August 2000 - The Big Buzz - Honey For Christ interview

Describing yourself as "100% raw, unclean, uncut, hard & honest heavy f**king metal" is pretty tough stuff - and a hell of a statement for any band to try and live up to. Fortunately, though, Honey For Christ manage to live up to that description and then some! Prepare to meet one of the best metal bands on the local scene… Honey For Christ formed in late 98 and have been gigging around the local circuit for just over a year. Made up of Jason Hendry (vocals), Andy Clarke (guitar), Paul McRoberts (bass), Chris Armstrong (drums), the band got together when Jason and Andy met each other, "Me and Andy met each other in a friend's house one night and we were sitting drinking," he says. "We were all in shite bands at the time, not doing f**k all, so we spent a few days drinking together and that was it - and then, these two f**king hallions came along!…" "I'd played with Chris for years, so it was obvious he would be recruited and then I met Paul one night in the Venue and then didn't bother phoning for about six months and then said to him one night, 'by the way, are you coming to practice tomorrow night, or what?…"

The band originally had a second guitarist, Stuart, and it is he who is credited with coming up with the bands name, which, according to Andy, "has something to do with nuns, crucifixes and masturbation…": "He must have read some weird magazines," says Paul…

The band have already been described as sounding like early Cathedral and their sound is very much in the doom metal vein with riffs that can make your very liver reverberate and vocals that send shivers down your spine. Although they recorded a demo last year, however, Honey For Christ are probably best appreciated live: "We recorded a demo last April on my 4 track," says Andy. "It cost us no money at all and that's why it sounds so bad!.." However it hasn't stopped them dishing out 300 copies of said demo, 'Long Way Down & Rising" and it's found it's way to some very strange place indeed…: "It's gone world-wide, basically," says Andy, "Dublin, England, Japan and even places like Romania… Some car thieves actually got some as well, when my car was broken into," adds Andy. "So they probably turned up at Smithfield market being sold for £17 each!…"

The band have played most regularly at Belfast's Rosetta bar, but have also gigged at the Venue, Auntie Annies, (for the Distortion Project), 'RocKD at Katy Dalys' and the Railway Bar in Lurgan. By Jason's own admission, though, things can get pretty violent at Honey For Christ gigs! : "We had a bit too much to drink…," he say recalling a recent gig at the Rosetta. "And we decided to get our t-shirts off and be very heavy metal," chips in Andy. "And me and Andy and a bit of a bit of a fight," Jason admits. "We were just so aggravated, because we were so drunk that we couldn't play properly, so we just thought 'F**k it' - we could hear f**k all, anyway…," adds Andy. "Paul though, just got up and stage and started playing a bass solo!…" "It can get pretty violent, though," Jason adds, somewhat ominously. "Yeah," adds Paul. "I'm gonna buy a gum shield!…"

Er, so if the gigs can be so chaotic, then why should we go and see Honey For Christ live, then?: "Because it's 100% metal!," says Andy, simply. "Andy you never know what you're gonna get…," says Jason. "Like a box of chocolates!," chips in Paul helpfully. "We do normally get a pretty good crowd on the dancefloor, though," says Andy. "And we do attract a younger crowd which can be hard," adds Jason. "Normally the people who ill come to watch you will be other bands or people your own age - and it can be hard to get people your own age into it…" "The crowd will also get spat at, though and have things thrown at them ," adds Andy, menacingly. "Like Andy!," adds Paul, laughing…

The bands ambitions range from the fairly sensible ("Playing Donnington if it ever comes back" (Paul)) and ("Playing with Motorhead would be f**kin' good (Jason)) to the utterly insane (("Get pissed - destroy" (Andy)) and the downright mercenary (("make loads of f**kin' money" (Chris)), but their intending to spread the Honey For Christ sound further afield in the coming year. Gigs are planned this month for Dublin and Monaghan with another local metal crew, Malkuth, in connection with The Distortion Project and the 2 bands are also set to play the Limelight on August 23. There are also plans to record another EP ("This time with professional gear," Andy stresses and get some t-shirts printed…aside from that, though, the bands plans are simple: "We just going to keep giggin' like f**k" says Jason simply. Make sure you don't miss 'em!…

Kirsten McAlpine

The Big Buzz '00