Once again intrepid reporter Mat Price heads into the wilds and catches a few bands for a live review followed up with a chat with our mate Paula from Helgrind…

From the outside, Club 85 could quite easily be overlooked, but this small, north Hertfordshire venue has had it’s fair share of some (now) big names in rock and metal grace the stage here. More recently, Bloodstock’s, Metal 2 The Masses local rounds.

If it was not for the small gathering of metallers outside, I would’ve walked on by. Once in, however, and up the stairs, you understand why it is beloved by many who have been, and still go there. Unfortunately, Club 85 will be shutting it’s doors at it’s current site after this year, although plans are afoot on securing an alternate sight. It’s still sad to see small venues go, but there are still gigs going on here to enjoy. Such as this one…

The Mighty Wraith were on first, and their no nonsense dose of denim and leather heavy metal is how to warm up a gathering crowd. Injecting some classic covers here and there to set the mood. Next up was Spectral Darkwave. Their brand of gothic industrial metal suited Club 85’s PA. Aesthetically, the Mad Max Meets Cyberpunk costume design helps solidify their sound. It’s chunky and gets the head going.

 Outside was getting dark by the time Helgrind hit the stage, and fittingly so. It’s a punishing, angry brand of thrash metal that has no truck for daylight. They ripped through a set with intent. Finally, the scene was set for Neverworld. The symphonic metallers gave a solid set to bring a bit of culture that entertained effortlessly. Neverworld are also the only band on the bill touring a new album (The Other Side Of Midnight, released in Febuary of this year).

 Of course, concerts are not contests with no winners, but there are highlights. And for me, that was Helgrind. They’ve been at it too long not to give a masterclass of underground metal. Paula’s Araya…ish vocals brings real heft.

I asked Helgrind’s vocalist and bassist, Paula Nelson, for a few words, after hangovers had waned, and had a chat over the web.

Me. So. How was the gig for you?

Paula. The gig was great. On a personal level it felt good to be on the stage and everything flowed so well. I honestly think that was the most brutal show we have done in a while and was great to just bang out stuff from the first 3 albums.

The audience reaction was brilliant too, and I think we made some new fans along the way. So, all in all, it was a success.

Me. There was quite an eclectic mix of artists playing.

Paula. The event, as a whole, was a good mix of bands. The organiser, Ian Woodbridge, was celebrating his working retirement and wanted some of his favourite bands to play, so it was always going to be a slightly different mix of styles to a normal show.

 I think it worked well and kept the audience entertained which is the main thing, really.

Me. I’ve not met Ian, but plenty of people speak warmly of him. Even the doorman.

Speaking of retirement, Club 85 is shutting it’s doors after this year. It’s not a good time for small venues right now, isn’t it?

Paula. I don’t think it’s a permanent closure. The building? Yes, but Club 85 are looking to secure a new venue.

 I think small venues always suffer when there is a problem with the economy. Many venues survive from the pre-sales of tickets, but people aren’t buying tickets because money is tight. Plus, there’s more choice of where to go.

 It’s hard… shows get pulled because of poor pre-sales, and the knock on is to the bands, promoters and agents.

Me. Those are good points.

 I usually go into London for gigs, wherr the scene is well looked after, with voluntary organisations like London Metal Coalition and London Doom Collective. Is there a Beds, Bucks and Herts version, or does the home county scene close knit enough not need such things?

Paula. Yeah of course the city scenes are better, and transport links are better too. There is a Herts Metal group and it’s a healthy scene (Hertfordshire Metal Scene on Facebook). We rarely play Hertfordshire, despite it being our “patch”. We try to support the local bands from the areas we play, and take them on tour with us sometimes.

Me. Ok, I have a confession to make. I’ve been pronouncing Helgrind to rhyme with bacon “rind”, but it’s pronounced to rhyme with Joker’s “grin”. I still call Sepultura “sepultra” and can’t help it. Is there a meaning to the pronounciation (please excuse me if this is the BORING question)?

Paula. Not a boring question, and not the first time.

