Interlock (band)
Encyclopedia
Interlock was a British industrial metal
band, from London, formed in 1996, by John Tyrell (guitars/programming) and Syan (bass) and disbanded in 2008.
, My Dying Bride
and Nine Inch Nails
, he was joined by the co-founder, and only other consistent member, Syan (bass). A demo, which was later to become known as demo ‘97 was recorded on a 4 track and Digital Compact Cassette
and subsequently released in May 1997. Matthew Lee (vocals/lyrics/samples) and Syan, a friend of John, filling in on female vocals also featured on this demo. The band gained some attention from UK magazines and fanzines due to the use of electronics, male and female singers and the accompanying inlay; a full colour, photocopied, eight-page design from John and spray painted audio cassette.
They played some small tours of the UK despite issues with maintaining a stable line up. Early Interlock shows were marked by the absence of a live drummer, the band performing to a pre-recorded drum and sample track, sometimes joined onstage by various keyboard players and at one point a violinist.
Interlock self-released the Submerged EP in 1999, with new female singer Emmeline May to even more widespread magazine praise, gaining features in Kerrang!
’s 'scumscene' section and small features in Terrorizer. After a few shows in support of the EP, the band released a split album
with neo-classical goth band Seventh Harmonic, remixing three of their songs and one of Interlock's own. In 2000 Matthew Lee left the band. Hal Sinden (vocals/lyrics), grandson of actor Donald Sinden
, joined shortly after.
with fellow London band, Needleye. The album Death by Design was recorded entirely by John under the Deepwater Production moniker, recording both Interlock’s and Needleye's songs. It featured two original songs by each artist, two remixes of each other and a collaborative track. The CD was released in 2002 on the Armalyte Records label, with a full co-headline UK tour with Needleye. Future Kingsize Blues drummer, Tori Lucian joined Interlock on the tour. The band became regularly seen in Terrorizer’s end of year polls as "best unsigned band" and Hal Sinden as "most shaggable male", and in 2003 were part of a documentary on gothic culture Sex, Lies and Bondage Tape, first shown on Anglia TV.
, ex Nightnurse
) towards the end of 2002. Chris ‘Static’ Dixon (guitars) also joined at the start of 2004, due to John fracturing his arm and needing a backup guitarist.
The band started talking with Anticulture Records
after airplay on Maz Star's Total Rock Radio show, which included a never officially released version of Björk
's "Army of Me
".
Negotiations ensued and Interlock signed to Anticulture Records in early 2005. Once again, John produced the entirety of the record as well as designing and creating the artwork. crisis//reinvention was released in May 2005 on Anticulture and was immediately playlisted by BBC Radio 1
Rock Show and Total Rock Radio among other radio stations.
The band had been touring sporadically for some months when Emmeline May left to be replaced by Christina Gajny (vocals), originally only intending to be a stand in for a festival based in Buckinghamshire, UK, she was quickly recruited as a full time member. With Christina aboard they started to re-record a selection of songs and play shows in the UK.
, MirrorMask
) in late 2005, the editing eventually was handled by Lasse Hoile
(Porcupine Tree
).
In the meantime, Interlock put together a competition for the general public to remix "Skinless" and submit it to the band. The winner, Elseedy was to appear alongside 7 other remixes of Skinless by other artists and two original songs by Interlock. The resulting EP was released in February 2006 and featured Christina’s vocals on the title track and new song, "Blue".
A video for "Straight" was filmed and consequently scrapped due to "internal pressures". For the rest of the year the band toured intermittently within the UK. Matt Platts left in November.
for that song was planned by Anticulture records. The digi-release never took place but the video was released in May.
The 'Trans-Atlantic' tour started in April in London and continued with industrial band, Inswarm in America. When they returned to the UK the band parted with Chris ‘Static’ and enlisted Mart Anthony to help for the rest of the tour. Mart was confirmed as a permanent member shortly after.
In July Interlock played Hellfest Summer Open Air
in France and their last shows of the year, taking time out to write for a new album.
John Tyrell has now formed Khaidian. Hal Sinden and Joe Butterworth have formed Talanas. Syan has joined Tribazik as bassist. Christina Gajny now sings for Inner Eden. Mart Anthony now plays guitar for Beth Ryan.
