Band Profile - Every Man For Himself
Manurewa doesn’t seem a likely genesis point for Every Man For
Himself’s chaotic metal, (bet the obligatory rockquest-styled shows
were awkward). But with members just as likely to play in an old rugby
jersey and jandels as bandtees and chucks – they’ve become accustomed
to sticking out even amongst their musical peers.
And five years of sticking out, playing countless performances up and
down the country, have made Every Man For Himself a fixture. They’ve
played slots at Hamtown Smakdown, Punkfest and Battles In The North,
and supported internationals like Epitaph’s Parkway Drive and Victory
Records metal act Darkest Hour.
When Everything is Said and Done, More is Said Than Done is their
second EP. It unconventionally kicks off with an organ-laced
Maori-language introduction, before launching into another six tracks
of technical, hardcore influenced metal, that modulates from chugging,
tough-guy breakdowns into spastic scream-outs and 80s metal lead
breaks. There’s even a straight-faced screaming cover of A Te Tarakihi,
as popularised by Kiri Te Kanawa.
The “single” Even a Broken Clock is Right Twice a Day, is two minutes
of jackhammer riffs, double-kick and death growls. The video for the
song (animated/directed by Nigel Ward) is a gleefully nostalgic clip
animated in the Commodore 64 graphics of the game Maniac Mansion (watch
it and you’ll remember). In the video, Every Man For Himself must stop
a broken clock from ringing so they can radio for help and escape the
mansion. You should probably watch it and find out what happens.
When Everything is Said and Done, More is Said Than Done is a document
of a band that believes in the grassroots, drawing inspiration from
Aotearoa legends like The Deadline, 21 Guns, Kill Me Quickly and One
Must Fall, rather than big internationals.
“Local bands were always our heroes. Big names don’t really have the
same effect on us as a hard-working local band does,” says
guitarist/songwriter Adam Ward.
“They’re just so transparent. I know they’re not doing it for money
cause they’ve just driven for seven hours to play in a brick shed with
no guarantee of petrol money.”
Likewise, Every Man For Himself have no pretensions but to make music for the love of it.
“We don’t want to go towards the mainstream. There are a lot of bands
that get by on just playing to the underground. The long drives [to
other cities for shows] feel like nothing - it’s part of it. The shows
are worth it and our friends are worth it.”
CONTACT: - message us on here or.
Shows - Adam - wardclan@clear.net.nz
EP’s/Merch - Shaun - shaun.gross@gmail.com
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