of us knew how this would work, but Ed and Paul just hit it off immediately. They get on like a house on fire, and that chemistry has really been taken into the live shows. So we certainly hope that we can keep this unit together.”

Anything else you think you learned on the tour?

“Well, as we’re among the last of a group of bands from that particular time, I would like to think we have influenced some bands along the way. We’ve definitely played with bands who have told us we’re an influence. That’s pretty much the biggest compliment you can get.”

Are you guys excited to be on the bill for Arctangent this year?

“Oh my god, yes! I mean, we played the original festival and it was great, but I imagine it is even bigger now. And you only have to look at the line-up or this year and you can see how much it has come on. If you’re a fan of this music it’s incredible.”