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Shadow’s Far – Hordes X 2022 interviews

Forked Tongues: Shadow’s Far – Hordes X 2022 interviews

Shadow’s Far are not only our furthest out booking for Hordes X this year – they’re our furthest ever!

There’s not many Hordes X or even Slow Dragon Music followers who will know much about the Swiss scene. So, where exactly are these heavy thrashers based, and what is it like for a metal band there?

Serge Mattli (guitars): “We all come from the canton of Uri, which is in central Switzerland. The best way to imagine it is like this: There is a big valley, and on one side there is a lake, and all around there are big mountains. To the next big city, Lucerne, it is about 40 km.”

“At the time when Shadows’s Far was founded, there was a lively metal scene in the canton of Uri, which also produced numerous bands. Meanwhile, two of them are left. On the other hand, there is a very loyal fan community, which always supports us when we play locally.“

This is surely somewhat of a familiar tale to bands around the globe, but what are the biggest differences the guitarist finds when playing in other countries?

Serge: “Well, I would say the venues and the fans. In Switzerland, for example, it is normal that in every concert venue there is a backstage room where you can prepare for the concert. This was rather the exception in Ireland, for example. Another example is the fans. Usually, they are a little different in every country, and you have to figure out how to melt the ice. But still, or should I say, that’s why it’s so interesting to be able to play abroad.“

Shadow’s Far – Ninety-Nine (album)

Release date: 31st July 2019||Genre: Thrash metal||Label: Stonepath

Lurking in the Swiss underground, Ninety Nine is the fourth release from Shadow’s Far.

Released back in 2019, this is essentially a thrash album. On first spin, I immediately started hearing comparisons to the first two records from The Haunted. The rapidly switching rhythms and darker guitar sections play right into this. Diving deeper, however, much more becomes apparent. At times, the band digs into a Southern US groove, and at others it feels like NY hardcore has taken the wheel. All the while, the vocals provide a neat centre to all of this, barking out in street-dog style. Yet it is still thrash. It’s hard to imagine there wouldn’t be a classic moshpit to numbers like Rebound Of Greed and Land Of The Dead, as they blast through stomp after stomp. Maybe the album title is coincidental. But if you were a heavy gig-goer circa 1999, this is going to get you wrecking your neck!

Grade: A

Slow Dragon

To turn the compass back the other way, so to speak, we wanted to ask what advice he could offer to bands looking to come and play in Switzerland?

Serge: “Of course, it is important to have the right contacts for organizing the concerts. It is always easiest to know someone locally. You should make sure that you have a good package together. This means that you may already have the band together, and then ask an organizer. Or, of course, you have a management.”

Ok, so we’re looking for a bit of guess work from Serge on this next one. Shadow’s Far have never played in Scotland before. What does he think – or hope – it will be like?

Serge: “Wait, I have to look into my crystal ball for a moment… Well, all kidding aside, we’re hoping for an enthusiastic audience. It would be great if we could animate the Scottish audience to stage dive. Otherwise, we come to Scotland with an open mind, and are just happy to play here. Of course, we would also like to enjoy some culture, even if it is only the beer culture.“

It’s been three years since Shadow’s Far released their last album, Ninety-Nine. Do they have any plans for a follow up?

Serge: “Yes, we are planning to record some new songs next year. Whether it is enough for a whole new album we leave open…”

As we mentioned in opening, no band has ever traveled further to play Hordes. As our most exotic import, what will they be bringing to the stage which our regulars may not have seen before?

Serge: “We will slam the people honest, energetic and with great joy performed metal around the ears! Our hope is that some concertgoers will wake up the next day with a slight muscle soreness in the neck.”