Dakesis are a power metal band from Birmingham, and one who have received praise in the pages of this bastion of metal journalism several times. Having just made their debut appearance at Bloodstock, and with both band and interviewer thoroughly in their cups, OneMetal’s Jack Traveller caught up with Wayne Dorman (vocals, guitar), Gemma Lawler (Keyboards), Matt Jones (guitar), Amie Chatterley (bass) and Adam Harris (drums):

OneMetalSo, it’s your first time playing bloodstock. You must be bouncing up and down with excitement.

MattWell… We were. But then we played. Now we’re drunk.

OneMetalDon’t worry m’boy, we’re all drunk here…

GemmaIt was very exciting playing Bloodstock.

OneMetalI can only imagine.

WayneAn exhilarating experience. We were reasonably apprehensive about the idea of doing an acoustic set at first. It all hinged on restructuring all the music… Basically, to cut a long story short, it’s a fantastic opportunity and we want to use it as a launch pad. Not only is at honour to play the UK’s greatest metal festival, but it’ll be interesting to see what doors this opens up for us.

GemmaPlease use that answer, Jack.

OneMetal[with a sly chuckle] Yes… I will use *all* the answers… So. It should be clear to all who witnessed your set that you are a power metal band so mighty that the boys cum molten steel and the girls menstruate liquid iron. However! Sexism is rife within the metal community, and there are some who would dismiss you as nothing but petal-metal, on account of your breasts. What have you to say to these wimps and posers?

WayneThey make good sandwiches…

AmieWe’re only there to butter the bread, and to iron…

GemmaBasically, Amie and I hide sandwich-making facilities behind our instruments and mime to a backing track recorded by men.

[Matt finds this hilarious, he’s almost crying with laughter]

OneMetal[raises an eyebrow] Men, to whom as Manowar often allude, you are slaves?

GemmaYeah.

OneMetalI should be more articulate in my own interview.

GemmaWell, what you say definitely sums up…

OneMetalYour relationship to the male members of your band?

Gemma[laughter] Yeah.

OneMetal[Hands recording device to a band member] Hold this, I need to turn the page!

MattThe height of professionalism, right here!

WayneThis is the best interview ever.

GemmaIs this going in the interview?

WayneWhat do you mean, I thought it was being broadcasted live!

MattPodcast!

WaynePlease do not say shit, fuck or bollocks?

OneMetal[death metal voice] or satan! So, as you were doing an acoustic set (back on topic, back on topic).

WayneWe digress.

OneMetalWe do.

WayneVery much.

OneMetalWas it difficult arranging the songs for acoustic being as how [drunkenly fumbles for words] its… not usually your thing?

Wayne[gets distracted by the light on the front of the phone]

OneMetalAnswer the damn question!

WayneSorry. Sorry! I might be sober… maybe… Who cares, who’s going to care in a hundred years? We were offered the slot as an acoustic set, and we’d never actually played acoustic as a band before, although I’ve played acoustic sets with other bands, and when it came to rearranging the songs, a lot of thought had to go into it – particularly with songs like ‘Wings of Steel’, which is ultimately just an upbeat power metal song. Rearranging it into a power ballad was er… quite a feat. We were pretty apprehensive, but I think we pulled it off.

OneMetalIm not surprised it was a challenge, it was almost like you were out of your depth, playing in a completely different genre to what you do usually.

WayneYeah!

GemmaDoing power metal without double bass drums, keyboard solos, or infact even guitar solos was very difficult.

MattObviously, being a metal guitarist Ive never played an acoustic in my fucking life!

OneMetalNot once!

AmieIt’s a bit like being dropped into a plaza of icicles, you’re not quite sure what’s going to happen next…

OneMetal*waves hands mysteriously* In-jokes within in-jokes, nobody will understand!

MattBest analogy ever… ha! Analogy! That sounds a bit like anal-orgy!

GemmaNoooo! Don’t put that in the interview! All of my dreams are crumbling to dust around me!

OneMetal[giggling] HA! People will judge you by this!

AmiePeople will think “Yeah! That hip-hop happening band Dakesis, they’re a right bunch of sports!”

OneMetalThey’ll think you’re a country band ‘cos you played acoustic! You’ll get booked to support the country Ahab instead of the doom Ahab!

WayneIf people ask if we’re a bunch of wankers, tell them the interview was with Justin Bieber.

OneMetalI’ll just be honest and say you were a bunch of wankers! Right, ladies and gentlemen, what comes after Bloodstock? Are you touring within the year?

GemmaWe are, we’re going on tour with Axenstar from Sweden in September and we also have lots of mini-festivals and dates dotted around, all running up to Christmas.

OneMetalTell me about Axenstar.

GemmaAxenstar are a Swedish power metal band. We’re very excited to be touring with them.

MattStock answer number 27!

Gemma[ignoring matt] We’re also on tour with Ascension.

AmieTheyre from Scotland.

WayneWe’re genuinely excited to be playing with Ascension, we’ve spoken to some of them online, they’re great people!

OneMetalNow we move onto a very important question: On a hot summer night, would you offer your throat to the wolf with the red rose?

WayneWill he offer me his jaws?

OneMetalYes…

WayneWill he offer me his teeth?

OneMetalYes…

WayneWill he offer me his hunger?

OneMetalYes…

WayneAgain… will he offer me his hunger?

OneMetalYes…. I bet you say that to all the guys.

WayneI probably would, I’m a slut like that.

OneMetalWe’ve all been there… [mock disgust] You sicken me! Have you got anything to say to the good readers of OneMetal?

WayneBox. Maple Syrup. Pheasant.

GemmaHe means “Thank you for your continued support of Dakesis”!

OneMetalCaptain Sensible to the rescue!

GemmaWe hope… if you saw our set you really enjoyed yourself and…

OneMetalDon’t judge us by this interview?

GemmaPlease don’t! It’s now… very late o’clock, after many beers, and we left all our professionalism back at the tent.

OneMetal[mock outrage] you mean you didn’t bring it with you? How could you be so remiss?

AmieIt got stolen by a pack of…. Lion… bears… and ninjas!

OneMetalHoney badgers! Are we done? The end!

[the band all shout goodbye]

Dakesis on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dakesis
Dakesis’s website: http://www.dakesis.com