What is the name of your band?
Age of Distraction
What is the genre of music that you play?
Progressive Rock
Can you give a brief history of the band of how it came together and where it is today?
The project initially started out as an outlet for my solo work, at the time I was lead guitarist for prog band ‘This Winter Machine’ but I was finding that stifled my creativity and it wasn’t the best environment to create in. So I got started writing and recording at home with the intentions of just getting as many ideas down as possible.
Charlie (Bramald) had connected earlier that year, and we quickly became friends, and I knew he was a killer vocalist (and a busy one!). I asked if he would be interested in collaborating on a track I had recorded as it needed vocals and I felt he would suit the track. He accepted and before we knew it, he had sent back a rough vocal for the song that became ‘Compromised’.
Immediately I knew we had something special, and it had to be done properly. I asked Mark Gatland (bass player in Hats off Gentlemen Its Adequate) if he had some spare capacity to add some bass, and he obliged. So, for me, the track was done, so I sent to Dom Bennison to ask if he could mix it for me. He then suggested he would put some live drums on it (it currently had programmed drums!), before mixing, when we got it back, our minds were blown!
We immediately booked Charlie into Dom’s studio to get the vocals professionally recorded and the rest is history! Age of Distraction was born.
From then on, I went on a writing spree, pretty much got the album written (musically) in around 6 weeks, and then we went about creating our signature sound across the whole album. The boys all brought their ‘A’ game and it was midway through the process that we just naturally evolved into a ‘band’ rather than a project.
To say that we all pretty much do our parts remotely (except Charlie who comes to Dom’s studio), its been surprising how quickly we each recognised what each track needed to deliver the desired AOD sound, we were all pulling in the same direction, no Ego’s, just love of the music.
Today, we are a month out from releasing our debut album (31st May 24 gravitydream.co.uk)
We have a fair chunk of the next album written and 2 tracks recorded so this isn’t a one album band, we are here to stay!
What can people expect from your music?
People can expect big guitars, huge bass, pounding drums and incredible vocals! We really went to the extreme to create an atmospheric Progressive Rock album that would appeal to a wide range of musical tastes. Its jam packed with melodies and choruses that you will find yourself humming! We intentionally wanted it to feel like it was a journey from start to finish, its not a concept album, but it flows seamlessly. It has a uniform sound throughout (what is now our signature) and a cohesive production, you know you are hearing AOD!
What is the best release that folks should check out from your band?
Our upcoming debut album ‘ A Game of Whispers’, distributed through Gravity Dream records (www.gravitydream.co.uk) currently available for Pre Order.
If I had to select a track it might be the title track ‘ A Game of Whispers ‘ which won Prog Magazines Track of the Week last September!
Where can people find you on Social Media?
https://ageofdistraction.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ageofdistractionband/
https://www.ageofdistraction.co.uk/
https://www.gravitydream.co.uk/product-category/age-of-distraction/
