Written by: Rob Latham
Too often metal bands are judged as being angry and hate the world because of their loud, thrashing sound but Vancouver-based Incura are hell bent on changing this false perception.
Incura‘s unique blend of heavy aggressive yet melodic rock makes for an intoxicating, refreshing sound fused with the intriguing influences of frontman Kyle Gruninger‘s theatrical and operatic upbringing.
The result of this is an interesting mix of hardcore emo meets punk rock meets metal, as seen best in the hugely enjoyable tracks ‘Here To Blame’ and ‘Between The Walls.’ Yet Gruninger himself recognizes their chosen style does not tick the boxes for bands who want to make it big on the current music scene, but in no way is he willing to conform to the pop-orientated mainstream.
“We know what everybody thinks of us for sure, it’s no secret that people say, ‘OK, you guys are a little too extreme,’” said Gruninger.
“I don’t want to change it but I’d really like to trick everybody. They say ‘Kyle, you can’t write a 7-minute epic to go on the radio’ but Metallica can and Freddie Mercury did it.
“Even Queen had their ‘We Will Rock You’ and I can do that, I can write that hit if I really need to but it’s not a focus at all. They’ll still say the new stuff we’ve written is too long and too heavy with too many screams and not enough melody.”
Gruninger‘s theory on music is also refreshing, he takes an interest in the history of music, harking back to classical composers like JS Bach and Mozart, whom he admires for their willingness to experiment.
But the proof of the pudding when it comes to Incura is in their live shows, which are more of an experience than just a gig thanks to Gruninger’s theatre background, something he believes is essential in order to convince people to dig into their pockets and see live bands.
Gruningen said: “The theatre background gave me a springboard to always make a live show out of everything instead of just standing there playing a guitar.
“It’s all about our stage presence in general, I’m not talking about props with all the fire and the skulls everywhere. I wish I could do that but it’s too 80′s and glam rock is dead apparently, plus my band would kick the shit out of me.
“You have to give people a reason to go: the music, the show, a video release or something that makes them think they’re going to miss something if they don’t go.”
Incura’s big break in the music world came last year when they won Seeds, the Vancouver battle of the bands competition entered by thousands of bands, a moment Gruninger picks out as the single best in his career thus far and hopes the band will be able to build on in the near future.
“It was that candy moment I really enjoyed,” he said. “It was a step of accomplishment that I worked really hard for as it was kind of like a pat on the back that I didn’t want to be the end, I’ve had to work twice as hard since then.”
While admitting being in a band is a great lifestyle Gruninger also alludes to the difficulties of being on tour, away from family and friends and with no social life for months on end.
“That’s how people get drug addictions, there’s nothing to do,” he explains. “You play late at night for an hour but get into town at 9am with nowhere to stay so you’re in the van for ten hours a day with no money – what do you do? Take drugs?
“That’s what happens to lots of people. You get bored and you can’t sleep and end up getting insomnia so you get sleeping pills, then you’re sore from the road so you take painkillers and then uppers to wake you up for the show and then drink and caffeine – it’s a dangerous chemical world when you think about it.”
The band is currently working on new material with an eye on heading out to Vancouver Island in January and a full-Canada tour in February culminating in performing at the Canadian Music Week, in Toronto, in March.
To check out Incura’s music and videos visit their website or MySpace page.
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