Industrial metal
Industrial metal is a musical genre that draws from industrial music and many different types of heavy metal, using repeating metal guitar riffs, sampling, synthesizer or sequencer lines, and distorted vocals. Founding industrial metal acts include Ministry, Godflesh, and KMFDM.Industrial metal's...
band, from London, formed in 1996, by John Tyrell (guitars/programming) and Syan (bass) and disbanded in 2008.
Early history
Interlock was formed in 1996 by guitarist, programmer and songwriter John Tyrell. Taking his influence from bands such as Fear FactoryFear Factory
Fear Factory is an American industrial metal band. Formed in 1989, they have released seven full-length albums and a number of singles and remixes. Over the course of their career they have evolved from a succession of styles, as well as steadily pioneered a combination of the styles death metal,...
, My Dying Bride
My Dying Bride
My Dying Bride are an English doom metal band formed in 1990. To date, My Dying Bride have released eleven full-length studio albums, three EPs, one demo, one box set, four compilation albums, one live album, and one live CD/DVD release. The band released their tenth studio album, For Lies I Sire,...
and Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
, he was joined by the co-founder, and only other consistent member, Syan (bass). A demo, which was later to become known as demo ‘97 was recorded on a 4 track and Digital Compact Cassette
Digital Compact Cassette
Digital Compact Cassette was a magnetic tape sound recording format introduced by Philips and Matsushita in late 1992 and pitched as a successor to the standard analog cassette. It was also a direct competitor to Sony's MiniDisc but neither format toppled the then ubiquitous analog cassette...
and subsequently released in May 1997. Matthew Lee (vocals/lyrics/samples) and Syan, a friend of John, filling in on female vocals also featured on this demo. The band gained some attention from UK magazines and fanzines due to the use of electronics, male and female singers and the accompanying inlay; a full colour, photocopied, eight-page design from John and spray painted audio cassette.
They played some small tours of the UK despite issues with maintaining a stable line up. Early Interlock shows were marked by the absence of a live drummer, the band performing to a pre-recorded drum and sample track, sometimes joined onstage by various keyboard players and at one point a violinist.
Interlock self-released the Submerged EP in 1999, with new female singer Emmeline May to even more widespread magazine praise, gaining features in Kerrang!
Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
’s 'scumscene' section and small features in Terrorizer. After a few shows in support of the EP, the band released a split album
Split album
A split album is a music album which includes tracks by two or more separate artists. There have been singles and EPs released in the same nature, which can be referred to as split singles and split EPs respectively...
with neo-classical goth band Seventh Harmonic, remixing three of their songs and one of Interlock's own. In 2000 Matthew Lee left the band. Hal Sinden (vocals/lyrics), grandson of actor Donald Sinden
Donald Sinden
Sir Donald Alfred Sinden CBE is an English actor of theatre, film and television.-Personal life:Sinden was born in Plymouth, Devon, England, on 9 October 1923. The son of Alfred Edward Sinden and his wife Mabel Agnes , he grew up in the Sussex village of Ditchling, where their home doubled as the...
, joined shortly after.
Death by Design
Interlock entered the studio in 2001 to record a split albumSplit album
A split album is a music album which includes tracks by two or more separate artists. There have been singles and EPs released in the same nature, which can be referred to as split singles and split EPs respectively...
with fellow London band, Needleye. The album Death by Design was recorded entirely by John under the Deepwater Production moniker, recording both Interlock’s and Needleye's songs. It featured two original songs by each artist, two remixes of each other and a collaborative track. The CD was released in 2002 on the Armalyte Records label, with a full co-headline UK tour with Needleye. Future Kingsize Blues drummer, Tori Lucian joined Interlock on the tour. The band became regularly seen in Terrorizer’s end of year polls as "best unsigned band" and Hal Sinden as "most shaggable male", and in 2003 were part of a documentary on gothic culture Sex, Lies and Bondage Tape, first shown on Anglia TV.
crisis//reinvention
The band started writing new material as soon as they had confirmed their new drummer Matt Platts (ex Salem OrchidSalem Orchid
Salem Orchid was a death metal band from London UK. Formed in 1988, they are best known for a two track demo released in 1991 composed of the songs 'Sempiternal Suffering' and 'The Nirvana Of Agony'. The demo became well known for its satanic lyrical content and high speed playing...