Helgrind is the gate to Hel in Norse Mythology. So the Grin in Grind is the Norse pronunciation, or so I’m told. We’re not precious about the way people say the name. We’re used to it and sometimes, the band say it wrong too, haha.

Me. Fair play. Now, you’ve been doing music a long time, and there’s no secret that your influences are Overkill and Obituary, among others.

With the renaissance of thrash metal in rude health right now, how does the old school influence compare with the young bands right now?

Paula. With some of the newer bands coming through, you can really hear the Bay Area influence a lot. In London, you can really hear it, but it’s got that London twist as you’d expect when you look at the history of punk and metal. London seems to have its own style. The more North you go seems to have a more European feel, with bands like Kreator and Celtic Frost, but with a more modern feel.

Me. Now you point it out, I won’t un-hear it now. While on the subject of old and new.

Helgrind have graced cover mount CDs on Terrorizor magazine and featured on UK Thrashers 2022 compilation, Moshin’ The Roof On: Vol. 3 (with the song, Last Dance).

How does that kind of reach compare to todays streaming platforms?

Paula. We were on Metal Hammer, Terrorizor and a few others, too. Both here and abroad. We were also interviewed on a Hungarian news channel and filmed on the big music channel there.

Streaming platforms are fairly good because they are a constant. Compilations and covermounts seem to have a shorter lifespan. Moreso cover mounts, and there is no guarantee your music will be listened to. The UK Thrashers compilation was really good for us because it was focused on a good cause (the homeless charity, Shelter), and it hit more metalheads who were interested in the content.

Me. You make a lot of time for your art, and to top it off, you run Bitter Edge Entertainment. Tell us about that, if you don’t mind. How do you fit it all in?

Paula. I think this is why I’m single, haha. I’m constantly working or writing. Helgrind isn’t my only form of music. I compose and produce too.

 I started Bitter Edge in 2009, and recently, it became a limited company. We have a team of managers and some booking agents who look after underground bands throughout the UK. We are now getting international bands interested in working with us, so the company is building nicely.

I’m in the process of setting up a clothing brand too, which will offer bands a print on demand service. Always busy, but having great fun.

Me. So, it was you that got the tour together with Acid Reign last year.

 From someone who’s only been on the crowd side of the stage, that’s cool.

Paula. Yes we sorted the Acid Reign tour. In honesty, we wanted to tour with them for a while and it was incredible. As a band we learnt so much, and Acid Reign really were ready to help us develop as a band.

Me. Doesn’t the business side take over?

 Paula. The business side of it didn’t really cloud my judgement, it just worked really well.

Helgrind don’t have a lot to do with Bitter Edge. The idea is to keep band and business separate, so Helgrind are now signed to Extreme Management Group in the US and they do pretty much the same as Bitter Edge.

Me. Do you get much attention in the US, or is this a foot in the door?

Paula. We have a fairly good fanbase in the US, mainly the East Coast and Mid West. We did some extensive promotion in the US and teaming up with EMG was a no brainer.

Me. That kind of exposure needs a new album. So, how is that coming on? There must be a sliver of fresh info…?

Paula. The new album is coming along great and the tracks are nearly done. We’re just finishing solos and extras, then it’s off for mixing and mastering. The album has been pencilled in for a 2025 release.

Me. Looking forward to that. What direction you going with the sound?

Paula. Sound wise it, feels like a revisit to our Religious Persecution album, but it’s a bit heavier. It has more aggression and I would say it’s slightly faster.  As with all our albums, it’s not just fast riffs and no tone. We have some good breaks that, of course, crosses all our favourite genres.

Me. That’s something I can get behind.

Here’s a curveball question, if you’ll entertain me…

 One of Helgrinds guitarists, Simon Ellis. Does he still play with Tempashot? We could do with more from them.

Paula. Yes, he is still part of Tempashot. I think they are working on new material but I’m not 100% sure

Me. Sounds promising. Thank you for taking the time out for this chat. Are there any future dates you want to shout out?

Paula. We have one last show in the UK this year which is Balstock 2024 (www.balstock.co.uk). We are headlining 14th September at The Hen and Chickens.