HELLBRINGER

JOSH BENNETT

Hellbringer formed in 2007 as Forgery, This Australian thrash trio debuted in 2011 with the Hellbringer EP. The following year they dropped their first full-length titled Dominion of Darkness through High Roller Records. In 2014 they relesed the Horror from the Grave single and two months ago they released their second full-length Awakened from the Abyss. Hellbringer has quickly established themselves as one of the premier thrash acts in Australia and abroad, I have interviewed Josh Bennett, original member and drummer in Hellbringer.

Hellbringer, From left to right: Josh Bennett, James Lewis and Luke Bennett.

We can begin with a small presentation of Hellbringer.

My brother and I started the band back in high school with another friend on guitar. We all loved loved the same type of music so decided to start playing stuff in the style of early, evil thrash.

You recently released your second full-length Awakened from the Abyss, are you satisfied with the reviews so far?

Yeah there have been a lot of good ones which we are indeed satisfied with. In saying that though, we don't base what we do on what reviews say. There are always going to be people who dig it, and people who don't.

How do you think your new album stands up against your 2011 debut Dominion of Darkness?

It's a much stronger album in every way I'd say. Song writing, playing, production. We put a lot more thought into this one and had a lot more ideas.

Your guitarist James Lewis recently left the band, why?

He just decided he wanted a change in his life so he will be moving overseas. No bad blood at all. We are still good mates. He won't be "completely gone" either. He is willing to help out with some overseas gigs such as shows in the US we might have.

Have you started looking for a new guitarist?

We will always be on the lookout for a new permanent guitarist in Australia but we will take great care and time with who we get. In the mean time, we have some French maniacs who will be helping out on our upcoming European tour.

Awakened From The Abyss (2016)

You've been a trio for a long time, are you considering to recruiting two guitarists or do you want to remain as a trio?

I think two guitarists would be ideal. Especially for live shows with the way the new material is. We will have two guitarists on the upcoming European tour as I said.

So, What bands are you influenced by?

Dark Angel, Possessed, Kreator, Slayer, Sodom, some stuff like Mercyful Fate

I think you're one of the best at capturing the eighties thrash sound out there. How important is that for the band?

We aren't really trying to capture an 80s thrash sound as cliched as that sounds. It's more just the way we play and write. It's the music that is in our heart and gives us the fire for this band so we play what feels right to us. However with that being said. We do know what we want and how things need to look and sound. We are very particular with that as you need to be. There are too many bands around these days that try so hard to look and sound 80s that it comes across as really fake and not authentic. Either you are that style or you aren't. It's great that you say that though.

I've read that you've been called Slayer imitators, what do you think about that?

Slayer from their golden years was just about the pinnacle of dark, vicious thrash so it is big influence on us. However there are other bands too. Dark Angel, Possessed, Kreator, Sodom, some Mercyful Fate all influenced us on the latest album. I see it as we are just playing thrash in the vein of when it was at its absolute best, most brutal and dark period.

You switched from High Roller Records to Iron Pegasus records, how come?

We switched to High Roller when we released Dominion of Darkness which was back in 2012. We switched simply because we wanted to try a bigger label. Nothing against Iron Pegasus as they are a great, dedicated label.

You toured the U.S. for the first time earlier this year, how was that?

It was great fun and a hell of an experience. Some killer shows and some not so killer as you can imagine. Los Angeles was total wildfire and possibly the most wild show we have ever played. We will definitely head back there. Maryland Deathfest was also killer. We played early on a boiling hot Saturday but there was a decent, enthusiastic crowd for us.

What do you think of this New Wave of Thrash Metal wave, Is it annoying to be lumped together with all those bands?

I don't think I've really seen us lumped into a "New Wave of thrash metal" actually? I think it's a pretty silly term anyway.

If you're referring to the "colourful, pizza party thrash"stuff then that is not relevant to me at all. Does nothing for me and I don't listen to it. There are some good thrash bands around and a sea of shit ones.

Are you inspired by any of the old school thrash bands of Australia? Like Hobbs' Angel of Death, Renegade, Mortal Sin or Slaughter Lord?

Yes of course. Those are all classic heavy hitters. Especially Mortal Sin's Mayhemic Destruction. You unfortunately missed the great Armoured Angel which have influenced us a lot. More so than all the ones you listed!

What's your plans for the near future?

We have a small European tour coming up in March which includes the Hell over Hammaburg fest in Hamburg, Germany. And then possibly we will head back to the States at some point.

Have you got any funny story to tell, if anything weird has happened while touring or so?

Nothing huge in particular. Just usual booze filled hijinks and what not!

Any last words for our readers?

Thanks for the interview. Thrash to kill!

By/Ruthless

(16-11-2016)