, ex Nightnurse
Nightnurse
Nightnurse was an indie rock band from London, UK, who had some success in the late 1990s. They released three singles, with their second "Skirt" reaching no. 11 in the UK independent singles chart in February 1998...
) towards the end of 2002. Chris ‘Static’ Dixon (guitars) also joined at the start of 2004, due to John fracturing his arm and needing a backup guitarist.
The band started talking with Anticulture Records
Anticulture Records
Anticulture Records Ltd is a record label based in Northampton, England which deals mostly with heavy metal music.The first release for Anticulture was Gutworm's 'Ruin The Memory' album in April 2004.-Artists:* ArnoCorps...
after airplay on Maz Star's Total Rock Radio show, which included a never officially released version of Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
's "Army of Me
Army of Me
"Army of Me" is a song by Björk, released in 1995 as the first, and leading, single from her second solo album Post. The song also appeared, later in the same year on the soundtrack of Tank Girl as well as in the soundtrack of Sucker Punch in 2011...
".
Negotiations ensued and Interlock signed to Anticulture Records in early 2005. Once again, John produced the entirety of the record as well as designing and creating the artwork. crisis//reinvention was released in May 2005 on Anticulture and was immediately playlisted by BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
Rock Show and Total Rock Radio among other radio stations.
The band had been touring sporadically for some months when Emmeline May left to be replaced by Christina Gajny (vocals), originally only intending to be a stand in for a festival based in Buckinghamshire, UK, she was quickly recruited as a full time member. With Christina aboard they started to re-record a selection of songs and play shows in the UK.
"Skinless" remixes
The band recorded a video for the song "Skinless", with CGI artist Christian Jelen (White NoiseWhite Noise (film)
White Noise is a 2005 supernatural horror film, directed by Geoffrey Sax. The title refers to electronic voice phenomena , where voices, which some believe to be from the "other side," can be heard on audio recordings...
, MirrorMask
MirrorMask
Mirrormask is a 2005 fantasy film from Jim Henson Pictures, Samuel Goldwyn Films, and Destination Films. It stars Stephanie Leonidas, Jason Barry, Rob Brydon, and Gina McKee. It is designed and directed by Dave McKean, written by Neil Gaiman from a story they developed together...
) in late 2005, the editing eventually was handled by Lasse Hoile
Lasse Hoile
Lasse Hoile is an acclaimed artist of mix media, photographer, graphic artist writer, film-maker/director, and cinematographer. Recognized for his unique vintage style intertwined with a modern day twist, Hoile is best known for his close work with Steven Wilson and his projects Porcupine Tree and...
(Porcupine Tree
Porcupine Tree
Porcupine Tree is a progressive rock band formed by Steven Wilson in 1987 in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England. Their music is difficult to categorise, being associated with both psychedelic rock and progressive rock, yet having been influenced by trance, krautrock and ambient due to Steven...
).
In the meantime, Interlock put together a competition for the general public to remix "Skinless" and submit it to the band. The winner, Elseedy was to appear alongside 7 other remixes of Skinless by other artists and two original songs by Interlock. The resulting EP was released in February 2006 and featured Christina’s vocals on the title track and new song, "Blue".
A video for "Straight" was filmed and consequently scrapped due to "internal pressures". For the rest of the year the band toured intermittently within the UK. Matt Platts left in November.
US tour
At the start of 2007 Interlock confirmed new drummer, Joe Butterworth and a tour of America. The band also filmed a new video for "Straight" which was handled by band friend, Mart Anthony, and a digi-releaseDigital distribution
Online distribution, digital distribution, or electronic software distribution is the practice of delivering content without the use of physical media, typically by downloading via the internet directly to a consumer's device. Online distribution bypasses conventional physical distribution media,...
for that song was planned by Anticulture records. The digi-release never took place but the video was released in May.
The 'Trans-Atlantic' tour started in April in London and continued with industrial band, Inswarm in America. When they returned to the UK the band parted with Chris ‘Static’ and enlisted Mart Anthony to help for the rest of the tour. Mart was confirmed as a permanent member shortly after.
