Ever wonder what the mighty hammer of Thor crashing down on Scotland’s Ben Nevis might sound like? Ever wonder what the crunching of the earth’s tectonic plates amplified at full volume through a Marshall stack the size of the moon could sound like? You’re about to find out!
Scott Hanley is from Glasgow, Scotland, a hard-assed, ex-industrial town that grew around heavy industry – ship building, coal, steel. Glasgow is where terrorists that try to blow up its international airport are punched in the head to the ground – while they are ablaze! It is also the home town of AC/DC’s Angus and Malcolm Young, the “Glasgow Apollo” being where they recorded, “If You Want Blood…”. Glasgow is widely regarded among the legends of Rock & Metal as home to the wildest rock and roll audience in the world.
Scott writes and performs all rhythm, lead, bass guitars, and vocals. His weapons of choice are a black, 7-string RG series Ibanez through any Marshall head and cab set-up, with a secret effects ingredient thrown in to achieve the hard-hitting, heavy guitar sound of the SOE, together with the awesome might of a Precision Fender Bass to carry the tectonic crunch of the 7-string’s power chords. The marriage of these instrumental titans forges a sound like that of the hammer of Thor brought down on Ben Nevis.
Ant Troman is from England’s North East, a hard-assed, ex-industrial area that grew around heavy industry – ship building, coal, steel. It is widely regarded amongst the legends of rock & metal as home to the 2nd wildest rock and roll audiences in the world. Ask Lemmy, who, with Motorhead, recorded, “No Sleep ‘til Hammersmith”, at the Newcastle City Hall.
Ant is the SOE technical expertise involved in recording, engineering and production at all stages: from song conception to final track; from early-stage song structuring and tempo definition to final mixing and mastering. He is also the producer and creative director behind the SOE music videos. Oh, and as a side line, he happens to be the geological power and creative genius behind the drums.
Together, these warriors of the cause bring you hard hitting, old school, heavy rock that will get your boots stompin’, your skulls bangin’, and your m/ fists punchin’. And lo, Optical Choreography the EP is their sacrificial offering to the GODS OF RAWK! Let us feast upon it!
Metal Express Radio: How did you come up with the band name?
Ant Troman (Drums): Scott (guitars, bass & vox) came up with the band name. The way that Scott’s mind works is never easy to understand, but the name apparently relates to the Great God, ĒL – a pre-biblical father god of many gods – 71 to be precise. Google SONS OF EL, and have a read at the related articles.
MER: What are three bands that you feel were most influential to your band, and why?
Ant: The sound of the band is most influenced by Black Sabbath – both the Ozzy and the Dio line-ups. Ozzy more for Scott, Dio more for me.
For me the drumming of John Bonham and the overall sound of Led Zeppelin were hugely influential, though I would never claim to be able to emulate John Bonham.
For both of us individually, and for the SONS OF ĒL as a band, the hard-hitting sound of Motörhead and the anger at the world’s/society’s injustices that Lemmy expresses through a lot of his war or religion related works.
MER: What are the five best Metal/Hard Rock albums of all times, and why?
Ant: Oh man, how can you possibly answer that question – depends what day it is and what mood you are in. Still, let’s have a go! And not in any particular order:
- Physical Graffiti – Led Zeppelin – The greatest rock band of them all at the peak of their powers. Pomp, straight Rock, heavy Blues, fun on side 4 and one of the greatest riffs ever in the relentless “Kashmir”.
- Black Sabbath – could be any of the first 4 albums, but the original defined the whole genre we all love. Scott probably would have gone for Master Of Reality.
- Need a live album! I love live albums. Thin Lizzy’s Live And Dangerous is brilliant but not heavy enough for Metal Express. Same for Status Quo Live. So let’s go with All The World’s A Stage by Rush – great , heavy Rock from the first band I ever saw live. How the West Was Won (Zep) would push it, tho’, and on a different day….
- Motörhead – Motörhead. Yes, that’s right, the poorly produced first album. This was the only product from the band when I first saw them and they blew me away! Scuzzy, filthy, nasty Rock from the coolest uncool band ever! The Lemmy/Eddie/Animal line-up was brilliant! Unique! Get well Lemmy!
- Piece Of Mind – Iron Maiden to represent the new(!) bands.
MER: What is the best concert you’ve ever attended, and why?
Ant: Knebworth ’79 – Zeppelin. Iconic! Apparently they were rusty. Well God only knows how good they would have been if they’d practiced a bit! The re-working of the “Whole Lotta Love” riff (watch the DVD!) was both hilarious and brilliant at the same time. And look at the set list. Just when you think you’ve heard the greatest song ever, they do another one!
MER: What was the most memorable gig your band ever played, and why?
Ant: This band hasn’t played live gigs yet – we are recording the album before hitting the road. Look out for us later this year! Personally, there are moments when playing live which stick in the memory –the first crowd reaction after the very first song I played live (note: they liked it!!!), when the lights work perfectly in tandem with the song, and other such moments.
MER: What is the craziest thing any member of your band has ever done for the sake of Metal/Hard Rock?
Ant: At Reading Festival in England 1987 we arrived late and had to run across the tracks of the main train line to the west coast of England to get to the festival site. Glasgow gigs – that’s crazy!
MER: If your band was appointed Rulers of the Metal World, what is the first law you’d make?
Ant: Slaughter anybody and everybody who has anything at all to do with X Factor and similar shows with extreme prejudice. Give airtime to people who are at least trying to display original talent.
MER: If you could tour with any band, who would that be, and why?
Ant: I’d like to go back in time to watch some of the great Rock tour stories unfold – Zeppelin and the red snapper, Crue and the “Kickstart My Heart” story, the removal of the brown M&Ms – all of those things that contribute to the myth of metal!
MER: What do you think your fans and the music industry will say about your band in 10 years?
Ant: It would be cool if someone, somewhere just listened to our songs occasionally and enjoyed them. We can’t control what people think and say, so we’ll do our best to write and record some great songs.
MER: If you could have any wish fulfilled for the band, what would it be?
Ant: Ain’t no point in wishin’ – we will just work hard to create old skool, hard-hitting, heavy rock and get it out there and with the help of people like Metal Express we’ll see where the road of rock takes us.
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