Exclusive Interview: Akkadian talk “The Devil Has Evolved”, Tech-Fest, hopes and aspirations!

It has to be said that in 2023 it feels strange to be talking about a debut EP in “The Devil Has Evolved” from Cambridge riff merchants Akkadian, if for no other reason than we’ve been listening to them since 2019. Formed in 2018, the outfit spent their early years shaping their sound to ensure that there were no experimental pieces that they couldn’t look back on with pride and instead created a collection of singles that has been each a little more impressive than the last. Groove laden riffs, powerful rhythms and mesmerising psychedelic undertones have been the core components of those tracks, as has their interest in ancient history, mixed together with inter-dimensional and spiritual travel. We sat down with guitarist Harry Newberry to discuss the new record and what we can expect from them in the future…

Having waterfall released six singles from 2019’s “Black Sand” to 2022’s “Depraver” and earned close to 60k of Spotify and YouTube streams combined, what made you decide to change your release strategy and record a debut EP “The Devil Has Evolved“? “As we have spent a lot of time focusing on writing and developing our sound, we wanted to release some of the new material as more of a package so that there is something for listeners to digest until our next release”

Your previous singles and name revolve around the ancient Mesopotamian Empire soaked in Progressive Groove Metal. What can we expect from the EP and how do you feel your sound has evolved over the past five years of playing together? “The EP is really the beginnings of our more developed sound. We are incorporating a wide array of inspiration and influences and whilst we are sticking with our themes of psychedelia and larger than life concepts, we are certainly seeing more interesting ideas come into our songs and less of what our listeners may expect”

You’ve always had incredible artwork to accompany your singles and the new EP is no different. Even though we’re in the digital age is it still fair to say “the first bite is with the eye“? “Yes, we would say that does have an impact. If artwork is eye-catching it can only help a prospective listener become more intrigued”

When we interviewed you last back in April 2021, we spoke of you as future Tech-Fest favourites. What was it like to live that dream earlier this summer and share stages with the likes of Loathe, Born of Osiris and Chelsea Grin to name but a few? “It was incredible! We were fortunate enough to meet lots of great people and see some fantastic bands. Playing the festival was great and seeing so many people groove out with us was really a nice sight. We are very fortunate and appreciative to have had that opportunity.”

On the subject of living the dream, what have been some of your favourite moments of the past five years together? “Developing our sound, working on new music together and really working as a band of friends has been a great experience. Of course playing Tech-fest is up there, along with some of our shows across the country, including the Six-Six bar in Cambridge and just being able to see the progressive growth of the community in our home city”

As a young band, what are your aspirations? Where do you see yourselves in the next five years? Touring Europe? Appearing on the cover of Metal Hammer Magazine? Releasing a signature guitar model with someone like Carillion or simply to be full time musicians? “To be able to make a fair living from our music is the dream, as I’m sure it is for any aspiring band or musician. Ultimately we want to make music and art that we are excited about and to put it out into the world in the hopes that it can help others, as music has helped each of us. A signature guitar wouldn’t go a miss though!”

Other than the EP release, what’s next for Akkadian? Do you have any plans to do a physical release that includes all of the previously released singles? “We are always thinking at least 6 months ahead of our current schedule, so with that being said, we are already piecing together the songs we want for our debut album. We are in the process of working out who we want to record with and help produce us, but that’s as much as I can say for now. We are very excited about the future”

“The Devil Has Evolved” by Akkadian is out 27th October 2023 and will be everywhere you’d expect it to be (and some you wouldn’t).