Exclusive Interview: Promethean Reign talk “Eat the Rich”!

If Promethean Reign were a baby we could legitimately say that celebrating the one month milestone since their new single “Eat the Rich” was cause enough to pop a champagne cork (or two) but as they’re a Blackened Death Metal outfit, we’ll have to do with a hot cup of coffee from a hot coffee cup. Although we could make it Irish… anyway, enough with the cliché routine already. The single is a banger and marks their first with new guitarist Kai Boyce in the fold so we spoke to them (literally all of them: vocalist and bassist TJ Higgs, guitarist Jon Arnold, drummer Joe Andrews and the aforementioned Kai Boyce) about all that’s happening in their World and the conversation went something like this…

It’s been out for a little while now and you’ve played it live, so how have you found the reaction to “Eat The Rich” so far?

TJ: “The response has been very positive, everyone has been enjoying the song!”
Joe: “Pretty good! The kids seem to think it’s a bop”

You have been open and honest about the message of the single being about the evils of capitalism fuelling greed and the knock-on effect that that has on humanity itself. What was the inspiration that made you take on such a hard-hitting subject lyrically?

TJ: “It’s just impossible to avoid, it’s something that impacts every aspect of our lives now, with people literally going to war for resources and territories. We’re all feeling the effects of capitalism: prices rising for everything whilst multinational corporations are reporting record profits but paying little tax. The wealthy are going into space for fun, whilst countless struggle and starve in poverty. How can we not want to talk about this?”

In 2019 you had a run to the final of the Bloodstock Metal 2 the Masses competition but we’re thwarted by technical issues. How much did you enjoy the run to the final itself and how much value do you place on the competition in general?

TJ:“We really enjoyed playing the bouts of the competition, the crowd was always lively! I think Metal 2 The Masses is a good opportunity for small bands to get themselves exposed to a wider audience, I’ve heard plenty of great bands I’d never heard of previously in the New Blood stage at Bloodstock”

Jon: “The whole thing was fun, although I don’t think we would take part again. Technical issues are always a bitch, especially when your amp head craps out! Ha”

There was a period where you played as a trio after the departure of guitarist Ryan Collins. Was becoming a four-piece once again always on the agenda? How do you think new man Kai Boyce (formerly of Confront The Carnage) has settled in and what do you think he’ll bring to the Kings table going forward?

Jon: “Yeh Kai has really helped thicken out the older songs we have. Right now it’s our first season of writing together and so far all is going well, we can’t wait to play some new material live when it’s ready”

TJ: “Becoming a four-piece was always something we wanted to do again, for the bigger sound, but we were waiting for the right person to come along. We’ve definitely found that in Kai, he’s got the chops, and is just a cool guy as well. With him on board, our future material will definitely be killer”

Joe: “We were prepared to not find anyone. Kai is a good fit, he fits the personality of the band perfectly”

Kai: “I actually found them by accident. I was looking for a drummer for another project and met Joe through a mutual friend, which led me to somehow ending up in this band, haha! I’m bringing a second dynamic to the band, to make the sound bigger and better!”

How did working with Hendra Pratama for the single cover art come about? How did you find working together?

Jon: “I got chatting to Hendra after he approached us a few years ago for artwork, he was just starting out and had sent us some art he did inspired by our first e.p. We kept in contact ever since and he sent us the art used for eat the rich, it’s a new take on the first piece of art he ever did for us, and we felt it just kinda worked for the single”

What’s next for Promethean Reign?

TJ: “Next on the agenda is writing some new tunes”
Jon: “What he said, Plus we have a show in Oxford, on the 28th of April at The Jerico Tavern”

“Eat The Rich” by Promethean Reign is out 25th March 2022 and available over at bandcamp.