MoM: How have the band members been handling the lack of touring and even the lack of practicing in 2020?
Rites To Ruin: We've done the same as most really. We've rehearsed when we can and it's safe to do so but otherwise we've just caught up via video calls and done as much as we feasibly can via remote means. It's not the same, of course, but we do what we can. Paul released a photography book this year, after introducing the world to all 534 versions of him. Tom became a new dad. Matt has built a pub.... no really! Lee has been studying and I've (Krissie) been rekindling my love of video games, particularly Diablo. We've all continued to work full time as well, because we still have day jobs, thankfully. So it's been an odd year, and not quite the launch of the band that we had in mind either but it is what it is and we've been really thrilled and humbled by the support so far.
MoM: Were there any gigs/shows/events that you were particularly gutted to have missed?
Rites To Ruin: We would have done our first set of gigs this year as the official launch of the band but alas wasn't to be. So we really are gutted that we have yet to actually perform to a live, in front of us, crowd. It's also gutting as the first of the gigs we had lined up was with our good friends in Dakesis and Fury, but it is what it is and there will be more opportunities in the future to gig with them and of course Power Metal Quest Fest was going to be our first festival appearance. Obviously there were the usual festivals that we were all looking forward to going to as punters, and most of the band were going to see Rammstein at various venues so that was a little depressing. It's also the local gigs as well, where we can go an support our friends in their bands, missing those a lot this year and really hoping 2021 sees everyone back to it.
Rites To Ruin: We've done the same as most really. We've rehearsed when we can and it's safe to do so but otherwise we've just caught up via video calls and done as much as we feasibly can via remote means. It's not the same, of course, but we do what we can. Paul released a photography book this year, after introducing the world to all 534 versions of him. Tom became a new dad. Matt has built a pub.... no really! Lee has been studying and I've (Krissie) been rekindling my love of video games, particularly Diablo. We've all continued to work full time as well, because we still have day jobs, thankfully. So it's been an odd year, and not quite the launch of the band that we had in mind either but it is what it is and we've been really thrilled and humbled by the support so far.
MoM: Were there any gigs/shows/events that you were particularly gutted to have missed?
Rites To Ruin: We would have done our first set of gigs this year as the official launch of the band but alas wasn't to be. So we really are gutted that we have yet to actually perform to a live, in front of us, crowd. It's also gutting as the first of the gigs we had lined up was with our good friends in Dakesis and Fury, but it is what it is and there will be more opportunities in the future to gig with them and of course Power Metal Quest Fest was going to be our first festival appearance. Obviously there were the usual festivals that we were all looking forward to going to as punters, and most of the band were going to see Rammstein at various venues so that was a little depressing. It's also the local gigs as well, where we can go an support our friends in their bands, missing those a lot this year and really hoping 2021 sees everyone back to it.
MoM: What did you have to do to adapt to the pandemic situation, i.e digital releases, videos, livestreams?
Rites To Ruin: Because we hadn't actually performed any live shows etc, we were in the unique position of putting all our firsts-as-a-band out while under lockdown. We were lucky that things were relaxed enough for us to go and record a set at CapsaArx in September. Otherwise we recorded what we could for the first track we released, Santanico, and then we've just continued with writing in the meantime. We haven't really had to adapt too much as we were still very new as a band, in the grand sense. But yes it's been a learning curve.
Rites To Ruin: Because we hadn't actually performed any live shows etc, we were in the unique position of putting all our firsts-as-a-band out while under lockdown. We were lucky that things were relaxed enough for us to go and record a set at CapsaArx in September. Otherwise we recorded what we could for the first track we released, Santanico, and then we've just continued with writing in the meantime. We haven't really had to adapt too much as we were still very new as a band, in the grand sense. But yes it's been a learning curve.
MoM: You were involved with the Power Metal Quest Fest Online show this year, along with your own live stream show. How did that come about and what was it like performing sans audience?
Rites To Ruin: We were due to be in the festival proper, it would have been our first festival as a band and we were all really looking forward to it. So when Amie asked if we could do some tracks for the virtual version we jumped at the chance. It actually all hinged on if CapsaArx were open to doing live streams and pre-recorded streams for bands. Thankfully, that was something they were just about to launch anyway so we jumped on the opportunity and spent a whole day up in Birmingham with the Dakesis crew, filming the mini set for Power Metal Quest Fest and then the set for our 'live' stream.
For me (Krissie) every 'gig' is a stadium gig, whether it's filmed with four people watching, two people in a Working Men's club or a packed Sophie stage at Bloodstock. The same energy and level of performance should be there. So performing sans audience, while quiet and more than a bit alien, you just have to kick the imagination in full gear and pretend it's Wembley.
MoM: What are the plans Rites To Ruin going forward in 2021? (obviously as far as the pandemic allows)
We're still writing, so we are looking at putting the first album together at some point over the next year if fate allows, but in the meantime we are recording parts for a new track to release early 2021. We actually started recording this next track with Iain 'GT' Davies just before lockdown hit, so it went on the back burner for a bit, but we've picked it back up and we are hoping to have that done for early 2021. We're also keeping fingers crossed that we can get back to rehearsing so we can finish writing the new stuff. If restrictions persist, which is likely for the first quarter of the year at the very least, then we hope to head back up to CapsaArx and record another stream (depending on the guidance) and maybe even start recording the album at some point. Otherwise, it's wait and see when we can start booking gigs again and get a couple of dates in the diary! We really hope that by the time Power Metal Quest Fest 2021 comes around, which we are performing at, the gig calendar will be in full swing.
Rites To Ruin: We were due to be in the festival proper, it would have been our first festival as a band and we were all really looking forward to it. So when Amie asked if we could do some tracks for the virtual version we jumped at the chance. It actually all hinged on if CapsaArx were open to doing live streams and pre-recorded streams for bands. Thankfully, that was something they were just about to launch anyway so we jumped on the opportunity and spent a whole day up in Birmingham with the Dakesis crew, filming the mini set for Power Metal Quest Fest and then the set for our 'live' stream.
For me (Krissie) every 'gig' is a stadium gig, whether it's filmed with four people watching, two people in a Working Men's club or a packed Sophie stage at Bloodstock. The same energy and level of performance should be there. So performing sans audience, while quiet and more than a bit alien, you just have to kick the imagination in full gear and pretend it's Wembley.
MoM: What are the plans Rites To Ruin going forward in 2021? (obviously as far as the pandemic allows)
We're still writing, so we are looking at putting the first album together at some point over the next year if fate allows, but in the meantime we are recording parts for a new track to release early 2021. We actually started recording this next track with Iain 'GT' Davies just before lockdown hit, so it went on the back burner for a bit, but we've picked it back up and we are hoping to have that done for early 2021. We're also keeping fingers crossed that we can get back to rehearsing so we can finish writing the new stuff. If restrictions persist, which is likely for the first quarter of the year at the very least, then we hope to head back up to CapsaArx and record another stream (depending on the guidance) and maybe even start recording the album at some point. Otherwise, it's wait and see when we can start booking gigs again and get a couple of dates in the diary! We really hope that by the time Power Metal Quest Fest 2021 comes around, which we are performing at, the gig calendar will be in full swing.