Band Line Up 2013

A versatile and technically gifted group of devoted
musicians, the current Sacred Mother Tongue line-up have been together since
2008 and have already established themselves as one of the most powerful and
convincing bands that the UK metal scene has to offer. With charismatic
vocalist Darrin South leading the charge and revered king of the shredders Andy
James on guitar, they could hardly fail to grab the attention of rock and metal
fans across the country. This they have achieved with ease, touring
relentlessly and making memorable appearances at several major festivals along
the way, not to mention support slots with the legendary likes of Anthrax and
Fear Factory. The band released their debut full-length The Ruin Of Man back in
2009, garnering widespread praise for its thrilling blend of brutish,
state-of-the-art riffing, soaring vocal hooks and James’ fret-melting solos.

“I’m still pretty proud of that album,” states Andy
James. “I hadn’t been in the band for very long and it was like a puzzle,
pieced together from different demos and ideas. The difference between The Ruin
of Man and what we’re doing now is maturity. We’ve definitely evolved a lot
over the years.”

Four years on from their debut, Sacred Mother
Tongue are now back and ready to blow everyone away all over again. An
exhilarating demonstration of the band’s musical prowess that provides a
grandiose showcase for Darrin South’s distinctive and irresistible voice, Out
Of The Darkness is also one of the most lyrically profound and conceptually
potent metal albums to be released in recent times. Due to a prolonged period
of depression, during which he frequently contemplated abandoning his musical
career altogether, South has been through some major changes in his life over
the last few years and it is from those upheavals and personal revelations that
he has drawn inspiration for these new songs. United with Andy James’
ruthlessly consistent riffing and soloing and the rock solid but thrillingly
fluid oomph of rhythm section Josh Gurner (bass) and Lee Newell (drums),
Darrin’s performance throughout is both heartfelt and intense, with a deep
sense of positivity and personal triumph blazing at its core.

“Once I admitted that I was depressed, I had this
realisation that advice and friendship and support can only go so far,” Darrin
explains. “No matter what the problem is, you’ve got be proactive and fix it
yourself. That’s when I wrote Demons, which is about accepting the problem and
exorcising your own demons before you can move on. I’d found a more enlightened
state and started feeling more positive about everything and that is the main
focus of this album. We’re dealing with darkness /and/ light, but most
importantly it’s about a new start for me and for the band.”

Produced in collaboration with globally renowned
studio guru Scott Atkins, Out Of The Darkness marks a great leap forward for
British metal’s brightest hopes. Having refined and redefined their sound,
Sacred Mother Tongue have struck upon the perfect combination of muscular
potency and melodic bite, resulting in an album of skyscraper-levelling anthems
that brim with fire and emotion. From the blistering, instantly memorable
attack of opener Demons to the life-affirming bombast and stadium-sized
refrains of recent singles A Light Will Shine and Evolve Become, Out Of The
Darkness delivers on every conceivable level: a tour-de-force of gleaming 21st
century British metal with heart, intelligence and lashings of aggression. On
the multi-tempo frenzy of the rageful Pawn and the ominous The City Is Crying,
Sacred Mother Tongue give classic thrash metal a precise and invigorating
update, showing off the fizzing chemistry that exists between them while never
abandoning the cherished principle that the song is always king. On the
anguished philosophising of Just A Ride, Darrin South implores the listener to
be strong and reject fear as his band mates revel in pulverising, swaggering
precision around him, before Andy James peels off yet another jaw-dropping and
nimble-fingered party piece. The album closes with the grand melodrama,
juddering rhythms and impassioned melodies of Believe, an intensely personal
entreaty from Darrin South, custom-built to inspire and comfort those who are
enduring dark nights of the soul. It is a breathtaking finale to a truly
unique, emotionally visceral and musically substantial collection of songs that
sparkle with sonic vitality and power.

“The reason it’s come out so well is because we
discarded all the pressure to write a certain way,” explains Darrin. “It was a
very natural writing process. We just went with what we thought was good and
nothing good got thrown out. I think that natural process of doing what we
believed sounded good created an almost visionary approach to the album and
shaped the way the songs ended up. That’s why it’s more mature, because that
was a more mature way to write. We’re really proud of what we’ve achieved.”

Recent years have seen a steady stream of British
rock and metal bands making a major impact on the other side of the Atlantic
and across Europe. With their popularity at home very much in the ascendant and
a phenomenal new album under their collective belt, Sacred Mother Tongue must
surely be destined to be the next great British metal export and, if there is
any justice, the biggest and best of the lot. With immense talent, passion and
staying power, you would be a fool to bet against them.

“We’ve been a band for a long time and it’s been
hard work, but hopefully it’s time for people to realise that we’re not fucking
going away!” laughs Andy. “I know people will take us more seriously now. We
don’t need to fit into any trend. Maybe we’re starting one!”

”I don’t know if we’re ever gonna be that cool band
because that’s not what we’re about,” concludes Darrin. “Maybe it’s because
we’re a bit older or not pretty enough or because we don’t wear skinny jeans.
Who knows? Personally, I think it keeps us as real musicians and not just some
pop band. If we stick at it, I think it’ll all come to fruition. I’d rather be
respected like Pantera or Machine Head than some band that blows up for two
minutes and does fuck all afterwards. As far as fame, wealth and world
domination goes, I just want us to be recognised as a great band making great
music.”

In Summer 2013, Josh Gurner was forced to leave the
band due to his other commitments and the band held auditions for a new bass
player. Craig Daws was selected and will have his debut performance this
weekend at Download Festival - on the Main Stage.