In July Interlock played Hellfest Summer Open Air
Hellfest Summer Open Air
Hellfest is an annual music festival which takes place in Clisson, France in mid-June. It is held within the Val de Moine sport complex in Clisson, approximately 35 km south-east of the city of Nantes, and approximately 400 km south-west of the nation's capital Paris. Billed as an "extreme music...
in France and their last shows of the year, taking time out to write for a new album.
Final days
In late 2007, Interlock announced their departure from Anticulture Records and released demos of their upcoming album Parasite. But after spending several months in writing and recording at the start of 2008, they released the following statement on their website in August, announcing their split;
"26 August 2008
We are very sad to announce that Interlock's slot on the rock stage at Offset this Saturday will be the band's final live show.
Due to various pressures within the band, a decision has been made to disband Interlock straight after the performance.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every person for their continued support over the years. The Interlock road has been a long and interesting one. We have met some amazing people on the way and will remember many. The bands, the musicians, the Interlock armies, the friends, the promoters, the magazines and zines, radio stations, venues, endorsers and of course, most importantly, the fans; those guys that have followed our exploits, van and mad ramblings. those that have housed us, fed us and saved our arses when we've needed you most. Thank you for screaming along to our music for this long. Now you can rest your larynx
We hope that our music has given the listeners half as much pleasure as it has given the band over the years. No doubt various members of Interlock will be continuing in other projects in the future, so please check the bands official myspace page www.myspace.com/interlock for updates and announcements
Interlock has left the building...
thank you and goodnight.
John Tyrell has now formed Khaidian. Hal Sinden and Joe Butterworth have formed Talanas. Syan has joined Tribazik as bassist. Christina Gajny now sings for Inner Eden. Mart Anthony now plays guitar for Beth Ryan.
Members
- John TyrellJohn TyrellSir John Tyrrell possessed the manor of Heron , Essex, was Knight of the Shire for that county, and Speaker of the House of Commons....
(aka John Hull), guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
/ programmingMusic sequencerThe music sequencer is a device or computer software to record, edit, play back the music, by handling note and performance information in several forms, typically :...
/ songwriter / record producer (1996–2008) - Syan (aka Sabrina Barlow), bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(1996–2008) - Hal Sinden, singer / lyricistLyricistA lyricist is a songwriter who specializes in lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody.-Collaboration:...
(2000–2008) - Mart Anthony, guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
(2007–2008) - Christina Gajny, singer (2005–2008)
- Joe Butterworth, drummerDrummerA drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
(2006–2008)
Previous members
- Rob Archibald, live bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2008) - Chris ‘Static’ Dixon, guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
(2004–2007) - Matt Platts, drummer (2002–2006)
- Emmeline May, singer (1998–2005)
- Tori Lucion, live drummer (2002)
- Frank Hull, drummer (2001–2002)
- Matthew LeeMatthew LeeMatthew Lee is a public interest lawyer, author, and founder of two non-profit organizations, Inner City Press and Fair Finance Watch.Both are known for their investigations of the banking industry's treatment of low-income communities of color around the world...
, singer / lyricistLyricistA lyricist is a songwriter who specializes in lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody.-Collaboration:...
(1996–2000) - Pixi, live singer (1997–1998)
Albums
- Death by Design (split CD with Needleye) (2002) Armalyte Industries
- crisis//reinvention (2005) Anticulture RecordsAnticulture RecordsAnticulture Records Ltd is a record label based in Northampton, England which deals mostly with heavy metal music.The first release for Anticulture was Gutworm's 'Ruin The Memory' album in April 2004.-Artists:* ArnoCorps...
- Skinless Remixes (2007) Anticulture Records
Demos
- Demo – 1997 (1997)
- Submerged (1999)
- Seventh Harmonic vs. Interlock (split CD with Seventh Harmonic) (2000)
- Parasite demos (2008)
Compilation appearances
- "Rest" on No Holy Additives (1998) Eldthorne
- "Rest (tilted 2.0)" remix on Full Tilt III compilation (2001) spiky black cat records
- "The Hold (CDW)" and "Birdman (edit)" on Working with Children and Animals (2002) Wasp Factory records
- "This Waking Moment", "Coalesce" and "the Feeling Skinned Us remix" on Vampire Diary OST (2007)