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1.) We’re excited to be speaking today with acclaimed Prog Metallers Far From Refuge; greetings and salutations gang, welcome to Vents Magazine! Before we dive into the Q&A mosh-pit, could you all say ‘hi’ and introduce yourselves to our ever-inquisitive readers?
JS: Hi! I’m Joél and I play guitar and sing for FFR.
SJ: Hello! I’m Suran and I do the growls and such.
JW: Hi, I’m Jules, I do drums
MP: I’m Matt, I rock out with the Bass guitar and do the Art-y Video-y stuff for the band
2.) Major kudos and accolades on your explosive new single and companion music video, Ghost of Eros, which is set to scorch up the record charts when it premieres this May 10! Joél, can you talk a little about what inspired one of the very best pieces of music of 2024?
JS: I had been playing around with the intro riff for a few days before I had a chance to really sit down and figure out what to do with it. Once I did find the time, the demo was completed within an evening! I wanted to keep Eros quick and catchy, which meant the song became a bit of a mix of metalcore and pop punk.
The lyrics for the chorus were part of the original demo, but Suran helped shape the meaning of the song with his incredible verses.
The title is a reference to the incredible series of books, ‘The Expanse’ by James S A Corey.
3.) Suran, who did the producing honours on Ghost of Eros and what did the collaboration between band and producer look like in the studio while working on the tune?
SJ: Joel is the producer, also the composer, recorder, and editor, among other things. So collaboration is always fun, and Joel being a perfectionist we always get an amazing product.
4.) Matt, in your humble opinion what differentiates Ghost of Eros from the Distinguished Competition on the 2024 music scene?
MP: A fearless return to the punky sound of the early 2000s with Modern Metalcore elements, including death metal vocals, catchy choruses and a soaring guitar solo
5.) Jules, how involved was Far From Refuge in the behind-the-scenes production of the amazing music video for Ghost of Eros?
JW: It was a rather DIY effort with Matt taking the lead in directing & editing the final video
MP: It was a long day of filming, and I get burnt out rather quickly. It’s thanks to the band’s input, motivation and trust in me that we got something cool at the end of it!
6.) Joél, in the wake of the May 10 release of the freshly-minted new single Ghost of Eros, Far From Refuge is also gearing up to release the new EP False Flag this coming July 19; major congratulations! Can you give fans reading this a hint or three as to what they can expect from this eagerly anticipated release?
JS: 1. Energy and passion! 2. Intricate guitars and heavy riffs 3. Slap bass?!
7.) Suran, what does the touring/performing dance card look like for Far From Refuge in the coming weeks and months?
SJ: We’re slowly getting back into the gigging circuit after a long hiatus. We have a couple of shows booked at the moment and are very excited to get back on stage and play our newest music live.
8.) Matt, with the news of the new single and EP, what are the odds that fans might see an LP release from Far From Refuge before the end of ‘24?
MP: Let’s say that our confidence in the quality of these upcoming tracks is extremely high, and we’d like to see them presented in the very best way that they deserve
9.) A question for all of you: Who inspires you musically-speaking?
JS: Currently I’m really inspired by some of the more progressive metal bands. Katatonia, Karnivool, Opeth to name a few.
SJ: Joel.
JW: Jay Postones, Matt Halpern, Matt Garstka, Missy Elliot. 😉
MP: Dream Theater, Trivium, TesseracT, Coheed and Cambria and various Video Game soundtracks I’ve loved over the years
10.) Joél, what’s the VH1-Behind the Music secret origin story on how Far From Refuge came together eight years back to form the tight unit which we hear on the upcoming single Ghost of Eros?
JS: The truth is, it takes a lot of work! We were lucky to form a core team of Suran, Matt and I early on and I think that has helped drive the band forward. We’ve had guitarists and drummers come and go (and come back again!), but the three of us have kept going through the good times and the hardships – and most importantly, we’ve never stopped creating.
Ghost of Eros really showcases the energy and determination of the band. We’re incredibly lucky to have Jules rejoin for this EP and look forward to seeing what the future holds!
11.) Suran, any final thoughts you might like to share with readers regarding the upcoming single and EP releases?
SJ: I hope you’ve enjoyed Ghost of Eros, both the track and the music video that Matt so lovingly crafted. I think the EP’s going to resonate with a lot of people regardless of their favourite genres, and we have ideas for some cool music videos to go with it. So, thank you for checking us out and do watch out for the next releases!
