Sunshine Coast metallers Inhailed are a five-piece band created by former Soulscrape guitarist Wes Watkins and former Netherkin and Gol drummer Langley Smith.
Inhailed have been steadily rising through the Aussie underground metal scene during the last five years and have made a name for themselves through their brutal and original sound. We sat down with guitarist Rob Stanley.
What did you take from playing shows with Judas Priest and Iron Maiden?
Never hold back, always give it everything you have. Just be entertaining, even if you are feeling like shit, just put it behind you for an hour or half an hour and leave everything out there on the stage. Just get into and have fun, it always pays off.
In your own words, how would you describe Inhailed’s music?
Well, we are a metal band so most of our music is going to be heavy. What you are going to get out of our stuff is it's heavy but still has groove in it – you can move to it, it's something you can mosh too. We aren't worried about trends or whatever; when we write out music, let’s just make it heavy, full riffage and great grooves.
How are you feeling about the Metal United Down Under shows next month?
It's going to be great. Hopefully it’s a big show and we plug the hell out of it. There's some great bands on it and a really diverse line-up and we are really looking forward to it, its going to be fantastic. I don't know who instigated the whole thing but the idea is great; to have one day of metal shows all across Australia. Hopefully it is a yearly thing.
Has anything like this happened before in the Australian metal scene?
I haven't seen anything like this before where it's all done simultaneously.
What do initiatives like Metal United Down Under do for the local scene?
It keeps it alive – people like Karen (MMK Promotions) and other people doing this are growing metal and it keeps letting us play and make music. They obviously don't do it for the money, they just love it and it's great for people like us. I wouldn't know where to start or have the time for it, so I can understand that the people who do it are so good to us and how much of a great thing it is.
You joined the band a couple of years back — what were you doing previously?
I've been in several bands through my musical journey in life. The way I started with Inhailed is they actually commissioned me to do their album artwork and after that they lost a guitarist and they hit me up and asked if I wanted to fill in. They had shows and needed a fill guitarist and I stepped in. It was just a matter of learning the songs, getting tight with the guys. A few rehearsals to get my head around the songs and that was that.
Inhailed's latest album, ‘Demon Within’, was released last year; how has the response been?
'Demon Within' – that album is our full set pretty much. All the songs we will be playing at shows coming up will be songs off that album. It's the best stuff, we have a few new things in the works, which are almost gig ready and we might resurrect some; a collection of our best songs.
Is there any talk about an interstate tour?
We are thinking about doing something January and February – nothing set in stone just yet but we will see what happens.
Written by Benjamin Pratt
Inhailed will be joined by Nescient, Decryptus, Don’t Waste The Paint and The Clikis Progressio Project at the Currumbin Creek Tavern on Friday 17th October. Inhailed then headline the Brisbane Metal United Down Under event at Vibe, Indooroopilly Hotel on 29th November.
