After relocating to Melbourne from New Zealand last year, heavy band Banks Arcade continue to graft a loyal following with a string of songs that are snapping heads.
2020 EP 'Fever Dream' produced the singles 'Sick' and 'Drown', while their most recent release is 'Don't Start', which straddles elements of hard rock, electro and metalcore."It has an unwavering confidence to it," Banks Arcade vocalist Joshua O'Donnell says of 'Don't Start'.
"The song is aimed at those who try to tear us down behind closed doors, but would never have the guts to front up and say something in person.
"It also speaks to the fact that most people talking sh.t the loudest are only doing it because they are threatened by you. It's important to back yourself and not get too caught up on what others say.
"We are all trying to do this life thing right and we have to heal from sh.t, and most of the time people saying negative things are just using that as a way to deal with their own trauma.
"I just let it roll off my back and choose to focus on getting better at what I do."
Ahead of their appearance at 2022 UNIFY Gathering (in Gippsland, headlined by The Amity Affliction and Violent Soho), we get to know the band a little better with Joshua supplying the answers.
Who is Banks Arcade... We are a band originally from New Zealand and we make modern heavy music.
We sound like... 60 per cent Ghostmane, 40 per cent AC/DC.
Our first gig was... In Auckland at the Kings Arms Hotel.
In the studio we usually... Go for excessive excursions to get coffee and treats.
If I could tour with anyone... I would love to do some mixed tours with hip hop artists in the future. Brockhampton would go hard.
Social media is... Destroying our brains.
My favourite app at the moment is... Probably Pinterest. I'm obsessed with going there and looking at outfits I can't afford yet.
If you'll have us on your bill, all we ask is that our rider contains... Bananas.
The most scary scenario we've found ourselves in, was... Joshua having an MMA fight two weeks before we were booked for our first big Australian show ?
What celebrity/ famous person would you love to be spokesperson of the band... Theo Von.
Three people you'd like to invite around for a dinner party... Man, we would love to invite a lot more than three but I'll go with Saint JHN, Hunter S. Thompson, and Khabib Nurmagomedov.
If we were coming over to your place, what would you cook us? I would make a pumpkin soup and I'd pair it up with a delicious salad and some cinnamon rolls for dessert.
When it comes to pets are you a lover or hater of our furry friends? I love all animals and grew up on a farm, so spent a lot of time around them.
The last time I saw the inside of a gym was... This morning.
What's the one chore you dislike the most? Doing the laundry.
Do you have any phobias... I am terrified of snakes; something about the way they move freaks me out, and they frequently appear in my nightmares.
Would you ever partake in a reality show? Bear Grylls type show.
If you could prank any of your friends, who's your target, and how are you bringing them down? We would prank Kenny by convincing Kenny to buy bad cryptocurrencies that aren't gonna boom.
Best local takeaway joint for a midnight feed that will leave you with a food coma? I used to work in this kebab shop in my home town called 'Turkish Delight' and they stay open at all hours and end up actually being the place to party once all of the bars shut.
Which fictional character best describes your personality? SpongeBob 50 per cent; Joker 50 per cent.
Last show you binge-watched? 'Hannibal'/ 'Squid Game'; both are super dark and intense and kinda messed with my head a bit but it was a gripping watch for sure.
Banks Arcade play Unify Gathering (headlined by The Amity Affliction and Violent Soho), which takes place at Tarwin Meadows (Gippsland) 20-23 January. Banks Arcade also play the Melbourne (29 January) and Sydney (12 February) legs of Uncaged Festival. They also support Bad Love at Howler (Melbourne) 27 November.
